• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
 
Bristol Road Baptist Church1
st
July 2007 PMSTRENGTH MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS (2)
Philadelphia – “you have a little strength”
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 canopen.
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 havekept my word and have not denied my name.
9
I will make those who areof 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.
10
Sinceyou have kept my command toendure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going tocome upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
11
I am coming soon.
Hold on to what you have,
so that no-one will take your crown.
12
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 and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is comingdown out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my newname.
13
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to thechurches.
Revelation 3 The letters to the seven churches of Asia represent an amazing collectionof official assessments of seven assemblies. Each letter represents toviews of the Lord of the Church of His people worshipping in those sevenlocations. In today’s language we might compare them with OFSTEDreports – or Government reports into matters of supreme importance.Dictated to John, they were recorded so that long after those churchesceased to exist Christians – and others – could read them. This one is unique – it contains no criticism. For that reason some haveregarded it as a pattern for the perfect church – but that isn’t the case. It isan inspired example of the Lord’s understanding of how His people differ –and how they need His rebuke or His encouragement.It may help us as we look at this report to apply some of the modernconventions of assessment.We examine tonight the SITUATION, the PERFORMANCE and theOPPORTUNITIES FOR ADVANCEMENT that the letter contains. In so doing Ihope you will find the encouragement that you need – for we have much in
 
PAGE 2 common with Philadelphia, and besides there are lessons here not only forchurches but for individuals. (I have provided Group Study Notes so that,during the week, you can explore some of the issues raised by this letter.)When you read through the letter you can establish certain things aboutthe SITUATION at Philadelphia – the kind of challenges they faced, the waythey felt about themselves, and the criticism they had to confront.
Philadelphia – The Situation8, 9 and 10
 This church was facing criticism from outside, a sense of weakness insideand the ever present reality of persecution.
1.LIES
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 falldown at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
 The abiding image of the Church at Philadelphia is of AN OPEN DOOR – andthat probably reflects the sense of exclusion that the church felt – as if inits time a door had been closed. There were those who claimed to be Jews but were not – and these liarsdenied to the believers at Philadelphia the love of their Master. The Lord of the Church knows the problems His people face.In our day and age it is secularism and multi-faith. The erosion of Christianvalues and great doubts raised about whether God matters at all. The synagogue door had been shut on the Christians at Philadelphia –perhaps they had even been excommunicated by lying religious people.LIES are ever the Enemy’s weapons.Christ knows these lies – and He promises that one day those liars willacknowledge how much – how very much – Jesus loves His people atPhiladelphia.2.A sense of weaknessv 8 you have a little strength The important word in this part of the report is “YET” “yet you have keptmy word”
 
 
PAGE 3  They had learned the lesson Gideon was given – to use the strength theyhad. Nevertheless this was the abiding statement of their situation – theyhad
a little strength.
If that was a public appraisal document – I doubt many would be flockingto this church. But there are small fellowships – and being small is not adenial of usefulness to the Lord – nor any diminution of His love.
3.They were facing persecution10
10
Sinceyou have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world totest those who live on the earth.
In the time when these words were written persecution of the church wasgrowing. It was not unusual for Jews to claim exemption – and that mightbe behind the criticism of the false Jews in this letter. This is their situation – and it raises many questions about whether thework will survive – humanly speaking.But that goes without the Master Himself – who holds the key!
Philadelphia – the performance indicators8 and 10
V 8 yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name…V 10 You have kept my command to endure patiently…1.You have kept my word 
Faithfulness to the Word of God is crucial as a performance indicator in theChurch. There will always be alternatives – alternative gospels, luke warm gospels,gospels that are the evidence of compromise.Philadelphia had opposed the LIES that surrounded it – and despite its littlestrength kept the faith!2.You have not denied my name
 
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...