THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA: THE CHURCH OF THE OPEN DOOR (11 OF 39)
Scripture: REVELATION 3:7-13
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The Church at Philadelphia: The Church of the Open Door (11 of 39)
Dr. James Merritt
Revelation 3:7-13
Introduction
1. Of all of the seven churches, if i could have chosen which church i would have attended, i would have gone to the church at philadelphia. If i could have attended only one service, i would have been present at the service in which this letter was read to the congregation. They had probably heard of the other letters that jesus had written. They were probably nervous having just found out that their neighbor, sardis, had been called a dead church. And i'm sure many were wondering, as the pastor nervously opened the letter, ''i wonder what jesus has to say about us?''
2. But this church had nothing to fear. For jesus had only words of commendation for this precious little fellowship. He did not have one condemning thing to say. This church was like a rose between two thorns, on the one side was sardis, a dead church. Just down the road was laodicea, a disinterested church. But here at philadelphia was a dedicated church.
3. This was a wonderful church who served a wonderful lord. In (v.7) we are told that jesus is pure in character. ''These things says he who is holy.'' jesus is absolutely holy and righteous, he is untainted by sin, unscarred by iniquity, and unmarked by temptation. We are told that the lord jesus is our high priest ''who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,'' (heb. 7:6) in his life you could find no stain, no spot, no blemish, no blot, no guilt, no guile, for he was pure in character.
4. But he was also perfect in conduct. ''He who is true.'' (v.7) now notice that jesus is not one who just tells the truth, he is truth. You see, a man can be truthful and yet not be trues i heard about a man who lived next door to a habitual liar. He just lied all of the time, one day this friend got enough of it and he said, ''would you just tell me one thing and promise me that you are telling me the absolute trut ...
Dr. James Merritt
Revelation 3:7-13
Introduction
1. Of all of the seven churches, if i could have chosen which church i would have attended, i would have gone to the church at philadelphia. If i could have attended only one service, i would have been present at the service in which this letter was read to the congregation. They had probably heard of the other letters that jesus had written. They were probably nervous having just found out that their neighbor, sardis, had been called a dead church. And i'm sure many were wondering, as the pastor nervously opened the letter, ''i wonder what jesus has to say about us?''
2. But this church had nothing to fear. For jesus had only words of commendation for this precious little fellowship. He did not have one condemning thing to say. This church was like a rose between two thorns, on the one side was sardis, a dead church. Just down the road was laodicea, a disinterested church. But here at philadelphia was a dedicated church.
3. This was a wonderful church who served a wonderful lord. In (v.7) we are told that jesus is pure in character. ''These things says he who is holy.'' jesus is absolutely holy and righteous, he is untainted by sin, unscarred by iniquity, and unmarked by temptation. We are told that the lord jesus is our high priest ''who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners,'' (heb. 7:6) in his life you could find no stain, no spot, no blemish, no blot, no guilt, no guile, for he was pure in character.
4. But he was also perfect in conduct. ''He who is true.'' (v.7) now notice that jesus is not one who just tells the truth, he is truth. You see, a man can be truthful and yet not be trues i heard about a man who lived next door to a habitual liar. He just lied all of the time, one day this friend got enough of it and he said, ''would you just tell me one thing and promise me that you are telling me the absolute trut ...
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