November 4, 2002 (46)
THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA (continued).
AN OPEN DOOR ESTABLISHED FOR THEM. The Lord was well aware of their works. Their abilities and their willingness to serve the Lord was commendable in the sight of the Lord. A door of ministry had been established for them. Rev. 3:8 Paul spoke of a great door that had been opened where he would minister the gospel. 1 Cor. 16:9 To the church it was an opening which no man would be able to close. With the Lord there are no impossibilities. There is not a closed door that He will not penetrate with the gospel in these last days. Though their strength was , the positive fact is that they did have sufficient strength to accomplish any task set before them. The strength of the Lord is made manifest and perfected through the weakness and frailties that are in the church. 2 Cor. 12:9A
CHURCH THAT PLACED GREAT VALUE ON THE WORD OF THE LORD. They were a people who lived according to the teachings of the Word. A deep love and appreciation for the Word is a must for any who would grow in the Lord. Without the Word, the church is anemic, weak and ineffective. Rev. 3:8 Spiritual growth is dependent on the Word of the Lord. If we say we love the Lord then that love has to be expressed in a strong desire to know Him better. We know Him through His Word, for He is the Word. The sign of our love for Him is not in lip service but in obedience to His Word. How can one obey the Word if they do not know the Word? John 14:21 This is particularly true as we approach the end of the age. It is essential, in the light of the fact they we are living in the last days, that we pay great heed to the teaching of the Word. Those who live according to the Book are and will be blessed of the Lord. Rev. 22:7
THEY DID NOT DENY HIS NAME. Could this have been a problem in the seven churches? The very existence of this statement is indicative of the value which the Lord places on His own name. He wants to be known and called by His name. He is identified by His name. His character and nature are revealed by His name. The Bible is replete with the revelation of His wondrous and glorious name. There is only one name that will bring salvation to the penitent, and that is His name, the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. Acts 4:12 The author of that name was God Himself and was bestowed on Him by very God. His name is greater, higher and more powerful than any name that has ever been named among men. The day will come when ALL men, who have lived in the past, the present and whatever future remains, will bow and confess that Jesus is the Christ. Love His name. Use His name in prayer. When speaking of Him address all reference to Him by identifying His by His name. In a world filled with <gods> of every kind it is well to acknowledge and identify the one to whom we refer when speaking of God. Phil. 2:9-10