Well, good morning everyone. You will forgive me, I hope. I do not have a PowerPoint this morning. I know. I don't even No maps, no PowerPoint. I I I wonder if I should even be in pastoral ministry at this point. I trust that you will be gracious and maybe you'll have to be just a little more attentive.
But I figure if John MacArthur in 50 years never had a single PowerPoint, maybe we can get through a Sunday morning, the third chapter of the book of Revelation. We all have people that we look up to, do we not? People that when we see them, we desire to to emulate what they do, the the acts, the things that they do. We look and we're like, I would like to do that. I would like to be that.
I had the the joy of playing baseball at a young age. And there was a time when every little boy's batting stance was tall and narrow and they had a little bit of a wiggle in their hip. And some of you know who I'm talking about. Every boy wanted to be Ken Griffy Jr. They had their hats backwards. They emulate. They want to be him. Young boys look at their dads and they want to be like dad.
My dad is worthy to emulate. Young girls look at their moms. I want to be like my mom. I want to emulate her. Model my life after her. Young new Christians look at the saints of old say I want to model my life like that they are worthy to be emulated. This is in the natural heart of men. We look at people we look at things we say I want to be like them.
Not perfect, but what we're going to see today is a church that is worthy to be modeled. A church that is worthy to be emulated. Let me introduce you to the small church in Philadelphia. We know this church is small. Verse 8 in our text says, "I know that you have but little power and yet you have kept my word." And we're going to unpack that in a little bit.
But small, you have little power. Not talking about their capabilities, but rather the church in Philadelphia is a small church. Not grand, not a not a mega church, small. Founded in 190 BC was the city in Philadelphia. It was actually founded by King Adalus II. Most of you, if not any of you, will have any idea who that is.
King Adalus II was actually the king of Pergamum. If you remember back a couple weeks, church in Pergamum, right? So, if you actually look at a map, I should have had one. You're kind of coming up the kind of the the coast and then you're kind of hooking back down and Pergamum is here and Philadelphia is here. King Adalus II had great affection for his brother. In fact, his nickname was brother lover or the lover of his brother.
He had great affection for his brother. So much so that in 190 BC he established a city for his brother. So his brother could take over that city and have some little city to rule. Hence why the name is Philadelphia which means brotherly love. This is how it's not as it's not cheese stakes. It's not cream cheese. It's none of that.
It is Adalus II great affection for his brother established this city in 190 BC. It was on a a a significant major highway that actually connected the Greek world to the to Lydia. So this is a a significant city in that sense. They often were referred to as little Athens. They had many festivals. They loved Greece. They loved Rome. This was who Philadelphia was. Church history actually tells us, so there's lots of conflicting reports, but church history tells us that the of all the seven churches, the church in Philadelphia was the longest standing church of all seven.
It lasted the longest. In fact, in the year 1369, Constantinople made Philadelphia the seat of the archbishop because they were continually standing against the the pressure of the the Ottoman conquest and there's a lot of history in there, but they stood the test of time. And finally in about the year 1390 they fell to siege on that conquest and that really kind of closed but they stood firm until about 139.
So about 1300 years after this is written. The church of Philadelphia is still standing. Quite an amazing testimony of their faithfulness. They were really a model church. And 1300 years before their doors closed, they received this letter. This letter, picking it up in verse 7, we're going to read through verse 13.
And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. Write the words of the holy one, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works. Behold, I've set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word, and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, but are not, but lie.
Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it.
And 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 from my God out of heaven and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. This is the letter that is written to this faithful church, a model church. And there are reasons why they are a model church. If you'll notice in the text, there is not one rebuke.
There is only commendation. This is a model church. And the first thing that I want to draw our attention to, he says this is the the words of the holy one, the true one. Verse 7, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens. This is a direct look back to Isaiah chapter 22. In Isaiah chapter 22 we see that the the Lord gives the the key of David to the treasury of the king of Israel at the time.
