Overhead Outline….
Philadelphia – The Powerful Church
Revelation 3:7-13 (NKJV)
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. 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 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." '
Introduction:
· What determines the power of a Church?
Keeping God’s Word and honoring His Name makes a great Church!
Revelation 3:7-8 (a)
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…
1. The Dominance Of Philadelphia
Revelation 3:8 (b) … for you have a little strength (you may be small), have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
Philadelphia DOMINATED all the other churches in Asia – because of their faithful dedication to the Word of God and the Character of Christ…
Revelation 3:9 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.
2. The Deliverance Of Philadelphia
Revelation 3:10 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.
Overhead Outline – page 2
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
3. The Destiny Of Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:12 (a) He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more…
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Conclusion:
Revelation 3:12 (b) 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
· What happened for those who hear and obey what the Spirit says:
1 – They will be as a door for the Spirit of God to operate in their lives!
2 – They will be pillars in the temple of God!
3 – They will have the Name of God and His city written on them!
PREACHING OUTLINE FOLLOWS
Philadelphia – The Powerful Church
Revelation 3:7-13 (NKJV)
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. 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 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." '
Introduction:
· What determines the power of a Church?
· The size of the congregation? – The bigger the more powerful? – NO!
· The magnificence of the building? There are many beautiful structures that are without a testimony for Christ.
· The variety of programs offered? – Activity doesn’t prove anything…
· Large amounts of cash…? NO!
· Important people who are members?
In every one of these categories you could probably find both strong and weak Churches, it must be something else that determines the power of a Church??????
The phrase in verse 8, “for you have a little strength” actually is better translated: “you may be small, but…”
WHAT IS MENTIONED is the 2 things that identified them:
1 – “You Have Kept My Word “ (God’s Word)
2 – “You Have Not Denied My Name” (They had lived up to what a Christian should be.
Keeping God’s Word and honoring His Name makes a great Church!
Revelation 3:7-8 (a)
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…
Page 2
4. The Dominance Of Philadelphia
A. Philadelphia Knew About Opening and Closing Doors:
· Philadelphia was a city that had a lot of earthquakes. Because of the earthquakes and the sudden moving of the ground, they had a lot trouble with the doors to their homes. Sometimes they would open by themselves or they wouldn’t open and many times they couldn’t close them. Often their keys had no value!!!
· In the opening statement to this church, Christ tells them the He, who was the root of David would open and close spiritual doors for them. Things may be ‘shaky around them – but He could still open and close the right spiritual doors for them!
B. This Was A Small Church BUT Powerful In Influence…
Revelation 3:8 (b) … for you have a little strength (you may be small), have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
· They were not wealthy like other city dwellers, they did not have important people of the community as members, they are not praised for their many church programs and outreaches, and they are not bragged on for their beautiful white steeple building or the large number in attendance…..
· BUT they followed the Word of God and were proud to be Named with Him!!!!
· Power comes from God’s presence – not property, nor programs, nor prestige, not personalities, nor provisions!
· The Church must not see size… it must see the open doors God has given and walk through them!
Philadelphia DOMINATED all the other churches in Asia – because of their faithful dedication to the Word of God and the Character of Christ…
Revelation 3:9 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.
5. The Deliverance Of Philadelphia
A. Their Faithfulness Would Pay Off:
· God tells this church that in time things will reverse! They might be made fun of or persecuted now but a day would come when they would be acknowledged as the focus of God’s Love!
· The critical hypocrites would eventually come and worship with them.
Revelation 3:10 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.
Page 3
B. They Would Be Protected And Spared From The Tribulation
· God was telling them they would make it through trials of this world
· AND – Prophetically they would be kept from the Tribulation period to come….
Revelation 3:11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
C. All They Had to Do Was To HOLD ON!
· It is not just enough to believe and be saved – we must keep Holding ON!
· For those who patiently live out the Word of God He promises the they will be prepared for whatever comes their way…..
6. The Destiny Of Philadelphia.
Revelation 3:12 (a) He who overcomes I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more…
· Holding On causes them to Overcome….
· The frequent earthquakes in Philadelphia would many times cause the buildings to fall.
· About the only thing left standing after an earthquake were the strong pillars that held up the buildings…
In 17 A.D. a strong earthquake hit Philadelphia – about the only thing left standing was the pillars of some of the temples and buildings!
· The pillars would remain standing when everything else crumbled…
· Being a Pillar in the Eternal Temple of God meant that if they would remain faithful there would come a time when they would never have to worry about falling…
· The whole picture here is that of PERMANENCE and STABILITY!
· No wonder the Apostle Paul declared in:
Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Conclusion:
Revelation 3:12 (b) 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
Page 4
· They would have the name of God written on them…
· HIS name, HIS city, HIS Kingdom…
· Property of New Jerusalem; Reclaimed by Jesus Christ; Made For Heaven by Jesus!
Revelation 3:13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
· What happened for those who hear and obey what the Spirit says:
1 – They will be as a door for the Spirit of God to operate in their lives!
2 – They will be pillars in the temple of God!
3 – They will have the Name of God and His city written on them!
This small Church with its “little strength” (physically and perhaps financially) still had a powerful testimony and because of this they will be standing when everything else falls!
1 – It wasn’t their size
2 – It wasn’t their finances
3 – It wasn’t their prestige
4 – It wasn’t their degrees
5 – It wasn’t their programs
It was their Example and Their Love!
This was a POWERFUL CHURCH!