Revelation 3:7-13
Today's Passage: Revelation 3:7-13
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…”
This specific letter was addressing the church in Philadelphia, a “small” church strategically placed on the main road of the Imperial Route (from Rome to almost anywhere east of Rome).
God had given much opportunity to this church as evidenced by verse 8 that says, “I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut”, which was a clear reference to their ability to reach a large number of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ because of their location.
Here’s the hope of this evangelistic church:
All this is made possible by how Jesus is described in this passage: the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David. (v. 7)
Because Jesus is holy, all that He does is perfect. Because Jesus is true, all that He does is trustworthy. Because He is sovereign, what he shuts cannot be opened nor can what He opens ever be shut.
This is the living Christ that we serve today, so let’s do our best to take advantage of the open doors around us to proclaim Jesus to a lost world. While we’ve still got the time, let’s make Him known.
Written By: Drew Dukes
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write…”
This specific letter was addressing the church in Philadelphia, a “small” church strategically placed on the main road of the Imperial Route (from Rome to almost anywhere east of Rome).
God had given much opportunity to this church as evidenced by verse 8 that says, “I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut”, which was a clear reference to their ability to reach a large number of people with the gospel of Jesus Christ because of their location.
Here’s the hope of this evangelistic church:
- God set the open doors (v. 8). No worries existed about them having to create their own opportunities; God was doing it for them.
- They operated in a greater strength (v. 8). They had ‘little power’, but because of their faithfulness, God rewarded their evangelistic effort despite their powerlessness.
- They endured suffering (v. 10). Patient endurance is a rare commodity, but this church understood the mission of endurance in trial, to which God promised a deliverance from future suffering because of their persistence to do it when it came to the gospel.
- Jesus is coming soon, so let’s no tarry (v. 11). As God is exercising patience as a means for salvation for the unbeliever, the remembrance of Christ’s return not only strengthens our endurance, but it also fuels evangelism since we know a time is coming where we won’t share anymore.
- Eternal life is promised to the believer (v. 12). We have a blessed assurance in the finished work of Christ, emboldened by the words to this church that our identity is with Jesus and in Him too.
All this is made possible by how Jesus is described in this passage: the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David. (v. 7)
Because Jesus is holy, all that He does is perfect. Because Jesus is true, all that He does is trustworthy. Because He is sovereign, what he shuts cannot be opened nor can what He opens ever be shut.
This is the living Christ that we serve today, so let’s do our best to take advantage of the open doors around us to proclaim Jesus to a lost world. While we’ve still got the time, let’s make Him known.
Written By: Drew Dukes
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