(Based on a sermon by Bro. Joel Spencer)
Scripture passage:
“7And 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; 8I 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. 9Behold, 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. 10Because 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. 11Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. 12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” (Revelation 3:7-12)
I. Messages of Encouragement
A. “Thou hast a little strength” – not much but in Jesus it is enough and you can remain true all the way to the end
B. “I have set before than an open door, and no man can shut it.”
C. Thou “hast kept my word and hast not denied my name.”
D. “Thou has kept the word of my patience” – patient in tribulation, suffering, and persecution
II. Message of Instruction
Be faithful, even if you have only a little strength. Keep going and do not give in or compromise.
III. Promise of Rewards
A. Assurance of Jesus’ love
Those who persecute thee will “know that I have loved thee.”
B. Protection from the wrath to come
“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.” (verse 10)
C. Provision of a permanent dwelling place.
“Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.” (verse 12a) No more wandering from place to place because of persecution. No more homelessness, but instead a permanent dwelling place – the very temple of God.
D. A new name
“…And I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.”(verse 12b)
There will be no doubt that you belong to God. He will write on you. He will mark you as His own. Jesus will write upon you His new name.
IV. Exhortation to faithfulness
Be faithful, faithful even though you may have only a little strength. Finish well. Finish right. It is going to be worth it all. One day you will finish the work that God has for you. Be sure to end well. God will reward you.
It is OK to finish if God is in it. It is OK to finish when God is done with the work He has for you. But make sure that you keep his word, that you do not do anything to reproach His name, and that you finish the race with patience. One day you will receive a home that is eternal. One day, you will have peace and rest and stability. One day, you will have a new name. End well, and it will be worth it all.