The Church of Philadelphia
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Introduction
Introduction
Memorial Day - Remember those who lost their lives.
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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. 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. 9 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. 10 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. 11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 12 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. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
This is a faithful church.
(ZECNT) 30 miles east of Sardis.
Lots of Volcanic Activity
- Main industries were Vineyards, wine, woolen textiles, leather working etc.
It was partially destroyed in 17 AD to an earthquake.
Established Pergamene King Eumenites 2nd built it for his brother Amenaties whom he loved.
It was a border town and this city had a special mission It’s mission was to export Greek Culture to the rest of the world.
We are called to go through the door.
We are called to go through the door.
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.
They were a faithful church.
They were a faithful church.
“You have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
“Little power” - It doesn’t mean they have little authority, it most likely means they are a smaller congregation.
They were pretty similar to us. Smaller congregation,
Remember Sardis? Jesus takes on the Father from Zoolander and says, “You’re dead to me”.
This church has made it, they have endured suffering and now a door is open to them.
Our ability to go through the door God calls us through is based upon how we faced closed doors.
Think about this church. They have faced closed door after closed door.
“The reason the door will open is because of the way in which you handled the closed door of your life." (Tim Keller)
Do you blame other people when you don’t get the promotion?
When the door of your health closes and you realize the hand you have been dealt, how do you handle the closed door?
When you lose that family member or loved one who has been an open door for you how do you handle it?
Maybe you realize your youth isn’t coming back and that door has closed. How do you respond?
This church has responded well to closed doors. They faced persecution, they faced suffering, they faced loss and Jesus has nothing bad to say about them.
The way this church responds to suffering reveals two things about them.
They have stability
Suffering reveals the fleeting nature of those things we build our life upon.
You see what’s real and what’s fake.
You see the real friends and the fake ones.
They know who they really are.
It has the power to make you authentic.
They don’t try to blend in with the culture.
Faith is shaped into the image of whatever culture wants it to.
It didn’t make them angry and resentful.
When you are real with people they see you differently. They will see, they will trust, they will follow.
You can’t fake it till you make it with God.
Suffering is God’s mercy
Being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer “has helped Kathy and I grow, and we wouldn’t want to go back to the way things were,” he said. “I believe that God put something in my life such as pancreatic cancer that has caused me to grow like I’ve wanted to. We’ve been happier and closer in this season.”
“I’ve already experienced death and the resurrection,” he said, “the death of dreams: I probably won’t see my grandchildren grow up”
https://religionnews.com/2021/03/15/tim-keller-hope-and-fear-finds-relevance-in-resurrection-cancer-redeemer/
Faithful churches always face opposition.
Faithful churches always face opposition.
We don’t know the type of persecution this church faced but it is likely similar to what the other churches faced. They most likely faced social and political pressures.
Here are the results
Here are the results
9 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.
The Story of Dan
The Story of Dan
We are all big tough guys. I mean look at me.
No one is exempt from suffering, your story might be the only connection they have to what it looks like to have a relationship with God.
You can talk about how awesome Jesus is and people will look at you weird.
But you talk about how you lost a kid, guess what, some people might start listening, because they’ve lost a kid.
You can break down how Jesus is both man and God and people will nod and smile but if you talk about how you were laid off and you went through a dark season of pain and struggle and you fought with your spouse. Guess what, people might start to listen because they fight, they’ve lost.
The Church is Built on Suffering
The Church is Built on Suffering
The church was never a place where everything is alright
The church is the place people come when the doors of life have been shut in their face.
Our leader is the leader who suffered. His disciples suffered, there disciples suffered.
There is no one more authentic than Jesus because his suffering was on display for the entire world to see.
Jesus’ story is on display for all to see.
33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
The Faithful church is made a pillar.
The Faithful church is made a pillar.
12 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.
The Downstairs Project
The Downstairs Project
There are four pillars that are right in the way but they cannot be moved.
If they moved then you people sitting in the back would fall through and we’d be in the paper.
What do Pillars do?
They provide stability, security, they free you to live life without worry.
Christ will inscribe 3 new names on the one who overcomes.
1. The name of God (Stability)You are his, fully accepted because of the work of Christ.
You can know who you are because you know WHOSE you are.
2. New Jerusalem (Belong)You have access to the place of God. You have a right to dwell with God and have God dwell within you.
3. A new name “from me” (Purpose) You have a new identity. You will find fulfillment in him.
New names are given to instill purpose, meaning, value and destiny.
Pillars provide the structure for Stability, Belonging, and purpose.
We have grandparents who serve in this church. Their kids serve and their grandkids are coming up in childrens ministry.