Chrurch of Philadelphia
Let's start with the word prayer. Are Grace's father how we thank you that we can gather in your house. What a joy. It is to have fellowship with other believers. Who love you and desire to walk with you. We pray that your spirit would be here in power and strength to move in our hearts to help us know you more deeply and be drawn to you through the power of your word and through all the other things that we've gone through through the prayer in the singing ending.
the desire of each are bother me you touch me that it is I speak that I would do so not in my power button yours for father. It is in you that there is strength there is hope there is eternity and so may I yield my life into your hands to trust that you will guide each and every word bless us in this time. Oh Lord as we look at your word and the City of Philadelphia in Jesus name. Amen. Yes, we are looking at the sixth city today the city of Philadelphia. This is an exciting one because really there is nothing that he pronounces against the city of Philadelphia where they're struggling in the simple ideas that they be a church that continues to do what they're supposed to do and then do or to the end. Which means there is an end to it, which also means if you're looking at the Philadelphia Church of today. It is a church that will endure until the return of Jesus Christ. So that's pretty exciting. Isn't it that it can do so I thought about a church that really came close to identifying with the church at Philadelphia. Mary is mentioned it a few times and that's the church that we went to in Budapest Hungary if the danview Danube International Church is what it was called add. The reason she loved it. Is that people from all different.
Denominations came together to worship and they tossed out all those things that tore them apart from each other and they gave those all up and came together and just United around the great things that God has for each of our lives and it was a great point of unity and a covering for it. Well, there are three other things that I thought identified it with the church of Philadelphia as well. I'll let me give them to you.
They understood the necessity of relying upon God to do the work in their lives. Prayer was evident and Powerful in their midst because they realized that they didn't have the power in the strength to spread the word to the people around them. But they knew that God did it's like Paul, you know in 2nd Corinthians when he's taking a look at the struggles he had and God said know your struggle is my strength and that's what these people realize that whether they struggled or not and what they were doing that they would find their strength in the Living God. That's the first one the second one is they had a heart for the Lost. I probably half the people that attended that church were missionaries. They came over to Europe to Eastern Europe. To minister in countries like Hungary and Poland and Romania Slovakia and Bulgaria and rock they went out and they minister to these places because they have an urge to touch the loft. Got it, open the door truly to Eastern Europe when we went there. They just come out of Communism. The doors had opened up and people were allowed to go in and minister to those countries and there was an uncertainty of how long that would last and so they were there with an urgency to reach out and touch the lost for Christ in the final thing is that they love God's word that this book was extremely powerful to them and they wanted to know God more and more and so when they studied his word they did so with an urgency to understand and know God and that's a picture of the Philadelphia church when we look at it in the Philadelphia church. If we take a look at it in the history pass they were at church where will read that they were a church that struggled with their strengthen their power but they realize that God was their power they were at church that even though they were in the midst of Satan they had an open door that led to Ministry and they had a desire and God's call was endure endure to the end. If we take a look at what that might be in the history, we would be looking at the church as it began to grow from the Reformation time particular play from the eighteenth Century on when the urge to get out and start taking the gospel to other lands the great missionary movements began in the mid-eighteenth century when people started to go to Africa to Asia to South America to spread the good news across the world. Because got it opened up a door.
And so if we look at that church it began then and it continues on even today. Doors are beginning to close though. And so there's an urgency to get out and reach the lost for the sake of Jesus Christ. Well, let's take a look at the Philadelphia Church where in Revelation chapter 3 will read the first couple of verses here verses 7 & 8 It says to the angel of the church at Philadelphia rights. And remember, this is Jesus Christ. That is speaking to John and he's telling John what to write to this church at Philadelphia. Okay. So this is God speaking to man when we read this it says 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. 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. This is the Church of Philadelphia.
The Holy One brought his word to this church.
