TP 29 WEEKLY

Today on truth matters with Dr. Shirley. She surveys the church in Philadelphia, the church, Jesus said would escape the coming tribulation.

Now here's Dr. Davis. The sixth church in our series. The church of brotherly love and Dr. Cheryl Davis fits matters and we are continuing our survey of the letters to the seven churches where today will get into Philadelphia flaring the next to the last church of the seven churches.

Last week we discussed the church of Sardis and much like the city of Sardis. They were unaware of their spiritual condition living under a false sense of security.

I ask you a key question last time about your own spiritual condition. If our church's lampstand depended on you and you alone. How bright would you like the for the church.

How did that work out for you last week or last time on looking at where you are and doing a self examination which I think all of us need to do that from time to time, but we are moving on from Sardis, to Philadelphia. Today we get a glimpse of the model church. The church that God is pleased with let's get into the chapter of chapter 3 verses 7 to 13 to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write these things says he who is holy, he who is truth.

He who has the key of David.

He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it for you. Have a little strength, has kept my word and have not denied my name. Indeed I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie. Indeed I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you, because you have kept my command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world to test those who dwell on the earth.

Behold I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown. He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of my God, in the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God and I will write on him my new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches immediately off the bat. This letter is very different from the letter to the church at Sardis. The destination of this letter. As we done every time you see the angel of the church in Philadelphia just to briefly give you some history about the city of Philadelphia. The word Philadelphia is identical to the city that we know with the same name. It means brotherly love the noun or adjective form of this word is mentioned really seven times in the New Testament is normally translated as kindly affectionate or brotherly love, we find these words in Romans chapter 12 verse 10 V kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love and honor giving preference to one another in first Thessalonians 49 but concerning brotherly love have no need that I should write. He, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another.

Hebrews 13 one. Let brotherly love continue. First Peter 122 since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth of the spirit and sincere love of the brethren love one another fervently with a pure heart. First Peter three and eight. Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another, love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous. Second Peter 17, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness, love the city of Philadelphia was founded in 140 BC by Philadelphia's the king of Pergamum is situated at a corner where three regions come together, Lida, Lydia and for idea it was founded to be a gateway for the spread of Hellenism which is the Greek language and customs into the surrounding regions. Philadelphia was the gateway or the key to the central part of Asia minor.

As each time there is a destination of the letter there's a designation of the ward. In verse seven he says these things says he who is holy, he who is true, he who has the key of David, EU opens and no one shuts and shuts the no one opens. There are three characteristics here of the Lord, that we see in his designation.

The first is holy. The second is true. The third is having the key of David. The first is being holy. He establishes himself early on as the holy God qualified to call the Christians of Philadelphia to a life of faith in him because he is holy, he can call us to be holy and we see that in first Peter one and 15 the holy, for I am holy. Also, he is true, it's a reference to his genuineness or reality. He is the real thing. The essence of deity is true and holy. This is the perfect combination of doctrine and pure living.

He also has the key of David. He who opens the no one shuts and shuts and no one opens the key of David we find in Revelation chapter 1 Christ has the keys of Hades and death. Here he has the key of David, the key of David is found in Revelation 3 and Isaiah 22 two key indicates control or authority, one having the key of David would give one control of David's domain, Jerusalem, the city of David and the kingdom of Israel went to read Isaiah 2222. The key of the house of David, I will lay on his shoulder so he shall open and no one shall, shuts, and he shall shut, and no one shall open the prophet is telling the palace. Sec. Scheck now that he will be replaced by a like him, for God will place on his shoulder. The key to the house of David, the one who holds the keys has the authority does the key of David implies control of David's domain.

This was promised to the Messiah and the Old Testament as well as the New Testament.

In the Old Testament we turn to Isaiah chapter 9 verse seven. Thus says the Lord God, it shall not stand, nor shall it come to pass in chapter 9 verse seven of the increase of his government and peace there will be no in upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward. Even forever, and the zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this. So this is saying that I'm upon the throne of David and over his kingdom, his his reign will go on forever, which will be fulfilled through the Messiah in Luke chapter 1 verse 32 he will be great, and he will be called the son of the highest in the Lord God will give him the throne of his father David. The fact that Jesus holds the key shows that he is the fulfillment of the Davidic covenant which we find that Davidic covenant in second Samuel chapter 7 verses 12 to 16 in the ruler of the new Jerusalem and the Lord of the kingdom of heaven. Christ has the key to truth and holiness as well as the key to opportunity and service for a church, surrounded by idolatry and wickedness when he opens the door to truth and ministry. No one can shut it and each time he had the Lord of offers a diagnosis of the church. So here he tells Philadelphia. They have an open door, and often times there are doors that are mentioned throughout the. The New Testament first Corinthians 16 eight through nine. I will, Terry, and if this until Pentecost for great and effective door has opened to me, and the end. There are many adversaries. So this is Paul talking about his personal plans, but there is a great and effective door but has been open.

