Seven Messages to Seven Churches Lesson seven; The Faithful Church at Philadelphia

Revelation 3:7-13
• It is possible to be part of a church with which the Lord Jesus is pleased. But what kind of church is it? Is it one measured by the size of buildings, member rolls, or financial giving? Jesus commended the church at Philadelphia, but not for meeting our modern standards of success.

The Destination of the Letter
• The word Philadelphia is almost identical to the city we know by the same name, Philadelphia, and means “brotherly love.” The noun and adjective forms of the word occur seven times in the New Testament besides its use as a city name. It is normally translated as “kindly affectionate” or “brotherly love”
• (Romans 12:10; 1Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews13:1; 1Peter 1:22; 3:8; 2 Peter 1:7).

The Designation of the Lord
• Holy, True, Having the key of David, able to open and shut according to His will.
• The preeminent, holy God, alone qualified to call the Christians at Philadelphia to a life of faith in Him.
• The key of David: Isaiah 22:22 “The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So shall he open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open.”

The Diagnosis
• They have an open door
– 1Corinthians 16:8-9, 2Corinthians 2:12, Colossians 4:3
– Philadelphia was situated at a corner where three regions came together: Lycia, Lydia, and Phrygia. The city was founded in 140 B.C. by Philadelphus, the king of Pergamos. The city was founded to be a gateway for the spread of Hellenism.
• They have a little strength
• They have kept the word
• They have not denied the Lord
– Many church growth experts have identified the four characteristics of the Philadelphia church as characteristics of growing congregations: identification of open doors of ministry, dependence on the Lord for strength, commitment to the Word, and submission to the Lordship of Christ.

The Declaration of Christ to the Church
• He promises to humiliate their enemies
• He promises to keep them from the hour of trial
• He promises to come quickly
– All of the commendable traits will be unprofitable unless we walk through the door God has opened for us.

Questions
• According to 2 Corinthians 12:7-10:
– How was Paul made weak?
– Who was the source of his weakness?
– What was the purpose of his weakness?
– What normal response did Paul have to his weakness?
– What was God’s response to Paul? What was his plan for making Paul strong?
– What was Paul’s response when he understood God’s plan?