And I he is recognized in all of eternity in no matter what realm it might be in. He is recognized. The only place that he is not recognized is through people here on this Earth. Think about that a little bit. Jesus in an episode in the first chapter of Mark. There's this demon possessed guy. He's got a number of demons that are held inside him and is approaching this guy. And here's what the demons had to say to Jesus Christ Mark 1:24. What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth Nazareth. Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God. It's not amazing that Damon's recognize who God is Demon's recognize that he has authority over them. The only ones that don't recognize it or mankind. We struggle. With recognizing the Living God even though he is revealed himself so majestically in so many ways to our world. And he's revealing himself to the church at Philadelphia. Now remember is Jesus introduces each of these churches to who he is. He does so by helping them see who he is and what he's going to address in those churches and in the Church of Philadelphia. He simply says I am the true one who holds the key. Just keep looking at me and I will lead you along the way. What's the ski you might ask there is a question of you know, what's this key that is held and it's the key that truly opens the door to to the good things that are supposed to be it goes all the way back to the book of Isaiah. Actually. There's this episode and Isaiah 22 where I God is talking about two characters that are in the leadership roles of Hezekiah the king and one of them is shebna and that Shabbona is somehow gotten involved in the leadership of Judah and the name is rather. It's kind of a Hebrew Egyptian name so somehow he is gotten himself in Old in the workings. He is the at at this writing. He was the kind of the Secretary of State. He was a guy that made decisions help make decisions for the king and dumb and he was making poor decisions. And so God comes to him and he says I'm going to give these take you out of the way and I'm going to give these over to eliakim who is going to be a good leader and he will have the keys that will open the doors to goodness kind of important if you think about the life of Hezekiah there was an episode in his life where he became extremely sick and he may have struggled with leadership and he needed good people helping him guide him in the decisions. He made so a a good leader was important and so God says he's going to remove shebna, so, Here's the verse that refer to Isaiah 22:22. I will place on his shoulder eliakim shoulder the key to the house of David what he opens? No one can shut and what he shuts no one can open you say it's very similar to what Jesus is saying to the people of Philadelphia and I imagine that there were some in Philadelphia who were leaders within that Philadelphian church that held the to opening the doors to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And I think that we could see that in today's life. If we take a look at leaders. There are people that are given keys to minister to others and the hope is that they open the doors of Truth to the lives of others.
It goes on to say there's an open door that God's opened up the door and I said before I believe the god opened up the door who reach the world for Jesus Christ through events that happened in our world, but most of all the changing of the church the desire of the church to catch fire and to go through a Revival process that brought about a desire to reach out and help others to know Jesus Christ, and that's so important in our church. If we don't have a desire for other people to know Jesus Christ and change then we're missing the boat in terms of what God wants from our lives. That's why he's kept you here after he brought you to know Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, that's your responsibility and each one of us has that responsibility will Jesus was talking To the temples in Matthew 24 and he was going through the process as I've mentioned in the past where the end times are moving along and what are the events that will happen and he goes through any describes pretty clearly some of the events will happen in verses 12 through 14. It says because of the increase of wickedness the love of most will grow cold, but he who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to the Nations and then the end will come. Okay, there's going to be difficulties. There's going to be struggles, but we are called to be faithful to endure to the end. But there's also another call and that call is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all the nations of the earth. Is that happened? Yes, it has the gospel is been taken to all the nations of the earth. And what does it say at the end? It says and then the end will come Jesus Christ will return. Okay, that's what we're looking forward to.
