WEBVTT 00:00:01.965 --> 00:00:03.766 Thank you. 00:00:03.766 --> 00:00:05.533 Thank you all for being here today. 00:00:05.533 --> 00:00:10.266 While we continue in our study of the seven Churches of Revelation. 00:00:10.833 --> 00:00:14.865 How many, especially the kids here, you know, our kids are joining us. 00:00:14.865 --> 00:00:19.132 Normally they have a service kindergarten through fifth grade. 00:00:19.132 --> 00:00:23.132 They're joining us in June and July, most of July. 00:00:23.132 --> 00:00:25.832 Kids, how many of you like football? 00:00:25.832 --> 00:00:28.365 We have any football fans in here? 00:00:28.365 --> 00:00:29.600 Okay, great. 00:00:29.600 --> 00:00:31.199 I saw some adults raise their hand. 00:00:31.199 --> 00:00:34.732 Not good at instructions, but that's okay. 00:00:34.732 --> 00:00:35.432 Couldn't help it. 00:00:35.432 --> 00:00:37.332 I just love football so much. 00:00:37.332 --> 00:00:39.932 Who remembers Gerald Christian? 00:00:39.932 --> 00:00:42.399 Do any of you remember him? He was a. 00:00:42.399 --> 00:00:44.365 I don't see many hands. 00:00:44.365 --> 00:00:45.732 You'll know why in a second. 00:00:45.732 --> 00:00:49.000 He played at UofL -- that's not the reason, by the way. 00:00:49.000 --> 00:00:50.932 Stop it UK fans. 00:00:50.932 --> 00:00:55.066 Gerald Christian, he played tight end at UofL and he was drafted into the NFL. 00:00:55.066 --> 00:00:56.633 But he was drafted dead last. 00:00:56.633 --> 00:00:58.799 And everyone knows what that person is called. 00:00:58.799 --> 00:01:02.165 Do you know the nickname for the last person drafted in NFL? 00:01:02.165 --> 00:01:03.832 Anybody? 00:01:03.832 --> 00:01:06.465 Mr.. Irrelevant, right. 00:01:06.465 --> 00:01:08.632 That's why you hadn't heard of him usually. Mr. 00:01:08.632 --> 00:01:11.233 irrelevant, maybe not even ever plays a game. Now. 00:01:11.233 --> 00:01:17.566 Occasionally, like the guy who's at the 40 niners, occasionally someone breaks through and is significant. 00:01:17.566 --> 00:01:21.933 But imagine being given that nickname, by the way, Mr. 00:01:21.933 --> 00:01:24.566 Irrelevant or Mrs. 00:01:24.566 --> 00:01:25.165 Irrelevant. 00:01:25.165 --> 00:01:29.266 That's not a name you want to stick with you for your life. 00:01:29.433 --> 00:01:33.000 And of course, if you're drafted in the NFL, I'll take it right? 00:01:33.000 --> 00:01:35.533 That's a great reason to be given that name. 00:01:35.533 --> 00:01:51.465 But what if in real life you're given that label, but someone calls you, sees you, or you see yourself irrelevant, insignificant, without purpose or meaning? 00:01:53.132 --> 00:01:54.933 That's a tough thing to carry. 00:01:54.933 --> 00:01:57.933 And I know many carry that around. 00:01:58.000 --> 00:02:00.365 We're going to look at a church today. 00:02:00.365 --> 00:02:09.366 It's the church in Philadelphia, not Philadelphia, Pennsylvania church in Philadelphia in ancient times. 00:02:09.366 --> 00:02:13.765 And we're going to see there a church that was considered irrelevant. 00:02:13.765 --> 00:02:16.599 How do you move from irrelevance to importance? 00:02:16.599 --> 00:02:18.665 We're going to see four ways in the passage today. 00:02:18.665 --> 00:02:23.133 So if you have a Bible, turn to Revelation chapter three. 00:02:23.332 --> 00:02:27.665 Page numbers on the screen will match our church Bibles, which you can grab a copy in the lobby. 00:02:27.665 --> 00:02:40.932 If you don't have a Bible, we want you turning in a copy of your own Bible in God's Word so that you can get used to it and learn to read from it on your own, and know how to navigate it, and know where the books of the Bible are and be comfortable with it. 00:02:40.932 --> 00:02:44.165 And not everybody is at first, and that's okay. 00:02:44.165 --> 00:02:46.532 But this is where you'll find life. 00:02:46.532 --> 00:02:49.866 And so I'm going to read in Revelation chapter three, verse seven through 12. 00:02:49.866 --> 00:02:59.866 And if you would go ahead and stand while I read just as a sign of reverence for God's Word, I'll read through the passage and then we'll be seated after that. Revelation, chapter three, verse seven. 00:02:59.866 --> 00:03:15.066 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, write these words of the Holy One, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens, and no one will shut, who shuts, and no one opens. 00:03:15.432 --> 00:03:17.265 I know your works. 00:03:17.265 --> 00:03:22.165 Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. 00:03:22.165 --> 00:03:31.400 I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word, and have not denied my name. 00:03:32.366 --> 00:03:38.966 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie. 00:03:38.966 --> 00:03:52.133 Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have loved you, because you have kept my word about patient endurance. 00:03:52.133 --> 00:03:59.466 I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth. 00:03:59.866 --> 00:04:01.265 I am coming soon. 00:04:01.265 --> 00:04:05.532 Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. 00:04:05.633 --> 00:04:10.432 The one who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. 00:04:10.432 --> 00:04:12.432 Never shall he go out of it. 00:04:12.432 --> 00:04:23.365 And I will write on him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven and my own new name. 00:04:24.033 --> 00:04:30.199 He who has an ear, let him hear what the spirit says to the churches. You can be seated. 00:04:32.699 --> 00:04:37.533 So this letter is to the ancient city of Philadelphia. 00:04:37.533 --> 00:04:40.399 It's different than our city of Philadelphia. 00:04:40.399 --> 00:04:44.065 Our city is known for cream cheese. 00:04:44.533 --> 00:04:45.165 Right? 00:04:45.165 --> 00:04:49.699 Philly cheesesteak Constitution was written there. 00:04:50.333 --> 00:04:52.600 First American flag created there. 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:56.665 And probably of most significance is home of Rocky Balboa. 