He is the only one by whom you may enter the treasury. He can open the door to whomever he would want and he can close the door to whomever he would want. That's back in Isaiah 22. Here this is saying Jesus is holding that key. The key of David. The only entrance into the kingdom of heaven is through Christ. He is the one who holds the key. He allows whom he allows and he to closes to whom he closes.
No one else has that sort of authority. So when Jesus opens the key, opens the the door to you, no one can shut it. And if the Lord shuts the door to you, no one can open it. He holds the key. He has pure sovereign authority over the kingdom of heaven. And then he commends them here in verse eight.
He says this, "I know your works." And I want to pause there for a moment. The first thing that Philadelphia is commended for is their good works. And I want to draw our attention actually back to last week. You'll notice in verse pardon me, verse one to the church in Sardis, Jesus writes, "I know your works." Same language. I know your works here and I know your works in Philadelphia. However, in Sardis, it says, "I know your works.
You have the reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Your works are incomplete. Your works are not towards the things of the Lord. We looked at that last week. Here he says, "I know your works indicating that these are good, complete works of this church. They are faithful works. They're they are building and they are oh I've lost the word pardon me.
They are bearing fruit in keeping with good works. And then he goes on behold I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power and yet you have kept my word. We're going to get in there in a minute. But he says, "I've set before you an open door, an indication that they are faithful in good works, and the Lord is going to continue to open the door to further their good works." In other words, keep doing what you are doing.
Keep walking in faithfulness. Keep walking in these good works. Very similar language to what we read actually in a few of Paul's letters. Join me in 1 Corinthians chapter 6. 1 Corinthians chapter 6. I'm going to pick it up in verse 7. And by six, I mean 16. It's like like no, we're not looking at lawsuits this morning.
That's a that's a different sermon alto together. Pardon me. 1 Corinthians chapter 16. Picking up in verse 7, he says this, "For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you if the Lord permits, but I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries."
Same language. And we actually see this written across Paul's letters. 2 Corinthians chapter 2, Colossians chapter 4 has that same language of having a opened door for good works. Paul prays, "Pray for us that doors would be open that we would be faithful to walk in them, that we would walk in good works." Now, I know in sound biblical teaching churches, you know that we are not by any stretch of the imagination saved by any good work on us.
But I think sometimes we we we may swing that pendulum to say we're not saved by good works. Thus there's no net works should not even be mentioned. I think the problem with that is we are saved to do good works as believers. That is a a measuring stick that the Lord has in place to see how we are walking.
Go to Colossians chapter 1. Colossians chapter 1. This is what Sandy had read for us. We're not going to read the whole thing, but I want to draw our attention to verse 9 and 10. Paul writes, "And so from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with all knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God."
My friends, make no mistake. To be a follower of Christ, to repent and believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ means we will evidence that by walking in good works, works that bring glory to him, works that bring honor to him, works that exalt his good and holy and perfect name. By no means does any of our good works add even one iota to our salvation. Not one.
But the believer in Jesus Christ must walk in good works. The church in Philadelphia is commended. I know your works. Not like Sardis, which is empty and vain. I know your good works. They are good. You are bearing fruit. And I've got an open door that no one can shut. That you are going to continue to walk in these good works in which I have called you to do. Continue with the proclamation of the gospel, the pursuit of holiness, the hatred of sin, the battling against temptation.
All of these things is is built into good works. And Philadelphia, pardon me, Philadelphia is commended for this. But notice the second thing they are commended for. Now I have you'll you'll notice in your notes there's I have four point sermon. A little weird, a little odd. Got to keep everybody on their toes. Points two and three are very very similar, but I just want to draw out just a couple of different things, but they're going to they're going to sound very similar.
But the second thing that they are commended for here is their keeping of good, God's good word. Notice here at the end of verse eight and then again in verse 10, he says, "I know you have but little power." Once again, they're not huge. They don't have an army to stand against the synagogue of Satan. They don't have a a lot of people behind them, but they are strong and they are mighty because they are walking in good work.
