1 00:00:02,960 --> 00:00:07,200 I happily invite you to now meet me in the Book of Revelation in 2 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:13,680 chapter 3 as we consider the letter to the church in 3 00:00:13,680 --> 00:00:16,880 Philadelphia. And I want to tell you right 4 00:00:16,880 --> 00:00:20,280 from the beginning why we should be ecstatic to be studying these 5 00:00:20,280 --> 00:00:24,840 verses together this afternoon. Remember the ultimate purpose of 6 00:00:24,840 --> 00:00:27,600 why we are taking our time in this section of the Book of 7 00:00:27,600 --> 00:00:33,360 Revelation as the people of God who are joyfully committed to 8 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:37,400 this local body. We have been invited by the Lord 9 00:00:37,400 --> 00:00:43,680 Jesus Christ himself to discover what he expects from us as His 10 00:00:43,680 --> 00:00:47,120 church. And so far we have been 11 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:52,200 confronted by a handful of examples of what a church ought 12 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,720 not to be. And that's largely been our 13 00:00:56,720 --> 00:01:00,640 experience as we've been looking at these historical assemblies, 14 00:01:00,960 --> 00:01:04,640 which ultimately speak about the condition of the church 15 00:01:04,879 --> 00:01:08,480 throughout history. But today is going to be an 16 00:01:08,480 --> 00:01:13,240 encouraging time because now we come to a letter that describes 17 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:18,600 A congregation that Christ Holy commends. 18 00:01:19,320 --> 00:01:22,280 That's right. There is not a trace of 19 00:01:22,280 --> 00:01:26,080 correction. There is not anything of rebuke. 20 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:33,160 Everything that we find here is praise, which means at least two 21 00:01:33,160 --> 00:01:38,880 things #1 like the church in Smyrna, the church in 22 00:01:38,880 --> 00:01:41,920 Philadelphia serves as a wonderful wake up call. 23 00:01:42,600 --> 00:01:46,280 A wake up call to what? That it is possible to be 24 00:01:46,280 --> 00:01:50,760 consistently faithful to Jesus Christ? 25 00:01:51,960 --> 00:01:56,360 Not to say that there is a perfect church, but that it is 26 00:01:56,520 --> 00:02:01,240 achievable to be a faithful church, moving in the right 27 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:06,560 direction by the grace of God, repenting and forgiving, and 28 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,560 learning from glory to glory. It's possible, and we should 29 00:02:11,560 --> 00:02:14,400 strive for that. And here's a second thought. 30 00:02:14,800 --> 00:02:20,880 In this letter we will also be taught what it takes for a 31 00:02:20,960 --> 00:02:26,880 church to be totally pleasing to Christ, and that should throw 32 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:31,800 any of us who long to be believers who want to bring 33 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,120 pleasure to the Lord. Believers, yes, walking with 34 00:02:36,120 --> 00:02:39,440 Christ in a personal way, but also connected as members of one 35 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,360 body and desire to glorify the Lord in a corporate manner. 36 00:02:44,080 --> 00:02:48,120 We're going to learn here what Christ looks for, what He 37 00:02:48,120 --> 00:02:51,480 praises, what He desires, and how we can pursue that. 38 00:02:53,200 --> 00:02:55,000 And in case we're inclined to think that the church in 39 00:02:55,000 --> 00:02:58,960 Philadelphia was steady and strong because their 40 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:04,440 circumstances were calm and favorable, a plain reading of 41 00:03:04,440 --> 00:03:08,160 this letter will show that such an assumption cannot be true. 42 00:03:09,280 --> 00:03:13,160 In fact, the very introduction of this letter, if read in light 43 00:03:13,160 --> 00:03:19,600 of the context, will show that this church had its troubles and 44 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:24,560 Christ wanted to assure them. He wanted to build them up to 45 00:03:24,560 --> 00:03:27,160 remain faithful. Shall we begin? 46 00:03:28,080 --> 00:03:30,080 Meet me in verse 7 of Revelation chapter 3. 47 00:03:30,080 --> 00:03:33,720 And let's read the entirety of this brief report. 48 00:03:36,120 --> 00:03:38,920 And to the Angel of the church in Philadelphia, right? 49 00:03:39,520 --> 00:03:44,160 The words of the Holy One, the true One, who has the key of 50 00:03:44,160 --> 00:03:48,680 David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one 51 00:03:48,680 --> 00:03:52,000 opens. I know your works. 52 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:55,640 Behold, I've set before you an open door which no one is able 53 00:03:55,640 --> 00:03:58,280 to shut. I know that you have but little 54 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:01,320 power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my 55 00:04:01,320 --> 00:04:04,840 name. Behold, I will make those of the 56 00:04:04,840 --> 00:04:07,920 synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not but 57 00:04:07,920 --> 00:04:10,720 lie. Behold, I will make them come 58 00:04:10,720 --> 00:04:14,480 and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have 59 00:04:14,480 --> 00:04:18,200 loved you because you have kept my word about patient endurance. 60 00:04:18,240 --> 00:04:21,600 I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the 61 00:04:21,600 --> 00:04:25,440 whole world to try those who dwell on the earth. 62 00:04:26,520 --> 00:04:29,520 I'm coming soon. Hold fast what you have so that 63 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:33,040 no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will 64 00:04:33,040 --> 00:04:34,880 make him a pillar in the temple of my God. 65 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:37,920 Never shall he go out of it. And I will write on him the name 66 00:04:37,920 --> 00:04:40,880 of my God and the name of the city of my God. 67 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:44,760 The new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, 68 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:48,120 and my own new name. He has an ear. 69 00:04:48,120 --> 00:04:51,920 Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. 70 00:04:53,560 --> 00:04:55,840 Now, if you've been with us consistently, then you know that 71 00:04:56,480 --> 00:04:59,040 when Christ introduces Himself to these different 72 00:04:59,760 --> 00:05:04,600 congregations, He usually will go back to Revelation chapter 1. 73 00:05:05,640 --> 00:05:09,920 And borrow some of the imagery of that manifestation of his 74 00:05:09,920 --> 00:05:14,680 glory before his apostle. But this time he doesn't do 75 00:05:14,680 --> 00:05:17,680 that. I mean, you can try to say, 76 00:05:17,680 --> 00:05:20,480 yeah, this is parallel with what we see in chapter 1 here and 77 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:22,800 there. But what we actually see is that 78 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:28,680 Christ completely references the Old Testament, the Hebrew 79 00:05:28,680 --> 00:05:32,200 Scriptures. And when learning this, you have 80 00:05:32,200 --> 00:05:34,560 to ask the question why? And again, the answer is in the 81 00:05:34,560 --> 00:05:40,560 letter, This particular church was experiencing hardship from a 82 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:46,520 particular group of people. And we read it, Jews, localized 83 00:05:46,520 --> 00:05:51,360 Jews who are antagonists, who are harassing these people, who 84 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,000 are trying to discredit the legitimacy of their faith, try 85 00:05:55,000 --> 00:05:59,360 to make them doubt and try to make them even believe that the 86 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:01,560 God that you claim loves you and died for you. 87 00:06:01,560 --> 00:06:04,760 He doesn't. You're not truly in covenant 88 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:08,120 with him. And so it's as though right from 89 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:14,080 the beginning, Christ wants to let this church know who I am is 90 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:18,920 not a novel idea. I've been predicted from ancient 91 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,200 scripture. I've been foretold. 92 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,320 I've been written about. Moses spoke of me. 93 00:06:24,320 --> 00:06:30,160 Abraham saw me and so right here we see that there is credibility 94 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:32,880 that he wants to offer to this church. 