The Road to Philadelphia

Biblical Text & Opening:

Brief Introduction:

Honor: Pastor Meadows, Pastor Noles, Pastor and I’s Bishop

7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. 9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. 11 Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. 13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Re 3:7–13.

John’s prophetic writing to the seven churches was illustrated as warnings to those churches; however, Philadelphia is highlighted with:

- a special purpose

- call

- demonstration of soundness for Christian living

Speak to the congregation’s purpose (Rom 8:29), call (Matt 28:19), and requirement to demonstrate sound Christian living to those coming after them

A generational curse is removed or perpetuated by the current generation.

1 Pet 1:15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

Movement 1: Traveling to Philadelphia

Philadelphia was the youngest of all the seven cities. It was founded by colonists from Pergamum under the reign of Attalus II, who ruled in Pergamum from 159 to 138 bc. Philadelphos is the Greek for one who loves his brother. Such was the love of Attalus for his brother Eumenes that he was called Philadelphos, and it was after him that Philadelphia was named.

It was founded for a special purpose. It was situated where the borders of Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia (Frugia) met. But it was not as a garrison town that Philadelphia was founded, for there was little danger there. It was founded with the deliberate intention that it might be a means of spreading Greek culture and language to Lydia and Phrygia; and so well did it do its work that by AD 19 the Lydians had forgotten their own language and were all but Greeks.

William Barclay

Philadelphia was a place of connection under the principle of peace; hence, it was an open door for God to operate.

Psalm 133:1 “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brethren to dwell together in unity!”

The Psalmist can best be understood by hearing that it is good for brethren to dwell in unity or togetherness.

The power of God, through the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, was first experienced by togetherness

Togetherness will not occur with constant fighting against one another. Eph 6:12 identifies that we wrestle against:

principalties

powers - ἐξουσία -> according to the BDAG, a favored scholarly Greek to English Dictionary, this specific passage’s use is referring to a state of control over something (Daniel 10 - Michael fought with the princes)

rulers of darkness

spiritual wickedness in high places

While spiritual warfare is a necessary part of Christian living, it makes evangelism difficult - and this is stated mildly.

The gift of Faith moves mountains that would not otherwise be moved. Some things in the spiritual will best be served their chilly when handed over to God.

Romans 12:19 “Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”

God has ultimate justice; hence, wrath is dealt by God and not us. However, their are times in Scripture where wrath was administered through earthen vessels such as Peter in Acts 5

Spiritual Submission - fear of God…the only fear we ought to have.

As Paul teaches, having submission to those who have rule over you (spiritual), for they watch after your souls (Heb 13:17) - It is unprofitable for you to disobey them

The gift of Faith will lead us back to Romans 8:29; hence, leading us to conform to the image of Jesus Christ. This means forgiving those who trespass against us, as Christ forgives us of our debts.

Trusting that God is who He says He is may be one of the most difficult things you do, but it will be one of the best things you’ll ever do

Movement 2: Philadelphia was a Place of Trembling

Greek: Κατακεκαυμένη

“Philadelphia had one particular characteristic which has left its mark upon this letter. It was on the edge of a great plain called the Katakekaumenē, which means the Burned Land. The Katakekaumenē was a great volcanic plain bearing the marks of the lava and the ashes of volcanoes then extinct. Such land is fertile; and Philadelphia was the centre of a great grape-growing area and a famous producer of wines. But that situation had its perils, and these perils had left their mark more deeply on Philadelphia than on any other city. In ad 17, there was a great earthquake which destroyed Sardis and ten other cities. In Philadelphia, the tremors went on for years; Strabo describes it as a ‘city full of earthquakes’.”

It often happens that, when a great earthquake comes, people meet it with courage and self-possession, but the constantly recurring minor shocks drive them to sheer panic.

Philadelphia became a place of tremors on every side and soon those who met it with courage became fearful. They became stagnate, where one could argue that the tremors even got the better part of Christians from time to time. Philadelphia would go on to stand the test of time; however, I personally find it interesting what Barclay stated:

“People in Philadelphia knew very well what security lay in a promise that ‘they would go out no more’.”

Unfortunately, this sounds a lot like today; however, how often do we dread fear...

Fear will trouble you and fight you within your own mind.

1 Jn 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.”

Lk 21:26-28 “Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken. And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.”

“But there is more of Philadelphia’s history than that in this letter. When this earthquake devastated it, Tiberius was as generous to Philadelphia as he had been to Sardis. In gratitude, it changed its name to Neocaesarea—the New City of Caesar. In the time of Vespasian, Philadelphia was to change its name, again out of gratitude, to Flavia, for Flavius was the emperor’s family name. It is true that neither of these new names lasted and ‘Philadelphia’ was restored. But the people of Philadelphia knew what it was to receive ‘a new name’.”

Movement 3: The Seal of the Philadelphian Church - The Holy Ghost

Today you may be struggling with fear, anxiety, depression, or maybe even some unfaithfulness - but for a few moments could we take a moment to find Jesus.

2018 - Walking by Faith - “Be released from fear”

Miracles are in this place - unless Pastor vetos this, you may go if you feel you need to leave…however, if God’s speaking to you right now, I would encourage you not to leave this place without your miracle.