Revelation 3:7-13 The Alive and Faithful Church / Philadelphia Message 16 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. 8 I know your works, See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Have you ever seen a church that is alive and faithful to Christ? A church that focuses upon Jesus Christ. A church that makes Jesus Christ the center of its ministries and activities. A church that focuses upon reaching and growing people for Christ. A church that focuses upon teaching people to love Christ and to love one another more. That was the church at Philadelphia. The very word Philadelphia means brotherly love or one who loves his brother. The believers at Philadelphia loved Christ; therefore, they gave their hearts and lives to Christ. The lived like Christ said to live and they carried out the mission of Christ upon this earth. 1
The church at Philadelphia was alive and faithful. It represents all the churches down through the ages that are alive and faithful. It shows us exactly what Christ wants a church to be. Of the seven churches that received a letter from the Lord Jesus Christ, Philadelphia was only the second church that Jesus found no fault with. The first was Smyrna who was the persecuted church. There was no complaint or warning against this church. Jesus Christ has only praise and exhortation for the church that is alive and faithful. But how does a church become alive and faithful? First of all let's take a look at who the letter was addressed to. 7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write. We've seen from previous letters to the different churches that the word "angel" (in this context) means 'Pastor.' As Pastor, can you imagine opening your letter from the Lord and there was only good to be said of your church. This church was alive and faithful to Christ, and it was up to the Pastor to keep the church focused upon the mission of Christ. The church would most likely remain alive and faithful if the Pastor would... Live in the Word of God (Read and study) Live in prayer (pray without ceasing) Preach and teach the Word of God (not his own words) Exhort and encourage the members of the church to live for Christ, study God's word, pray, witness, and minister faithfully to those in need Lead the church to set up the ministries that would reach the lost, build up the believers, minister to the needy, and reach out to the world by supporting worldwide missions. Ephesians 4:11-12 And He Himself (Jesus)... gave (to the churches) pastors and teachers...for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry... If the pastor slacks up or fails in any of these areas, the church will lose some of its focus upon Christ. It will no longer be as alive or as faithful as it should be. But if the pastor remains diligent, alive, and faithful, the likelihood is that the church will stay alive and faithful to Christ. So the responsibility first of all falls on the pastor of the Church. This is the reason Christ addressed the letter to the pastor. 2
About Philadelphia: There are five historical facts that seem to have a bearing upon the message to the church at Philadelphia. 1. Philadelphia was founded as a border town to spread Greek culture to surrounding areas. In fact, it was situated right on the borders of three countries: Lydia, Mysia, and Phrygia. The church knew exactly what it meant to be missionary minded, to have an open door for the spread of the gospel. 2. The name Philadelphia means brotherly love. The very name of the church gave the believers a constant reminder: they must love one another if they were going to fulfill their missionary calling. 3. The people of Philadelphia knew what it was to live in the midst of insecure surroundings and under constant stress and strain. The city sat over a large earthquake fault. In A.D. 17 a terrifying earthquake hit a huge area. It completely destroyed Sardis and ten other cities. Philadelphia was spared total destruction. But for years the city was hit by unending tremors - each adding its own panic and devastation as the walls would crumble to the ground. The experience of having to constantly run in and out of the city for safety terrorized the population. The experience was never forgotten by succeeding generations. The church knew what it was to be given the hope of becoming a " pillar in the temple of My God" and the promise to the overcomer that "Never again would he have to leave (he shall go out no more.) 4. Philadelphia, after its destruction by the earthquake, was given aid by Emperor Tiberius for rebuilding the city. In appreciation the city changed its name to Neocaesarea, the New City of Caesar. The church knew what it was to be given a new name (I will write on him My new name). 5. Philadelphia had a Jewish synagogue within its city limits. The Jews claimed to be the only followers of the true God. They claimed the Keys of David and the right to open and shut the door to Heaven. (These things says He who is holy, He who is true, "He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens.) 3