95 00:06:33,040 --> 00:06:35,240 Who I am comes from the Scriptures. 96 00:06:35,640 --> 00:06:39,720 The Christian movement isn't divorce from God's word from the 97 00:06:39,720 --> 00:06:43,040 beginning, and this is what the are supposed to see. 98 00:06:43,040 --> 00:06:44,800 This is what these believers are receiving right away. 99 00:06:44,800 --> 00:06:47,400 Now there are three things that Christ says about himself that 100 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:49,800 we should consider carefully. What does he say? 101 00:06:49,840 --> 00:06:51,920 The first thing that he mentions is that He is what? 102 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:56,360 The Holy One, the Holy I am the Holy One. 103 00:06:56,600 --> 00:06:59,400 Now if you know your Old Testament, then you would agree 104 00:06:59,400 --> 00:07:02,880 that this is far beyond just a claim to purity and 105 00:07:02,880 --> 00:07:06,120 distinctiveness. This is a divine title. 106 00:07:08,280 --> 00:07:12,360 The title Holy One appears many times in the Old Testament to 107 00:07:12,360 --> 00:07:16,520 describe God in His Majesty and his brilliance, but it is a 108 00:07:16,520 --> 00:07:18,720 favorite of Isaiah, the prophets. 109 00:07:19,080 --> 00:07:23,760 No one ever speaks about the Holy One more than Him. 110 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:28,560 He regularly repeats that throughout his writings, which I 111 00:07:28,560 --> 00:07:30,840 find interesting because throughout this letter to the 112 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:34,360 church in Philadelphia there will be direct and indirect 113 00:07:34,360 --> 00:07:37,160 references to the book of Isaiah. 114 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:42,560 I am the Holy 1. And so we are supposed to see 115 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,080 this already as a claim to divinity. 116 00:07:45,320 --> 00:07:48,040 But quickly he follows it up with what a second 117 00:07:48,040 --> 00:07:50,600 characteristic. I am the true one. 118 00:07:52,080 --> 00:07:54,920 I am the true one. As though to say, I am free from 119 00:07:54,920 --> 00:07:58,240 error. I am totally reliable. 120 00:07:59,120 --> 00:08:02,920 I am authentic and genuine in all of my ways. 121 00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:06,320 Now that's a wonderful thing to say about yourself, but it made 122 00:08:06,320 --> 00:08:09,600 me ask the question, why is that relevant to this church? 123 00:08:10,720 --> 00:08:15,800 Why did this church need to know that Jesus Christ is the true 124 00:08:15,840 --> 00:08:17,440 one? And then it hit me. 125 00:08:18,600 --> 00:08:20,360 There's a contrast happening here. 126 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:23,920 Let's Scroll down to verse 9 to see what I'm saying. 127 00:08:24,920 --> 00:08:29,000 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that 128 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:31,400 they are Jews and are not. But do what? 129 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:35,720 They lie. They lie. 130 00:08:35,720 --> 00:08:37,679 And I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and 131 00:08:37,679 --> 00:08:38,880 they will learn that I have loved you. 132 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:42,400 So this Jewish community in Philadelphia, not Philadelphia 133 00:08:42,400 --> 00:08:45,160 here in the United States, by the way, ancient Philadelphia. 134 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:47,000 You never know, guys. You never know. 135 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:55,840 The Jews in this community were troubling these believers, and 136 00:08:55,840 --> 00:08:57,880 Christ condemns them for being liars. 137 00:08:57,880 --> 00:09:01,200 Liars about what? Liars about their supposed 138 00:09:01,200 --> 00:09:03,600 spiritual condition and status before God. 139 00:09:04,360 --> 00:09:07,960 Liars unquestionably, because they slander these Christians in 140 00:09:07,960 --> 00:09:10,720 their neighborhood and try to convince them that they were not 141 00:09:10,720 --> 00:09:14,160 really the people of God. And here's Christ from the 142 00:09:14,160 --> 00:09:18,280 outset of his message telling them I am the true one. 143 00:09:19,560 --> 00:09:22,400 You may be represent misrepresented. 144 00:09:22,400 --> 00:09:25,760 You may be caused to doubt, or at least tempted to doubt. 145 00:09:25,880 --> 00:09:29,120 You may be accused of being heretics and worthy of 146 00:09:29,120 --> 00:09:31,080 condemnation. But I want to let you know that 147 00:09:31,080 --> 00:09:36,280 you have placed your saving faith in the true One. 148 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,720 I'm the true 1. And it becomes even more 149 00:09:40,720 --> 00:09:43,400 significant when you realize that the pairing attributes of 150 00:09:43,400 --> 00:09:48,440 Holy and True. Appear only one other time in 151 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:52,440 the Book of Revelation, and it is granted to just one other 152 00:09:52,840 --> 00:09:54,840 person. Can I show you that? 153 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,160 Go to chapter 6 with me and look here at verse 10. 154 00:10:01,840 --> 00:10:06,840 These are the souls who have lived for the truth, who lost 155 00:10:06,840 --> 00:10:09,720 their lives for the truth, and who are crying out to the Lord 156 00:10:10,080 --> 00:10:12,600 in a different realm, asking for vindication. 157 00:10:13,040 --> 00:10:16,160 And we see here that they say something quite amazing. 158 00:10:16,160 --> 00:10:19,000 In Revelation 610, they cried out with a loud voice. 159 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,240 O sovereign Lord, pause. That's God. 160 00:10:23,760 --> 00:10:29,960 Nobody else has such a title. O Sovereign Lord, here it is 161 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:31,360 holy. And what? 162 00:10:32,040 --> 00:10:35,000 True? Holy and true. 163 00:10:35,000 --> 00:10:38,960 How long before you will judge and avenge our blood on those 164 00:10:39,000 --> 00:10:42,640 who dwell on the earth? Listen, this observation can 165 00:10:42,640 --> 00:10:45,880 only mean one thing. For Christ to use this wording 166 00:10:45,880 --> 00:10:49,560 back in chapter 3 means that he unequivocally is declaring 167 00:10:49,560 --> 00:10:54,440 Himself to be God. I am the Holy One. 168 00:10:54,440 --> 00:10:57,520 I am the true one. And you get to chapter 6 and you 169 00:10:57,520 --> 00:11:02,560 realize that the Saints call the sovereign Lord a holy and true. 170 00:11:02,720 --> 00:11:06,960 Who is this Jesus? More than a teacher, more than a 171 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:13,720 prophet, He's God in the flesh. Which brings me to a very 172 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:17,680 important observation, one that I think when people touch on 173 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:22,200 this letter, rarely discuss. And I was thinking maybe we'll 174 00:11:22,200 --> 00:11:25,120 touch on this at the end of the letter because it appears at the 175 00:11:25,120 --> 00:11:27,800 end, but I thought this would be a perfect place to get some 176 00:11:27,800 --> 00:11:30,760 answers. Let me tell you what I mean. 177 00:11:31,160 --> 00:11:34,120 Come back to chapter 3 and look what Christ says. 178 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:36,720 This is what Jesus says. Remember, He's the one who's 179 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,160 writing this to this church. He's using John, but they are 180 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:41,240 His words. And notice what he says in 181 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:44,040 Revelation 312. I wonder if you will catch it. 182 00:11:44,560 --> 00:11:48,880 Revelation 312 The one who conquers, I will make him a 183 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,680 pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it. 184 00:11:52,680 --> 00:11:55,840 And I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the 185 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,800 city of my God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from 186 00:11:58,800 --> 00:12:02,200 my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 187 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:09,520 Jesus is speaking and four times in one verse he says My God. 188 00:12:11,280 --> 00:12:14,680 My God, my God, my God, my God. Oh, I thought you were God. 189 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:19,200 And this is a favorite of skeptics and unbelievers to cast 190 00:12:19,200 --> 00:12:23,360 doubt in the hearts of Christians to reconsider the 191 00:12:23,880 --> 00:12:28,320 tenant of their faith that Jesus Christ is in fact God with us. 192 00:12:29,280 --> 00:12:33,120 How can you say that Christ is God and yet he claims to have a 193 00:12:33,120 --> 00:12:37,880 God over him? This is important and we need to 194 00:12:37,880 --> 00:12:40,880 consider this. One for our own edification, but 195 00:12:40,880 --> 00:12:44,480 also to give an answer to those who may not understand why we 196 00:12:44,480 --> 00:12:48,200 believe what we believe. And they may disagree with your 197 00:12:48,200 --> 00:12:52,280 faith in the person of Christ, but you and I have at least to 198 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:54,880 do our part in showing why we believe it. 199 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:57,360 We believe it because we find it in the Word of God. 200 00:12:58,160 --> 00:13:01,280 And what seems to be paradoxical or even contradictory is not. 201 00:13:01,920 --> 00:13:04,600 It just calls for a deeper study so that we can understand the 202 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:10,840 riches of who our God is again. How can Christ, who claims to be 203 00:13:10,840 --> 00:13:13,040 God say that he has a God over him? 204 00:13:14,520 --> 00:13:17,880 What I find interesting here is that we believe in the Trinity 205 00:13:18,400 --> 00:13:21,440 and it is only the second person in the Godhead. 206 00:13:21,440 --> 00:13:25,640 Whoever makes this claim, the Father never makes a claim that 207 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:29,080 he has a God over him. The Holy Spirit also does not 208 00:13:29,080 --> 00:13:31,360 make a claim that he has a God over him. 209 00:13:31,880 --> 00:13:35,120 The only one who does that is the person of Jesus Christ. 210 00:13:36,440 --> 00:13:38,800 It has to do with His dual nature. 211 00:13:39,760 --> 00:13:42,720 It has to do what He did 2000 years ago. 212 00:13:43,440 --> 00:13:45,480 And the point that I want to make to you is that the second 213 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:50,000 person of the Trinity assumes God as His God. 214 00:13:50,680 --> 00:13:57,520 Only when He became flesh, the Word became flesh. 215 00:13:58,400 --> 00:14:01,520 Turn with me to Jeremiah 32 verse 27. 216 00:14:02,200 --> 00:14:06,440 And please, please underline this verse and tuck it into your 217 00:14:06,440 --> 00:14:12,960 heart because it will make all of this easily understandable. 218 00:14:15,040 --> 00:14:18,160 Jeremiah 3227. Look at this declaration that 219 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,680 God makes. Behold, I am the Lord, I am 220 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:31,920 Yahweh, the God of what all flesh is anything too hard for 221 00:14:31,920 --> 00:14:37,040 me? So here he wants to declare his 222 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:43,080 omniscience, his omnipotence, His power, His Majesty, His 223 00:14:43,080 --> 00:14:47,360 Holiness, and in one way he describes it by emphasizing that 224 00:14:47,360 --> 00:14:51,040 He is the God of all flesh. Now if the Bible is consistent, 225 00:14:51,040 --> 00:14:53,480 which it is, then we also have to be consistent with our 226 00:14:53,480 --> 00:14:58,800 understanding of Jesus Christ. That when He became flesh, 227 00:14:58,920 --> 00:15:02,280 considering this verse, then wouldn't it be natural for us to 228 00:15:02,280 --> 00:15:07,200 understand that He identifies as the the Father, as his God in 229 00:15:07,200 --> 00:15:12,280 his humanity? The moment that He enters into 230 00:15:12,280 --> 00:15:17,520 our world and takes on humanity, truly human, though without sin, 231 00:15:19,040 --> 00:15:24,800 He is fulfilling what God says here, that now He operates 232 00:15:25,280 --> 00:15:30,880 subordinate, serving God in His humanity because He became 233 00:15:30,880 --> 00:15:34,760 flesh. That is significant because you 234 00:15:34,760 --> 00:15:37,880 won't see Christ, though you can find Him in the Old Testament 235 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,000 referring to the Father in this way. 236 00:15:40,000 --> 00:15:44,640 It only happens once He enters into our world, and that's why 237 00:15:44,640 --> 00:15:47,480 you see Him on the cross where He says and quotes Psalm 22. 238 00:15:47,800 --> 00:15:50,960 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? 239 00:15:52,680 --> 00:15:54,760 But here's the interesting note. We all agree with that. 240 00:15:54,760 --> 00:15:56,760 I'm sure many of us had that answer Yes, the reason why 241 00:15:56,760 --> 00:15:59,320 Christ can say my God was because in His humanity 242 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:02,800 identifies God the Father as his God. 243 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:07,320 Is Jesus writing this letter to the church in Philadelphia while 244 00:16:07,320 --> 00:16:09,720 he was on the earth before he was crucified? 245 00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:16,320 Answer no. This is Christ addressing his 246 00:16:16,320 --> 00:16:19,760 church post resurrection, post ascension. 247 00:16:21,400 --> 00:16:22,760 So now we apparently have a dilemma. 248 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:27,520 OK, you quoted Jeremiah 3227. Yahweh is the God of all flesh. 249 00:16:27,520 --> 00:16:31,920 Christ takes on flesh, and therefore now He identifies the 250 00:16:31,920 --> 00:16:36,760 Father as His God. But He died and he was buried, 251 00:16:36,840 --> 00:16:38,800 and he rose, and he ascended on high. 252 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:43,280 So then how is he now calling the Father his God here? 253 00:16:45,640 --> 00:16:50,200 Well, you have only two options. One, we have a blunder in the 254 00:16:50,200 --> 00:16:53,320 Bible. And we should all give up on our 255 00:16:53,320 --> 00:17:02,880 faith or two, He's still flesh. That's the answer. 256 00:17:04,280 --> 00:17:07,880 The reason why now Christ in heaven can still call the Father 257 00:17:07,880 --> 00:17:12,240 his God is because, yes, He entered into this world to take 258 00:17:12,240 --> 00:17:15,720 on flesh, but He also rose bodily. 259 00:17:17,560 --> 00:17:20,200 And that is the extent of the great price that he paid. 260 00:17:21,200 --> 00:17:24,119 That he didn't just put on an earth suit and then zip it off 261 00:17:24,119 --> 00:17:26,280 after he became the sin bearer of the world. 262 00:17:26,720 --> 00:17:32,000 He permanently became flesh, though glorified, still flesh. 263 00:17:32,440 --> 00:17:34,240 And here's the proof that I want to provide to you today. 264 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:38,160 I want to show you, and these are verses worth putting in your 265 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:42,560 phone or in your notepad. 3 verses that confirms that upon 266 00:17:42,560 --> 00:17:46,520 Jesus resurrection he was flesh. In his ascension and heavenly 267 00:17:46,520 --> 00:17:51,440 enthronement He was flesh, and in his return he's coming back 268 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:54,000 in the flesh. Can we do this together? 269 00:17:54,640 --> 00:17:59,800 Good Acts, chapter 2, when Peter preaches to all those Jews who 270 00:17:59,800 --> 00:18:03,960 came into Jerusalem for the feast of Pentecost, and he 271 00:18:03,960 --> 00:18:08,200 quotes at one point in his sermon, Psalm 1611, and he tells 272 00:18:08,200 --> 00:18:12,480 them that this points to Christ. It couldn't have pointed to 273 00:18:12,480 --> 00:18:15,360 David. It wasn't about that king, it 274 00:18:15,360 --> 00:18:17,880 was about another king, one of his descendants, the son of 275 00:18:17,880 --> 00:18:19,520 David. And I want you to see what he 276 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:26,120 says in Acts 229 to 31 to confirm number one, Christ in 277 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:33,360 the flesh in his resurrection. Brothers, Peter said, I may say 278 00:18:33,360 --> 00:18:36,200 to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both 279 00:18:36,200 --> 00:18:39,760 died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 280 00:18:40,160 --> 00:18:42,920 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with 281 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,640 an oath to him that He would set one of his descendants on His 282 00:18:45,640 --> 00:18:49,680 throne, He foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the 283 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:54,280 Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did His 284 00:18:54,360 --> 00:19:00,560 underline it flesh, nor did His flesh see corruption. 