Church of Philadelphia
Seven • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
0 ratings
· 23 views“In this powerful message from Revelation 3, discover Jesus as the One who opens eternal doors. Learn how keeping His Word and persevering through trials leads to victory, strength, and unshakable promise.”
Notes
Transcript
Hey, good morning everyone! Welcome to Living Faith Church. I’m so glad you’re here today—it’s always a good day when we get to worship Jesus together. We’re in week six of our series called Seven, where we’re diving into the letters Jesus wrote to seven different churches in the book of Revelation. You can find these letters starting in Revelation chapter two.
Last week, we talked about the church in Sardis—a message that really hit home as Jesus challenged them (and us) to wake up- stir up, fan into a flame that fire within our spirit. If you missed that, be sure to check it out on any of our social media platforms.
Today, we’re looking at the letter to the church in Philadelphia. Now, something cool about these letters is that Jesus introduces Himself in a unique way to each church. For example, to Ephesus, He said He’s the One who holds the seven stars in His hand and walks among the golden lampstands. Revelation 1:20 tells us the stars are the pastors and the lampstands are the churches.
But to the church in Philadelphia, Jesus shows up in a whole new way—one that reminds us just how powerful and personal He really is. So with that in mind, let’s open up to Revelation chapter 3, starting in verse 7, and read this letter together.
As we read, I want you to be listening for what Jesus is saying—not just to the church back then, but to us today. Because even though these letters were written thousands of years ago, the truth in them still speaks directly to where we are right now.
Let’s check it out—Revelation 3:7-13, the letter to the church in Philadelphia.
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
This passage and introduction to the name of Jesus is specific to our understanding of what Jesus is about ready to gell the church of Philadelphia. But we have to answer a couple of questions before we move further.
What is the key of David?
What does this door lead to?
The phrase “He who is holy, who is true”, connects us directly to Isaiah 48:17
17 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, Who leads you in the way you should go.
So, the God of the Old Testament, and the savior, redeemer of the New Testament are “One” God - rejected by many, crucified, by His own, “A stone that makes men stumble and a rock that makes them fall”(1 Peter 2:8). He is the one the prophecies foretold that “has the keys of David.
To King David, God gave this word regarding his lineage.
16 “Your house and your kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever.” ’ ”
And then to Davids son Solomon:
1 Kings 2:4 NLT
If you do this, then the Lord will keep the promise he made to me. He told me, ‘If your descendants live as they should and follow me faithfully with all their heart and soul, one of them will always sit on the throne of Israel.’
Well, these prophetic verses not only speak of the national Israel and the natural temple, but also the Spiritual Israel - and the spiritual temple
Galatians 6:16
The Key of David, is the keys of life! It is the power that is in the seed of the tree of life spoken of in Genesis 2, it is the keys of authority that by the glory of the Father raised Christ from the dead, it is the keys spoken of in Revelation 1:18
18 and the living One; and I was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of death and of Hades.
It is with these keys that Jesus declares -
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
::Locked Out Story::
In this passage, Jesus is drawing our minds all the way back to the garden, when the power of God drove Adam and Eve from the garden and sent Cherubim with flaming swords to guard the entrance - Genesis 3:24, for inside the garden was the tree of life. It is reminding us of Genesis 7:16 when all those inside the Ark were given life and God shut the door to the ark, and no man could open it. The door Jesus is talking about is the door only He holds the keys to. Once dead, but self risen; because He is the Holy one of Israel. And look at what the message to this church is.
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
If the theme of the letter of Ephesus was “return to your first love”, if Pergamum was “passive leadership”, Sardis, “wake up”; then the theme to the church of Philadelphia is: Eternal Life! Jesus says to this church: “I have put before you an open door which no one can shut”. I offer you to walk into the promise Adam and Eve forsook, step into my ark of salvation, I and only I can open this door. I and only I can shut this door. I hold the keys, and I have put in front of you an invitation of promise. What is that promise?
10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
There is a second promise to this church:
Revelation 3:12
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
Two Promises To The Church Today
Two Promises To The Church Today
1. We Will Overcome Through His Word
1. We Will Overcome Through His Word
Verse Ten of this passage Jesus says:
10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
This reminds me of another passage in the book of Revelation that says:
11 “And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.
The temptation for the church to try and overcome the devil through good intentions, and smart tactics is nothing new. It took less than 70 years after the resurrection of Christ for the church to slump into the trap of good intentions and slick ideas. But Jesus didn’t offer to save only the upper 2% of the world with an IQ of 130+, or only the tycoons with millions. So many have been swayed by the idea that we can “do something for God”, as if our intellect can serve Him, our wealth can influence Him, or our determination can move His kingdom forward. Let me tell you something my friend. I have a word for you today, directly from the passage of Revelation 3:10 -
You can’t do anything for God - but you can do something because of God.
