Jesus' Message to the Church in Philadelphia

Scripture: Revelation 3:7-13(NIV)

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Devotional

Philadelphia was an important commercial gateway city for many years. As such, it served as open door to spread Greek culture, language, and pagan worship to other lands. Now, the emerging Christian community had taken root, with the mission to spread Christ-centered culture, worship, and ministry to the surrounding world. So Jesus told them, “See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.”

However a devastating earthquake about eighty years earlier, along with twenty years of severe aftershocks, made the city nearly uninhabitable. By the time John wrote down the book of Revelation, many worried citizens had moved out of the city and lived in the safer surrounding areas, far away from falling city debris. Throughout this period of terror and evacuation, the Roman Caesar was generous to the city Philadelphia, giving tremendous financial aid.

For his efforts, the city leaders had proposed changing the name of the city from Philadelphia (“brotherly love”) to Neocaesarea (“Caesar’s New City”). This would be their new name. To those followers of Jesus who remained faithful, Jesus promised, “I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God;  and I will also write on them my new name.”

These people were living in a city with an open door and a new name. They would have to choose if those were rooted in Caesar or in Christ. Nothing has changed down through the ages. We have to make that same choice today.

What is the open door that Jesus has set before you?

What is the new name that Christ wants to give you?

Poem

What's In A Name? 

When choosing names
My parents thought
Should it be “Carla?” “Martha?”
My day of birth
They settled on
The name of “Martha”
Bitter…

A child of joy
With bouncy curls
Should we allow or stifle?
A day of pain
Pity denied
Go to your room
Seek God

A bitter seed
Could cause thick root
Should I give in or press?
“I gave you prayer,
To center you
It’s Hebrew name--
A-na.”

And so within
My bitterness
“A-na” was front and planted
What’s in my name?
Transforms my life?
Mar—a—na—tha!

Podcast: Week 52

Sermon: Week 52

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