285 00:19:03,320 --> 00:19:09,280 When Jesus was buried in that rich man's tomb, the Father did 286 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:14,080 not allow His flesh to decay. And how did he spare him from 287 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,240 that kind of corruption, the resurrection? 288 00:19:17,560 --> 00:19:21,760 He raised him from the dead. David, he was buried and David 289 00:19:21,760 --> 00:19:25,360 Shirley has decayed. He's still in that tomb. 290 00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:29,320 And the point that Peter is making is Christ escaped that 291 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:33,080 tomb, that there was no deterioration there. 292 00:19:33,160 --> 00:19:38,360 There was nothing of decay because Christ was raised in the 293 00:19:38,360 --> 00:19:39,960 flesh. Why is that important to know? 294 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,720 Because you have some who vehemently disagree with the 295 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:46,800 resurrection of Christ, but can't deny the fact that He had 296 00:19:46,800 --> 00:19:49,200 some kind of resurrection. They might. 297 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,480 They might say he resurrected spiritually. 298 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:54,080 It was a spiritual body and they're understanding. 299 00:19:54,120 --> 00:19:58,200 It's this invisible, otherworldly kind of 300 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:01,840 manifestation. No, no, no, we learn here one of 301 00:20:01,840 --> 00:20:03,360 many places. It was His body. 302 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,160 It was His body. If you doubt that, what did God 303 00:20:08,280 --> 00:20:11,120 in Christ show those disciples as they were cowering in that 304 00:20:11,120 --> 00:20:13,600 room with a locked door? See that? 305 00:20:13,600 --> 00:20:18,520 I am flesh and bone. Look at me notices. 306 00:20:18,520 --> 00:20:20,040 Give me something to eat. I want to show you that this is 307 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,520 an actual body, and it was the same body that was crucified, 308 00:20:23,680 --> 00:20:27,080 albeit glorified. The resurrection, His flesh 309 00:20:27,520 --> 00:20:29,920 resurrected. What happened after that? 310 00:20:29,920 --> 00:20:32,400 We'll turn with me to First Timothy chapter 2, verse 5. 311 00:20:35,080 --> 00:20:37,080 Where's Christ now? What is he now? 312 00:20:38,840 --> 00:20:41,680 Well, Paul tells us in first Timothy chapter 2 verse 5. 313 00:20:49,760 --> 00:20:54,000 For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and 314 00:20:54,000 --> 00:21:01,240 men, the man Christ Jesus. Underline that last part, the 315 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:05,320 man Christ Jesus. He's speaking about the ministry 316 00:21:05,320 --> 00:21:11,200 of Jesus today, who's mediating between God and men now, not 317 00:21:11,200 --> 00:21:15,480 just the Savior, Christ Jesus, not just the God Christ Jesus. 318 00:21:15,640 --> 00:21:18,680 And Paul does call Jesus God in a different epistle, more than 319 00:21:18,680 --> 00:21:21,400 one actually. He says the man. 320 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:27,760 He emphasizes the humanity of Jesus, truly man, truly God. 321 00:21:28,080 --> 00:21:31,280 Still today. What you think about something, 322 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:33,960 it's kind of mind bending. It's actually breathtaking if 323 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:36,920 you really meditate on it. Right now, as we're having 324 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:43,440 Sunday service, there is a man in heaven, and not just in 325 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:46,200 heaven. There is flesh seated at the 326 00:21:46,200 --> 00:21:50,160 right hand of God, mediating between God and men. 327 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,360 I wonder what kind of conversations those heavenly 328 00:21:55,360 --> 00:22:02,600 creatures are having. Flesh He came into the world to 329 00:22:02,600 --> 00:22:05,400 take on flesh from eternity past beforehand. 330 00:22:06,080 --> 00:22:11,240 God is Spirit, the second person of the Trinity willingly lays 331 00:22:11,240 --> 00:22:14,480 down his life in accordance with the Godheads desire to save 332 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:16,600 humanity. And when he came back, he came 333 00:22:16,600 --> 00:22:20,960 back with flesh scars in his hand, inside in his feet. 334 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:23,120 And you and I are going to see those scars when we see Him face 335 00:22:23,120 --> 00:22:26,080 to face. So the point that I'm making is 336 00:22:26,080 --> 00:22:29,480 under score this, that Christ in his ascension, in his heavenly 337 00:22:29,480 --> 00:22:34,320 enthronement, now is a man. What about his return? 338 00:22:35,040 --> 00:22:40,440 Turn with me to Acts chapter 17. And look what Paul says here in 339 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:52,340 verse 31 of Acts 17. He writes because he has fixed a 340 00:22:52,340 --> 00:22:57,660 day on which he will judge the world in righteousness by a man 341 00:22:59,720 --> 00:23:02,360 whom he has appointed. And of this he has given 342 00:23:02,360 --> 00:23:05,680 assurance to all by raising him from the dead. 343 00:23:06,280 --> 00:23:08,600 So we know it's not just any other man. 344 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:13,680 It's not just the righteous man He qualifies. 345 00:23:15,000 --> 00:23:16,040 Who is it? What man? 346 00:23:16,040 --> 00:23:18,000 The one that was raised from the dead. 347 00:23:18,000 --> 00:23:21,240 That's Christ. So upon his return, Christ is 348 00:23:21,240 --> 00:23:23,000 not coming as a disembodied spirit. 349 00:23:23,440 --> 00:23:28,280 He's not coming invisibly, He's coming with flesh. 350 00:23:29,600 --> 00:23:34,480 So here you have it upon his resurrection, his ascension, his 351 00:23:34,480 --> 00:23:36,600 heavenly enthronement, and His return. 352 00:23:37,360 --> 00:23:39,680 He is man. And that's why in Revelation 353 00:23:39,800 --> 00:23:48,360 chapter 3 he can say My God, my God, my God, my God, God. 354 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:50,440 Yes. You know who calls Jesus? 355 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:57,080 God the Father in Hebrews 1/8. So he's still God, and you 356 00:23:57,080 --> 00:23:59,360 really have to go to Hebrews. Look at the beginning of this. 357 00:23:59,360 --> 00:24:02,720 Letter he's the holy 1. He is the true one and yet he 358 00:24:02,720 --> 00:24:05,440 can still say my God because you have the dual nature of Christ 359 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:08,360 at work here. I hope that makes sense. 360 00:24:08,360 --> 00:24:12,200 I want to remind you we're still in the first verse of this 361 00:24:12,200 --> 00:24:16,000 letter and we only talked about the two out of the three 362 00:24:16,000 --> 00:24:21,480 descriptions of Christ. Feel my pain every week. 363 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:25,760 Let's come back to verse 7 because there's still one more 364 00:24:25,760 --> 00:24:27,280 thing that Christ says about himself. 365 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:33,240 He says who has the key of David, who opens and no one will 366 00:24:33,240 --> 00:24:36,560 shut, who shuts and no one opens? 367 00:24:37,520 --> 00:24:42,200 That is a clear reference to the book of Isaiah. 368 00:24:42,200 --> 00:24:44,240 In fact, he quotes a verse in Isaiah. 369 00:24:44,240 --> 00:24:46,480 If you want to know which one, it's a very easy reference. 370 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:49,760 Isaiah 2222. Now you don't have to turn 371 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:51,800 there, but let me read this in your hearing. 372 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:57,600 And allow me to explain it. He says in Isaiah 2222, The Lord 373 00:24:57,840 --> 00:25:00,840 I will place on his shoulder the key of the House of David. 374 00:25:01,240 --> 00:25:04,920 He shall open and none shall shut, and he shall shut and none 375 00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:08,960 shall open. So we have to 1st ask the 376 00:25:08,960 --> 00:25:13,240 question whose shoulder is God laying a key on in the immediate 377 00:25:13,240 --> 00:25:14,720 context? And the answer is there. 378 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:17,000 You don't have to turn there, but it's a man named Alaikum, 379 00:25:17,920 --> 00:25:20,480 son of Hill Kaya. Who is this Eliakim? 