00:04:56.665 --> 00:04:59.833 You know, that's how our Philadelphia is known. 00:04:59.833 --> 00:05:02.333 The ancient Philadelphia, in fact, will bring up the map. 00:05:02.333 --> 00:05:03.699 We've been bringing it up each week. 00:05:03.699 --> 00:05:07.632 That shows you how these churches, these cities relate to one another. 00:05:07.632 --> 00:05:08.365 They're in a circle. 00:05:08.365 --> 00:05:11.800 And we've just been going from Ephesus all the way around. 00:05:11.800 --> 00:05:13.565 And here we are at Philadelphia. 00:05:13.565 --> 00:05:17.132 The way it was situated mainly was kind of at a crossroads between cities. 00:05:17.132 --> 00:05:22.033 You can go north south, but also many people came in from Smyrna into Philadelphia. 00:05:22.033 --> 00:05:26.266 There was a wide open plain that channeled them up towards that. 00:05:26.266 --> 00:05:28.065 So they were on a crossroads. 00:05:28.065 --> 00:05:31.399 And that's kind of what they were known for a city to stop over in. 00:05:31.399 --> 00:05:34.632 And when you're coming through, you want to make sure to stop in there and get what you need. 00:05:34.632 --> 00:05:39.833 Maybe like the Bucky's of ancient Asia or Turkey, we got to come through. 00:05:39.833 --> 00:05:46.199 They were known for their grapes, their agriculture, but especially their grapes in that area. 00:05:46.466 --> 00:05:53.966 They also just weren't as significant or influential as some of these other churches we've looked at. 00:05:53.966 --> 00:06:02.665 You know, some of them had great power, would have been the capital of the region or had great prestige from ancient Greece, like we looked at Sardis last week. 00:06:02.665 --> 00:06:07.399 And they were also known for having constant earthquakes. 00:06:07.966 --> 00:06:10.632 That was one of the challenges their city faced. 00:06:10.632 --> 00:06:12.365 Every city has something it's known for. 00:06:12.365 --> 00:06:16.432 That's good, but also often there are challenges as well that face it. 00:06:16.432 --> 00:06:22.565 So all this is some of what is happening in this city where the church is rooted. 00:06:23.766 --> 00:06:32.565 And each of our letters begins with Jesus describing himself, talking about himself, relating himself to the needs of that city. 00:06:32.565 --> 00:06:37.000 And look back here in verse seven at how he talks about himself. 00:06:37.165 --> 00:06:41.800 These are the words he says of the Holy One, the true one. 00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:45.033 First and foremost, he calls himself holy in truth. 00:06:45.033 --> 00:06:52.266 This is someone you can depend on, can't depend on everyone in your city, but you can depend on Christ also. 00:06:52.266 --> 00:07:00.565 His described as the one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts, and no one opens. 00:07:00.766 --> 00:07:03.199 I've listed in your notes and we're going to turn there real quick. 00:07:03.199 --> 00:07:06.632 And Isaiah, this is a quote from Isaiah chapter 22. 00:07:06.632 --> 00:07:13.565 Isaiah's one of the major prophets, major, because it's a large one of the larger books of the Old Testament. 00:07:13.565 --> 00:07:24.865 And Isaiah 22, Isaiah as often as well known as a book that prophesies that Jesus will come, gives prophecies about the Messiah. 00:07:24.865 --> 00:07:34.199 And we're in a section here in Isaiah 22 that talks about different leaders within Israel, rulers and some who are doing well and some who are doing poorly. 00:07:34.199 --> 00:07:39.466 And here in chapter 22, it's speaking specifically to who's in charge of David's house. 00:07:39.466 --> 00:07:47.033 And there was a guy here we see in verse 15, Chibnall was in charge but hasn't done well, hasn't been a good steward, and is being removed. 00:07:47.033 --> 00:07:50.000 And instead Eliakim is being put in in verse 20. 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:51.833 And here's how his role is described. 00:07:51.833 --> 00:07:53.132 Look at verse 21. 00:07:53.132 --> 00:07:55.800 I will clothe him with your robe. 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:58.000 I will bind your sash on him. 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:10.333 I will commit your authority to his hand, given great authority, given charge of David's house, and specifically he shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, to the house of Judah. 00:08:10.333 --> 00:08:12.800 Verse 22 is where we see the connection to Revelation. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:16.432 I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David. 00:08:16.432 --> 00:08:22.065 He shall open, and none shall shut, and he shall shut, and none shall open. 00:08:22.065 --> 00:08:27.033 And it goes on to describe how he's also in charge of the riches of the storehouse. 00:08:27.033 --> 00:08:37.466 And so this is the person who had the keys to the house, and who decided who gets to come in, and who doesn't get to come in, and who has access to the money and who doesn't have access to the money. 00:08:37.466 --> 00:08:42.466 He was like an Old Testament first version of our Jim Stewart, our finance administrator here at the church. 00:08:42.466 --> 00:08:44.765 If you need into the building, he's the guy with the keys. 00:08:44.765 --> 00:08:47.600 If you need to get to the money, he's the guy that knows how. 00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:48.200 Don't ask me. 00:08:48.200 --> 00:08:49.732 I have no idea how to get to it. 00:08:49.732 --> 00:08:50.566 But he does. 00:08:50.566 --> 00:08:51.732 He's got the keys. 00:08:51.732 --> 00:08:54.466 And of course, this was really important in David's house. 00:08:54.466 --> 00:09:03.865 But when Jesus, when we get back to Revelation, is quoting this, it's way more significant than just a home or a church building. 00:09:03.865 --> 00:09:06.966 I have the keys that opens the door to the kingdom. 