INTRO: Super Bowl of the Universe
Animals vs. insects, first 3 quarters animals stomped all over the insects. Quarterback elephant, right running back was a rhino, left running back was a hippo. Stomped all over insects.
Fourth quarter animals have football on own 20-yard line - handed ball quarterback - he handed to rhino man up line. Scrimmage got tackled (never happened before, shook up).
Second down - quarterback to hippo - he’s tackled - people can’t believe it. Third down - quarterback takes ball himself - he’s tackled, crowd goes wild.
The coach of the insects calls a time out and runs out and asks, "Who tackled that rhino?" The centipede raised his hands, "I did coach." Who tackled hippo? The centipede raised his hands, "I did coach." Who tackled elephant? The centipede raised his hands, "I did coach." And the coach said, "Where have you been for three quarters?" "Coach, I’ve been in the locker room tying up my shoe laces."
Folks, it’s time to get out of the locker room.
Today, look at a church that used the opportunities given it.
TITLE: Church of The Open Door
TEXT: Rev. 3:1-13
1. Background - We are on the 6th church. Philadelphia was the youngest of all the seven cities of Revelation.
A. Name - Philadelphia in original language "One who loves his brother."
-This is not Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it’s Philadelphia, Turkey, Asia Minor.
B. Church to belong - It’s the best of the seven churches. There is no criticism from the Lord. There is only praise.
-This town was founded with the deliberate intention that it might be a missionary of Greek culture to Lydia and Phrygia (Regions).
ex.....Owatonna town planted here to effect Rochester and Mankato. Town Philadelphia was so effective 150 years Lydians and Phrygia forgot own language and became influenced by the Greek culture and language.
Point: Church in Philadelphia influenced a large region, many people came through this city and were affected by Christianity because of the faithfulness of this small church.
-This church was a powerhouse.
’II. Letter to church in Philadelphia. There are three great descriptions of the risen Christ.
A. 1st - Holy - word literally means to be set apart "separate."
-Idea of being perfect or pure. This is a description of the one who holds your future. He is perfect and pure. There is no defect in Him.
I. The Lord will never go against His Word. He is bound by His holiness. He will never lie to you or pull something underhanded, unethical.
ex.....Caretaker accepted position, moved in. Tammy got her job - got to know the managers, owner. Then found out financial condition, cost college, condition of the car. Double teamed us by increasing our workload while decreasing our pay. Complained. Attitude - tough, don’t like it, leave! (knowing full well that we were between a rock and a hard place.) Had to quit school, get money from Mom & Dad (Didn’t want to).
-God is not like that. God will never shaft you like that because He is holy and perfect.
B. 2nd Description - He is true - Idea of being right, dependable, reliable.
1. God knows what He is doing - He is right.
-Isn’t it nice going to someone who is always right. He is never incorrect. Christ will always give us the right answer.
Key: Is we need to learn to listen. Folks, the Lord’s there with the answer. Yes, sometimes we may have to wait and be patient for an answer.
2. Dependable - Hebrews 13:5b, "God says, I will never leave you; never will I forsake you." We can rely on him.
-I think we’ve all been let down whether it’s by family, friends; yes, even Christians. But we can always depend on God.
C. 3rd Description of Christ - "One who holds the key of David." Reference to Isaiah 22:22 Eliakim who was a faithful servant of the king was given the key to the treasury of David (treasury of David was the Fort Knox of Judah where all the wealth was kept) Eliakim was given this key which represents the symbol of authority and power and resources.
-Isaiah 22:22 says, "I will place on his shoulder the key to the House of David, what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."
-Jesus is of the lineage of David.
1. Author of Revelation has this picture/idea in his mind that Jesus holds the keys of the treasury of David.
-Meaning Jesus holds the resources of heaven at His disposal and He’s in authority over them.
2. Take comfort - God is in charge. Lord is going to take care of us. "What He opens no one can shut."
a. Doors of opportunity - Lord is waiting for some of us to be faithful and walk through some of the doors He has already opened before He opens the next one.
-We can take comfort in wherever God guides us he will provide for us.
ex God calling you to take a large promotion. You feel inadequate, God will provide. Some of you graduation this year. You may feel uneasy about college. I’m not smart enough. If God calls you, He will provide for you.
Illustrate: Ian Hall, Missionary to Eurasia, graduate high school. Had trouble getting into university. Tried several universities. Grades were not good enough, but God called me to be a minister. (You see, he also had a stuttering problem). The only one who would accept him was a Nazarene Bible College and he tells the story that as soon as he walked across the floor of the college, God instantly healed him of his stuttering. Now he’s got his doctorate and he’s a missionary to Eurasia. He will be visiting in August.