380 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:23,640 He's an obscure character in the Old Testament narrative, but he 381 00:25:23,640 --> 00:25:27,240 was a man that God elevated to a position of authority in the 382 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:31,960 Kingdom while Hezekiah was king. He demoted a man named Shebna 383 00:25:31,960 --> 00:25:34,760 because he took advantage of that position of power for his 384 00:25:34,760 --> 00:25:38,840 selfish gain. And so the Lord fires Shebna and 385 00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:42,560 he raises up this man, Eliakim, and he tells him that he will be 386 00:25:42,560 --> 00:25:46,920 receiving this key of David as a chief of staff. 387 00:25:47,680 --> 00:25:51,080 He would be over the household, a very prominent position, one 388 00:25:51,080 --> 00:25:54,240 that had great responsibility as well as great privilege. 389 00:25:55,360 --> 00:26:01,640 And Jesus goes back to this text, to this man, and he says, 390 00:26:02,400 --> 00:26:05,000 I am the fulfillment of that. Ultimately, it's amazing. 391 00:26:05,000 --> 00:26:07,960 It just really is a testament of how much the Old Testament 392 00:26:07,960 --> 00:26:12,560 points to the Lord Jesus Christ. And the question then is how 393 00:26:12,560 --> 00:26:14,920 does the point at Christ? How does this moment in Judas 394 00:26:14,920 --> 00:26:18,600 history foreshadow what Christ is saying here? 395 00:26:18,600 --> 00:26:22,000 And I believe the answer is clear in an even greater way. 396 00:26:22,880 --> 00:26:26,920 God, yes, raised up a man named Eliakim to hold the key of the 397 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:30,480 House of David. But now he raises up Christ, and 398 00:26:30,480 --> 00:26:33,480 he holds ultimate authority over the messianic and eternal 399 00:26:33,480 --> 00:26:38,760 Kingdom of David. This key of David spoken about 400 00:26:38,760 --> 00:26:42,360 in Revelation undoubtedly refers to the sovereign authority of 401 00:26:42,360 --> 00:26:45,560 Christ. And what's its purpose? 402 00:26:46,680 --> 00:26:51,400 He allows only he allows whom he allows to come in and he keeps 403 00:26:51,400 --> 00:26:55,080 out who he wants to keep out. That's what he is saying here. 404 00:26:55,960 --> 00:26:58,560 I have the key of David. It speaks of the key of 405 00:26:58,560 --> 00:27:00,400 salvation. He alone possesses that 406 00:27:00,400 --> 00:27:06,040 authority and a like him, which means God raises points to 407 00:27:06,080 --> 00:27:09,400 Jesus, this man a like him who had a heart for the people of 408 00:27:09,400 --> 00:27:11,800 Israel. That's why he was hired to be 409 00:27:11,800 --> 00:27:13,600 over the household. Shabnam was fired. 410 00:27:13,600 --> 00:27:15,760 And I'm going to raise up this like him because he actually has 411 00:27:15,760 --> 00:27:18,720 a heart for my people, points to Christ, who doesn't just have a 412 00:27:18,720 --> 00:27:20,240 heart for Israel, but for the world. 413 00:27:23,000 --> 00:27:26,320 And he's been granted this key. And because of this key, he 414 00:27:26,320 --> 00:27:28,000 opens this door into eternal life. 415 00:27:28,000 --> 00:27:30,840 He shuts it. This speaks of salvation and 416 00:27:30,840 --> 00:27:34,080 judgment. We're told here that Christ 417 00:27:34,080 --> 00:27:36,600 alone determines every man's eternal destiny. 418 00:27:38,920 --> 00:27:40,240 Why is that relevant to this church? 419 00:27:40,240 --> 00:27:42,400 Because we, because of the persecution they experience, 420 00:27:42,400 --> 00:27:44,680 it's very likely that they were kicked out of a lot of things, 421 00:27:45,400 --> 00:27:49,920 namely the synagogue. So he wants to let them know you 422 00:27:49,920 --> 00:27:52,600 have your faith in me and I have the key to the most important 423 00:27:52,600 --> 00:27:56,360 door in the universe. Be comforted. 424 00:27:58,720 --> 00:28:01,520 But Christ's authority is not limited to salvation. 425 00:28:02,000 --> 00:28:03,840 Now we're going to Fast forward a little bit through this 426 00:28:03,840 --> 00:28:04,920 letter. Let's come back. 427 00:28:04,920 --> 00:28:07,480 Notice what he says here. It extends to every sphere of 428 00:28:07,480 --> 00:28:10,560 this realm. He says in verse 8, I know your 429 00:28:10,560 --> 00:28:11,760 works. Behold, I've said before you an 430 00:28:11,760 --> 00:28:14,560 open door which no one will will is able to shot. 431 00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:17,360 And I know that you have but little power, yet you have kept 432 00:28:17,360 --> 00:28:18,960 my word and have not denied my name. 433 00:28:20,440 --> 00:28:24,000 So hopefully when when you and I studied Smyrna, the Church of 434 00:28:24,000 --> 00:28:27,640 Smyrna, you recall that Christ there assured this church about 435 00:28:27,640 --> 00:28:30,120 the sovereignty over all suffering they were going to 436 00:28:30,120 --> 00:28:32,480 suffer. And he says, I'm in control of 437 00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:35,080 what kind of suffering you experienced and the extent of 438 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:36,800 it. I'm sovereign. 439 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:39,360 Now, when he comes to Philadelphia, he declares his 440 00:28:39,360 --> 00:28:44,080 sovereignty, but in another way, sovereignty over opportunities. 441 00:28:44,960 --> 00:28:47,920 Opportunities. That's what he means here when 442 00:28:47,920 --> 00:28:50,680 he says, behold, I've set before you an open door. 443 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,720 Now, some would say he's talking about the fact that he has given 444 00:28:53,720 --> 00:28:55,640 them salvation. That's what he's he's only just, 445 00:28:56,040 --> 00:28:58,560 he's just kind of doubling that statement. 446 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:00,600 You sure? But The thing is, when you look 447 00:29:00,600 --> 00:29:03,120 through the New Testament, you'll discover that this phrase 448 00:29:03,120 --> 00:29:09,840 open door consistently refers to access to a place or to a person 449 00:29:09,840 --> 00:29:13,720 with the gospel. Open door regularly speaks of in 450 00:29:13,720 --> 00:29:16,080 the New Testament of an evangelistic opportunity. 451 00:29:17,040 --> 00:29:19,280 And that's what I believe Christ is saying here to this church. 452 00:29:20,440 --> 00:29:24,040 I have set before you an opportunity to testify of me. 453 00:29:24,040 --> 00:29:27,160 It's as though he's saying you are a faithful church, and I'm 454 00:29:27,160 --> 00:29:31,000 giving you a chance now to advance in your faithfulness by 455 00:29:31,000 --> 00:29:34,200 walking through this door that I have made clear and open for you 456 00:29:34,400 --> 00:29:37,320 so that you can shine my light, take advantage of it. 457 00:29:37,320 --> 00:29:40,440 Church in Philadelphia, go for it. 458 00:29:40,920 --> 00:29:43,360 You have been faithful. I reward you with greater 459 00:29:43,360 --> 00:29:46,400 opportunity to be faithful. And I've set before you an open 460 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,080 door. And I believe what Christ says 461 00:29:49,080 --> 00:29:52,280 to this church. You may disagree with me, but I 462 00:29:52,280 --> 00:29:54,840 believe that what he says to this church in Philadelphia. 463 00:29:55,480 --> 00:29:57,360 Has been offered to the church in America. 464 00:30:00,640 --> 00:30:05,240 There is a unique freedom and favor that Christians experience 465 00:30:05,240 --> 00:30:10,240 in this land, and anybody with a little bit of sense would 466 00:30:10,240 --> 00:30:11,680 attribute that to the grace of God. 467 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:14,160 We are an anomaly here in America. 468 00:30:15,000 --> 00:30:17,240 What you and I are doing here, this is rare. 469 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:19,800 I know you grew up in it, but it's not common. 470 00:30:21,480 --> 00:30:25,040 And I believe it's because Christ has opened a door in this 471 00:30:25,040 --> 00:30:27,840 country. And I'm aware that there are 472 00:30:27,840 --> 00:30:30,920 those who would love to take away these rights and try to 473 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:33,920 sabotage these freedoms, and that we have to do our practical 474 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:37,400 part to preserve them. But there are a lot of 475 00:30:37,400 --> 00:30:40,120 Christians who are scared today, and I would quote to them this 476 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,280 passage. No matter what kind of 477 00:30:42,280 --> 00:30:44,480 legislation, what kind of laws, what kind of party does 478 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:48,680 anything, Jesus Christ opens doors that no man can shut. 479 00:30:49,200 --> 00:30:52,200 He determines that understand the sovereignty of Christ here 480 00:30:54,240 --> 00:31:00,720 and he's telling this church you have some time do something with 481 00:31:00,720 --> 00:31:04,080 this time and that's that's something for us to consider. 