00:09:06.966 --> 00:09:12.399 I am the one who knows who comes in and who's not coming in. 00:09:12.633 --> 00:09:14.033 He is the one. 00:09:14.033 --> 00:09:23.566 And when it comes to this city in particular, Jesus ultimately is the one that decides who is ultimately significant or not, who is irrelevant or not. 00:09:23.566 --> 00:09:31.166 He is the one in a world that tries to make so many other things your measure of worth and significance. 00:09:31.166 --> 00:09:35.466 This is the anchor that we need to point us in the right direction. 00:09:35.466 --> 00:09:39.966 What he says is important is what matters most. 00:09:40.133 --> 00:09:47.732 Now, as in each city, he's going to describe some things that point out attributes of that particular church at that time. 00:09:47.732 --> 00:09:52.399 In verse eight he says this about them I know your works. 00:09:52.399 --> 00:09:55.732 Behold, I have set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. 00:09:55.732 --> 00:10:02.533 I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word, and have not denied my name. 00:10:02.533 --> 00:10:04.799 He starts by saying, I know your works. 00:10:04.799 --> 00:10:09.232 And in each of the letters where he talks about the works, he'll often describe the works here. 00:10:09.232 --> 00:10:12.200 He doesn't. He doesn't do that at all. 00:10:12.200 --> 00:10:17.600 I know your works, and I also know that you don't have much power where you are. 00:10:17.600 --> 00:10:19.365 You're seen as irrelevant. 00:10:19.365 --> 00:10:22.200 You're seen as insignificant. 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:23.166 Okay. 00:10:23.166 --> 00:10:25.166 Four ways in this passage. 00:10:25.166 --> 00:10:33.799 I think we go from irrelevance to importance, where this church was given a vision from irrelevance to importance. 00:10:33.799 --> 00:10:36.133 And here's the first one here in verse eight. 00:10:37.133 --> 00:10:40.133 Wait for the open door. 00:10:40.666 --> 00:10:44.265 Wait for Jesus to open the door. 00:10:45.166 --> 00:10:47.765 So if the world has said to you. 00:10:47.765 --> 00:10:50.765 Here's what's important and you're not. 00:10:51.666 --> 00:10:54.133 We value these things that you don't. 00:10:54.133 --> 00:10:56.533 Therefore we are closing the door to you. 00:10:56.533 --> 00:10:58.365 You have no relevance in this city. 00:10:58.365 --> 00:11:01.832 You have the church will have no significance in Philadelphia. 00:11:01.832 --> 00:11:04.166 We will close you out. 00:11:04.166 --> 00:11:11.133 Which is interesting because Philadelphia was known for being a city of the open door. 00:11:11.365 --> 00:11:12.932 We're at a crossroads. 00:11:12.932 --> 00:11:14.732 We need you to come in and buy your stuff. 00:11:14.732 --> 00:11:18.832 Our economy is dependent on us having an open door. 00:11:18.832 --> 00:11:19.533 Come on in. 00:11:19.533 --> 00:11:22.533 But they say to the church, but not you. 00:11:23.133 --> 00:11:24.732 You're not welcome. 00:11:24.732 --> 00:11:26.533 You're not significant. 00:11:26.533 --> 00:11:29.533 You're not important. 00:11:30.232 --> 00:11:33.166 And we all face those moments. 00:11:33.166 --> 00:11:34.566 You might face them in the culture. 00:11:34.566 --> 00:11:35.666 You might face them at workplace. 00:11:35.666 --> 00:11:43.066 You might face them at the school you're at where you feel like an outsider, where you feel like you're not wanted because of your faith. 00:11:43.066 --> 00:11:45.865 You can even face it within the church. 00:11:47.232 --> 00:11:54.966 Colby shared a story with me this week, the United Methodist Church, which I sometimes wonder if they are a church or not. 00:11:54.966 --> 00:12:03.365 Often, not every church, but the denomination as a whole is really giving up on God's Word as their authority. 00:12:03.365 --> 00:12:09.966 And this week they said to Asbury Seminary, you're no longer on our official approved list. 00:12:09.966 --> 00:12:10.600 You can't. 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:23.865 It's no guarantee that if you go there, you'll be ordained as within our church because of how different directions they're going, especially around human sexuality, which is ultimately an authority of God's Word issue. 00:12:24.066 --> 00:12:26.133 They're saying, you think you're important. 00:12:26.133 --> 00:12:29.566 We find you insignificant, irrelevant. 00:12:32.232 --> 00:12:35.765 This is why we talk about the importance of being rooted in God's Word. 00:12:35.765 --> 00:12:37.566 You got to be rooted in God's Word. 00:12:37.566 --> 00:12:38.932 That's our ultimate authority. 00:12:38.932 --> 00:12:40.066 It has to be. 00:12:42.633 --> 00:12:45.633 But wait for him to open the door. 00:12:46.265 --> 00:12:51.200 You can't fight every battle that comes your way. 00:12:51.232 --> 00:12:57.600 And when you're in a place of weakness and irrelevance, he's got to be the one to open the door. 00:12:57.600 --> 00:12:59.666 And by the way, he's the one who does open the door. 00:12:59.666 --> 00:13:11.432 He's the one that says, even though they think they're the ones who are most important, ultimately, is Jesus, who decides who comes in, who's kept out. 00:13:11.432 --> 00:13:21.432 And so put your trust in him, not just in your ability to persuade and convince trust that he is the one and wait for him to open that door. 00:13:21.432 --> 00:13:22.566 So that's the first way. 00:13:22.566 --> 00:13:25.365 Second. 00:13:25.365 --> 00:13:27.633 Focus on what you can control. 00:13:27.633 --> 00:13:36.232 And when you find yourself in the place of irrelevance, insignificance, not having the influence and power that you would like to have. 00:13:36.232 --> 00:13:38.332 Focus on what you can control. 00:13:38.332 --> 00:13:47.166 And I'm going to talk about two ways we see here in this passage in particular, look back at verse eight again, behold, I have set before you an open door no one is able to shut. 00:13:47.166 --> 00:13:55.865 I know that you have but little power, yet you've kept my word and have not denied my name. 00:13:56.633 --> 00:13:59.332 Notice two things that they can control. 