He says, "I know that you have but little power and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Thank you. You have not denied my name. Jump over to verse 10. Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial. And we're going to dive into verse 10 especially in in in a little bit. But I just want to draw our attention.
They're commended for good works. And they are commended twice in this text about keeping God's word. They they they looking at verse 9. I will make those of the synagogue of Satan. This is the the pressure that this church of Philadelphia is feeling is from that that synagogue of Satan. Those who say they are Jews but are not. We read about them earlier in Revelation. This group who are Jewish by name but reject Christ.
They hate Christ. Therefore, they are of the synagogue of Satan, heaping pressure upon pressure on these churches. And you no doubt that they are the church in Philadelphia is being called to to acquies to bow the knee to the synagogue of Satan. They're like, "No, we will stand firm in God's word." Here they stand. They can do no other. Like we looked at this morning, Martin Luther, this is what they are doing. You have not denied my name.
The pressure on this church to turn and recant, to turn and deny even knowing the name of Jesus is immense. The pressure that our culture today throws at us to deny God's word. Why would you stand on God's word? To stand on God's word shows you old-fashioned. Those are archaic ways of thinking. To stand on God's word makes you homophobic.
To stand on God's word makes you whatever title you want to throw. The pressure is here in Philadelphia. The pressure is here in Canada in 2026. The pressure is here in Diamond Valley to not stand with Christ, but to turn and yet notice in Job, go back there with me. Go to Job chapter 23.
Listen to what Job has to say. Job 23:12. I'll pick I'll read verse 11 and 12. My foot, Job is is saying, my foot has held fast to his steps. I have kept his way and have not turned aside. I have not departed from the commandment of his lips.
I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my portion of food. Notice what is it that is sustaining Job through the heartache that he's walking through. It is the word of God. Here he says it right here in verse 12. I have treasured the words of his mouth. What the Lord says, that's my treasure. God's word is my treasure. God's word, I have more than my portion of food. I would give up my portion of food if that means I am sustained by God's word.
They have kept God's word. They have stood here. Though the pressure around them builds like a powder keg, they will say, "No, I will stand here where it is written." Church history is chocked full of men and women who have not denied the name of Christ, though the pressure mounts. If you have not ever read Fox's book of the martyrs, would I tell you that is a very valuable book to read. Pick it up.
It just walks through from the time of the disciples all the way through just men and women who stood firm in God's word, not denying the name of Christ, even unto death. Would we be a people who are marked by good works? And would we be a people who stand keeping God's word and not denying his name? But even more than that, verse 10, they have kept his word about patient endurance.
Once again, you see the similarities here. They have not denied his name, but they have also kept his word and have patiently endured. The Christian life is one of endurance. We're familiar with the words of Christ where he says, "The world hates you. Know that it has hated me before it has hated you. You're going to have to endure through the hatred of Christ." In this world, Jesus says, you will have trouble, but take heart.
He says, I have overcome the world. The patient endurance is this massive pressure to acquies, to turn on Christ, to endure trial, endure suffering, endure conflict for the sake of standing firm in God's word. You see, the truth of God's word does not change. It doesn't.
Which is why the this this is the goalpost. Could you imagine this is NFL Sunday? Could you imagine with me if instead of having the goalpost stand at the back of the end zone and they just stay there, right? And they go and they kick a field goal and it's great because they know nothing's going to change. Could you imagine if that goalpost was on a little track side to side to side? There's no consistency.
I don't know how to I don't know where to go. Where do I aim? How much pressure? How much how hard do I have to kick? Where where's my goal? Where's it going to be? If we're going to stand not on God's word, where are you going to stand? How are you going to endure the hardship when there's no stability under your feet? If we're going to say, "Well, well, I I I'm going to go with this with with what the culture says."