-God will provide - paraphrase translation "For promotion and power come from nowhere on earth, but only from God He promotes one and disposes another."
III.When does the door open - 3 qualifications
A. Kept my word - obedient, faithful. God wants to open, but there’s a condition "obedience." -God told the people in this church to do something and they did it.
1. Obedience is very important. Sometimes we have selected obedience which is being obedient when it’s convenient or maybe we think we know best.
-In How Life Imitates the World Saries, Dave Bosewell tells a story about Earl Weaver, former manager of the Baltimore Orioles. Sports fans will enjoy how he handled star Reggie Jackson This upset Jackson because he felt he knew the pitchers and catchers well enough to judge who he could and could no steal off of. So one game he decided to steal without a sign. He got a good jump off the pitcher and easily beat the throw to second base. As he shook the dirt off his uniform, Jackson smiled with delight, feeling he had vindicated his judgment to his manager.
Later Weaver took Jackson aside and explained why he hadn’t given the steal sign. First, the next batter was Lee May, his best power hitter other than Jackson. When Jackson stole second, first base was left open, so the other team walked May intentionally, taking the bat out of his hands.
Second, the following batter hadn’t been strong against that pitcher, so Weaver felt he had to send up a pinch hitter to try to drive in the men on base. That left Weaver without bench strength later in the game when he needed it.
The problem was, Jackson saw only his relationship to the pitcher and catcher. Weaver was watching the whole game.
We, too, see only so far, but God sees the bigger picture. When he sends us a signal, it’s wise to obey, no matter what we may think we know.
B. You have not denied my name. The Christian in this church has not denied Christ’s name.
1. Saints in Bible
a. Daniel taken as a teenager to Babylon by King Nebuchadnezzar. Brought in to serve the king and
learn the Babylonian ways, but he was still faithful to God and the Lord used him to rise to second in command.
-Daniel did not deny the Lord, and God rewarded him greatly.
b. Joseph - sold as a slave to Potiphar, falsely accused, went to prison, stayed faithful to God Rose from prison to 2nd in command of Egypt.
2. God is looking for saints to be faithful so He can place them in strategic spots so God can use you. -It’s easy to stand up in church and get excited, but the world is a different story.
-If the Lord can’t depend on you in the small things, He won’t elevate you to larger responsibility.
-Sometimes we focus too much on our career while God is focusing on our character.
-This church in Philadelphia was faithful in the small things, and the Lord gives them praise. C. 3rd Qualification of an open door - little strength
Church in Philadelphia one of the smallest churches of the seven. Not a wealthy church or a prominent church. You can’t even fmd this city today - does not even exist.
1. Philadelphia was the gateway to the central plain of Turkey - everyone goes through. God says I’ve
placed a great door of opportunity in front of you not because you’re wealthy or prominent, but
because they were available. God’s door swings on two hinges (dependability and availability).
-This church had little strength, but they were willing to use what they had. God can do a great deal with just a little.
-The problem is we have too much and have a tendency to rely on ourselves.
a. Want to see God move - it usually comes when we have come to an end in ourselves and we have nothing left (then God takes ova). Lord wants us to depend on His strength and His power. Too many of us are relying on our own talents and skills.
IV. Promise of Christ - Those that keep the Lord’s commandments will be kept.
A. Loyalty has its reward - v. 10 (Read)
-This is a premise to those who have practiced the same kind of endurance as Jesus displayed in His earthly life.
1. Jesus is our example to follow
-We need to follow Him as He was obedient to His father.
-We need to follow Him as He forgave others.
-We need to follow Him as He witnessed to others. -We need to follow Him as He was giving. -We need to follow His example of endurance. -We need to follow His example of sympathy.
B. Reward - God will keep you from the hour of trial.
-They won’t have to face the hour of trial. Scholars differ greatly on what this means. But they all agree, it’s something you don’t want to face.
ex Football in high school. If you went faithfully to practice all summer long and didn’t miss and you did what you’re supposed to do, you didn’t have to go through the endurance and strength trials. Coach ususally did these right at hottest part of day after grueling practice to see if you could make it. It was a huge relief to be able to sit and watch and catch your breath while these others were trying to make it.
C. He’s coming soon - Lord is coming soon. Each day that passes means he’s one day closer. 1. Encourages us to hang on.
-God has a task for every man, but it may be that the man proves himself unfit for the task and it is given to another.
CONCLUSION: v. 12-13 (Read)
The faithful Christian will be a pillar in the temple of God
1. This may be a promise of security.
-You see the city of Philadelphia was terrorized by recurring earthquakes, the citizens would flee into the open country to escape. Life was lived in an atmosphere of insecurity.
-Lord promising security, stability to those who overcome.