00:13:59.332 --> 00:14:01.232 And by the way, this is true in your life. 00:14:01.232 --> 00:14:03.399 You can't control the other people around you. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.966 Some of us try. 00:14:05.966 --> 00:14:07.966 In fact, who will own. 00:14:07.966 --> 00:14:09.365 Yeah. I'm a bit of a control freak. 00:14:09.365 --> 00:14:09.732 Go ahead. 00:14:09.732 --> 00:14:10.666 Let's see a few hands. 00:14:10.666 --> 00:14:11.966 Man, those shot up fast. 00:14:11.966 --> 00:14:17.033 They knew you can't raise a hand for the person next to you. Okay? 00:14:17.033 --> 00:14:20.799 That's a sign of a control freak right there. 00:14:22.432 --> 00:14:23.232 Yeah. 00:14:23.232 --> 00:14:25.166 You can't control other people. 00:14:25.166 --> 00:14:26.666 We try. 00:14:26.666 --> 00:14:27.332 Right? We. 00:14:27.332 --> 00:14:29.232 We think we can control them. 00:14:29.232 --> 00:14:30.365 We worry enough. 00:14:30.365 --> 00:14:34.399 Maybe they'll change, nag them enough, maybe they'll change. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:37.399 And it usually does the opposite. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:39.633 There are some things you can control. 00:14:39.633 --> 00:14:43.533 And he says here you have kept my word. 00:14:44.799 --> 00:14:46.432 That's one thing you can do. 00:14:46.432 --> 00:14:49.966 I can't control everybody else around me, but I can focus on keeping God's Word. 00:14:49.966 --> 00:14:52.265 And I love that word keep right? 00:14:52.265 --> 00:14:55.000 Because last week we talked about we need to know God's word. 00:14:55.000 --> 00:14:56.133 You need to be in God's Word. 00:14:56.133 --> 00:14:57.633 You need to be reading God's Word. 00:14:57.633 --> 00:14:58.932 Study in God's Word. 00:14:58.932 --> 00:15:00.799 That's where you're going to find life. 00:15:00.799 --> 00:15:02.200 You've got to read it every day. 00:15:02.200 --> 00:15:03.365 There are no shortcuts. 00:15:03.365 --> 00:15:10.166 Our men who are in our men's groups text one another and they say, I'm in when they're reading God's Word, the accountability, the encouragement. 00:15:10.166 --> 00:15:14.265 Okay, you've got to know God's Word, but it's not enough just to know it. 00:15:14.265 --> 00:15:19.533 I mean, the devil knows God's Word, but it's not an authority to him. 00:15:20.832 --> 00:15:22.765 We also need to keep it. 00:15:22.765 --> 00:15:27.865 It needs to be where you find your strength, what you submit your life to. 00:15:27.865 --> 00:15:33.166 I don't just know about it and know some interesting ancient information, but my life is submitted to his word. 00:15:33.166 --> 00:15:35.566 It's the authority of my life. 00:15:35.566 --> 00:15:37.732 That's one thing we can't control. 00:15:37.732 --> 00:15:38.832 We can't keep his word. 00:15:38.832 --> 00:15:41.365 We can strive to submit our lives to His Word. 00:15:41.365 --> 00:15:45.000 But also he says here, keep my word. 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:48.000 And you have not denied my name. 00:15:48.865 --> 00:15:49.432 Here's why. 00:15:49.432 --> 00:15:50.332 Right in your notes. 00:15:50.332 --> 00:15:51.332 I don't have a blank for it. 00:15:51.332 --> 00:15:54.865 Just write the word loyalty out to the side. 00:15:54.865 --> 00:15:56.666 Loyalty? 00:15:56.666 --> 00:15:59.133 You have not denied my name. 00:15:59.133 --> 00:16:02.200 You stayed faithful to Jesus. 00:16:02.732 --> 00:16:07.365 Now, this would have been especially powerful to the Philadelphians. 00:16:07.365 --> 00:16:10.600 What's the nickname of the city of Philadelphia? 00:16:10.600 --> 00:16:12.365 I mean, it's the same here in the US. 00:16:12.365 --> 00:16:13.432 What do you call them? 00:16:14.966 --> 00:16:18.066 I heard Philly, but City of Brotherly Love. 00:16:18.066 --> 00:16:19.865 That's what that word means. 00:16:19.865 --> 00:16:20.566 Philly. 00:16:20.566 --> 00:16:23.566 Delphine, love your brother. 00:16:23.600 --> 00:16:26.865 And of course, you know is Philadelphia City of Brotherly Love. 00:16:26.865 --> 00:16:27.232 Who knows? 00:16:27.232 --> 00:16:33.932 But ancient Philadelphia was named, really? In honor of two brothers. 00:16:33.932 --> 00:16:38.399 And these brothers were absolutely committed to one another. 00:16:38.432 --> 00:16:40.166 One was a king. 00:16:40.166 --> 00:16:42.133 One was kind of his right hand guy. 00:16:42.133 --> 00:16:45.732 And you could imagine that there would might be some tension there. 00:16:45.732 --> 00:16:47.932 Hey, maybe I should be the one in charge. 00:16:47.932 --> 00:16:48.600 Maybe. 00:16:48.600 --> 00:16:52.799 Maybe my older brother needs to go off somewhere else so I can be king, too. 00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:55.332 And there was none of that between them. 00:16:55.332 --> 00:16:58.033 Absolute commitment to one another. 00:16:58.033 --> 00:17:06.066 In fact, there's a story where the older the king went off to battle and report comes back that he was killed in battle. 00:17:06.066 --> 00:17:10.566 And so, of course, the younger brother goes, now it's my responsibility to step in, to be king. 00:17:10.566 --> 00:17:11.633 And he's king for a little bit. 00:17:11.633 --> 00:17:12.799 And here comes the older brother. 00:17:12.799 --> 00:17:15.465 Back wasn't killed. 00:17:15.465 --> 00:17:19.000 You can imagine that would be an awkward moment. Hey, bro. 00:17:20.400 --> 00:17:25.665 Sorry I took over as king while you were gone and there was no tension between him. 00:17:25.665 --> 00:17:30.633 The older brother said, thank you for serving while I was gone and then went right back to where they were. 00:17:30.633 --> 00:17:32.665 No tension. 00:17:32.665 --> 00:17:35.566 Complete love, complete commitment. 