482 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,520 He says behold, like, open your eyes, see it. 483 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:12,000 And there's no profit for us praying and complaining about 484 00:31:12,480 --> 00:31:14,560 the things that are happening here in the US trying. 485 00:31:15,280 --> 00:31:18,000 To defend our religious liberties if we don't take 486 00:31:18,000 --> 00:31:23,040 advantage of it, I believe that's the call for us to take 487 00:31:23,040 --> 00:31:25,240 advantage of it. And sometimes the reason why we 488 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:28,800 lack motivation to step forward is perhaps for the same reason 489 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:30,320 why this church might have hesitated. 490 00:31:31,000 --> 00:31:32,480 Notice what he says in the rest of verse 8. 491 00:31:33,000 --> 00:31:36,000 After he tells him that he has given them an open door, he 492 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,440 reminds them that he knows that they have but little power. 493 00:31:40,240 --> 00:31:41,880 And that's not a correction. That's not. 494 00:31:42,720 --> 00:31:46,080 Any kind of criticism he just acknowledging what they know he 495 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:47,320 wants them to know. I'm aware of it. 496 00:31:47,320 --> 00:31:49,000 You have but little power. What does that mean? 497 00:31:49,960 --> 00:31:52,560 Most likely that they were small in number and short on 498 00:31:52,560 --> 00:31:56,200 resources. Very unimpressive in worldly 499 00:31:56,200 --> 00:31:58,120 terms. From a human standpoint, it 500 00:31:58,120 --> 00:32:00,880 didn't look like a thriving, successful ministry. 501 00:32:01,800 --> 00:32:06,400 You have little power. And I wonder if it's ever 502 00:32:06,400 --> 00:32:08,360 crossed their minds. Can we really make an impact for 503 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:12,080 Christ? Oh, how many believers feel this 504 00:32:12,080 --> 00:32:16,440 way about themselves? What do you do if you're here 505 00:32:16,440 --> 00:32:21,600 today and you've visited this thought that's caused a lack of 506 00:32:21,600 --> 00:32:24,760 motivation to share your faith? I'm not really eloquent. 507 00:32:24,760 --> 00:32:27,720 I mean, I don't, I have a very difficult time recalling 508 00:32:27,720 --> 00:32:30,080 Scripture references. I don't have the charisma. 509 00:32:30,080 --> 00:32:32,280 I don't really have a persuasive personality. 510 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:36,600 I'd rather give this person that I would love to share the gospel 511 00:32:36,600 --> 00:32:39,440 with the somebody else, maybe one of the elders or another 512 00:32:39,440 --> 00:32:42,640 experienced St. And so you feel stuck, you feel 513 00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,560 crippled. You feel like God can't really 514 00:32:45,560 --> 00:32:50,920 use you if that is you, you're supposed to do what this church 515 00:32:50,920 --> 00:32:52,720 was called to do. And it's very simple. 516 00:32:52,720 --> 00:32:57,680 Believe with all your heart that God really wants to use you. 517 00:32:57,680 --> 00:33:00,520 Even if you have little, he wants to use you. 518 00:33:01,680 --> 00:33:05,880 And then a wonderful thought. I think it is, yes, with your 519 00:33:05,880 --> 00:33:10,400 makeup and your unique quirks and your accent. 520 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:18,800 And your height, Whatever the case may be, Jesus Christ wants 521 00:33:18,800 --> 00:33:22,840 to use you. And the weaker you feel, the 522 00:33:22,840 --> 00:33:25,360 more excited you should be. Because we're promised that he 523 00:33:25,640 --> 00:33:29,120 provides power for all our weaknesses, all our 524 00:33:29,120 --> 00:33:30,960 deficiencies, and all our. Lack. 525 00:33:32,320 --> 00:33:35,440 That's why he says this is true. Yeah, you have little power, but 526 00:33:35,440 --> 00:33:37,880 you have me. You have the sovereign Christ 527 00:33:37,880 --> 00:33:40,440 who opens doors for you, and I don't just open them for you. 528 00:33:40,480 --> 00:33:47,760 I walk with you through them. And like this church, simply 529 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:52,080 take whatever opportunity that's made clear for you, The open 530 00:33:52,080 --> 00:33:55,200 door that you have to talk to unbelievers. 531 00:33:55,200 --> 00:33:58,520 What opportunities are around you to engage with those who 532 00:33:58,520 --> 00:34:01,840 don't know Christ? That's your open door, and it's 533 00:34:01,840 --> 00:34:04,320 a very wide open door here in America. 534 00:34:06,280 --> 00:34:07,880 May the Lord help us take advantage of it. 535 00:34:08,719 --> 00:34:11,000 I'm so glad that the Lord doesn't measure success in the 536 00:34:11,000 --> 00:34:14,280 way the world does. I'm so happy because in the very 537 00:34:14,280 --> 00:34:16,320 same breath that He says you have but little power, He 538 00:34:16,320 --> 00:34:19,760 acknowledges and praises them. For what? 539 00:34:21,560 --> 00:34:23,719 He doesn't clap because of their great number. 540 00:34:25,760 --> 00:34:27,800 He doesn't pat him on the back because of their robust 541 00:34:27,800 --> 00:34:31,239 programs, their wonderful budget. 542 00:34:31,239 --> 00:34:32,320 He doesn't acknowledge any of that. 543 00:34:32,320 --> 00:34:34,000 The one thing that he highlights? 544 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:37,440 That makes this church so praiseworthy is loyalty. 545 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:43,880 You have what kept my word and have not denied my name. 546 00:34:45,120 --> 00:34:49,159 This little church in Philadelphia love the Bible, 547 00:34:50,280 --> 00:34:54,000 they love the scriptures, and though they were little many 548 00:34:54,000 --> 00:34:56,280 things, they just wanted to govern themselves according to 549 00:34:56,280 --> 00:34:57,920 the word of God. They want to know the word of 550 00:34:57,920 --> 00:34:59,280 God. They want to share the word of 551 00:34:59,280 --> 00:35:00,680 God. That was their ministry motto. 552 00:35:01,800 --> 00:35:06,440 And Jesus looks at this church and says, I have nothing to say, 553 00:35:07,240 --> 00:35:11,080 nothing negative to say. I see that you treasure my word. 554 00:35:12,360 --> 00:35:16,840 A church that holds the Bible so dearly, not just in creed but in 555 00:35:16,840 --> 00:35:21,840 practice and wants to be faithful to the person of Jesus 556 00:35:21,840 --> 00:35:25,560 Christ and all his exclusive claims is a church that is very 557 00:35:25,560 --> 00:35:29,760 dear to the heart of Christ. You know what every single one 558 00:35:29,760 --> 00:35:31,320 of us should be able to say about this church? 559 00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:33,520 By the grace of God and any other church that you represent, 560 00:35:33,800 --> 00:35:37,240 if you're visiting here today, listen to what Christ is saying. 561 00:35:37,360 --> 00:35:40,120 What kind of what kind of church does he praise? 562 00:35:40,280 --> 00:35:43,480 One that loves the word of God. Why do you go to the church you 563 00:35:43,480 --> 00:35:44,720 go to? Because they love the word of 564 00:35:44,720 --> 00:35:48,160 God. They sing the word of God, they 565 00:35:48,160 --> 00:35:50,760 preach the word of God, and more importantly, they try to live 566 00:35:50,760 --> 00:35:53,280 the word of God. It was Spurgeon who said the 567 00:35:53,280 --> 00:35:56,240 Lord does not blame us for having little strength but 568 00:35:56,240 --> 00:35:59,000 little zeal, little love, little consecration. 569 00:35:59,000 --> 00:36:02,640 Yes, He'll criticize that never for our lack of number or 570 00:36:02,640 --> 00:36:07,240 resources. So he praises them. 571 00:36:07,880 --> 00:36:10,240 You have kept my word. Here's what I take from this, 572 00:36:10,240 --> 00:36:14,560 and we're wrapping up very soon. If I want Jesus to smile over 573 00:36:14,560 --> 00:36:18,120 Maranatha Bible Church, I have one preoccupation, the Bible, 574 00:36:21,000 --> 00:36:22,640 and everything will flow from that. 575 00:36:23,320 --> 00:36:26,120 This is our compass. This is our hymn book. 576 00:36:26,480 --> 00:36:28,520 This is the subject matter of our discussions. 577 00:36:28,800 --> 00:36:30,440 This is our counselling material. 