January 24, 2006

• Might have more snow and ice with high winds. I am hoping for spring, soon!!!

  
  

  I am enjoying your comments, book suggestions, and the things you are sharing with me. It is nice to learn of things that I never knew about. I never thought when I first began blogging how rewarding it would be and how much I would learn. These notes on the churches come from many sources, Pastor Don’s teachings, Kay Arthur, and other teachers. My Bible’s margins are full of notes from various speakers. Sometimes I wish they would make a Bible with WIDE margins, because I am soon going to have to get a new Bible so I can keep taking notes.

  
  

  The next church is the Church in Philadelphia – the Faithful Church.

  
  

  It is one of the two churches that Jesus had nothing negative to say about. This church in history would be from 1800-Jesus’ coming. It was when the great revivals and evangelists started coming on the scene.

  
  

  Philadelphia means brotherly love. I cannot think of a more loving thing to do than to share the gospel with another person.  In Paul’s day, the city Philadelphia was founded by two brothers, one of whom died. The other brother named every building and structure in the city after his brother, so brotherly love was very apparent to those in that city.

  
  

  This also has to do with what happened in that day, and Jesus told his disciples that people would know that they were His disciples by their love. We too, in our daily lives, must walk in love, for it is what we do that will speak far longer than any of our words.

  
  

  Jesus gave another part of his description to this church, “He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens. ‘” This refers to a passage in Isaiah 22:22-23 “The key of the house of David, I will lay on his shoulder So he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut and no one shall open. I will fasten him as a peg in a secure place, and he will become a glorious throne to his father’s house. This is an awesome description of Jesus, and he was fastened as a peg to a secure place – the cross–for us, and now he is seated at the right hand of the Father.

  
  

  In Revelation 1:18 Jesus says “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore.Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

  
  

  Jesus was from the lineage of David, and by his sacrifice, He gained victory over death and satan. While one could think of the holder of these keys as a stern judge who will lock sinners into Hades and Death, I think that it is more true to Jesus’ love to see it as He is locking Death and Hades from hurting us. He is protecting us with those keys. And we too were give authority, through Jesus, to bind and loose on the earth. Keys are also a symbol of authority, for they opened and closed the doors of the treasure of the master.

  
  

  What I find interesting is that Jesus points out that he knows their works, (v8). “I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it, for you have a little strength, have kept my word, and have not denied My name.”

  
  

  I think of other mentions of doors in the Bible – God shut Noah into the ark, to preserve him and his family from the flood and Jesus will come to the door of our heart and knock, so we can open it for him. If you look at times when God has intervened in man’s situation, such as Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, when they were shut into the fiery pit, or Joshua’s battle, it is very clear that man, of his own voliton, could not solve the problem, it was for the glory of God, and it was God who did the work.

  
  

  I think in today’s belief structure many pastors are talking about huge moves of God, incredible feats of faith, major works of healing and deliverance, and there is an element that it requires much from us in the form of belief, faith, etc. In reality, we just need that little bit of faith (like a mustard seed) and it is God that does the work. Yet in our flesh, (mine too) we get puffed up and lose track at times of who is really the power behind the awesome things happening around us.

  
  

  Also, this church did not deny Jesus’ name. In those days, not denying Jesus lead to persecution and death, and I fear that today we will see that we are coming closer to a similar situation. Freedom to express our beliefs and speak about God is being limited. In some countries there is persecution of Christians that is far greater than what happened in John’s day.

  
  

  What is comforting is verse 10 “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.” This speaks loudly of the tribulation which will be coming (quickly). Jesus will protect us from going through this tribulation, which is covered in Chapters 6-19.

  
  

  For the overcomers Jesus is going to make them a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. This would have been particularly comforting for this city because they were taken over so much by others, that they had no sense of safety or permanence. TO be a pillar in the temple speaks of permanence. And God would mark them with his name, and the city of My God, the New Jerusalem. And He (Jesus) will write on him My new name. This is mentioned in Revelation 19: 12 where it says that He had a name written that no one knew but Himself.

  
  

  I think of all the churches, this is the one that is most prevalent in our day, for there is such a push to spread the Word of God. It is necessary for it is important to God that many are brought to Him. He wants none to be lost.

  
  

  Hoping you have an awesome night. My daughter is standing at my side eagerly awaiting a turn on the computer.

  
  

  Heather

  
  

   

  • 7:15 pm
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