Well, the cult what the culture says and what the the world around us says is, "Well, this is good today, but it's wicked tomorrow." So now I'm constantly having to to change what I believe, to change my philosophy, to change what I do if I'm trying to appease the culture that's around me. Whereas this beautiful Philadelphia church said, "No, no, no. We are going to endure all manner of pressure by keeping God's word because that is what matters.
God's word is stable. It is secure. It will never change. Friends, what honored the Lord yesterday honors the Lord today. What God hated yesterday, God hates today. What God loved yesterday, God loves today. That will never change. It's the beautiful doctrine of the divine immutability. God will never change. And the call of the New Testament, the call of the New Testament is consistent that we are called to endure all manners of hardship by clinging to his word.
Take a look at Hebrews chapter 12. Hebrews chapter 12, pardon me, picking it up in verse three. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted. In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood.
Notice what the writer of Hebrews is saying. In our battle against sin, not even around the culture around in our battle against our own flesh, our own lusts, our own desires. We are called to endure in your struggle against sin. You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. Why? We look to Christ. This is the beginning of Hebrews chapter 12. Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfector of our faith.
Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself. Our master died. The one in whom we serve faced all manner of hatred, persecution to the point of death so that you and I could be set free from our sin. Oh, would we never lose the love that we have for that beautiful truth.
We sang before the throne of God to look on Christ and what? Pardon me. I'm pardoned, Bryce Lechman. And all my sin and all my struggles and all my fears and worries. Jesus came willingly died on a cross that I could go free. This beautiful truth is the same for you.
He endured all manner of hostility. And I'm not willing to struggle a little bit. This church commended because they have kept God's word, not denied his name. They have endured such hostility and not denied his name. In Colossians chapter 1, Paul writes there at the end, we were there already. Verses 11 and 12 talk about that they would be strengthened. Strengthened for all endurance and patience with joy.
Oh, that we would find our strength. They were commended for keeping God's word, not denying his name, patiently enduring. Oh, that we would be a church that has the backbone that this small little church had. But there's one more. Because they have endured, because they've kept God's word, because their works are good and pleasing in the sight of the Lord, there is a reward that is to be received.
I want you to draw our attention to verse nine. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you. Those who have put this pressure on the church in Philadelphia, those who put the pressure on the church will one day bow and recognize the love that Christ has.
They will be subservient to him. One day the believer will reign with Christ because of his work and all will bow before the Lord knowing the love that he has for his people and for the saints. That's one. But I want to spend the rest of our time in verse 10, 11, and 12. Jesus says, "Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, they have shown themselves faithful.
They've endured trial after trial." He says, "I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to those who dwell on the earth." Now this verse 10 has been the context in which many have disagreed, many have argued. And it's good to wrestle with the truth. It's good to be submissive to what the truth of God's word says. Because this church, I'm just going to come out and say it.
Because this church has shown themselves faithful, they will be freed and saved and kept from the great tribulation that is about to come upon the churches or pardon me, not the churches. They're gone. They've been raptured. Just so in case you don't know where I stand, they have been kept. They have been taken out of. Now, here, let's take a look. I'm going to we're going to get caught in the weeds for just a moment, but I trust that this is going to be of great encouragement to the faithful believer here.
The word So, he says, "I will keep you." Now, we're not I'm not going to give you all of the Greek. In other words, that means I'm going to take you out of not allow you to go through. That's that's what the word says. I'm not going to allow you to go through. I'm going to take you out of the hour of trial. There is coming a time a a a specific amount, a defined period of time. The hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.
That whole world literally means the entirety of the inhabitated world. Everywhere where people dwell, that is the hour of trial that is going to come. The entire inhabited world to try those to test those to see the genuiness to see where people are at to try those who dwell on the earth. So there is coming a time in the future that is a defined time that these faithful people will not have to endure that hour of trial.
Remember throughout all of this these letters are to be a commendation and a warning to not only these individual churches. We know that. But also to the churches across time. We know that. Verse 13, he who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. That's been the the same repetition of every church. So there's coming a time where the great tribulation will come on the whole inhabited world.
