The Open Door
Notes
Transcript
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Someone once wrote:
“What is the difference between an obstacle and an opportunity? Our attitude toward it. Every opportunity has a difficulty, and every difficulty has an opportunity.”
—J. Sidlow Baxter
We are a church with incredible opportunity!
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Do you believe that? Do you really believe that we, as a church, have incredible opportunity today?
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Sometimes, churches and individuals seem intimidated, even terrified, of the world in which we live.
When we look around at all the problems and challenges of the world, it is quite dauting.
Yes, we know the saying that the light shines the brightest when the night is the darkest, but do we truly believe this?
Do you realize that we are surrounded by opportunity for ministry?
Philadelphia, when John received this revelation, was a very young city. It was first established by Attalus II (Philadelphia) about 150 B.C.
This city was destroyed, along with Sardis, in the earthquake of A.D. 17, and rebuilt, but not as magnificently as nearby Sardis was.
When this city was restored, it was renamed Neocaesarea, in honor of the Roman emperor Tiberius.
During the reign of Nero (A.D. 54-68), this city was renamed Philadelphia. Later, during the reign of Vespasian (A.D. 70-79), the city was given yet a new name: Flavia.
Philadelphia was an agricultural economy, known for its grapes and the patron god was Dionysius, the wine-god.
(pause)
Philadelphia Church, along with Smyrna Church, are the only two churches of the seven that were not condemned by Christ.
Due to this fact, one might question why we should this church in our discussion of "Turnaround Churches."
However, even though Philadelphia Church was not condemned by Jesus, we see in this letter areas of life and ministry that this church needed to have a changed perspective. Let us state the underlying principle we find this way:
Big Idea: The church’s view of ministry reveals its concept of Christ.
Big Idea: The church’s view of ministry reveals its concept of Christ.
What does scripture teach us about Christ and the Church?
1. Christ is the Lord of the church, v. 7.
1. Christ is the Lord of the church, v. 7.
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Notice in verse 7 the description Jesus gives of himself. To the pastor of Philadelphia Church, Jesus told John to write describing Jesus as 1) holy, 2) true, 3) possessing the key of David, 4) opening and shutting doors that cannot be changed by others.
It is interesting that when Jesus first revealed himself to John in this vision said…
… I am the first and the last, … and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
The key to which Jesus referred now in Revelation 3:7 is different than the keys referred in Revelation 1. In fact, Revelation 3:7 appears to be a reference to Isaiah 22:22, which says,
And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
In Isaiah 22, in the verses leading up to this verse, we learn that Shebna, who was secretary during King Hezekiah's reign, misused some of temple money, buying himself a sepulchre and a chariot.
Therefore, in Isaiah 22:22 God took the key to the treasury off of Shebna's shoulder, where the key was traditionally worn, and gave it to Eliakim, a godly man who would use this authority wisely (Revelation 3:7, Courson's Commentary).
Now, in this letter to Philadelphia Church, Jesus said that HE has the key of David! Jesus is the one who is in charge of His Church! In verse 9, Jesus talked about the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews but are not.
This refers to the Jewish community in that city who believed that because of their genealogy, they were spiritual and special to God, but had rejected Jesus, the Son of God, as Messiah.
The synagogue expelled those Jews who became Christians. This statement by Jesus then that he holds the key of David is an encouragement.
To Jewish Christians excluded from the synagogue, this was Jesus’ encouragement that he who rightly ruled the house of David now acknowledged them as his own people.
Keener, C. S. (1993). The IVP Bible background commentary: New Testament (Re 3:7–8). InterVarsity Press.
This statement is both an encouragement and a caution to us today.
If we were to ask, "Who is the Boss of the Church?" we would all say, "Christ is Lord of the Church." After all, in Matthew 16:18 Jesus said,
…I will build my church…
(pause)
The encouragement for us today is that if we have trusted in Jesus as Lord and Savior, we have been accepted into his Church. Our acceptance in Christ’s Church is not limited by what others think of us, if they accept us or not.
Rather, as born-again believers, we gain entrance because Jesus holds the key to Heaven and opens and shuts the door as he will.
The caution for us today is that in our local churches we can sometimes develop this feeling of ownership and entitlement that results in an attitude, basically, that we own “our church”.
There’s a funny story about a pastor and a church with the wrong attitude - it may just be an urban legend - but this story shows what can go wrong when we feel like we own the church, instead of recognizing Christ is Lord of His Church.
There was a little old cleaning woman that went to the local church. When the invitation was given at the end of the service, she went forward wanting to become a member.
The pastor listened as she told him how she had accepted Jesus and wanted to be baptized and become a member of the church.
The pastor thought to himself, "oh my, she is so unkempt, even smells a little, and her fingernails are not clean. She picks up garbage, cleans toilets - what would the members think of her."
He told her that she needed to go home and pray about it and then decide. The following week, here she came again. She told the pastor that she had prayed about it and still wanted to be baptized. "I have passed this church for so long. It is so beautiful, and I truly want to become a member."
Again the pastor told her to go home and pray some more. A few weeks later while out eating at the restaurant, the pastor saw the little old lady.