ABOUT THE AUTHOR OF THE LETTER: Like all the other letters to the churches the author is not the Apostle John but the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And what does Christ say about Himself? 1. HE IS HOLY 2. HE IS TRUE 3. HE ALONE HAS THE KEY OF DAVID 1. HE IS HOLY - These things says He who is holy The word Holy is a description of God Himself. Jesus Christ is claiming to have the very same nature as God the Father, to be perfectly Holy even as God the Father is perfectly Holy. Psalm 99:9 - Exalt the LORD our GOD and worship at His holy mountain, for the LORD our God is Holy. Isaiah 6:3 - And they were calling to one another; Holy, Holy, Holy is the LORD God Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory. 2 Corinthians 5:21 - God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God. Holiness means to be set apart and different from all other beings, completely and totally set apart. Christ is supremely HOLY. This means something very significant for the church that is alive and faithful. It means they are worshipping and following God Himself by following Jesus Christ. By giving their hearts and lives to Christ, they are giving themselves to the sovereign Majesty and supreme force and creator of the universe, to the most Holy Reverent God Himself. The Church is, therefore, under God's care and love. Christ Jesus, the Most Holy God, will look after and take care of the church...if...the church will just continue to be alive and faithful. 2. HE IS TRUE - These things says He who is true The word true means the true as opposed to the false, the genuine as opposed to the counterfeit, the real as opposed to the un-real. Jesus Christ is the true, genuine, and real God! He is the only living and true God! There is no other God! 4
John 1:1,14 - In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His Glory; the Glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. John 14:6 - Jesus answered and said, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father except through Me. Luke 23:4 - So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, "I find no fault in this Man." All the other (so called) gods worshipped by men are false, counterfeit, and unreal. This too means something wonderful. 1. God is not far off in outer space, someplace too far off to be known or reached 2. God is not distant from us. 3. God has not left us in the dark to try and grope around and find Him 4. God does not hate us 5. God has not left us in the dark about Himself 6. God loves us! 7. God has revealed Himself to us. Romans 5:8 - But God demonstrated His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. What the alive and faithful church must do is continue to follow Christ, continue to make Him the focus of all that it does. When the church makes Christ the center of all its ministries, activities, and meetings, then the church is following the truth - following Him who is true. 3. HE ALONE has the Key of David. He who has the key of David - He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens. What is the Key of David? There was an event in the Old Testament that tells us what the Key of David is. King Hezekiah had a faithful servant who was named Eliakim. This servant was put in complete charge of the king's affairs. No one could gain entrance into the King's presence without coming through Eliakim. This servant alone determined who entered the king's court and who did not. 5
God spoke to Isaiah the prophet one day and said: I will place on Eliakim's shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. (Isaiah 22:22) The key of David is the symbol of authority. Jesus Christ alone opens and shuts the door into God's court and presence. Jesus Christ alone determines who lives in heaven and who does not Jesus Christ alone grants entrance into the presence of God or prevents entrance The door into heaven is opened and closed by Jesus Christ and Jesus Christ alone No other person or being has this authority Jesus Christ alone holds the key to open and shut the door to eternal life 1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus. Hebrews 7:25 Therefore He (Jesus) is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to interceded for them. 1 John 2:1 My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. THE COMMENDATION: 8 I know your works This is the picture of what a church should be, the picture of a church that is alive and faithful. The Lord Jesus Christ commends the church for three things. 1. The Lord commended the church for using their open door of evangelism and missions to reach people for Christ. 2. The Lord commended the church because they had kept His word 3. The Lord commended the church because they confessed Christ and did not deny His name 1. The church used the open door of evangelism and missions to reach people for Christ. Keep in mind - the church was strategically located. Like El Paso, TX (for example), Philadelphia was a border town that touched the borders of three other towns: Lydia, Mysia, and Phrygia. Imagine the evangelistic and mission opportunities by being surrounded by three other towns. 6
It lay on the imperial road to Rome, one of the major roads that passed from the coast and stretched right on to the east into Asia Minor. Multitudes of people passed through and visited, stayed and conducted business in the city from businessmen, sales people, military people, vacationers, tourists, and visiting relatives. The point is striking. The city was so strategically located that the whole world could have been penetrated with the gospel of Christ by spreading out from this church. Christ commends the church for their evangelistic and missionary work. They were reaching out Christ knew of their works He had set an open door before them and they had stepped in and taken advantage of the opportunity - See, I have set before you an open door Because they had faithfully reached out to the lost, Christ says that He is not going to let anyone close the door. - and no one can shut it He (Jesus) is personally going to see that the door to evangelism and missions stays open Note also in verse 8 that the church had a little strength. (you have a little strength) This means that the church was a small church, small in number and small in resources. Imagine being a small church, yet reaching out to the lost, witnessing and bearing testimony to the salvation and hope of eternal life that is found in Jesus Christ alone. Imagine making such an evangelistic and mission thrust that Christ was impressed. He was so impressed that: 1) He commends the church for it 2) He guarantees that the open door to evangelism and mission will always remain open 3) He will not allow anyone to close it Think about it. This is the first mission of the church. The church that is alive and faithful is a church that does just what Jesus did - He reached out to the lost! This was Christ mission on earth. This is why He came to earth. Luke 19:10 - "For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost." This is exactly what He said the mission of His church is. John 20:21 - "Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you." 7