578 00:36:30,600 --> 00:36:36,080 It's in the book. And I again learned that Christ 579 00:36:36,480 --> 00:36:40,640 really, really appreciates those who value his word. 580 00:36:42,880 --> 00:36:44,960 May the Lord keep us as a people of this book. 581 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:48,680 But he doesn't just praise them. He gives them wonderful 582 00:36:48,680 --> 00:36:52,000 promises, and for the rest of these verses we'll look at three 583 00:36:52,000 --> 00:36:54,680 of them very quickly. He gives 3 promises to this 584 00:36:54,680 --> 00:37:00,200 faithful church to encourage faithfulness and to bless them 585 00:37:00,200 --> 00:37:02,560 for their faithfulness. Verse 9. 586 00:37:03,200 --> 00:37:07,360 Here's promise #1 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of 587 00:37:07,360 --> 00:37:08,640 Satan who say that they are Jews. 588 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:11,280 Better not, but lie. Behold, I will make them come 589 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,120 and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have 590 00:37:14,120 --> 00:37:20,680 loved you #1 This faithful church was promised that Christ 591 00:37:20,680 --> 00:37:27,640 would prove their enemies wrong. Have we seen this Synagogue of 592 00:37:27,640 --> 00:37:29,440 Satan before in our study of revelation? 593 00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:31,000 Yeah, this is the second time it appears. 594 00:37:31,280 --> 00:37:33,560 And let me be very clear, the Synagogue of Satan is not a 595 00:37:33,560 --> 00:37:37,000 blanket statement about the Jewish race or Israel's national 596 00:37:37,000 --> 00:37:40,760 identity. Rather crisis condemning a 597 00:37:40,760 --> 00:37:44,200 specific group of Jews in this area who placed their spiritual 598 00:37:44,200 --> 00:37:48,320 confidence in their race, in their ethnicity. 599 00:37:49,000 --> 00:37:52,000 All the while they're in spiritual danger because they 600 00:37:52,000 --> 00:37:53,720 were disconnected from the Christ. 601 00:37:54,320 --> 00:37:58,280 That's what he's saying here. They were Jews by race, they 602 00:37:58,280 --> 00:38:01,800 were Jews by culture, they were Jew by religious ceremonies, but 603 00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:04,720 they were not true Jews in the spiritual sense. 604 00:38:05,320 --> 00:38:08,000 Paul tells us in Romans 2 that a true Jew, somebody who would 605 00:38:08,000 --> 00:38:12,320 embrace the Messiah. At the same time, that is not to 606 00:38:12,320 --> 00:38:18,160 say that there isn't value in their history and their national 607 00:38:18,160 --> 00:38:21,440 identity. Here's what's so spectacular 608 00:38:21,440 --> 00:38:27,280 about this These Jews who are pricking, these Christians Jesus 609 00:38:27,280 --> 00:38:31,200 tells of this church, They will one day come and bow before you 610 00:38:31,680 --> 00:38:34,440 and acknowledge that I have loved you. 611 00:38:36,480 --> 00:38:40,560 This comes from the Old Testament because God made the 612 00:38:40,560 --> 00:38:47,920 same promise to the Jews. So in Isaiah 60 verse 14, it's a 613 00:38:47,920 --> 00:38:51,160 wonderful passage about the messianic millennial reign of 614 00:38:51,160 --> 00:38:55,440 Christ when Jesus Christ rules and reigns on the earth for 1000 615 00:38:55,440 --> 00:39:00,560 years. He tells them this in Isaiah 616 00:39:00,560 --> 00:39:03,040 6014. The sons of those who afflicted 617 00:39:03,040 --> 00:39:07,640 you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you 618 00:39:07,640 --> 00:39:11,800 shall bow down at your feet. They shall call you the city of 619 00:39:11,800 --> 00:39:15,240 the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel. 620 00:39:15,720 --> 00:39:17,600 Here it is again, Holy One, right, Isaiah? 621 00:39:18,520 --> 00:39:19,880 So what is he saying to these Jews? 622 00:39:20,680 --> 00:39:23,440 Well, in the millennial reign of Christ, when the Jews will 623 00:39:23,440 --> 00:39:28,120 embrace Jesus Christ as their Messiah, the Lord will call all 624 00:39:28,120 --> 00:39:31,400 the unbelieving Gentiles who have harassed them throughout 625 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:35,080 history and will bow and acknowledge that they truly did 626 00:39:35,080 --> 00:39:40,040 belong to the Lord. And then now he speaks to these 627 00:39:40,040 --> 00:39:45,600 believing Gentiles, and he borrows the same language, and 628 00:39:45,600 --> 00:39:49,280 he says, you Christians who are Gentiles, most of you at least 629 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:53,400 one day I'm going to have these unbelieving Jews come and bow 630 00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:56,720 before you, not as an act of worship, but as humble 631 00:39:56,720 --> 00:40:01,440 acknowledgement that I in fact have loved you, that I have 632 00:40:01,440 --> 00:40:04,040 called the Gentiles unto myself, that they are grafted, and that 633 00:40:04,040 --> 00:40:05,960 they are part of my salvation plan. 634 00:40:06,800 --> 00:40:12,080 Do you see this? How does this relate to us? 635 00:40:12,080 --> 00:40:18,120 Here's how it relates to us. That it quiets our itch to want 636 00:40:18,120 --> 00:40:20,480 to be vengeful to those who have harassed us. 637 00:40:21,240 --> 00:40:22,920 Maybe for your faith. Maybe there are people in your 638 00:40:22,920 --> 00:40:24,880 life that are making your life difficult because you are a 639 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:29,000 follower of Christ. Let Christ deal with those who 640 00:40:29,000 --> 00:40:32,280 oppose you. You love them, you pray for 641 00:40:32,280 --> 00:40:35,280 them, and you hope that they will be saved. 642 00:40:35,280 --> 00:40:38,840 You believe God for that and let the Lord deal with how they have 643 00:40:38,840 --> 00:40:41,400 handled you. He is keeping a record of it and 644 00:40:41,400 --> 00:40:43,920 there's a time coming for those throughout history who have 645 00:40:43,920 --> 00:40:47,400 indeed brought so much pain and trouble to families who were 646 00:40:47,400 --> 00:40:51,360 ripped apart because of the faith or their well-being in 647 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:54,560 society that their livelihood. There's a time coming where 648 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:58,000 Christ will call all men to acknowledge that He in fact was 649 00:40:58,000 --> 00:41:00,440 the God of this people and now He is. 650 00:41:01,040 --> 00:41:05,400 He is paying them back. That's not the only promise. 651 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:08,720 Verse 10. He promises them preservation 652 00:41:08,720 --> 00:41:11,720 from tribulation. Because you've kept my word 653 00:41:11,720 --> 00:41:14,520 about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial 654 00:41:14,680 --> 00:41:17,720 that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on 655 00:41:17,720 --> 00:41:24,560 the earth. So there is debate about this 656 00:41:24,560 --> 00:41:27,280 verse. You have those who interpret it 657 00:41:27,280 --> 00:41:31,160 in this way as a proof text for a pre tribulation rapture, that 658 00:41:31,160 --> 00:41:34,280 there is coming at an unannounced time a rescue of the 659 00:41:34,280 --> 00:41:37,840 people of God where they will be brought up to heaven in the 660 00:41:37,840 --> 00:41:40,840 presence of Christ before the tribulation period. 661 00:41:40,840 --> 00:41:43,480 That he will pour out on the world that we see here described 662 00:41:43,480 --> 00:41:47,960 in the Book of Revelation. And they would say this is 663 00:41:47,960 --> 00:41:50,400 exactly what he is promising to the church, that those who are 664 00:41:50,400 --> 00:41:53,880 indeed in him will be spared from the hour of trial. 665 00:41:53,880 --> 00:41:55,640 It's not a localized trial. Why? 666 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:57,840 Because it says here that it's coming upon the whole world. 