the Promises of Christ in the church...

"To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, 'The words of the holy one, the true one, who has they key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. I know your works... I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name... Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world.'" (portions of Revelation 3:7-13)

The church in Philadelphia wasn't the most dynamic group of believers in the region. They lived in a city plagued by earthquakes, one of which had leveled their city so severly that they'd been forced to completely rebuild. Sadly aftershocks and tremors continued to damage the walls of the town so heavily that their commercial prospects were limited to the fertility of their surrounding fields- where most of the inhabitants actually lived. Economically challenged, the church also lived under the assaults of the local Jewish rulers. Officially, the Christians were seen as outcasts from the people of God- the doors of God's kingdom officially closed to them at the synagogues.

But Jesus sees this struggling church with "little power" and has much to commend- in particular, their "patient endurance" under trials. What encouragement this is! Trials and suffering are difficult to endure, but the church in Philadelphia is set forth as a model for us. From them we learn to walk the long road of continued obedience- looking to Jesus. From Jesus' words to them, we learn that Christians can press on for Christ as we trust in the promises of Christ. We often wonder why we started down this road or how we'll make it to the end, but Christ reminds us of four things:

1. He is Lord over His Kingdom. Jesus reminds the believers in verses 8 and 9 that, although the official doors to the synagogue have been closed to them, He holds the keys to the kingdom of God. Jesus' words are the ones that matter, He is the One who drew them, and He is the One who continues to make the way of salvation open to us and those we know today. How encouraging these words were to those who lived in a city whose crumbled walls provided little protection. Their unstable home was a drastic contrast to the permanence of an eternal dwelling... but one they could only enter through the Door (John 10:9).

• How comforting it is to know that nothing of our "little power" prevents our entrance into God's kingdom as well! Our shady background, our financial weakness, our limited gifting, our lack of biblical proficiency haunts us- making us wonder if we've got what it takes to really matter in God's plan. Only Jesus' invitation to us through the door He opened up with His blood mattters. Perhaps a good question to ask ourselves is "What is one thing you've been doing lately to remind yourself that God saved you- not because of your strength, but because of His grace?"

2. He is sovereign over our enemies. Jesus knew that the church in Philadelphia was living under the constant oppression of their Jewish opponents. Quoting the Old Testament passages that seemed to indicate that God could only include folks into His kingdom if they belonged to "His country," they traced God's favor back through their parents' ancestry and their personal obedience. But Jesus had come to break down the barriers between Jew and Gentile and to create a new identity of people whose only "work" was to believe in the Son of God. (John 6:29). Faith, not family, forms the new people of God. And now that the church had placed their faith in Jesus, He reminds them that this faith will be vindicated: "I will make them come and bow down at your feet and they will see that I have loved you" (v 9). Amazing!

• Often we are discouraged and tired, especially when others seem to remind us of our failures or to challenge the basis of our faith in Christ. But consider Christ's promise to us that helps us endure: Jesus will one day vindicate your claims that Jesus is God, that we owe our lives and allegiance to Him that we are saved because of His sacrifice, and that we will only persevere because of His grace that sustains us. One day, whether in this life or the next, we will see Jesus' glory acknowledged by everyone... even those who may mock you today. How does this encourage you to share your faith? Who can your community group pray for that you've had a burden to share the gospel with? Remember, Jesus promises that some of the opponents the gospel in Philadelphia (and Cleveland) would be "given as a gift" to that very church!

3. He is faithful in our trials. Jesus promises to keep His church from the "hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world." For a church that had endured both financial instability and the mockery of an established religious community, this promise is especially meaningful. Jesus wasn't claiming that His people wouldn't suffer- their history already refuted that interpretation and John's experience on Patmos nullified any doubt to the contrary. The common experience of the believer is defined by John's description of himself in chapter 1 (echoed in 3:10)- we are partners in the "patient endurance" that is in Christ.

• Trials tempt us all to want to opt out of the race, to stop and take a break from a "long obedience in the same direction." But Jesus doesn't pledge to keep us from suffering but to sustain us in suffering. How can we endure? By remembering what John remembered: there was only One who has truly endured the suffering we all deserve. John had written Jesus' own words on the earth: "It was for 'this hour' (the Cross of shame and suffering) that I came to the earth." He endured God's wrath for us that we might know God's love. How does the knowledge that Christ suffered once for all help you to endure our "light and momentary" sufferings? Is there anyone in your group struggling that you can pray for tonight as they trust in Christ's promise to hold them in their trials?

4. He is establishing us for eternity. Jesus' final promise comes in a series of statements. He will make the church pillars in His temple, setting His name on them forever. In a town rebuilt time and again (renamed twice for their benefactors), the church in Philadelphia was promised a place of permanence in the presence of God, living under the name and identity God creates for them. What a goal that creates for the weary soul.

• One of the greatest challenges to endurance is the fear that nothing will ever change... that our role will always be one of unrewarded and unnoticed. But Jesus sustains us with the promise that He is not only ruling over His kingdom, our enemies, and our trials... He also has plans for our eternal destiny. We will one day be established in His presence, our endurance ended in the security and peace of God's household. We're heading home... what peace that brings to the soul! What passages of Scripture sustain you and remind you of heaven when you are weary? How does focusing on heaven help you to endure in your current trial?

When we remember that Jesus' promises are faithful and true, we are given strength to endure. Enjoy encouraging each other on the journey this week in community group!