He did not want her to think that he was ignoring her so he approached her and said, "I have not seen you for a while. Is everything all right?"
"Oh, yes," she said. "I talked with Jesus, and he told me not to worry about becoming a member of your church."
"He did?" said the pastor. "Oh, yes" she replied. "He said even He hasn't been able to get into your church yet, and He's been trying for years...... But that's fine pastor, Jesus found me a church that's just right.”
Facebook post by Cowboys-4-Christ, February 15, 2014
Christ is truly Lord of His Church! Let us be careful in our stewardship of this local church and its facilities always to submit our plans, our desires, our will, our prerogatives, and our opinions to the Word and the will of God!
2. Christ gives the church its opportunities, v. 8.
2. Christ gives the church its opportunities, v. 8.
“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Think about what Jesus said to Philadelphia Church here. Jesus owns the key of David. He possesses it. He opens doors that no one can shut.
He shuts doors and no one can open them. And now, Christ wanted Philadelphia Church to know that he had set before them an open door!
Wow! Put yourself in Philadelphia Church for a moment. If you were to receive a letter from Jesus saying, "I am giving you a huge opportunity!", how would you react? Wouldn't you think you would grab it? Wouldn't you jump at the chance to take advantage of this open door?
Sometimes, churches haved failed to see the open door opportunities that God is giving them.
Years ago, a church that had a ready-made opportunity to reach Hispanic people with a Spanish-speaking service.
But the rest of the congregation was afraid that if they brought in a bunch of Hispanic unbelievers, that their children would destroy the walls and pews, marking them up with crayons.
Another church years ago met in a rundown, decrepit building. The opportunity arose for this church to purchase a huge, modern-style building, more than enough to accommodate the congregation's needs.
One well-to-do member in the church even promised the pastor that if the congregation would step out in faith to buy this building, he personally would donate the money to pay for half of it.
But the congregation did not have faith that they could purchase the building. That church has long since closed and the building they once met in, still decrepit-looking, was occupied by a railroad club.
Meanwhile, the beautiful building the church could not believe could be theirs … became a funeral home!
Yet another church chose a different mindset. This inner city church was doing its best to reach people for Christ. In fact, they won many to God.
But due to the nature of where they were located and the people they were winning to Christ - college students, etc. - this church never seemed to grow substantially in attendance.
Finally, this church realized that God's will for them was not to grow into a megachurch.
Rather, God wanted them to impact people in transition. So, even though their church remained small in attendance, in comparison to others, the church had a mega-impact on its world!
3. Christ keeps the church in times of opposition, vv. 9-11.
3. Christ keeps the church in times of opposition, vv. 9-11.
Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.
Look at the amazing promises Jesus gave Philadelphia Church. This church faced severe opposition from "the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie."
We must remember that the Church began as a sect of the Jewish religion. Throughout the early history of the Church, the believers struggled with the question of whether the believer needed to become a Jew to truly be a Christian.
In Philadelphia, the church apparently was opposed by those who claimed to be true Jews (whether they were actually Jewish in ethnicity or simply claimed to be more spiritual than the followers of Christ).
But look what Christ was going to do! Jesus would make the testimony of the believers so obvious that this synagogue of Satan would bow before them to worship Christ!
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Why?
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Jesus said in verse 9, "they will learn that I have loved you."
Jesus' words remind us of his high priestly prayer from John 17 where he prayed for the unity of all believers.
I in them and you in me, that they may become perfectly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me.
Because of the unity of Philadelphia Church and the love of the believers for one another, those who opposed them would one day come to humble themselves before the Christians, because God's love in them was so obvious!
But this was not the extent of Jesus' promise to this church. Rather, in verse 9, Jesus said that because they kept His Word, he would keep them from the hour of trial that was about to come upon the world.
(pause)
Think about that! The threat of hardship and persecution is intimidating. It is just natural to feel worry when you see events conspiring in the world to bring trouble, especially trouble upon the Church.
But Jesus' promise suggests that this church would escape this trial.
Like the Israelites were protected by the blood on the doorposts while the rest of Egypt suffered the death of their firstborn, Philadelphia Church appears to have been promised an escape from the trial about to come upon the world.
But even if Jesus' meaning was only that He would keep them in or during the hour of trial - the believers could rest in this promise: Jesus would keep them!
They would not be lost! They would not be overcome! They could be victorious! Their future was not uncertain!
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No, in Christ they would conquer! Therefore, they simply needed to heed Jesus' admonition: "hold fast what you have."
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As we apply this principle to our lives today, we should first note that Jesus' promise to exempt Philadelphia Church from the hour of trial was a promise to this church specifically.
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In other words, we cannot say that because Jesus promised to keep Philadelphia Church from an hour of trial that Jesus will necessary keep our church from trouble - or that no church will ever experience trouble.
No, Jesus was not making a generic promise to all local churches here!
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Regardless, we can see in this scripture Jesus' love and care for His Church.
While our church may sometimes suffer setback and trial, we can know that if we labor faithfully, full of love for God and others, that He will watch over us. Even if we have to go through dark valleys, we can know that God will go with us!
