- "Let us Be Like This Church, Philadelphia"

DATE: MAY 3, 2020

TOPIC: "Let us Be Like This Church, Philadelphia" Revelation 3:7-13 The church is the sum of all the believers who are in it. The church is not made by one person. Nor should the church be according to the goals that someone wants to achieve. THE CHURCH IS THAT BODY OF CHRIST UNITED IN WHICH EACH ONE OF US SHOULD INTRODUCE OURSELVES WHERE WE CAN BE USEFUL AND IN THIS MANNER THE CHURCH COULD FULFILL WHAT IS PROPER IN THE TIME WE HAVE TO LIVE. We cannot fight for what we each want or think, that by doing this or that we will be the best. Remember that God chose us before arriving at the church. WE HAVE TO BE MEEK to achieve, WITH PEACE, to do our part and do everything WITH LOVE!

I. THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA. She represents the love for the brothers, the fraternal love.

A. Attalus II was the founder of this church and maintained a very close relationship with his brother Eumenes II, who was the king of Lydia.

1. (Vs. 7) In the book of Revelation the Lord manifests Himself to this church as the Holy, the True, the one who holds the key of David, the one that opens and no one can shut, and shuts and no one can open.

2. The Holy has authority over the church that wants to do His will and fears Him, each of us being meek so that He may lead us as a church.

3. The human being can neither open nor close anything.

4. If He closes, no one can open, and if He opens no one can close.

5. The Lord has the administrative power (the power to maintain in order and under control the activities and the way in which He develops His work in the church) and an unquestionable control, which is so clear that it cannot be questioned or placed in doubt.

6. The one who has the key cannot be doubted or argue because it is very clear and evident.

7. Here it speaks of an open door, the one that the Jewish synagogue and the pagan cults were imposing to close. THAT OPEN DOOR IS THE OPPORTUNITY THAT GOD GIVES TO PREACH CHRIST TO ALL WHO WANT TO LISTEN.

8. (Vs. 8) The Philadelphia church receives only words of praise, of approval on behalf of the Lord.

9. The saints in that church had been faithful!

10. They had shown zeal for the good deeds!

11. In their human weakness they had TRUSTED THE LORD!

12. The result is that they had been able to PRESERVE THE TRUTH living it in their lives!

13. THEY HAD NOT DENIED THE NAME OF CHRIST!

14. Therefore, He had placed before them "an open door" of opportunity that "no one could shut."

15. The Lord is very well informed of everything that his Church does, good or bad, "as well as what is not done."

16. (Vs. 9) Those so-called Jews who had opposed them so harshly would be humiliated before these "simple believers".

17. Those who pretended to be God's chosen people, even though they were actually Satan's synagogue, would be forced to admit that the "underrated Christians" were actually "the chosen flock."

18. "...I have loved you."

19. (Vs. 10) Since you have kept my slogan (the order, things as they should be done) "to endure with patience", I will also preserve you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the world whole to test those who live on the earth.

20. Because those of Philadelphia had kept the truth of God living it before men, the Lord was going to deliver them "from the hour of trial".

21. The ones who dwell on earth are those who have made the earth their permanent abode, the worldly men, who have their portion in this life.

22. Do not join them because if you move your feet away from the Path to place your footsteps in this world, where can you go? Will you go as far as you think?

23. (Vs. 11) THE COMING OF THE LORD is set before the saints as A MOTIVE FOR FIRM PATIENCE.

24. “They should not allow anyone to deprive them of THE WINNER'S CROWN, when they have it so close.”

25. (Vs. 12) The overcomer WILL BE MADE A PILLAR IN THE INNER SANCTUARY OF GOD! Whatever this means, it certainly connotes the thought of strength, honor, and permanent security.

26. THE OVERCOMER WILL NEVER LOSE THIS POSITION OF SECURITY AND JOY!

27. The overcomer will also HAVE THREE NAMES WRITTEN ABOVE HIM: THE NAME OF MY GOD, the NAME OF THE CITY OF MY GOD, the new Jerusalem, which descends from the heaven of my God, AND MY NEW NAME: a new name that the Lord Jesus will have! Wonderful!

28. (Vs. 13) May He grant us to be as loyal to him as this group of believers of the church in Philadelphia, one "small and weak" in the flesh, but VALUABLE AND POWERFUL IN THE SPIRIT OF THE SON OF GOD! Amen.