But the call again is that we endure we hold fast to the truth that God has placed before us we take the word and we hold it dear and loving to our lives and that's what he's calling the Church of Philadelphia to go hold fast to his word to endure. That's what that Paul says in 2nd Timothy. 2:10 2nd. Timothy is Paul's last book and he's riding it right at the end of his life. Encouraging Timothy to walk in the truth of who he is in and who he knows and he says these words therefore. I am your everything for the sake of the elect those who are called to be Believers in Jesus Christ that they too May obtain the Salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory in other words. We are called to endure in our effort. To bring the Gospel of Jesus Christ to all we know and that's why it's so important for you and I as Believers to be able to live our lives and express to our community the need to know Jesus Christ as Lord and savior. You know, it's real difficult when you do a memorial service or a funeral. And there's such an uncertainty about the life of that person that they've gone into eternity in the likelihood is they didn't know Jesus Christ and that's a burden that we all need to face. If there are many that are lost and they need to know Christ and it's our desire to want to be our desire to reach them. Well, let's take a look at the true church here verses 8 and 9 and 10. It says 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 in fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my commands to endure Patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the Earth. This is a talk about the True Church. The true church is the Philadelphia church that has a desire to know Jesus Christ and the live Jesus Christ in a world that is in need because Satan is active and Powerful in our world, but we are more powerful as we stand firm and faithful in Jesus Christ 1st, John 5:1 and 2 says everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, Amen and everyone who loves the father loves his children as well. This is how we know. We love the children of God by loving God and carrying out his commands. You know, that's the great call to our people today and it says real struggle that we see in the churches of today. So many of them are accepting societal standards for the way they operate in the church. You know worldly desires. Wanting that those finances than those wonderful things that they can have in this world rather than seeking after the truth of God's word.
Seeking Jesus Christ. Doing what God has called us to do. Those are the things. And ultimately God is going to bring about Justice because he's coming back. You says here in these words. I'm coming back and I'm coming back soon. Hang with it stay with it for justice will be brought to our world. And if you stay the task and do the things that I've called you to do if you endure in my name. You don't have to worry. There's no trouble. 2nd Thessalonians 1 6 and 7 says God is just he will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled into us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. God is coming back. Amen. God is coming back and he's coming back. I believe pretty soon. and we have a job to continue on with and he has given us he's commissioned us to be alive and well in This Time Imagine That you were chosen by God to exist in this present age. You ever think about that God's put me here right now to be on the threshold of his return.
What a joy that is is also a responsibility. A responsibility to live as God has called us to live. Following him to remain faithful to the task. Once again, you know, just stay with the task. Stay with it. Don't falter. James 1:12, it says blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
You know one day whatever that Crown might be that he exists. He's going to reach out and he's going to place it on the head of those who have been faithful and follow bug. Is call to live life in his way on this Earth. He's coming back and soon and he's going to pass out crowns. You want one of those crowns don't you? I do. I want one of those crowns and so my desire would be to be faithful to his task to Stand Fast until the very end. Keep on going. It's interesting In this passage. It. It brings about some struggles about the end times and we go through those struggle. Sometimes I don't think that we need to really worry about that because that's ahead of us. God will work it all those details out. But the one detail that we do have is that we stand fast we be faithful until God comes to an end. Daniel 12:1 says at that time Michael the great prince who protects your people will arrive. There will be a time of distress such as not happened from the beginning of the nation's until then but at that time your people Everyone whose name is found written in the book will be delivered. And notice he says in verse 10 that you won't have to go through those great struggles in the end. That's interesting that he says this and so we'll see what all that plays out in our lives, but he is Promised I'm coming back. Be ready be ready. Let's continue on verses 11 through 13 finish out the Church of Philadelphia. I'm coming soon. Hold on to what you have so that no one will take your crown him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God never again. Will he leave it? I will write on him the name of my God the New Jerusalem, which is coming down out of Heaven from my God and I will also write on him my new name he who has an ear let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. I'm coming back. I'm coming back is said that over and over again scripture, you know, and we need to get that in her. Mind's not only is he coming back but he's coming back to bring those who have been faithful to the kingdom of God. He's going to put us in his Temple like a statue in other words Saleh right there not moving stable there, but he has to be ready to be ready. And he says that at the end of his talk in Matthew 24 when he's talking to the end. You need to stay fat stay firm to stand that he says, Verse 44 so you must also be ready because the son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. You know, we can say he's coming back as certain time and they're certainly people in the past that have done that and said he's coming back this day and he hasn't shown up. We don't know the time. We don't know when it will be. But is also given us indications of when that will be when we are getting close and we have those indications. And we can be excited about it. But that excitement should not lead us to just sit there and celebrate but to continue to do the work that God has called us because we have a great home. There were headed to when he goes through a description of it a little bit here in these last three verses. Let me give you some more of it the home Revelations 7:17. It says for the lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd He will lead them to Springs of Living Water and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes all that crying and morning that we go through in this life the struggles. We Face will all be wiped away. Why because the lamb Jesus Christ is on the throne. forever and ever
we can depend upon that and we will stand and look at that throne and rejoice. Can you imagine the millions and millions of people that will stand before that throne and we will all see it Clear Lake. I don't know how Heaven works, but I'm excited to find out I hope you are too.