Moses tried to do something for God - it nearly killed him
David tried to do something for God - he became weary, weak, and fell into temptation
Solomon tried to do something for God - and was drawn away by the lust of the world
Peter tried to do something for God - Jesus rebuked Him - “get behind me Satan”
Isaiah figured it out when he said: Isaiah 64:6
6 For all of us have become like one who is unclean, And all our righteous deeds are like a filthy garment; And all of us wither like a leaf,
And our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.
Your good works are worthless in they eyes of God unless they flow from the well of His Word! The church of Philadelphia was saved why? “Because they have kept the word of My perseverance…” The word of the Lord to Saul, in the height of his leadership career over the nation of Israel, as he “mostly” obeyed Gods command, obeying “almost” all of what God said, with a slight improvement on Gods performance; he stood in the midst of partial disobedience and God said to him through the prophet Samuel:
22 Samuel said,
“Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams.
The promise to you today church is simple: You Will Overcome - but it is through Gods Word. Obey Gods Word and you will live.
2. We Will Be Tested Yet Tempered
2. We Will Be Tested Yet Tempered
There is a promise, but it is to those who overcome. As much as we would love to read this passage and believe that God is going to rescue the world from an hour of temptation; you just can’t make that case through Gods word.
God didn’t take Noah out of the flood, He lead him through the flood.
God didn’t take Israel out Egyptian slavery, He lead them through it.
He didn’t take Israel out of Babylonian exile, He lead them through it.
God didn’t take Jesus out of the hands of crucifixion, He lead Him through it.
He didn’t take the church out of the hands of Nero, Diocletian, or the Dark Ages; rather He lead the church through it.
But in every season of temptation and tribulation the church has grown stronger. For every church that Jesus has written to in these seven letters, He says: I know your deeds, I know where you dwell, I know your tribulation. What you do today in the present world impacts the way you will live in the coming eternal world. He is not going to remove you from the trials of this world without your works being tested.
13 each man’s work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.
The second promise to the church of Philadelphia is this:
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
This is a significant promise referencing back to 1 Kings 7:15-22 when Solomon had two pillars cast for the temple of the Lord. These two pillars were cast of pure bronze - the strongest metal of it’s day. These pillars were 27 foot tall and over 17 feet in circumference. Verse 21 tells us that Solomon named these pillars “Jachin” and “Boaz”, meaning established in strength. And the Lord tells you today - for each of you who will persevere to the end, who put God’s word above your preference, who will prioritize obedience over sacrifice, and will trust the Lord to guide you through the valley of the shadow of death; “He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God”.
This is not some christianeeze, lifeless promise. It has a direct impact on how you live life today. For Paul says:
16 Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, “I will dwell in them and walk among them; And I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
The word for Living Faith Church is this: I am testing you, I am trying your faith. You may be tested by the spirit of offense, the spirit of lust and immorality, the test of materialism and lust for pleasure. But to those who overcome, God will build you up and establish you in strength to be a pillar in His church! LFC- I believe that God has positioned us strategically in our region to be a center of revival! With over 100 first time commitments already this year, over 50 of you individuals personally teaching someone about Jesus using the Purple Book. Hosting a Group- we are a center for life change- this is a place through which we can see The Gospel In Every Home! Let’s not get disctracted with lust, the pleasures of life, greed, silly offenses, or materalism. Let’s press through the temptations and stay faithful to Gods Word!
Salvation Response
Salvation Response
What is your relationship with God look like? Have you remained faithful? Are you struggling in your commitment? Maybe you do not know Jesus personally. I love the words to the church in verse eight.
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
See, so often we are trying to become better so that we can earn the salvation of Christ. But Jesus says to this church; the open door of salvation is granted to those with just a little. I think this is because, truthfully, if we had more, we would feel like we deserve the saving of our soul based on our good works.
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;
9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Jesus is in this room right this moment and He is offering you the gift of eternal life, not because of your good works, but as gift if you will receive it by faith. If you would say, I want God’s forgiveness, I want to accept this gift of life, I want Jesus to live in my heart, raise your hand so I know who I am praying for.
KEEP YOUR HANDS RAISED HIGH - I HAVE A PRAYER PARTNER COMING TO PRAY WITH YOU
“Heavenly Father, I trust You to save me through Your Son, Jesus. Forgive me for all of my sins. Make me brand new. Because You died for me, I want to live for You. Fill me with Your Spirit, so I could follow You. Jesus, You’re now my Lord and the Savior of my life. Take my life. It is Yours. In Jesus’ name, I pray.”
