Cecil A. Fayard
Elliott Baptist Church
March 21, 2004
PHILADELPHIA: THE FAITHFUL MISSIONARY CHURCH
Revelation 3:7-13
INTRODUCTION: The city of Philadelphia was founded 189 years before the birth of Christ. The city got its name from Attalus II's nickname Philadelphus meaning "brotherly love," Attalus II so loved his brother Eumenes that the city was so named.
Philadelphia was located at the joining of several important trade routes, it was also a stop on the Imperial Post Road, giving it the title "gateway to the East." It was located on the edge of a volcanic region where vineyards flourished because of the fertile soil.
The founders of Philadelphia wanted the city to be a showcase and promoter of Hellenism, the customs and language of the Greeks.
The city's most profound drawback was that it was located on a seismically active region. The city was rocked by earthquakes on several occasions at times with devastating effects. When Tiberius provided funds to rebuild the city after a quake the people renamed it Neocaesarea meaning "The new city of Caesar." Later the name was changed to Flavia in honor of Flavius Vespasian.
I. VS. 7, CHRIST DESCRIBED
A. "He that is holy." Christ is the preeminently holy one.
1. "He that is holy" refers to God.
a. In the Old Testament we find God described as the "Holy One" (Isaiah 6:3).
b. In the New Testament the "Holy One" is the messianic title of Christ (John 6:69).
2. "He that is holy," is his own claim to deity. He is holy, He is completely separate from sin.
B. "He that is true."
1. "True" means "genuine, authentic and real."
2. "In the midst of the falsehood, perversion, and error that fills the world the Lord Jesus Christ is the truth (John 14:6)"
C. "He the hath the key of David." The one with the key is the one with authority, he is the one who controls for he is in control.
1. This is a reference to Eliakim (Isa. 22:22), the steward of Hezekiah the king. He was given a key to the palace and no one could approach the King except through Eliakim.
2. Jesus is the key of access to God the Father. Christ alone can open the door of access for He has the key and He is the door (John 10:7,9).
D. "He that openeth..."
1. What Christ does cannot be overridden by anyone else, He is omnipotent.
2. Christ can open and He can shut any door He pleases.
II. VSS. 8-9, THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA EXAMINED
A. Vss. 8, "I have set before thee an open door."
1. An "open door" in the New Testament speaks of opportunity for ministry, an opportunity for missions (Acts 14:27; I Cor. 16:9; II Cor. 2:12). "Unbelief sees the obstacles, but faith sees the opportunities (Weirsbe, 43)."
a. The church at Philadelphia was given an open door for missions and ministry. What would they do with it? The church was strategically located to spread the Gospel. What would they do? "Fear, unbelief and delay have caused the church to miss many God given opportunities (Weirsbe, 43)."
b. Christ promised an open door to the early church (Acts 1:8). The church then and now has the same commission - reach the lost at home and abroad.
c. Keep in mind that the one who opens the door can also shut it tight (vs. 7b).
2. "Thou hast a little strength."
a. They were not large in numbers, just a little flock, but a faithful little flock.
b. "Little is much when God is in it."
c. The ministry of a church is not determined by its size.
3. "Hast kept my word."
a. They took the commission seriously.
b. Mark 16:15, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature."
c. They were faithful to preach the truth at home and abroad.
4. "Hast not denied my name."
a. They upheld the name of Christ without compromise.
b. Rev. 14:12
B. Vs. 9, The Christians at Philadelphia were opposed by unbelieving Jews.
1. They, the unbelieving Jews, were called "The synagogue of Satan" because they had rejected Christ as their Messiah.
a. They may have been Jews racially, they may have been Jews ceremonially and culturally, but they were not Jews spiritually.
b. Romans 8:28-29
2. Christ promised the church at Philadelphia that He would handle their enemies.
a. The day would come when the lost Jews would have to acknowledge that these faithful Christians were right and they were wrong (Zech 12:10; Phil 2 :10-11).
b. If the church is faithful to the work of missions locally, nationally and internationally, God will handle her battles.
III. VSS. 10-12, CHRIST'S ASSURANCE FOR THE OVERCOMERS
A. V. 10, The primary interpretation refers to the Roman persecutions that would come.
1. The prophetic and ultimate reference is to "the time of Jacob's trouble," to the tribulation.
2. "Them that dwell on the earth" means this refers to worldwide not local tribulation.
3. The church will be raptured before great tribulation takes place (I Thess. 4:13-18; 5:9).
B. Vs. 11, The folks in the church had been faithful and Christ exhorts them to remain faithful.
1. The perseverence of the saints is the grand mark of true salvation.
2. Keep in mind that rewards can be lost by disobedience. There are five different crowns, eternal life is given; crowns are earned.
C. Vs. 12, Promised rewards to the overcomers.
1. "Pillars." This speaks of stability.
a. As Christians we have stability in Christ. Stability to face life's problems.
b. Philadelphia was often rocked by earthquakes. We are often rocked yet we will stand.
c. Pillars in pagan temples were adorned in such a way as to honor some supposed deity. Christ promises honor to the believers in the temple of God.
2. "He shall go no more out."
a. Because of the earthquakes the Philadelphians often had to flee the city.
b. Believers will never lose their security, eternal life (John 10:28), nor their home in heaven.
3. "I will write upon him the name of my God..."
a. Because of the name of Christ we have entrance into the city.
b. What is indicated here is who and what we belong to:
1) We are God's.
2) We have the New Jerusalem for our home. Philadelphia changed its name, but the New Jerusalem will always be the New Jerusalem.
3) "My name" means we are Christ's property, bought with a price.
IV. CHRIST'S EXHORTATION
A. We need to listen closely to this message.
B. God opens doors for service, for missionary endeavor, if we fail to go through the door of opportunity He can shut it forever.
CONCLUSION: May we take every opportunity which God gives us to spread the Gospel.
For additional copies of the sermon CD's, please contact the church office:
Elliott Baptist Church
566 Nat G. Troutt Road
Elliott, Mississippi 38901
Phone: 662-226-4425
Pastors Email: cecilafayard@msn.com