He also tells us that that he will reign forever. You know, this isn't a momentary thing, but this is an everlasting thing. And so when we compare it to our time here on it, this Earth is our time here is insignificant. So if we have to endure the hardships and struggles of life, we can say that's okay because I know where my eternity lies and It Last Forever In revelation 22 4 and 5 e says they will see his face. You look at the face of our living Savior Jesus Christ in his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of the lamp or the light of the Sun for the Lord will give them light and they rain or ever and ever wow. all-time all eternity
and that great. Makes me excited to think about it to think about it, but it's a rain and one of the things we have to remember is that all those difficulties and struggles that we go through on this Earth will all be past. You see God's going to change everything.
Change everything nothing will ever be the same for all eternity. Because we are going to be in the presence of the Living God, you know, sometimes when you worship and celebrate you can feel just that presence of the Living God and it lifts your heart and your lifted up towards him. And you say oh that's where I want to be. I want to stay there. Well, that's where we will stay in the presence of the Living God and have our hearts lifted up in incredible. Joy and fellowship and we see that in Revelation 21 God is describing it 3 and 4 and I heard a lot from the throne saying now the dwelling of God is with men and he will live with them and be their God he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or Mourning or crying or pain for the old Order of Things has passed away. Sin has been wiped out. There is no more sin. There's none of that pain that it brought to our world. There will be no more deterioration of anything.
It will stand firm forever and ever.
Now the knee thing about the church at Philadelphia is that that's what you want to be as a church to be called to. Hey keep doing what you're doing stand firm and faithful. Keep it going.
Be the church that wants to do the will of the Living God be the church that wants to live your life. So that others will see the Living God. Be the church that seeks after him and his word with power and strength because it relies on the power and strength of the Living God. Who is in there Alive's and their hearts?
That's where we want to be and that's what the call is from the church at Philadelphia to be the people God has called us to be. The keep on striving to the very end. And I hope that we is a body of Christ will continue to do that that our hearts. Will you learn to live life God's way.
It's what we've been called too. And it's what Jesus is Calling the church at Philadelphia to it that he doesn't say anything. Bad about that they need to change.
He's just saying stay with the task and do what you've been called to do. And that's enough.
Let's hope we abide in that Grace and that Mercy in that love. As we go through life. Let's be the Church of Philadelphia. And love the Living. God is real. Let's pray. Grace's Father in heaven, we thank you for these wonderful pictures. That you given scripture that make your word come alive. And the Church of Philadelphia is a great picture of what we ought to be as Believers in Jesus Christ to be weakened our cells but powerful in your Mighty work powerful to walk as you called us to walk powerful to reach out and touch the hearts and lives of others in our world for the sake of the gospel of Christ.
to yearn for your presence And your Mighty power in our lives? And for that day when we will no longer suffer. But we will live eternally in the presence of the Living God. Thank you Father. Thank you for your grace the mercy that you give in these great stories, but the truth that it brings out in our lives is absolutely important. Bless us. Oh Lord, as we think and respond to your call for our lives in Jesus name. Amen.