As we begin our time in God’s word today, I want to begin by asking you to think about a principle found in all throughout scripture: Listen to what God’s word says.
 “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Jesus said in Matthew 23:12 “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.”

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." To be in God’s Kingdom, we must humble ourselves and realize our spiritual poverty apart from Christ.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted." Blesses are those who mourn over their sin. They humbly confess their need for forgiveness.
"Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.” The world thinks of meekness as weakness, but here Jesus is telling us it’s not the mighty who will inherit the earth, but the meek. Spiritually meek.

The Apostle Paul was given a thorn in his flesh to keep him humble. Paul pleaded with the Lord to remove it but the Lord told him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29

I bring these up because the two smallest, struggling churches of the 7 in Revelation are the ones that received no correction. However, the largest churches, the ones that appeared to be the most well off, were the churches that received the most rebukes. Like Sardis, that had a reputation of being alive but was dead.

As Jesus was tending to his lampstands, the churches in Asia minor that were shining the brightest, were the small, humble struggling churches.
We are going to see Jesus’ message to the church at Philadelphia.
A small but faithful church.
And to this small, but faithful church, Jesus give nothing but encouragement.

In Chapter 1, Jesus gave John a vision and then told Him to write messages to 7 literal historical churches in Asia Minor.

In John’s vision, John saw Jesus tending to lampstands to make sure none of the lights went out. We are told theses lampstands represent churches. This lets us know why God has placed us, Annapolis First Baptist Church, right here. He wants us to be a lampstand. A church shining brightly with the glory of Christ. (Light lamp) Annapolis First Baptist Church, we want to be a faithful church, shining brightly with the Glory of Christ, so that ever dark corner around us can see clearly who Jesus is.

As Jesus tends to these lampstands, He see what each church needs so that they will shine brightly for His glory. Some churches need correction, like the church at Ephesus that failed to love like they should. And some churches only needed encouragement.
We look at the letter to the church in Philadelphia, a church that needed only encouragement.

And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:

Angel or angelos in Greek means a messenger. A church leader would have to physically come get this letter from John who was stuck in prison, and take it back with them and read it to the congregation.

What do we need to know about the city of Philadelphia?
Philadelphia was about 30 miles to the southeast of Sardis.

We have started our journey in Ephesus, then north to Smyrna, then further north to Pergamum, then east to Thyatira, after Thyatira, we headed south to Sardis, and now to the southeast we come to Philadelphia.

Philadelphia was actually the youngest city of the 7. The city was named Philadelphia, “the city of brotherly love” because of the loyal love King Eumenes had for his brother Attalus.

Philadelphia was founded to be the “gateway to the east.” Here in Missouri, we have the “gateway to the West”. The St Louis Arch is a historic reminder of how settlers crossed the Mississippi River to take hold of the wild frontier to the west. The United States was expanding its territory further and further west.

Philadelphia was founded to be the “gateway to the east”. It was founded with the goal of spreading the Greek culture and language eastward into the eastern areas of Asia Minor.

Philadelphia was a beautiful city, surrounded by peaks, and with beautiful architecture. It was sometimes affectionally called little Athens. The area around Philadelphia had very fertile soil well suited for vineyards. The fertile soil however came at a cost. It was fertile because of the volcanic activity in the area. And with the volcanic activity came earthquakes.

The city of Philadelphia in its history, was destroyed and rebuilt a number of times. When an earthquake took place, all the people of the city had to evacuate the city. The aftershocks could send the already damaged buildings tumbling down. It was a beautiful city with beautiful architecture, but when earthquakes struck, and with the aftershocks, it was unsafe. The buildings could fall on them.

It would be kind of like living in Florida. In Florida, the danger is not earthquakes, but hurricanes. How many times do residents of Florida have to evacuate because of a destructive hurricane. Or like living in tornado alley.

Multiple times the city was destroyed by devastating earthquakes. And when the city was rebuilt, it often took on a new name. The city of Philadelphia went from being named Philadelphia to Neo Caesarea, to Flavia, back to Philadelphia, and now it is called Alaşehir.

We don’t know much about the church at Philadelphia. Most of what we know about the church is gleaned from Jesus’ message to them here in Revelation.
The two churches that Jesus finds no correction and only encourages are Smyrna and Philadelphia. The pastor of Smyrna was a man named Polycarp. When Polycarp was killed for his faith, Christians from Philadelphia also martyred with him.

The church at Philadelphia was a small yet faithful church.

The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

This message is from Jesus and He introduces himself in a way that brings encouragement to the little struggling church at Philadelphia. Notice the imagery He uses to introduce himself.

The words of the holy one. 
Only God is holy.
Here Jesus is emphasizing His divinity.
He is God.
And as God He is Holy.