How many of our churches are strategically located? How many sit right in the heart of cities where teeming thousands (or millions) of people live? How many sit on main roads of cities, and others on main roads of country and farm areas? If so many of our churches claim to be an alive and faithful church then why are so many of our churches not reaching out in the thrust of evangelism and missions? Why are so few people being won to Christ? A church that is alive and faithful is a church that uses the open door of evangelism and missions. When God gives you an open door and you refuse to go through it - He will close that door. To be an alive and faithful church you must do all you can to reach the lost for Christ. Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And lo I am with you always, even to the very end of the age. Mark 16:15 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Luke 19:10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save that which was lost John 15:16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. John 20:21 Again Jesus said, Peace be with you. As the Father has sent Me, I am sending you. Revelation 3:8 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. So the first things the Lord commended the church for was its Evangelistic and Missionary outreach. And then the Lord goes on to say "You have kept My word, and have not denied My name." 8
2. The second thing the Lord commended the church for was they had kept His Word. They studied the Word of God 2 Timothy 2:15 "Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed." The lived the Word of God. James 1:22 "Be ye doers of the Word, and nor hearers only, deceiving your ownselves." They proclaimed the Word of God to believers and non-believers alike. Acts 1:8 "But ye shall receive power, after the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." 3. The third thing the Lord commended the church for was they confessed Christ and did not deny His name. This means witnessing for Christ but it also means confessing Christ in all that you do. It means that Jesus Christ is the focus and the center of your life and all that you do in life. Most Christians never reach one person for Christ in their entire lifetime. It seems that every morning when we get up we begin thinking about, myself, what my troubles are, where I've got to go today, what I've got to do today, what my responsibilities are today. And there is nothing wrong with any of these. The problem is, most of the time we do not start our day off in prayer or reading God's word and we never give a second thought to reaching someone for Christ. And then there are some Christians that live their lives with such a negative outlook on life. I've even heard curse words coming out of the mouths of those who claim to be Christians and never, or rarely, do they miss a church service. James 3: 9-10 With our mouths we praise God and with our mouths we curse people, who are made in the image of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things out not to be so!" 9
SEVEN PROMISES CHRIST GIVES TO AN ALIVE AND FAITHFUL CHURCH 1. 9 Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie - indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you. While the true church of Christ will always be persecuted, Christ will make those who persecute Christians, in the end, come and worship before our feet and to know that we were always loved by Christ and that we were the true church after all. 2. 10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth. The church will be kept from the hour of trial, that is the Great Tribulation. 3. 11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. When Christ comes it will be quick In the twinkling of an eye. Your crown is not your salvation it is your reward for faithful service that will be given at the judgment seat of Christ 4. 12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God Who are the overcomers? 1 Jn. 5:5 - CHRISTIANS - Pillars that shall not be moved 5. 12 and he shall go out no more. Is a reference to earthquakes in Philadelphia. They would run out of the city in fear but in Heaven they will be secure on a firm foundation. 5. 12 I will write on him the name of My God A brand A mark Gods Name Ownership of Christians 6. 12 the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. Jesus said Behold I go to prepare a place for you and if I go and prepare a place for you I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there you may be also. This is our permanent home We will have our own new address. 10
7. 12 And I will write on him My new name. What is that name? We don t know but it is Christ name. We will carry His name! Song: There s A New Name Written Down in Heaven and it s mine oh yes it s mine He who has an ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. In closing today we must ask ourselves two questions. 1. Are we an alive and faithful church? 2. Am I an alive and faithful Christian? Matthew 10:32-33 Therefore whoever confesses and acknowledges Me before men, I will also confess and acknowledge before My Father in heaven. But whoever denies Me (and will not confess Me) before men, I will also deny before My Father in heaven. 11