The Seven Churches of Revelation, Part 7

The church of Philadelphia stands out as different because Jesus has nothing negative to say about them. Jesus wanted the church to see its position differently. Through salvation, He held the keys to the eternal kingdom, dispensing his riches, grace, and love to everyone. As a result of the open door of salvation, the church of Philadelphia had the opportunity to bring the good news of Jesus to those around them, and we still have that same opportunity today.

Battle Belongs
Phil Wickham

No Body
Elevation Worship

I Speak Jesus
Charity Gayle

Revelation 3:7
To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 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.

–

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.

–

Scott Daniels
“Here is where we really see the brilliance of Jesus. Philadelphia was founded in 140 B.C. for one over-riding purpose: to be a base from which to launch a campaign to Hellenize the world—to be a base from which to spread the Greek language, worldview and way of life to the whole world. A missionary city for everything Greek! From now on the city would be a base for launching a new campaign, the campaign to evangelize the world.”

–

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, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

–

2 Corinthians 5:17-20
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.

–

1. They were aware of their need for the power of the Spirit.

–

1 Corinthians 1:26-29
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wiseby human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.

–

2. They kept the Word of Jesus.

–

Psalm 119:105
Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

–

Psalm 119:11
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

–

3. They did not deny the name of Jesus.

–

Revelation 3:9
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 and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

–

Mark #2
A disciple is one who adopts the lifestyle of Jesus.

–

Revelation 3:10
Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

–

4. They have persevered.

–

Revelation 3:11-13
I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

–