186; 7 Churches; Philadelphia; Don't Give Up or Give In

It was been difficult to be a Christian in Philadelphia. There was a large synagogue where they tried to worship. The Christians were driven out and persecuted for following Jesus.

Even though the Muslims slaughtered 1 million Turkish Christians in the 1920’s, there is still a church in Philadelphia.

Has someone ever made you feel like you didn’t belong? It comes in a variety of flavors; not good enough, you’ve got that background, you’re....or, you’ve got to conform to society or you’ll eThat’s what was happening in Philly

9-11 provide vindication protection and a call to persevere

Philadelphia and Smyrna are only churches with no condemnation, only commendation. Also only churches that are very poor and persecuted.

When the rest of the world says you’re wrong. Stand for Christ at great cost.

12-13 security and status

They were simple folks, worshipping Jesus, even though it was hard.

side note: Philadelphia remained an important Christian town for a thousand years. Even when Turkey fell to the Ottomans, Philadelphia remained true Jesus. Ultimately the were betrayed by other Christians.

Philadelphia and Smyrna are only churches with no condemnation. Also only churches that are very poor and persecuted.

Even though the Muslims slaughtered 1 million Turkish Christians in the 1920’s, there is still a church in Philadelphia.

Revelation 3:7–8 NIV

7 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Revelation 3:7–8 NIV

The church needs to keep it’s eyes on Jesus.

Holy and true - Jesus is the one to be trusted.

I know your deeds. They’re doing the right thing even though it is causing them persecution.

Jesus reminds them of incredible truths.

That’s so important because when things get hard, it’s easy to forget what we know to be true. It’s easy to question what we don’t see.

Holds the key of David is from .

Majordomo function - he controls who has access to the King.

The majordomo opens the door the Kingdom. Others say you’re not welcome here. Jesus says different.

I AM the door. The thief comes to kill, steal, and destroy, but I come to give you life. John 10.

The local synagogue may have closed the door to the Christians, but when Jesus opens a door, no man can close it. On the other hand, when Jesus closes a door, it will not be opened.

They may have little strength but Jesus guarantees the open door.

A simple church needs to be reminded...

A person who feels like an outcast needs to be reminded...

The church is small, not influential, and dealing with persecution, but, they were faithful. Success in the Christian life is always measured in faithfulness, not results.

Stated positively then negatively. You have kept my word and not denied my name.

You have kept my word and not denied my name.

They’ve done the right things even though it was difficult and even though they didn’t they felt insignificant.

Church - there is no replacement for simple obedience to God’s word. Jesus sees it.

Rev 3:9-

Revelation 3:9–11 NIV

9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. 11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

This small church will be vindicated

Synagogue of Satan?

But aren’t Jews the people of God? People of God see

Jesus flips it on its head and says the one who rejects you will bow before you. Submission, not worship.

There will be a day when every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father. On that day, those who have rejected Jesus will see the church as it really is and they will see just how much Jesus loves his church.

Because this is true, I don’t need to vengeance, or vindication, or revenge when folks dog us. I can leave that to him. He is much better equipped and much wiser than we are. We can give that one to him.

This isn’t a “let go and let God” thing. We have a part, it’s to remain faithful.

Promise to protect

I will keep you from = protect in the storm- not take out of the storm.

John 17:15 NIV

15 My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

We don’t get to avoid the struggles, but we have the promise that Jesus will protect us through the trials.

Promise to help

Hold on to what you have. Don’t stop doing what you’re doing.

Revelation 3:12–13 NIV

12 The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. 13 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

People who want to read Revelation literally run into a problem here. A pillar?

This is such a rich and beautiful picture that we need to stop for a minute and really look at it.

The Temple was a series restrictions

Mention second Temple sign

But Jesus opens the door and says, “You are welcome here.” Regardless of who you are and where you come from, Jesus opens the door and says...

Not only that, we become a permanent fixture.

Duc in Altum (show pic)

8 pillars

It’s not the pillars that are so important but the story they tell.

In eternity, our lives will tell the story of Jesus’ spectacular love forever.

Close

When things are hard, when we don’t feel like we’re winning the battle, when we’re rejected, how does the church hang on? The same way the Apostle Paul said we should deal with any difficulty.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 NIV

16 Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. 17 For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18 So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

Don’t lose heart.

Our struggles, Paul says, are light and momentary.

They don’t feel that way. Rejection and persecution are a big deal. Paul says they are light and momentary. Everything from cancer to criticism.

When we feel...

Every bit of it build an eternal weight of glory that outweighs it all. Every bit of it

How do we do that? By keeping our eyes on Jesus at all times.

When things start caving in, we tend to think we’re the center of the world...

What we need is a word for the One who is Holy and True; who holds the Keys of Kingdom. He sees, He provides, He protects, He is worthy of worship

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