00:17:35.566 --> 00:17:37.333 Foreign kings tried to get between them. 00:17:37.333 --> 00:17:39.032 You really should be king over and over again. 00:17:39.032 --> 00:17:45.165 Talking complete love, complete commitment, complete loyalty to one another. 00:17:48.066 --> 00:17:52.799 Do you have people like that in your life? 00:17:53.066 --> 00:17:54.833 Do you have people that you know? 00:17:54.833 --> 00:18:01.732 If I call them and it's an emergency, they will drop everything for me. 00:18:03.532 --> 00:18:06.000 Let me ask the other side of that. 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:09.000 Are you that kind of friend for anyone? 00:18:09.766 --> 00:18:16.066 Are there people you know if they call me, there's nothing that's stopping me coming to them to come into their help. 00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:23.965 If you don't, you can't find those kind of people here. 00:18:24.165 --> 00:18:28.266 If you haven't found them yet, they are here. 00:18:28.266 --> 00:18:31.766 Get in a life group, get in community, start investing. 00:18:31.766 --> 00:18:34.032 They will be there for you when you need them. 00:18:34.032 --> 00:18:41.266 I've seen it time and again, and I could go around the room and pointed people and tell stories of how they were there for them. 00:18:41.266 --> 00:18:44.266 In that moment they showed up. 00:18:45.532 --> 00:18:47.432 Loyalty, brother. 00:18:47.432 --> 00:18:48.865 They love commitment. 00:18:48.865 --> 00:18:52.232 Jesus is saying, here's the one thing you control can control. 00:18:52.232 --> 00:18:53.566 Stay committed to me. 00:18:53.566 --> 00:18:56.566 Stay faithful, stay loyal. 00:18:57.732 --> 00:19:00.732 And that's something they were known for. 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:03.333 So control what you can control. 00:19:03.333 --> 00:19:05.432 You can't control how other people are going to treat you. 00:19:05.432 --> 00:19:08.932 You can't control what other people are going to say about you. 00:19:08.932 --> 00:19:12.799 But you can stay faithful and you can keep his word. 00:19:12.799 --> 00:19:14.732 Proverbs 1824 is so good. 00:19:14.732 --> 00:19:18.432 Towards this end, there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother. 00:19:18.432 --> 00:19:33.000 I love that verse you've experienced that you have earthly siblings who you might be close to, but then you end up getting even closer to someone at the church, someone of faith, closer than a family member. 00:19:34.099 --> 00:19:40.633 All right, so that's the second way we go from irrelevance to importance. 00:19:40.965 --> 00:19:42.066 What about the third way? 00:19:42.066 --> 00:19:45.066 Let's look here at verse nine and ten. 00:19:45.932 --> 00:19:50.865 Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and are not. 00:19:50.865 --> 00:19:52.133 I'll make, but they lie. 00:19:52.133 --> 00:19:55.066 Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet. 00:19:55.066 --> 00:20:06.465 They will learn that I have loved you, because you have kept my word about patient endurance, and I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth. 00:20:06.465 --> 00:20:07.133 Number three. 00:20:07.133 --> 00:20:13.232 The third way to go from irrelevance to importance is to embrace your weakness. 00:20:14.000 --> 00:20:17.133 Embrace this reality that you are weak. 00:20:18.066 --> 00:20:23.432 Christians in this world are in a place of weakness in this world. 00:20:24.532 --> 00:20:30.633 We're not here trying to dominate and get into a place of absolute power in this world. 00:20:30.633 --> 00:20:41.333 One of the worst things is when someone who is weak tries to act strong, like the little yippie dogs that try to chase you down, that you could just kick across the yard. 00:20:41.333 --> 00:20:43.133 You know, they're all bark. 00:20:43.133 --> 00:20:44.165 Don't do that. By the way. 00:20:44.165 --> 00:20:45.833 I'm not recommending that. 00:20:45.833 --> 00:20:51.566 That's not very nice unless you have to leave that up to you. 00:20:51.599 --> 00:20:53.732 Use wisdom I love animals, I promise. 00:20:53.732 --> 00:20:55.932 Bring it back. 00:20:55.932 --> 00:20:57.333 It's always weird. 00:20:57.333 --> 00:20:58.633 What are you doing? 00:20:58.633 --> 00:21:06.232 You're a tiny little dog or someone who thinks they're tough and acts tough when they're not, and they can't back it up. 00:21:06.232 --> 00:21:10.165 Look, are at the core of our faith. 00:21:10.165 --> 00:21:12.566 Is a man who said, I'm going to lay down my life. 00:21:13.566 --> 00:21:19.200 I'm going to show strength through weakness at the core of who we are. 00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:21.965 As we're saying, God is the one who's in charge. 00:21:21.965 --> 00:21:26.232 I don't have to be the strong one and powerful one in this world. 00:21:26.232 --> 00:21:30.432 I don't have to fight for relevance and significance in this world. 00:21:30.432 --> 00:21:33.032 My strength is found in him. 00:21:33.032 --> 00:21:40.333 In fact, he says in first Corinthians 127, he took those who are weak in this world, who are insignificant in this world. 00:21:40.333 --> 00:21:43.333 He'll use us to shame the wise. 00:21:45.165 --> 00:21:50.465 When they see that the things I thought were so important, they're not. 00:21:50.465 --> 00:21:53.766 In fact, the way this played out in the church in Philadelphia. 00:21:53.766 --> 00:22:00.066 He talks about in verse nine, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews. 00:22:00.066 --> 00:22:02.465 I'll make them come in, bow down. 00:22:02.465 --> 00:22:03.599 A couple of things going on here. 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.432 Synagogue of Satan. 00:22:04.432 --> 00:22:06.532 Colby talked about that when he looked at Smyrna. 00:22:06.532 --> 00:22:11.000 In fact, Smyrna and Philadelphia have a lot in common because they're the only two churches who aren't condemned. 