Faithfulness and Intentional Living: Lessons from Philadelphia

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The requirement of God for his people and his churches who are made up of Sinners is that we have Perfection of intention. Now before we get into our passage in Revelation CH 3 on the church in Philadelphia, I want us to look briefly at this teaching about perfection of intention. [00:03:49]

The clear teaching of scripture is that we are all sinners, but we can be forgiven by God through the shed blood of Jesus if we confess our sins to him. Is that what it says? It's rude just to stare at someone when they ask you a question. Is that what it says? [00:05:09]

Christians, you have and had Perfection of intention, but you sinned In the Heat of the Moment and then, convicted, you came quickly to me for forgiveness, and now you are cleansed and living a perfect life as best you can by the grace of God. [00:06:26]

Jesus says here that he holds the key of David. That's a reference to the story of Eliakim in the Old Testament, who was Steward over King Hezekiah's Palace. In Isaiah 22:22, we read, and this is speaking of Eliakim, God says I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. [00:11:19]

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. In every one of these seven letters, Jesus says about his people, I know. [00:13:00]

We may think we know which doors to go through, but unless we are willing to humble ourselves and acknowledge how little strength and wisdom we have, then we're on our own. This is why the Church of Philadelphia was the perfect church, so to speak. [00:15:21]

The Church of Philadelphia faced an impossible situation. Verse 9 says this: 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. [00:16:17]

It's a real relief when we come to that place in our struggles where we let go and we let God. We don't have any written follow-up in scripture or extra-biblical literature about what happened after Jesus said these words, but we know that because Jesus said it, it happened. [00:17:34]

Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, now I can't say this better than scripture, and in Psalm 40:1-3, we read, I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard My Cry. He Lifted Me Out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and Meer. [00:21:30]

Him who overcomes, I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. Here, a pillar refers to permanence, stability, immovability. John 6:37, Jesus said, all that the father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. [00:28:42]

Now names are symbols of ownership and identification. Our names are written down on our vehicle registration that we keep in our glove box. It says this car belongs to me. The money in our bank accounts belongs to us, and we prove it by showing the teller our bank card. [00:29:58]

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation. The old is gone, the new has come. Has the Lord spoken to you about getting out of that phone booth? The Lord will contend with those who contend with you. Has the Lord told you to stop trying to Jimmy that door? [00:32:32]

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