We are nearing the end of our study of the church age and the 7 churches. The letter to the church at Philadelphia (Rev. 3:7-11)is the most compelling and personally convicting that I have had the privilege to study. Just to see what this church was able to accomplish, because they knew their true strength was in understanding their weakness (1 Cor 1:26-31), and God’s ability to open the door of ministry, that they could not open on their own. His strength was made perfect in their weakness, just like Paul in 2 Cor 12:9.
The church at Philadelphia has right doctrine like Ephesus and right living like Smyrna! Remember, where doctrine is present without love, there is legalism (Ephesus). Where love is present without doctrine there is humanism (Thyatira).
1. Jesus is holy and true, and he commands us to be like him!
2. He has the key of David, that allows him to open the door to accomplishing the great commission. (Matt 28:18-20; Acts 1:8)
3. The church has little strength, and because it realizes this truth, there is an open door of ministry that no man can shut.
4. The church kept the Word! This is what makes Philadelphia the model church for all of us.
Philadelphia is the pearl of great price in Matthew 13:45-46 Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls: Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it.
Jesus bought us, the church, with his own blood! We are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood. Let us all seek to have the attributes of Philadelphia in our personal lives day by day!