Philadelphia: Open Doors (15 of 58)
Series: Revelation - From Now to Forever
John Barnett
Open your Bibles to Revelation 3: 7 13 and in so doing, you open to the sixth of seven letters our Lord Jesus wrote to seven literal, historic churches. Each church was given a powerful message from Christ.....each letter closes (2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) with an application to all "who have ears."
Now, just before we plunge into this letter, ask yourself: Why did Christ not admonish this church for any error? This is the second church that is so blessed! Philadelphia and Smyrna were uncondemned for the seven churches! The reason is:
Smyrna was purified by obediently suffering persecution.
Philadelphia was purified by obediently fulfilling God's commission.
One church was suffering, one church was serving.
One church was standing alone, another was speaking out.
Are we standing up and speaking for Jesus? Let me share the life story of one who was speaking for Jesus:
Flight 961
It was a typical flight. One that occurs thousands of times every day around the world. Ethiopian Air Flight 961 took off November 23rd, 1996 from Addis Ababa. Onboard were 163 passengers and 12 crew members. Among those flying that Saturday were Mr. and Mrs. Andy Meakins. Andy was an elder at the International Evangelical Church of Addis. That large Bible believing church was pastored by a dear friend of mine up until last year. In less than two hours more than 120 people died, including five from Andy"s church. Andy never survived the crash.
Somewhere near Kenya the hijack began. An unidentified number of men declared themselves escaped convicts taking the flight to Australia. Then things turned horrible. Brandishing an ax and a supposed bomb they stormed the flight deck. After savagely beating the copilot and throwing him down they proceeded to order the plane to turn eastward. In spite of the nearly empty fuel tank they forced the pilot to continue.
With dangero ...
Series: Revelation - From Now to Forever
John Barnett
Open your Bibles to Revelation 3: 7 13 and in so doing, you open to the sixth of seven letters our Lord Jesus wrote to seven literal, historic churches. Each church was given a powerful message from Christ.....each letter closes (2:7,11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22) with an application to all "who have ears."
Now, just before we plunge into this letter, ask yourself: Why did Christ not admonish this church for any error? This is the second church that is so blessed! Philadelphia and Smyrna were uncondemned for the seven churches! The reason is:
Smyrna was purified by obediently suffering persecution.
Philadelphia was purified by obediently fulfilling God's commission.
One church was suffering, one church was serving.
One church was standing alone, another was speaking out.
Are we standing up and speaking for Jesus? Let me share the life story of one who was speaking for Jesus:
Flight 961
It was a typical flight. One that occurs thousands of times every day around the world. Ethiopian Air Flight 961 took off November 23rd, 1996 from Addis Ababa. Onboard were 163 passengers and 12 crew members. Among those flying that Saturday were Mr. and Mrs. Andy Meakins. Andy was an elder at the International Evangelical Church of Addis. That large Bible believing church was pastored by a dear friend of mine up until last year. In less than two hours more than 120 people died, including five from Andy"s church. Andy never survived the crash.
Somewhere near Kenya the hijack began. An unidentified number of men declared themselves escaped convicts taking the flight to Australia. Then things turned horrible. Brandishing an ax and a supposed bomb they stormed the flight deck. After savagely beating the copilot and throwing him down they proceeded to order the plane to turn eastward. In spite of the nearly empty fuel tank they forced the pilot to continue.
With dangero ...
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