“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘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.
“ ‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. 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. 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. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’ (Revelation 3:7-17)
What Kind of Church Are We Getting Inside of Us: An Open Door of Kingdom Opportunity Revelation 3:7-17
In worship this week we discussed how the synagogue door had been closed for the early Jewish Christians in Philadelphia. Being excommunicated from the synagogue would have been a devastating blow, creating discouraging emotional, relational, and financial hardships for these believers. To these downtrodden, faithful Christians, Jesus offers a word of encouragement. The key to the kingdom was in His hand and He had opened a door of kingdom opportunity for them. If they would remain faithful to the end, His reward of stability and acceptance would never be taken from them.
As we emerge from this global pandemic and the difficulties that have accompanied it and figure out what life looks like in this new world that is emerging, it’s easy to get discouraged. We can’t always understand why things happen the way they do and, at times, we have doors slammed in our faces. Following Jesus leads us down a difficult path that can cost us friendships, cause us to be ostracized by people we care about, and limit our ability to pursue certain opportunities. Jesus’ message to the believers of Philadelphia reminds us that no sacrifice goes unnoticed by Christ. He opens doors of kingdom opportunity and will reward those who remain faithful and answer His call to go through them. Will we?
· What must it have felt like to be excommunicated from the synagogue because of a commitment to Jesus as the Messiah? What hardships might we face today because of our commitment to Christ?
· What were Jesus’ promises to the faithful Philadelphian believers if they would stay the course and go through the door He had opened before them? What do those promises mean for us?
· What doors is Jesus opening for us today? How can we respond faithfully and travel through them?