00:22:11.000 --> 00:22:12.932 All the other churches get a condemnation. 00:22:12.932 --> 00:22:14.032 Here's what you're doing wrong. 00:22:14.032 --> 00:22:14.865 Neither are. 00:22:16.099 --> 00:22:20.200 That's probably because they were facing extra persecution. 00:22:21.932 --> 00:22:24.532 Okay, but the synagogue of Satan was mentioned there as well. 00:22:24.532 --> 00:22:38.566 And many believe this was the Jews in that city who were putting pressure on them to convert back to Judaism, because the Christians didn't have the significance in the city, they didn't have the tax breaks or the positions of power, or it could be in political influence. 00:22:38.566 --> 00:22:44.599 And so the Jews now are coming back around and saying, hey, you're relevant. Come join us again. 00:22:44.599 --> 00:22:46.566 Come find your significance again. 00:22:46.566 --> 00:22:49.566 Come find your power again. 00:22:50.232 --> 00:22:59.400 And so the ones who are saying we are powerful and you're not, he said, don't worry, there'll be a day where I'll make them bow down to you. 00:23:00.032 --> 00:23:05.633 Now, this is also tying into the history of the of the Jewish history. 00:23:05.633 --> 00:23:06.932 We can go back to Isaiah. 00:23:06.932 --> 00:23:13.932 There's 3 or 4 different passages we could point to where the Israelites had this vision, where they were in exile. 00:23:13.932 --> 00:23:17.599 And there will be a day where God will have these foreign nations who are conquering us. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.566 God will have them bow down at our feet. 00:23:20.566 --> 00:23:27.200 But that was so that they could show them judgment and conquering you who conquered us. 00:23:27.200 --> 00:23:29.133 We're going to conquer you and hold you down. 00:23:30.766 --> 00:23:33.865 But look here, this is really important. 00:23:33.865 --> 00:23:36.865 This is the difference for the Christian. 00:23:37.566 --> 00:23:38.066 What? 00:23:38.066 --> 00:23:44.799 The reason why he will have them bow down at the end of verse nine, they will learn that I have loved you. 00:23:46.633 --> 00:23:49.633 So it's not a conquering moment. 00:23:50.165 --> 00:23:52.200 It's a moment of repentance. 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:54.932 They will have the opportunity to repent. 00:23:54.932 --> 00:24:04.400 They will see Christ's love for us, and they'll have a chance to know that. 00:24:05.333 --> 00:24:06.333 I was talking to my friend. 00:24:06.333 --> 00:24:08.066 In fact, I'll point him out here. 00:24:08.066 --> 00:24:13.865 Tim and Mandy, Castiel here on the front, our friends of ours from back in our college days, we started out in ministry together. 00:24:13.865 --> 00:24:18.200 They came in to keep us safe while our kids were gone for the last few days, I guess. 00:24:18.200 --> 00:24:21.000 And we hung out together and spent a lot of good time together. 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:22.865 And we were talking about this. 00:24:22.865 --> 00:24:25.133 How do we change the world as Christians? 00:24:25.133 --> 00:24:29.066 They've been working with college students for 25 years now. 00:24:29.599 --> 00:24:31.432 How do we change the world? 00:24:32.766 --> 00:24:39.833 And probably the most powerful way that happens in this day and age is, by the way, we love one another. 00:24:39.833 --> 00:24:41.333 Because here's what's going to happen. 00:24:41.333 --> 00:24:48.732 You're going to be loving on each other, your spouse, your children, other church members, and those who don't know Christ are going to see that. 00:24:48.732 --> 00:24:50.833 They're going to see how you love one another. 00:24:50.833 --> 00:24:56.599 And they're they're going to hit a crisis, and they're going to come to you because they don't see that anywhere else. 00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:57.566 They see the opposite. 00:24:57.566 --> 00:25:02.432 They see infighting, they see hatred, they see pettiness, they see power plays. 00:25:02.432 --> 00:25:03.665 They're going to come to you. 00:25:03.665 --> 00:25:10.266 Maybe not right away, maybe not everyone, but that's what everyone wants. 00:25:11.032 --> 00:25:14.865 And he's the one who does that in our weakness. 00:25:14.865 --> 00:25:19.665 I can't control everyone else I can't make, and I don't want to make anyone bow down to me. 00:25:19.665 --> 00:25:26.633 But when Jesus brings them to see the love that he's had in your life, that's the moment where you get to talk about him with them. 00:25:26.633 --> 00:25:30.133 And there's plenty of other ways, by the way, to spread your faith and talk about Jesus. 00:25:30.133 --> 00:25:33.766 But in our day and age, that one has immense power. 00:25:36.799 --> 00:25:40.665 How do we move from irrelevance to importance? 00:25:40.665 --> 00:25:44.965 By the way, I'm not trying to become important so that people see how important I am. 00:25:44.965 --> 00:25:46.932 I just want to be important before Christ. 00:25:46.932 --> 00:25:48.232 I want him to see me. 00:25:48.232 --> 00:25:51.165 That's what matters. 00:25:51.165 --> 00:26:02.000 There's a final way here, and I'm going to wait to give you a second to fill in the blank, because there's a few things I want to point out about the passage here before we give the final point. 00:26:02.000 --> 00:26:02.599 Number four. 00:26:02.599 --> 00:26:04.032 I'm going to hold it off to the end. 00:26:04.032 --> 00:26:08.833 In fact, instead, what I want you to do is to write three words in the margin of your notes. 00:26:08.833 --> 00:26:11.833 There's three words I want to unpack here. 00:26:11.833 --> 00:26:20.965 And here are the three words presence, power, and restoration. 00:26:20.965 --> 00:26:24.932 All these are going to build into this fourth point. 00:26:25.766 --> 00:26:27.865 Presence, power and restoration. 00:26:27.865 --> 00:26:31.432 And we see all three of these here in verse. Verses 11 and 12. 00:26:31.432 --> 00:26:32.599 Look back at verse 11 and 12. 