A lesson from Philadelphia

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. – Revelation 3.7-11

The opposite church of Sardis was Philadelphia. The church in Philadelphia had a little strength, but in that strength they kept the word of God and did not deny His name. This was a solid church. God had given them an open door to share the gospel and they went through that open door.

Apparently they did have loads of strength. Jesus said ‘you have a little bit of strength,; but, as the little song puts it, ‘little is much when God is in it.’ The true church was never meant to be strong in this world. We were always going to struggle. So, with our little strength, we walk through the doors He opens.

That little strength is also enough for us to keep the word of God in our lives and in our hearts. The word of God is alive and sharp and powerful and it is our light and our hope. We are to keep God’s word in our hearts and as we do it will keep us from sin.

With that strength and with open door and as we keep His word we have the power to stay true to Him and not deny Him. In his strength we have the power to not deny Him in our words or attitude or actions.

He is coming again – all we have to do now is hold fast and be assured that no one can take our crown of life.