There are many adversaries for him if he turned to second Corinthians 2 1012 furthermore, when I come to trial us to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was open to me by the Lord.

Here, the door was open for Paul to come and he knew that he mentions another door and Colossians in chapter 4 verse three meanwhile praying also for us, that God would open to us a door for the word to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in chains and open door in Scripture is an opportunity for ministry that God sits before us Philadelphia the city was a gateway to the central part of Asia minor for the Greek influence an open door for the church was an opportunity for the gospel and we now know that when the Lord opens those doors. They are divine and they are appointed for such a certain time and for Philadelphia. They were positionally in the right place to influence those for the gospel. Here he says next after talking about the open door, he says, for you have little strength, you have little strength and really this may appear like a backhanded comment if you're telling someone how you have little strength, but now he is saying that they only have a little strength, the strength will have to come from another source, and if we read second Corinthians chapter 12 verse nine he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness. If the Lord is the one opening the door, then he will provide the strength to walk through it whenever we have more strength or think we have more strength than we actually do we tend to be self-sufficient and rely on our own selves and not needing.the time that the Lord can work the best is when we have little strength whenever we need to depend on him. Also, he told the church in Philadelphia that they had kept the word of God. They believe the word of God and remain faithful to it and also they had not denied the Lord. There was much controversy toward the end of the apostolic age about the deity of Christ, but they stood strong and their beliefs about who he was and what he came really when we read about Philadelphia.

These are characteristics of growing congregations. They have an identification of open doors for ministry. They have a dependence upon the Lord for strength. They are committed to the word and they submit themselves to the Lordship of Christ. Philadelphia was a thriving church in the declaration of Christ to the church. He promises to humiliate their enemies. He talks about the synagogue of Satan and the same people were mentioned in the letter to the church at Smyrna. Just as the Lord humbled Paul and caused him to join those who worship the one he was against. He was going to do the same thing to the church of Philadelphia's enemies. They promise to keep them from the hour of trial and really this has great prophetic significance. They the church in history, represented by the Philadelphia church will be kept from even experiencing the tribulation coming upon the earth. This is the remnant that God is coming back for in the rapture. This is a proof of the pre-tribulation rapture. We believe because this remnant that is fatefully got promises to keep him from the to keep them from the hour of trial.

This shows that the church is going to leave before the tribulation the church is found 19 times in chapters 1 through three. In Revelation, but from Revelation chapter 4 to chapter 19 there's no more mention of the churchwide because they are in heaven with the Lord. They are not on earth as well as being judged promises to come quickly said he tells them to hold onto their faith so that no one can take their crown awaiting them. If you are going to look for a model church. I would say the model church is Philadelphia. They are labeled as the faithful church. They had open doors for ministry.

They totally relied on the Lord. They did not deny him, and they were faithful to his word. So if you're doing a self examination of even your own church. Look at these characteristics. I had a conversation with a friend who is actually setting up a church to say that this is the model in which we should model ourselves by in organizing a church and being that remnant that the Lord is coming after that it will look like. The church at Philadelphia.

I pray that your church as well as the would strive to be this example you will see as you bring yourself to live in on the Lord doors wide open said that you can expand your spirit and evangelize unity so much more effectively. Until next time, I'm Dr. show. They believe the truth matters. Dr. Davis concludes the seven churches of Asia series next week is the true strength takes our study to the seventh and final church of Revelation, the church of Laodicea church with the lukewarm truth matters with Dr. Cheryl Davis is a division of the truth project, a conservative Christian ministry committed to the teaching of sound biblical doctrine and Christian theology more about the truth project. Truth matters with Dr. Cheryl Davis by visiting our website project. Truth matters.com or contact us by email. Cheryl Davis project truth matters.com connect with us on Facebook. You can also write Dr. PO Box 159 St. Paul's, NC 28384. We would like to hear from you until next week.

Please remember the grass withers of the flowers, but the word of our Lord shall endure forever