The Church That was Unshakable
3 Things Jesus Tells the 7 Churches
1) “I Know”
2) “Whoever Has Ears, Let Them Hear What the Spirit Says.”
3) “To The One Who Is Victorious...”
Revelation 3:7-13 NIV
“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia...”
John 15:12 ESV
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
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.”
Jesus’ Encouragement to an Unshakable Church
1. You Are WEAK, but with Me You Are STRONG.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 NI
Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong.God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Jesus’ Encouragement to an Unshakable Church
* You Have Been LOCKED OUT, but I Have OPENED A BETTER DOOR.
Isaiah 22:22 NIV
“I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”
What door has Jesus opened for us?
* The Door of Salvation
* The Door of Opportunity
“I learned a hard lesson that week… Not about fishing but about people. When those who are called to fish don't fish, they fight. When energy intended to be used outside is used inside, the result is explosive. Instead of casting nets, we cast stones. Instead of extending helping hands, we point accusing fingers. Instead of being fishers of the lost, we become critics of the saved. Rather than helping the hurting, we hurt the helpers. The result? Church scrooges. 'Bah, humbug' spirituality. Split churches. Poor testimonies. Broken hearts. Legalistic wars. And, sadly, poor go unfed, confused go uncounseled, and lost go unpreached. When those who are called to fish don't fish, they fight.” — Max Lucado
Jesus’ Encouragement to an Unshakable Church
* You Have Been SHAKEN, but I Will Give You What Is UNSHAKABLE.
Revelation 3:12 NIV
“The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it.”
John 17:14-15 ESV
“I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you KEEP them from the evil one.”
Hebrews 12:28 NIV
Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe…
Maybe you made a decision to follow Jesus today, or maybe you’re curious what life with Him is all about. Wherever you are on your journey, we invite you to share with us so we can help you discover your next step.
