"WHAT WAS RIGHT IN PHILADELPHIA?"

 

TEXT: Revelation 3:7-13

INTRODUCTION:

  1. Philadelphia was the only church of which nothing bad was said.
  2. What was so right about the church in Philadelphia?!
  3. Philadelphia:
  4. The city of brotherly love, the meaning of its name;
  5. A walled city founded about 140 B.C.
  6. Till stands today in Turkey,
  7. Now called Allah Shehr;
  8. Located in a rich farming district known for its vineyards.
  9. That which was wrong in Sardis was right in Philadelphia.

THEY SEIZED THE OPPORTUNITIES THAT GOD GAVE THEM (VS.8a):

  1. Open doors of evangelism and service are all around us.
  2. The great commission (Mark 16:15-16; Matthew 28:18-20)
  3. In a climate of moral decline such as ours there is no reason for a church not to be growing!
  4. 1 Corinthians 3:6 "I planted, Apollos watered & God gave the increase."
  5. Galatians 6:10 As you therefore have opportunity…"
  6. Opportunities in Northern , KY in 21st century.
  7. THEY RELIED ON THE LORD FOR STRENGTH (VS.8b, Ephesians 6:10).
  8. When the cities of the Roman province of Asia, in A.D. 26, competed for the honor of building a temple to Caesar:
  9. The people of Ephesus mentioned the commercial and cultural importance of their city,
  10. The people of Smyrna referred to their loyalty and history of support for Rome,
  11. And the people of Pergamum (pronounced pûr ga mum) pointed to their position as the capital of Asia.
  12. In this competition the people of Sardis said nothing about their present state. Rather, they spoke long and hard about the past glories of their city.
  13. Philidelphia had strength from the Lord (even a little strength can be effective).
  14. Small group can do great things.

THEY KEPT THE WORD (VS.8c)

  1. Revelation 1:3
  2. Matthew 7:24-27
  3. James.1:21- 22

THEY DID NOT DENY THE NAME OF JESUS (VS.8d)

  1. 1Timothy 5:8
  2. Matthew 10:32-33

THEY KEPT THE COMMAND TO PERSEVERE (VS.10)

  1. Revelation 2:10;
  2. 2Timothy 4:6-8;
  3. Philippians 3:12-16

GOD WAS GOING TO GIVE THEM SPECIAL PROTECTION

  1. All they had to do was continue to rely upon God.
  2. Have faith.
  3. Providential care.

THEY HAD A VICTORY CROWN READY AND WAITING (Vss.10-11)

  1. 2 Timothy 4:6-8 Fought the good fight; finished the race; kept the faith.
  2. All they had to do was to keep doing the things they were doing for the same reasons they started doing them in first place!

CONCLUSION:

1. "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" (6).
2.  I know of nothing sadder than to see a congregation of the Lord’s people, 
     which dies out and ceases to exist.
3.  I know of nothing greater than to see one growing and doing well.
4.  They were warned to hold fast and let no one take their crown (vs.11c)
5.  What would be the instruction if God wrote this congregation a letter today!?