Biserica Filadelfia în 2019
Introducere
The Philadelphia church was not censored by the Lord; rather it was commended. Although some people disobey and reject the Lord, many others stand for righteousness and high principles. Love causes men to obey God and to follow His teachings.
I. THE CHURCH—v. 7
A. Place. Philadelphia was thirty miles southeast of Sardis. It was known as the church of “brotherly love.”
B. Power. Power in speaking of the Lord:
1. Purity. “He that is holy”
2. Person. “He that is true.”
3. Power. “He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.”
II. THE CHARACTER—vv. 8–9
A. Personality—v. 8
1. Observance. “I know thy works.”
2. Opening. “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.”
3. Obedience. “For thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word and hast not denied my name.”
B. Power—v. 9. “Note this: ‘I will force those supporting the causes of Satan while claiming to be mine (but they aren’t—they are lying) to fall at your feet and acknowledge that you are the ones I love’ ” (LB).
III. THE COMPENSATION—v. 10
A. Patience. They were patient despite persecution and problems. Patience is one of the most needed virtues today.
B. Promise. He will keep us in the hour of temptation. Some feel that this means that He will keep us from going through the tribulation.
God is with man in temptation (1 Cor. 10:13). He permits no temptation without giving the power to overcome it.
IV. THE CONTROL—vv. 11–13
A. Rapture—v. 11. We must hold to what we have, so that Satan does not take our crown. The Christian life is a battle (Eph. 6:12–18). God gives us the tools to use in this battle.
B. Reward—v. 12. Our names will be written in heaven. Note what happens to those whose names were not written in God’s Book (Rev. 20:11–15).
C. Respect—v. 13. Listen and heed what the Spirit says. Do more than hear—listen. Many hear, but few ever listen or practice what they hear.
Many hear the teachings of God, but how many really obey them? When one fully obeys, God’s Word sinks into the depths of his heart, changing him and making him the person that God wants him to be. To be everything God wants you to be, you must do this concerning God’s Word: hear it, obey it, hide it, live it, share it, study it, and know it. As we hide God’s Word in our heart, we will not sin against Him (Ps. 119:11). God’s Word will convict us of our sin (Heb. 4:12), cleanse us from sin (Ps. 119:9), and increase our faith (Rom. 10:17).