The Faithful Church
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Illustration: Facing the Giants—The coach is discouraged. The team is loosing. The parents and others are loosing confidence in his capabilities. His personal life is under much pressure. He is wrestling with doubt. He is afraid.
Then there is a man. He goes to the school, walks the halls, and prays. He is an intercessor. Armed with faith and the Word, he does battle.
The intercessor meets the discouraged coach—and he gives him a word:
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.
Main Idea
God encourages His people to trust in His promises, regardless of human or satanic hostility—even in the face a significant hardship.
Transition
Jesus unfolds this truth in His letter the the church in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia was a small community. Insecure for two reasons: it sat on a fault line and experienced devastating earthquakes. Secondly, imperial edicts devastated the economy and drove many into poverty.
And God chose to plant a church in an insignificant place for His glory.
This church faced hardship—suffering—and persecution.
And it is to this church that Jesus writes:
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.
Jesus uses the words of the Old Testament prophet, Isaiah, to reveal a truth that we must understand.
22 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.
It is Christ’s shoulders that the key of the house of David is placed. This speaks of authority. What He has established cannot be thwarted.
Question: Do you believe and trust in the authority of Jesus? And, that authority is greater than any demonic, satanic, or humanistic plan or activity?
Point 1
Life live within the authority of Jesus Christ!
Life live within the authority of Jesus Christ!
This will determine if we will live by faith or by fear.
Too many of us have been so consumed by was this world says.
Our prayers are filled with fear rather than confidence in the power of God.
What does it mean to live within the authority of Jesus Christ?
24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
I need to surrender selfishness, pride, ambition, distractions,