667 00:41:59,840 --> 00:42:02,320 And it's a very strong verse in the case of those who hold to 668 00:42:02,320 --> 00:42:04,600 that view. But then there there are those 669 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:06,520 who are genuine Christians who would disagree and say that's 670 00:42:06,520 --> 00:42:08,520 not what he is saying. Because if you really get into 671 00:42:08,520 --> 00:42:11,960 the original, Christ is not saying that he is going to keep 672 00:42:11,960 --> 00:42:14,080 them from this hour of trial in the sense that they're going to 673 00:42:14,400 --> 00:42:17,320 escape it, but that he's going to protect them through it. 674 00:42:19,240 --> 00:42:21,480 And so in the same way that there was a Goshen while the 675 00:42:21,480 --> 00:42:24,200 plagues were being poured out on Egypt, in the same way there was 676 00:42:24,200 --> 00:42:27,200 a bubble of protection over Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 677 00:42:27,600 --> 00:42:30,440 The church will go through this tribulation period and they will 678 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:34,800 be kept from the wrath of God during it, though still 679 00:42:35,000 --> 00:42:42,400 vulnerable to the wrath of man. I'm sure we can get into this 680 00:42:42,400 --> 00:42:45,880 conversation and spend the rest of our time speaking about this, 681 00:42:45,880 --> 00:42:50,640 but we will at another time. What we need to take from this 682 00:42:50,960 --> 00:42:53,880 to remain consistent with the application of our message today 683 00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:57,400 is that for those who are faithful Christ, one of the 684 00:42:57,440 --> 00:43:00,560 wonderful promises that He does have is that He protects those 685 00:43:00,560 --> 00:43:03,600 who belong to Him. He keeps those who serve Him. 686 00:43:03,800 --> 00:43:07,720 There should be not an ounce of worry about your safety, your 687 00:43:07,720 --> 00:43:14,600 provision as you serve Him. I will keep you and any pain 688 00:43:14,600 --> 00:43:17,760 that happens in your life, I've permitted it only for your good. 689 00:43:18,480 --> 00:43:20,160 That's the practical application of this. 690 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:23,120 We will get to how this relates to the timeline of end time 691 00:43:23,120 --> 00:43:25,080 events. We have so much of revelation to 692 00:43:25,080 --> 00:43:32,480 cover, but take that for now. Lastly, he says I'm coming soon 693 00:43:32,480 --> 00:43:34,360 in verse 11. Hold fast what you have so that 694 00:43:34,360 --> 00:43:37,160 no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will 695 00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:38,640 make him a pillar in the temple of my God. 696 00:43:38,640 --> 00:43:41,080 Never shall he go out of it. I'll write on the name of my 697 00:43:41,080 --> 00:43:43,400 God, in the name of the city of my God, the New Jerusalem which 698 00:43:43,400 --> 00:43:46,160 comes out from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. 699 00:43:46,160 --> 00:43:48,000 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the 700 00:43:48,000 --> 00:43:53,040 churches. So the first promise was, I am 701 00:43:53,040 --> 00:43:57,440 going to deal with your enemies #2 I'm going to protect you. 702 00:43:57,880 --> 00:44:02,440 Even if the troubles of this world encapsulate the whole 703 00:44:02,440 --> 00:44:05,360 world, you will be preserved. You will be protected. 704 00:44:06,080 --> 00:44:09,440 And lastly, I will shower you with eternal rewards. 705 00:44:09,440 --> 00:44:13,320 You understand, He says, I have a crown that's prepared for you. 706 00:44:13,680 --> 00:44:16,800 I'm coming soon. Hold fast to your faithfulness. 707 00:44:16,800 --> 00:44:21,080 Don't let go and look at this slight warning so that no one 708 00:44:21,080 --> 00:44:22,720 may seize your crown. That's not talking about the 709 00:44:22,720 --> 00:44:24,480 crown of salvation or we're all in trouble. 710 00:44:25,320 --> 00:44:27,680 That's talking about eternal reward for your faithfulness. 711 00:44:27,960 --> 00:44:29,720 And here's what we learn here, though. 712 00:44:29,720 --> 00:44:33,040 By the grace of God, by his goodness, our salvation cannot 713 00:44:33,040 --> 00:44:34,880 be forfeited. Your rewards can. 714 00:44:35,520 --> 00:44:38,280 And in fact, if you and I listen very carefully, if you and I are 715 00:44:38,280 --> 00:44:42,040 not faithful in our ministry, Lord may give it to somebody 716 00:44:42,040 --> 00:44:44,640 else and He'll reward them for it. 717 00:44:46,200 --> 00:44:48,280 That's why one of my go to prayers is Lord, no matter how 718 00:44:48,280 --> 00:44:50,600 difficult ministry gets, I never want to be a complainer. 719 00:44:51,000 --> 00:44:53,840 Never. Please don't fire me. 720 00:44:55,600 --> 00:44:56,920 I want to serve you. There's no thrill. 721 00:44:56,920 --> 00:44:59,120 There's no greater joy. I want to be faithful until the 722 00:44:59,120 --> 00:45:01,320 end. I want a crown, not so that I 723 00:45:01,320 --> 00:45:04,000 can wear it, but so that I can lay something worthy at your 724 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:08,280 feet when I see you. The No man sees your crown. 725 00:45:08,480 --> 00:45:11,120 And John, the same John who wrote this, wrote in his third 726 00:45:11,120 --> 00:45:13,840 epistle or second epistle, Rather listen to this in second 727 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:18,320 John 8 No chapters. Watch yourselves so that no one, 728 00:45:18,840 --> 00:45:21,720 so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a 729 00:45:21,720 --> 00:45:27,240 full reward. Watch yourselves so that you 730 00:45:27,240 --> 00:45:30,680 would not lose what you've been working for and forfeit a full 731 00:45:30,680 --> 00:45:32,760 reward. So you know who we have to be 732 00:45:32,760 --> 00:45:34,960 careful for? Not somebody else who has a 733 00:45:34,960 --> 00:45:38,000 similar gift that seems to be in competition with our ministry. 734 00:45:38,000 --> 00:45:39,160 No, no, you don't have to do that. 735 00:45:39,240 --> 00:45:40,880 That's ugly. In fact, you might forfeit your 736 00:45:40,880 --> 00:45:44,000 reward if you think that way. No, no, it's not a competition 737 00:45:44,000 --> 00:45:45,520 with one another. What did John say? 738 00:45:45,520 --> 00:45:49,240 Watch yourself. You're your number one enemy. 739 00:45:50,560 --> 00:45:53,000 You're the number one cause for you to give up in serving the 740 00:45:53,000 --> 00:45:55,760 Lord. Watch yourself the 741 00:45:55,760 --> 00:45:58,280 discouragement and the temptations of the world around 742 00:45:58,280 --> 00:46:01,320 you. Watch yourself win and hold on 743 00:46:01,840 --> 00:46:04,400 for the full reward. And then he speaks about this 744 00:46:04,400 --> 00:46:05,080 stuff. About what? 745 00:46:05,080 --> 00:46:07,120 What? I'm going to give you a new name 746 00:46:07,640 --> 00:46:10,400 and all of this in verse 12. It's just about ownership. 747 00:46:10,400 --> 00:46:12,960 And it's about, again, the same consistent theme in every reward 748 00:46:12,960 --> 00:46:19,200 in the Book of Revelation. Intimacy with God, intimacy with 749 00:46:19,200 --> 00:46:22,760 him. I'm coming soon and I am going 750 00:46:22,760 --> 00:46:27,280 to label you and I'm going to keep you and I'm going to praise 751 00:46:27,280 --> 00:46:29,560 you. Why would this be meaningful to 752 00:46:29,560 --> 00:46:32,240 this church? Because they lost so much for 753 00:46:32,240 --> 00:46:34,680 their faith. And Christ says there's 754 00:46:34,680 --> 00:46:38,120 something far greater than what you forfeited for me. 755 00:46:38,520 --> 00:46:41,280 I know that there are those who are working for Satan who have 756 00:46:41,280 --> 00:46:43,760 taken things from you. But listen to this list of 757 00:46:43,760 --> 00:46:46,040 rewards. You will be a pillar in my 758 00:46:46,040 --> 00:46:48,600 temple. Never removed, never cast out, 759 00:46:48,800 --> 00:46:51,280 never disqualified, forever treasured by who? 760 00:46:51,360 --> 00:47:00,400 By me, by me Church, it's possible to be faithful as a 761 00:47:00,400 --> 00:47:02,160 church and as individual Christians. 762 00:47:04,240 --> 00:47:06,760 And the prayer point of this sermon is simply this. 763 00:47:06,760 --> 00:47:11,200 Lord, as we have been faithful, hopefully help us to remain 764 00:47:11,200 --> 00:47:13,480 faithful with whatever door you've opened for us. 765 00:47:13,840 --> 00:47:18,440 That's what we need to ask. Lord, we ask you today that You 766 00:47:18,440 --> 00:47:22,560 would give us eyes to see Your sovereignty, Your sovereignty 767 00:47:22,560 --> 00:47:25,520 over all things, over salvation, Your sovereignty over suffering, 768 00:47:25,520 --> 00:47:28,120 and even Your sovereignty over every opportunity in our lives. 769 00:47:31,840 --> 00:47:33,880 We thank you, Laura, for the great encouragement that you 770 00:47:33,880 --> 00:47:36,400 have given us here. And though we could have 771 00:47:36,400 --> 00:47:38,960 explored so much more, though we have enough to be able to 772 00:47:38,960 --> 00:47:42,800 respond in praise and adoration. So we'll receive our 773 00:47:42,800 --> 00:47:46,440 Thanksgiving that we even get to live in a land with a wide open 774 00:47:46,440 --> 00:47:49,960 door, that no matter where we are, we can freely speak Your 775 00:47:49,960 --> 00:47:52,600 word without any fear of anything. 776 00:47:53,520 --> 00:47:55,480 And so Lord, we pray. It can only come from the power 777 00:47:55,480 --> 00:47:58,200 of Your Holy Spirit to energize us to move forward. 778 00:47:59,280 --> 00:48:02,120 So Lord, give us that zeal even as we sing these praises unto 779 00:48:02,120 --> 00:48:05,000 your name. In Jesus name we pray, Amen and 780 00:48:05,000 --> 00:48:06,560 Amen. Let's stand and give glory to 781 00:48:06,560 --> 00:48:07,000 Christ.