00:26:32.599 --> 00:26:36.266 I'm just going to read these and point out each of these three words. 00:26:36.266 --> 00:26:38.865 Verse 11 I am coming soon. 00:26:38.865 --> 00:26:43.465 Hold fast what you have, so that no 1st May seize your crown. 00:26:44.532 --> 00:26:49.400 The one who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. 00:26:49.400 --> 00:26:50.965 Never shall he go out of it. 00:26:50.965 --> 00:26:59.566 And I will write on him the name of my God, the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven and my own new name. 00:26:59.799 --> 00:27:01.633 First, let's talk about that word presence. 00:27:01.633 --> 00:27:07.365 Look at verse 12 where he talks about the pillar and he says, never shall he go out of it. 00:27:07.665 --> 00:27:09.165 You'll be a pillar in the temple. 00:27:09.165 --> 00:27:11.400 Never shall you go out. 00:27:11.400 --> 00:27:14.633 Once again, this would have been a significant word to the Philadelphians. 00:27:14.633 --> 00:27:21.032 I mentioned before that their city struggled with earthquakes, largely due to being situated near a volcano. 00:27:21.032 --> 00:27:26.200 In fact, volcano eruption and earthquake we talked about last week devastated Sardis. 00:27:26.200 --> 00:27:28.465 The city just kind of slid off the hill. 00:27:28.465 --> 00:27:35.465 It wasn't as devastating initially in Philadelphia, but those tremors kept coming for years. 00:27:35.532 --> 00:27:37.032 Those tremors kept coming. 00:27:37.032 --> 00:27:43.932 And so basically everyone had to move out of the city, out into the farms and fields around it because it just wasn't safe. 00:27:43.932 --> 00:27:47.165 You didn't know when your building was just going to crumble on top of you. 00:27:48.165 --> 00:27:51.133 And so here you have a people who love their city. 00:27:51.133 --> 00:27:54.799 The city of Brotherly love, and they're forced to move out. 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:57.665 But yet they want to be back home. 00:27:57.665 --> 00:28:00.532 They want to be back in their city. 00:28:00.532 --> 00:28:06.232 And he says to them, never, never shall he go out of it. 00:28:07.232 --> 00:28:18.599 You will have a presence when Christ comes in him, in his city, next to him, in presence with him, and never cast out. 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:23.732 That's security, that's place, that's love. 00:28:23.732 --> 00:28:25.165 So that's the first word, presence. 00:28:25.165 --> 00:28:28.532 Second is power, the one who conquers. 00:28:29.066 --> 00:28:36.066 And we're talking about true presence, true power, true restoration here, not just what the world says about power. 00:28:36.333 --> 00:28:38.432 He says the one who conquers. 00:28:38.432 --> 00:28:41.432 I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. 00:28:41.432 --> 00:28:42.200 Now I'm going to go. 00:28:42.200 --> 00:28:43.232 I'm just going to warn you. 00:28:43.232 --> 00:28:46.266 I'm going to go a little bit deep in the weeds here. 00:28:46.266 --> 00:28:48.266 So try to hang on with me for a few minutes. 00:28:48.266 --> 00:28:50.200 I know, I know you can, Bob Russell said. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:58.532 All y'all are good listeners and I know you are, but we're going to go a little deep in the weeds here because this word pillar, there's a couple of different ways to think about it. 00:28:58.532 --> 00:29:03.232 So in ancient times people would set up two types of pillars. 00:29:03.232 --> 00:29:05.266 One would be for victory. 00:29:05.266 --> 00:29:07.566 In fact I'm going to put a picture of one on the screen. 00:29:07.566 --> 00:29:12.032 This is a pillar that the emperor Trajan, Roman emperor, put up. 00:29:12.032 --> 00:29:15.532 And it's hard to tell how big it is, but it's big enough to actually have. 00:29:15.532 --> 00:29:17.799 And this is from 2000 years ago. 00:29:17.799 --> 00:29:20.865 They actually have a spiral staircase inside of it. 00:29:20.865 --> 00:29:27.665 Still today you can go up still standing 2000 years ago, and this one was all about victory on the column. 00:29:27.665 --> 00:29:29.200 You can kind of see the spiraling. 00:29:29.200 --> 00:29:33.066 There's images on there of all the victories he was a part of. 00:29:33.066 --> 00:29:37.333 That's the kind of pillar you want put up in your name. 00:29:37.465 --> 00:29:40.000 The other kind of pillar that's put up in your name. 00:29:40.000 --> 00:29:42.400 Oh, and by the way, we have our own versions of that. 00:29:42.400 --> 00:29:45.865 You can put up that other image, the Indy 500 trophy, right? 00:29:45.865 --> 00:29:48.932 You get a victory, you get your face on the trophy. 00:29:48.932 --> 00:29:51.165 We have our versions of that. 00:29:51.165 --> 00:29:56.200 The other kind of ancient pillar that would go up wasn't one of victory. 00:29:56.200 --> 00:29:57.965 It was one of death. 00:29:57.965 --> 00:30:04.865 It would be a headstone, a memorial stone with your name on it because you're dead and gone. 00:30:05.432 --> 00:30:07.232 In fact, Ignatius. 00:30:07.232 --> 00:30:09.032 So here's where we got to hang on a little bit. 00:30:09.032 --> 00:30:10.333 Ignatius. 00:30:10.333 --> 00:30:16.965 Ignatius wrote years after the close of the Bible, we have this whole group of writings from a group called the Apostolic Fathers. 00:30:16.965 --> 00:30:22.799 You've heard me talk about them before, but there's a collection of writings that were written after the close of the New Testament. 00:30:22.799 --> 00:30:26.532 They're not authoritative like the New Testament, but they give us a lot of information. 00:30:26.532 --> 00:30:29.133 In fact, Colby quoted the letter to Smyrna. 00:30:29.133 --> 00:30:34.599 There was a letter written to them after the fact, and it was a and there was a letter written to Ephesus. 00:30:34.599 --> 00:30:37.133 And so we know how is the church doing? 