Pastor Dan Nickerson – April 12th, 2021
(Revelation 3:7-13)…..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.” ’
As Jesus continues to speak to His churching Philadelphia, He addresses two characteristics they possessed that made them strong in the midst of their weakness. They kept His word. The word “kept” (Gr. tereo) means to take care of – to observe, to keep an eye on. This was a church that was walking in obedience to the Word of God. In other words, this church honored the Word of God, they gave it a high place in their church and in their lives so that when the Bible spoke they listened and obeyed without reservation. God’s word was their standard of faith and they refused to deviate from it. The truth is, the Lord will bless a church body that is faithful to the Word of God. Obedience to the Word of God is proof of our love for God (John 14:15). Because we love Him we should hold His Word in high regard and that honors Him.
The Bible is under attack in our day and many have left the Word of God behind. But a people who want to be blessed will be a people who will honor the word of God when it is read and preached to them. How are we doing when it comes to honoring God’s Word
We as believers need to…….
1. Stand in awe of God’s word – (Psalm 119:161) 2. Tremble at God’s word – (Isaiah 66:1-2) 3. Speak it boldly – (Acts 4:29, 31) 4. Handle it accurately – (2 Timothy 2:15) 5. Do what it tells us to do – (James 1:22-23) 6. Obey it – (1 Peter 3:1) (John 14:21-24)
The church in Philadelphia also kept His name. They were not ashamed to be identified with the name of Jesus. They were not ashamed to exalt Him and allow Him to be the focus of their worship and their lives. He was the centerpiece of their worship and their praise. They were not ashamed to preach salvation by faith alone, through grace alone. They wanted the world to know about their glorious LordThis is the kind of church we ought to strive to be.
Because they made much of Jesus, He made much of them (Matthew 10:32-33). We are living in a day when many are turning away from the name of Jesus . Let that name be raised high in this place, let us always make much of our Savior. Remember (Philippians 2:9-11) (Philippians 2:9-11) (Ephesians 1:20-21) (Hebrews 1:4).