To other churches, Jesus emphasizing His divinity and His holiness would have been a scary thing. But not for this faithful church at Philadelphia. It is encouraging. He is holy and because of their faith in Jesus, they are made holy in Jesus too.

The true one.
Living in a pagan Greek city, false gods were everywhere.
Jesus however lets them know, the God they follow is true.
Jesus is holy and true.

Who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.
Earlier, in the vision I chapter 1, we saw that Jesus was identified as the one who has the key of death and hades. But here, Jesus has the key of David.

In order to understand what Jesus means, we must go back to Isaiah, where this phrase is found almost verbatim. Isaiah 22:22- “And I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. He shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.”

Here in Isaiah, Eliakim has been made the palace administrator in charge of the household of the King of Israel, King Hezekiah.
The Palace administrator could open and shut access to the King, the Palace, and even to the Kings treasury.
Here Jesus is encouraging the church at Philadelphia that He has the Keys to the Messianic Kingdom.
He can grant access to the Kingdom of God.

This is encouraging to the church at Philadelphia because one of their greatest sources of hostility is a synagogue of Satan. Theses Jews thought they had access to the Kingdom of God because of their physical ancestry. However, they were not true Jews of faith.

Jesus is the one who grants access to God’s Kingdom, and because of their relationship with Jesus, the church at Philadelphia were part of the Kingdom of God. And no one could keep them out of it. Jesus opened the door to them, and no one can shut it.

I know your works.

As Jesus examines the Lampstand at Philadelphia, he finds a church with no need of correction, only encouragement so that the light will shine even brighter.

We read that the church at Philadelphia has but little power.
In other words, there a small struggling church.
However, a church that is weak, who has been humbled in complete dependance on Christ, is a church that can be used powerfully by God.

Compare the church at Philadelphia to the church at Sardis.
Sardis was the church that had the reputation of being alive.
It was a big growing church.
However, it was a church that had compromised with the world.
It was a church that failed to preach the true Gospel.
It was a proud church.
And because of that, Jesus let us know the spiritual reality of the church at Sardis.
It was dead.

However, this little faithful church at Philadelphia, it may be struggling.
It may be poor.
It may be small.
But Jesus has big plans for the little church at Philadelphia.
Characteristics of the Philadelphia Church.

I would rather be a part of a little church that’s faithful, than be a part of a big well-known church that is dead.

First, Jesus promises to set before them and open door.

Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. 

Jesus, the one with the Keys to the Kingdom of God is opening up access to the Kingdom of God to this faithful church in Philadelphia. And nothing is going to be able to shut them out of God’s kingdom.

Because these believers have truly repented of their sin and in faith submitted their lives to Christ, they are part of the Kingdom.
Those Jews in Philadelphia may think otherwise, but Jesus Himself has opened the door.
This open door to the Kingdom for the church at Philadelphia also gives them opportunity for evangelism.

Once we receive the Gospel message, we gain entrance to the Kingdom of God, but not only for ourselves, but for those we share the Gospel with.
The city of Philadelphia was the “Gateway to the East.” Rather than spreading Greek Hellenism, Jesus was opening up for them opportunities to spread the Gospel.

As we are faithful to Christ, He will bless us with opportunities to be used by Him for the spread of the Gospel. Annapolis First Baptist Church, let’s be a faithful church, a church that is a part of God’s Kingdom and sharing the Gospel so others can enter as well.

I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie—behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.

One of the reasons the church at Philadelphia was small was most likely due to the persecution. This was a very Greek city. And it also had what Jesus called, a synagogue of Satan. Jews who had a hatred towards Christ. Jesus encourages them, that even though they are weak, the have but little power, they have kept His word and have not denied His name. They were faithfully enduring persecution.

Notice what Jesus will do to that Synagogue of Satan.
Jesus uses the language of Isaiah 45:14.

Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you.

In Isaiah 45:14 it is a prophecy that those who oppose the people of God will one day bow before them and declare “Surely God is in you, and there is no other,
no god besides him”

Those very Jews who are persecuting them, Jesus is promising that they will have the opportunity to share the Gospel message with them, and they will bow down before them and cry out that Jesus is Messiah. That Jesus does love these Gentile believers. They are part of His Kingdom and with the Gospel opportunities, their persecutors can be saved.

And if all of them do not come to saving faith in Jesus they will still receive vindication. Because one day, every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.

Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth. I am coming soon.

Because they are patiently enduring for the name of Christ, they are demonstrating fruit of a genuine relationship with Christ.
As we read this passage, we must figure out what Jesus means by the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world. When will Jesus try everyone who lives on the earth?
The only time I know of that will affect the whole world is the time period sometimes called the time of Jacob’s trouble, or Daniel’s 70th week. Or the day of the Lord. Or the great tribulation.
Jesus could be promising the faithful church at Philadelphia a pre tribulation rapture of the church.

