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Doors can be dangerous things. They’re kept locked so
children can’t get trapped in cupboards, or so you can’t damage or be damaged
by electrical equipment. They’re kept shut so fire can’t spread around the
building. A car door can be a weapon of mass destruction if you shut your finger
in it. We’re made very aware of doors and their use - apart from going through.
Next week we look at one of the most famous doors of them
all - Rev. 3:20. At the church at
We shut doors because we know how dangerous they can be or
what is on the other side is dangerous. Jesus however throws His doors open
because he knows how necessary that is!
That’s the key feature in this letter to the Philadelphian
church.
Look at verse 7, how Jesus describes himself. "To the angel of the church in
We have the clue of what he’ll tell these Philadelphians -
he is flagging up his authority to open doors because he has the keys.
Peter is usually denoted as being the one with the keys.
That refers back to Jesus’ promise that he, Jesus, would give him the keys to
the Kingdom of heaven. Matt
Jesus however is the one who has conquered death itself -
he’s alive for evermore and he still holds the keys of death and the grave. Rev
1:18.
Here he holds the key of David – ‘Key of David’ cf. Isaiah
22:21f. God gives Eliakim authority over the King’s
household. Here Jesus has authority over the household of faith -
the church. No-one can challenge His actions. If he chooses to open a door it’s
open till he closes it. And if He decides to close a door no amount of battering
against it will open it.
THE TRIAL
Having told them about himself
Jesus says that he knows their deeds.
He doesn’t immediately say what it is he’s seen. He refers to it later but it’s
in the context of going through trial. They have been and will go through
trials and it becomes evident that this is persecution - attack.
And they’re weak - they
have little strength v8 - either because
they’re a small church or because they’re not wealthy or influential, slaves or
servants, the poor etc.
Yet they have kept the word of Jesus and haven’t denied his
name. They’ve stayed faithful - kept the faith, stayed true
to Jesus. We also learn that they’ve endured patiently (v.10).
A fantastic commendation. Compare that with the Christians of
Sardis - who have a reputation for being alive but are dead, who look as though
they’re awake but they’re asleep. Jesus hasn’t found their deeds complete in
the sight of God. They’re starters but not finishers, spectacular sprinters but
not long-distance runners, wonderful display divers but not swimmers.
What Jesus calls for is not the spectacular but the steady
on-going following and readiness to go where he sends and stay where he says -
discipleship.
Jesus identifies one of the main sources of attack - the
Jewish Synagogue. This group who should have responded to him are here disowned
by Jesus - called satan’s synagogue!
Because they have rejected the Messiah.
But the church will face an even bigger trial - there is
going to come major suffering and opposition. Jesus says he’ll keep them from
it. We don’t know what this may be. The Philadelphians knew the powers of
destruction that were around - the city had been destroyed by earthquake in A.D.17 but had been almost rebuilt by the time they
received this letter. The city or the church would face some ‘earthquake’ in
the future but the Christians would come through it to eternal life,
This earthquake would affect the whole world! Jesus is
talking about a far bigger trial than those they had suffered here and tells
them he would bring them through this as those who would never fall. The church
has often wondered what this is He’s referring to – plague, other church
leaders who had gone off the rails leading to religious wars? world war ? worldwide terrorism?
THE OPEN DOOR
Whatever the trial in the past or future Jesus has set
before them and us an open door. And he called them and us to go
through. v8 see, I have set before you an open
door - and no-one can shut it!
Why? Only Jesus has the keys and authority and no-one can
refuse Him.
The church is called not just to keep his word and not deny
his name, not just enduring patiently. He has set before them an open door for
witness and growth. A new pilgrimage to set out on.
We would think that times of persecution or trial would be a
bad time to set out on something new, or a new part of their pilgrimage. Best to stay quiet for a quiet life.
Jesus calls us to respond to Him, follow Him even during
such times. To go through the open door he sets before us. Even such times are
times of new vision and ventures for Jesus.
See what he promises regarding those who persecuted you? They’ll
fall down at your feet and acknowledge that Jesus has loved you. Your vindication - yes but above all Christ’s vindication.
At school I was bullied incessantly for around 4 years. I
was a bit of a weak target - but I learned later I was the target because I was
a Christian. ‘Steve’ and others made life pretty bad. Nowadays there would have
been action but not then. Several years later, after leaving school and at
college I had a phone call from ‘Steve’ asking to see me. He told me he’d
become a Christian. And the main reason was the way I seemed to take all they
threw at me.
I will make them come
and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.
FUTURE GLORY
Jesus makes a promise to all who go through that door, those
who overcome and keep going despite trial. They will stand as pillars in His temple
- the temple of the glory of God.
They’ll stay standing despite earthquakes going on around them
because he makes them stand. And not only will they stand they’ll bear the
imprint of the Lord Jesus - His name and His story.
The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans erected pillars - not just
to keep the roof up but as markers, story boards of what the great Emperor had
done.
Look at what he proposes to write - is writing on your life
right now…
·
God’s
own Name - Yahweh - I AM THAT I AM - this person belongs to me! He is under my
protection and guardianship.
·
The
name of the city of God the new Jerusalem - our destination
- you may think you can destroy him, her - I know otherwise - she has an
eternal destination no-one can remove.
·
My
new Name - what is that new name? It is Christ’s new name - not stated here -
He is Jesus –
Saviour. He’s revealed further as the sacrificial Lamb, Alpha and Omega (A
& Z), beginning and end, the root and offspring of David and the bright
morning star (22:12-16). Maybe it’s even more to come.
We’re owned and protected under the name of God, His city,
and Christ’s new Name.
Imagine the effect this would have on the little weak
Philadelphians! Imagine the effect it could have on us!
Our lives are the storyboard to the glory of the Lord who
has saved you and made you His own and brought you through the trial and given
you eternal life
And generations will praise the Lord as they see your story,
and heaven will give Him glory as they see your story.
Doors are dangerous. You never know what’s on the other
side. Jesus holds the door open …
…if we will follow Him by stepping
through that door to serve Him even under trial.