Furthermore, we should recognize that if we dare to go through the open doors that Jesus sets before us, there may be opposition. In fact, there probably will be opposition! Sometimes, the opposition will be from places we would not expect it.
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Despite any opposition we might face, we can know, as we hold fast to Christ and enter the open doors He has set before us, that Christ approves and is with us!
4. Christ rewards the church for obedience, vv. 12-13.
4. Christ rewards the church for obedience, vv. 12-13.
The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, 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 from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
Remember, the city of Philadelphia had been destroyed a few years earlier by an earthquake.
(pause)
Is it too much to suggest that some of these believers may have seen pillars of the pagan temples crumble as the earthquake shook and rolled the ground?
In Hebrews 12, the writer describes the fear and awe the Israelites experienced before Mt. Sinai when God spoke the Ten Commandments.
At that time his voice shook the earth, but now he has promised, “Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heavens.”
But then the Hebrews writer says …
Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe,
Pagan temples could not offer foolproof security from natural disasters, but the conquering Christian will be made a pillar of God's temple, and will never have need to leave its security.
Do you also remember how this city was renamed more than once? First it was Philadelphia, then Neocaesarea, then Philadelphia, and finally was named Flavia.
Jesus promised the conquering Christian that he would write on this person 1) the name of God, 2) the name of God's city, and 3) Jesus' own new name.
Imagine the identity crisis that the citizens of Philadelphia must have suffered with. "Yes, I'm from Philadelphia. I mean, Neocaesarea. I mean, Philadelphia. I mean…"
Jesus reassures the conquering Christian that this person will bear God's name. They need not fear about who they are in Christ or to whom they belong. The conquering Christian belongs to God!
(pause)
The overarching truth we have found from Philadelphia Church today is:
Big Idea: The church’s view of ministry reveals its concept of Christ.
Big Idea: The church’s view of ministry reveals its concept of Christ.
Who is Christ to our church? Are we in charge, or is Christ truly Lord of our church?
How do we view opportunities? Do we discount them or consider them suspiciously? Or do we see such opportunities as given by Christ?
How do we regard opposition? Do we give up hope? Do we feel abandoned? Or do we believe that Christ will keep us, regardless of the trials we go through?
What is our sense of stewardship and responsibility to Christ? Do we serve at our leisure, or do we serve Christ, knowing that He will reward us for our obedience to Him?
Preacher's Commentary has some powerful thoughts in application of this scripture: The writer notes:
The task given to the church is neither too easy—“I know you have but little power” (v. 8, rsv)—nor is it too hard. We Christians are not asked to open the heavy doors, but to walk through doors that the Lord opens.
The task is too hard unless the Lord of this mission empowers His people. On the other hand, the Christians are granted a realistic, down-to-earth strategy, with four sensible and workable parts:
Those four parts are: 1) we must have a personal relationship with Christ, 2) we must find a way to share the name of Christ, 3) we must live the love of Christ, and 4) we must welcome the people who will come to the people of God as a result of this strategy.
Now, listen closely to this:
Once again, a major thesis about the Christian church is hereby established. It is God who invited people into His church, and very often those who are invited are an unexpected surprise for the church itself.
We who are in the church are usually unprepared for the response of people to Jesus Christ. It is all to the good; therefore, our only task in this regard is to welcome these who are called… .
This commentary then notes two impressive points about this strategy:
First, you don't need super Christians for the Christian missionary task; you just need garden-variety Christians who are experiencing Christ's love in their lives,
Secondly…
"The persuasive cutting edge of the Christian fellowship is the fact of belovedness. … When the world observes this love alive and growing with the Christian fellowship, the doors swing wide because the world is starved for this love."
Wow! Do you understand the point here? As we live faithfully in God's love, Jesus will open and shut doors for our church as he so chooses.
We must be careful to watch for open doors; too often, we are surprised by those who are open to the Gospel. Too many times, we confuse opportunities as obstacles!
So, we must learn to live with positive faith and willingness to follow the Spirit's leading, filled with the love of Christ!
What happened to Philadelphia Church and its open door? Someone has written:
This is the church that got out the Word of God and, as far as we know, this church lasted longer than any other of the seven churches mentioned here. Until the thirteenth century, it had a continuous existence.
It was destroyed by the Seljuk Turks when they came in and brutally murdered all the believers who were left in this church. It was also a missionary church. It is the belief now that the fact that Christianity penetrated into India as early as it did was because this church had sent out missionaries.
( https://ref.ly/o/ttb58-rev1/191464?length=514 )
The pressing question we must address now is this: will we change our mindset from seeing obstacles as problems and instead recognizing them as opportunities?
Will we allow ourselves to become depressed and discouraged by the work ahead of us, or will we choose to be energized by the power of the Spirit and serve faithfully?
Let us then pray to the Spirit. Let us pray, rededicating our lives and our church to the mission Christ has given us. "Go and make disciples". Let us rise up to this challenge.
Let us pray, committing ourselves to the work of God. Let us pray, trusting God to work mightily on our behalf. Let us pray, thanking God for "open doors".
Let us pray, and then enter the door Jesus has opened for us!
