“Jesus’ Assessment of the Church at Philadelphia”  4/13/08

Revelation 3:7-13

 

Philadelphia- means brotherly love (Rom 12:10; 1 Thes 4:9; Heb 13:1;

1 Peter 1:22; 2 Peter 7 a, b; Revelation 3:7; 7 X total J)

Economic – City of great wealth & trade. Claimed to be the ‘glory of Asia’.

Political – Free city and assize town where Roman governors dispensed justice.

Religious – First and greatest in Caesar worship.  “Caesar is Lord.”

 

A.     The letter to the church contains the CORRESPONDENT’S TITLE

(Rev 1:18; Isaiah 22:21-22, 40:25; Luke 4:34, 13:24-28; John 1:9, 14:6)

 

JESUS is the GENUINE;  what are other FALSE GODS TODAY?

B.     The letter to the church contains Jesus’ COMMENDATION

He knows their works:

 

1)  OPEN DOOR- known as the missionary church (Col 4:3-4; Acts 12)

ARE YOU FORCING A DOOR or showing PATIENCE?  Spurgeon ILLUSTRATION

2)  OBEYED HIS WORD- They demonstrate their love (John 14:15, 21)

 

3)  NOT DENIED HIS NAME- They were bold in witnessing.

 

4)  Synagogue of Satan rebuked-  (Isaiah 60:14; tables are turned)

AMI ORTIZ

C.     The letter to the church does not contain any CRITICISM  not PERFECT

(see also Revelation 2:8-11 where there is none to Smyrna)

 

D.     The letter to the church contains Jesus’ COUNSEL

(1 Peter 1:4; James 1:12; 2 Tim 4:8; 1 Cor 9:25; 1 Peter 5:4; 1 Thes 2:19)

 

E.       The letter to the church contains Jesus’ CLOSURE

(Ephesians 2:20; was named “NeoCaesarea” in 1st century; earthquakes)

 

“Who is he who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?”  1 John 5:5

 

Going    God wants you to be a pillar in His Church.  Are you one who looks to

Deeper            uphold the church or to look for what you can get from it?

 

“Tell us, therefore, what do You think? Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?" 18But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, "Why do you test Me, you hypocrites? 19 "Show Me the tax money." So they brought Him a denarius. 20 And He said to them, "Whose image and inscription is this?" 21 They said to Him, "Caesar's." And He said to them, "Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.”  Matthew 22:17-21

 

Is it obvious that you are God’s property?