When Jesus says, I am coming soon, he is letting them know that when He comes, it will be quick.
Jesus’s coming is imminent.
It could be any minute.

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it

To the faithful church at Philadelphia, who continually had to evacuate their city, Jesus promises to make a pillar in the temple of My God.
When those earthquakes struck, often times, the only thing left standing were the pillars. Whenever you see ancient ruins, what you typically find are pillars. I think about stone henge and those rock pillars that have been there so long no one really knows what they were they for.
Who are the ones who conquer? The genuine, faithful Christians. They will have a place of permanence in God’s presences. It’s a promise of eternal life.

and I will write on him the name of my God,
 
The Jews tried to tell them they didn’t really belong in God’s Kingdom, but Jesus is telling them they belong to God.
In the movie Toy Story, Andy wrote his name on the bottom of Woody’s boot. Why? Because He belonged to Andy.
And to the citizens of Philadelphia, whose name was changing every time it was rebuilt, Jesus promises a permanent citizenship.  

and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven,
 
and my own new name.

A new identity in Christ.

Therefore if anyone is in Christ, He is a new creation. The old has passed away, behold the new has come.

Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Hold fast.
To the faithful little church, the only command Jesus gives them is to hold fast.
Keep doing what you’re doing.
Hold fast to the true Gospel.
Hold fast in the face of persecution.
Keep holding on.
Keep doing what you’re doing.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

It is a command to listen.
Let's be a faithful church, shining brightly for the Glory of Christ.
Let’s be the church Jesus wants us to be. Jesus wants a church that is faithful.
Let faithfully commit to being:

• A church working hard for His glory
• A church patiently enduring for His name
• A discerning church
• A pure church
• A loving church
• A fearless church
• A church faithful to death
• An uncompromising church
• A church that does not tolerate sin. 
• A faithful church

Some other ways we can apply this passage is:

• Let’s not look down on a small struggling church.
  God can use a small church in big ways.
  He can open a door of opportunity that no one can shut.
  So, let’s not discount what God can do through a small church.
  Did you know that the number of small churches in the SBC far outnumber the big churches. God can use little churches in big ways.
  We live in a tiny little town with a tiny population.
  However, if we are faithful, God can use this church here in little Annapolis Missouri in big ways.
  We just need to be faithful.
  
  
• Let’s have the right attitude.
  A humble attitude of complete dependance on Jesus.
  When we are humbly relying on Him, He is able to use us.
  
  
• Let’s decide now what we will do as persecution begins to come to the United States. Persecution is on the rise in the United States. What we are seeing now in our culture is that Christians aren’t just weird or old fashioned because of our beliefs.
  We are bad.
  Christians are evil because we call sin, sin.
  June in the United States is Pride month.
  A month to celebrate sin.
  And our culture says that Christian who speak the truth; the truth that God hates sin, the truth that sexual immorality warrants the wrath of God, and even the truth that Jesus can save people out of that sin, we are the bad guys.
  We are bigots. We are intolerant. We are full of hate.
  It looks like this issue is the issue that is becoming the biggest sources of hostility for Christians in the United States. We need to decide now if we will stand firm or not.
  Let’s stand firm on God’s word.
  Let’s be faithful to Christ.
  Let’s decide now to faithfully endure no matter what the world throws ate us.
  
  
• Let’s ask God to open doors for the spread of the Gospel.
  Use us to expand His Kingdom.
  I challenge you to pray every day that God would give you open doors for Gospel conversations.
  And when you pray, don’t be surprised when you find yourself with those opportunities.
  When we are faithful, He will open doors for us.
  
  
• Maybe you have never been made right with God.
  Our sin separates us from a right relationship with God.
  In fact, the bible tells us that our sin makes us enemies of God.
  Because of our sin we deserve God’s punishment.
  The wages of sin is death.
  However, God is merciful and gracious.
  In His Grace He sent Jesus to the rescue.
  Jesus willingly left His rightful place in heaven, came to earth, humbly took on flesh.
  And willing went to the cross to pay the penalty for sin.
  He died on that cross, but 3 days later, He rose victorious over sin and death.
  If you repent of sin, and in faith turn to Jesus, submitting to Him as Lord of your life, He will become your savior.
  He will forgive you of all your sin.
  He will make you right with God.
  And He will open up to you the Kingdom of heaven.
  You can have an eternal home in God’s presence, a new identity in Christ.
  You can be blessed with all the spiritual blessings in the heavenly places.