And those who are found faithful will not endure that. Go with me to Matthew chap 24. This is where Jesus talks about the signs of the age, the abomination that causes desolation. There's a lot going on here. Going to pick it up here in verse 17. And let the one who is on the housetop not go down to the lake what is in what is in his house.
And and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days. Pray that your flight not be in winter or on a Sabbath. For then there will be a great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now. No, and never will be. And then if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. For the sake of the elect, those days will be cut short.
And on and on he goes. Notice here, this is Jesus's words. And there's a lot much debate over what he means. But here he says there will be a great tribulation such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now. No and never will be. There is coming a time a great testing a great tribulation on the whole world that has never been seen before. Never been seen and never will be until the Lord brings it in the end.
And my friends, my argument is why the faithful will not endure this tribulation is because the Lord will take them out of that. He will rapture the church out of that and they will go to dwell with him as to not face this great day of tribulation that is coming on the world. Could you imagine for a moment being this church, this small church, and hearing all of these commendations?
You have good works. Keep it up. You have kept my word. You've not denied my name. You've endured patiently. Because of your faithfulness, I'm not going to allow you in my kindness to go through what the whole world is about to go through. That's not the only promise. That's not the only reward that they receive. That's not the only reward that faithful men and women will receive.
But notice, he goes on, I I'm coming soon. That's a regular repetition, the book of Revelation. I'm coming soon. Hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown. And then notice this. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of God. A pillar in the temple of God. Those who are found faithful will be a pillar, a strong place that will never be moved.
I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it. And 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 from my God out of heaven to be given a new name stamped with an eternal identity in Christ. To have a place in the new Jerusalem, the capital city of glory. To have a firm place that will never be moved.
To have a name that will never be taken away. To have the name of God implanted on you. An eternal identity, an eternal home is what awaits the faithful follower of Christ. Such beautiful truth. This church in Philadelphia, oh, they are a model church. They are by no means perfect. Hear me.
There's no such thing. There's one perfect gathering of God's people, and that is yet to come. But until then, my friends, would we be a church, Gateway Bible Church, that looks at these types of churches, the church in Philadelphia, and says, "Man, look how they endured. Look how they stood firm. Look at the work in which they accomplish for the name of Christ. Let's be that." And if I may as we close our time, if I may, I want to commend Gateway Bible Church.
By no means perfect, but when I look out at the 300 so people here, I know many, many, many of you, as I look out, are faithfully standing firm, though your work is trying to pressure you to leave. I know many of you who long to work and bring glory to God's name. I know many are struggling and yet though I struggle, I hold firm to God's word.
By no means perfect. But may I commend you, Gateway Bible Church. You're doing well. Would we be a people who long to do better, to continue to hold tightly to God's word, to continue practicing the one anothers? That we would bear fruit in keeping with repentance, and that we would bear fruit and lovingly be proclaimers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to commend though we not perfect, I see many who are longing to live this out and it is truly a joy to pastor and shepherd you.
It really is. Let's continue to move forward in that. Let's continue to look at churches like Philadelphia and many throughout history who have stood and said, "We will not bow. We will not acquies to the culture. Here we stand. We will serve Christ. Why? Because he alone is worthy to serve. Would you bow with me? Father in heaven, we look forward to the time where we get to see you face to face.
And in the meantime, Lord, would you strengthen us? Would you bring deep conviction where we are not walking in love and good works? Would you strengthen us to stand firm in your word? Not bowing, not moving left or right, going by with every wind of doctrine, but that we would stand firm in your word and endure patiently and anticipate the time where we get to enjoy you in all your glory, in all your grandeur. God, you are worthy.
You alone are worthy of our praise. We thank you for Christ and for his work. Would we worship you well today in Jesus name. Amen.
Transcribed automatically from YouTube captions, so names and words may be misheard.
