What would it have been to live in the town name Philadelphia?
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The
Faithful Church
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.”
What
would it have been to live in the town name Philadelphia? Like so many towns of
our days, Philadelphia has many places to worship, although pagan origin. In my town, there are 5 distinct churches:
Rome Catholic, Anglican, Salvation Army, United Church, Pentecostal Church, and
the Seven Days Adventist. I do not imply that these churches are pagan origin,
only that they are far from following the early church format.
What
make the Philadelphia Church so different from all other six churches depicted
by Jesus? Let
us break down the description as Jesus view the church.
What
are it characteristics?
·
It
has little strength, The Philadelphia Church bore a resemblance to Paul’s
dilemma in his walk with the Lord:
"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My
strength is made perfect in weakness,”" 2 Corinthians 12:9. "For though He was crucified in
weakness, yet He lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in Him, but we
shall live with Him by the power of God toward you," 2 Corinthians 13:4.
Is everything going your way or is it going God's way? If nothing seems to work
out in your life, it is probably going God's way, especially if you are a son
of God.
·
It
followed Jesus' teaching, (kept My word) One verse come into my mind,
"Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke,
exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching," 2 Timothy 4:2. Although the
church did not have the scripture as we have today in the Bible, they remind
each other of Paul's teaching. They probably had personal notes that they took
while Paul visits them and shared with each other. They received the gift of
the present of God's Spirit, which help them to remember, John 16:13.
·
It
is not afraid to speak Jesus name (not denied My name) They did not denied His
deity which is Jesus Son of God, the One that God sent, the Redeemer, the
Messiah, who is now Lord, King, and High Priest. "If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him,
He also will deny us, "2 Timothy 2:12. That doesn't mean that we are cast
out and thrown into hell. It means that we fall into another church category;
we lose our status to reign in the temple... "If we are faithless, He
remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself, "2 Timothy 2:13.
·
It
had persevered in applying Jesus teaching (kept My command to persevere)
"If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love, just as I have
kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love, "John 15:10.
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved
you," John 15:12. "By this all will know that you are My disciples,
if you have love for one another,” John 13:35. I personally have a difficult
time with this one. In our days, the churches are divided over the
interpretation of His teaching and service format. Please read my commentary
titled: "Christianity
is like the menu of an Ice Cream Parlour". I pray for unity in the
Body of Christ. I only want to share the truth and develop a fellowship in a
homegrown base setting as it was in the early church.
What
are the Church of Philadelphia assignments?
· Preach the kingdom of God -
Jesus opens the doors of opportunities (v. 7-8), He said to them, “Go
everywhere in the world. Tell the Good News to everyone - the gospel of Christ
resurrected," Mark 16:15. According to scholars, the Philadelphia church
was renown for their openness to share and proclaims the message of Jesus
the redeemer. What does it mean to believe in Jesus Christ? It mean,
"that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your
heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved," Romans
10:9. It is about Christ resurrected. It is about believing that He rose from
the dead. When you believe in that, you are redeemed, which mean that you are
saved and are now part of His Heavenly family. It mean that one day you also
will rise from the dead, 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 15:52.
· It had obstacles, and
interferences. Intrusion of false teachers infiltrated the church. They call
themselves Jews but they were not Jews. They were of those who have been
deceived by Satan lies. Titus 1:16 "They profess to know God, but in works
they deny Him, being abominable, disobedient, and disqualified for every good
work." However, because of the church perseverance many of the so-called
Jews have recognized the true teaching of Christ and repented. They have
accepted Jesus. This is a sign of Jesus’ love among the church. The parable of the Tare and the Wheat comes
to mind. This is one of the two reasons why we are to leave the tare alone: to
keep away from offending some of the wheat to avoid fall-out and to save some
of the tare by persevering in the truth and applied love.
Note:
Each one of us comes from the synagogue of Satan. We were once children of
disobedience. We have since heard the gospel and accepted it. We are now to
continuously search for the remaining Satan's lies that we have yet not
recognized in our lives. They are principalities of the power of the air.
"For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against
principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age,
against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places," Ephesians
6:12.
Ephesians
3:8-13, in Paul's letter to the Ephesians, Paul shows some of the Philadelphia
Church characteristics that he experienced.
"v.8 To me, who am less than the least of all
the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the
unsearchable riches of Christ, 9 and to make all see what is the fellowship of
the mystery, which from the beginning of the ages has been hidden in God who
created all things through Jesus Christ; 10 to the intent that now the manifold
wisdom of God might be made known by the church to the principalities and
powers in the heavenly places, 11 according to the eternal purpose which He
accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord, 12 in whom we have boldness and access
with confidence through faith in Him. 13 Therefore I ask that you do not lose
heart at my tribulations for you, which is your glory."
Wherever
Paul went - Jews authorities in the Book of Moses came visited those places and
influenced the new believers to observe the Jewish festivals and laws. v9 "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." Remember the parable of the new wine in the
old wineskins, Matt 9:17, Mark 2:22, Luke 5:37-38. The Book to the Hebrews was
written to give an understanding to a new believer, Jesus special covenant with
the Church.
The
Philadelphia church is encouraged to continue in the truth... by continually
seeking the scriptures, testing all things. That is what followers of Jesus
teach.
Special
promises to the Church of Philadelphia.
o
Jesus
will take the church out of harms way. This event is call the Rapture
o
Will
receive a crown of victory, 1 Cor 9:25 a prize that will last forever.
o
Will
be in the present of God forever, in the Temple, government headquarter, will
be top CEO, to be a pillar is a symbol of strength in the truth.
o
Will
receive the new name of God - a name that describes His personal attribute, and
the name of the city where God dwell, the New Jerusalem, coming down from
heaven, which is not man made.
o
Will
also receive Jesus new name. This is my personal view, I believe that the new
name will reflect Jesus introduction of Himself in this letter to the
Philadelphian's Christians, "These things says He who is holy, He who
is true, He who has the key of David.
Conclusion:
In this bible study, we examined the qualities and attributes that made the
Philadelphia Church distinct from all other churches. If you consider being
part of this church with the expectation to be raptured away... think again. I
do believe that once saved always save. So the questions are, Are you saved?
Are you a Tare or Wheat? Are you of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are
Jews yet are not, in other words saying you are Christian yet do not truly
believe? Do you truly, without doubts believe in Christ’s’ resurrection? Is
Jesus your Lord? If so, share your blessed hope, because that is the
Philadelphian Church feat.
Interested
related article title, "The
Little Church that Tried" by Ray Stedman at this web site:
http://www.raystedman.org/new-testament/revelation/the-little-church-that-tried.
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