00:30:37.133 --> 00:30:41.599 Years later, after the close of the New Testament, that's how we knew some about how things are going there. 00:30:41.599 --> 00:30:42.400 There was a letter. 00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:45.932 Ignatius wrote a letter to Philadelphia, and here's what he says to them. 00:30:45.932 --> 00:30:47.133 I put this quote in your notes. 00:30:47.133 --> 00:30:48.365 It'll be on the screen as well. 00:30:48.365 --> 00:30:51.165 He says, if they fail to speak about Jesus Christ. 00:30:51.165 --> 00:30:59.799 And this was specifically talking about the Jews in that city, the Judaizers, those who were trying to pull them out from Christianity back into Judaism. 00:30:59.799 --> 00:31:15.665 If they fail to speak about Jesus Christ, I look on them as tombstones and graves of the dead upon which only the names of men are inscribed. Flee now that word tombstones. 00:31:15.665 --> 00:31:18.133 And here's where we're going to make the connection. 00:31:18.133 --> 00:31:27.633 That word tombstones and this word pillar in Revelation seven, they just are separated by one letter. 00:31:27.799 --> 00:31:29.932 That's the only difference. 00:31:29.932 --> 00:31:40.532 So Ignatius is hinting is saying you can either have a pillar of victory by staying committed to God's Word, by keeping his word, by not denying his name. 00:31:40.532 --> 00:31:45.799 Or you can end up as a monument of death, as a tombstone. 00:31:45.799 --> 00:31:48.799 Which do you want? 00:31:48.932 --> 00:31:53.400 Ultimately, I think our model for the pillar and the temple. 00:31:53.400 --> 00:31:57.032 I think I'll put the verse in your notes as in First Kings seven. 00:31:57.032 --> 00:32:03.232 You might remember when you've studied the building of the temple, there were two pillars, two columns set up there, and they had names. 00:32:03.232 --> 00:32:16.766 They were given names and one was called established and one was called strong, established and strong where we find our power. 00:32:16.766 --> 00:32:19.799 Here's where all this is coming back to, where we find our pillar. 00:32:19.799 --> 00:32:26.633 What it means to be a pillar is to be established and strong in the presence of Christ with him. 00:32:27.266 --> 00:32:28.865 In fact, he is the one. 00:32:28.865 --> 00:32:30.566 Our last word is restores. 00:32:30.566 --> 00:32:33.799 He is the one that gives us a new name. 00:32:34.266 --> 00:32:36.799 If you look here, he says, I will give you the name of the city. 00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:49.732 My God, the new Jerusalem which comes down from my God out of heaven, my own new name, Philadelphia, right after the earthquake got renamed New Caesar, they knew what it meant to be given a new name. 00:32:49.732 --> 00:32:55.766 They renamed themselves because the Caesar, at the time, the Emperor at the time gave him a tax break. For five years. 00:32:55.766 --> 00:32:58.066 You guys have been ruined by this earthquake. 00:32:58.066 --> 00:33:05.465 Take five years to restore, and so we're going to put on us a new name that says, thank you. 00:33:05.465 --> 00:33:08.465 Thank you for restoring us. 00:33:08.965 --> 00:33:09.232 Okay. 00:33:09.232 --> 00:33:11.432 All this comes down to point four. 00:33:11.432 --> 00:33:13.799 And here's the here's what we say in point four. 00:33:13.799 --> 00:33:19.766 Where are you ultimately finding the fact that I want to move from irrelevance to significance? 00:33:19.766 --> 00:33:26.066 You have to look forward to find true strength, because right now you're not feeling it. 00:33:26.066 --> 00:33:33.965 And so you have to look forward to find true strength in Christ, in his presence, in his power, in his restoration. 00:33:33.965 --> 00:33:37.633 He's the one that will give you the new name. 00:33:38.532 --> 00:33:43.865 And part of the way we look forward together, and we're going to do this today, is by taking communion. 00:33:43.865 --> 00:33:47.766 In fact, if you're here to help with that, go ahead and slip out and get those elements ready. 00:33:48.865 --> 00:33:55.165 That's one of the ways that we're reminded our strength is in his weakness. 00:33:55.165 --> 00:33:57.766 Our strength is in his death. 00:33:57.766 --> 00:33:59.932 Our strength is in his body broken. 00:33:59.932 --> 00:34:02.633 Our strength is in his blood spilled. 00:34:02.633 --> 00:34:07.766 It's the opposite of what the world says as true and strong and powerful. 00:34:08.599 --> 00:34:11.266 But that's what we lean on. 00:34:11.266 --> 00:34:14.733 Here's the way that we take communion together. 00:34:14.932 --> 00:34:19.632 If you know Christ, if you follow him, you don't have to be a member of our church. 00:34:19.632 --> 00:34:22.666 You don't have to have been baptized here if you know him. 00:34:22.666 --> 00:34:24.865 You're welcome to participate with us. 00:34:24.865 --> 00:34:27.465 And we will pass the trays down the aisle. 00:34:27.465 --> 00:34:31.266 And as that's coming past you, there'll be two cups stacked together. 00:34:31.266 --> 00:34:32.800 Just take those out together. 00:34:32.800 --> 00:34:36.032 The bread's underneath in the first cup, and then the juice is on top of that. 00:34:36.032 --> 00:34:37.733 And hold on to those. 00:34:37.733 --> 00:34:41.965 And once everybody have those, I'll lead us through taking them together. 00:34:43.065 --> 00:34:49.333 And while you're waiting, I think this is a powerful time for self-reflection. 00:34:49.333 --> 00:34:50.865 I think this is a time to pray. 00:34:50.865 --> 00:34:54.733 God, if there's any sin in my life, would you make it known? 00:34:54.733 --> 00:34:59.000 And I would say, also, because of today's message, I would take a moment to just pray. 00:34:59.000 --> 00:35:03.632 Especially if you are feeling irrelevant, insignificant, unimportant. 00:35:05.565 --> 00:35:12.000 I pray to know God's true strength in your life, his power, his presence, his restoration. 00:35:12.032 --> 00:35:14.065 I mean, if you would go ahead and start passing these