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Series Code: BOL
Program Code: BOL000672S
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00:01 (Breath of Life Theme Music)
00:06 Sermon #B672 - Philadelphia: The Enduring Church 00:20 Dr. Byrd: Let us get right in the word as we continue in our series on the Seven Churches 00:25 of Revelation. If you will, take your bibles and turn with me to the Book of Revelation, 00:29 and we are going to go to Revelation chapter three. 00:32 Revelation chapter three, and we are going to begin reading at verse number seven. 00:38 Revelation chapter three verse number seven. 00:41 The word of God, Jesus himself speaking says, 00:45 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write. 00:48 These things sayeth, he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, 00:54 he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth. 01:00 I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door and no man can shut it. 01:06 Thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word, and has not denied my name. 01:14 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan which say they are Jews and are not, 01:21 but they do lie. Behold, I will make them to come 01:25 and worship before thy feet and to know that I have loved thee 01:27 because thou hast kept the word of my patience, 01:30 I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world 01:35 to try them that dwell upon the Earth. Behold, I come quickly. 01:41 Hold that fast which thou hast that no man take thy crown. 01:48 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God 01:51 and he shall go no more out and I will write upon him the name of my God 01:56 and the name of the city of my God, which is New Jerusalem, 02:00 which cometh down out of Heaven from God and I will write upon him my new name. 02:05 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the spirit sayeth unto the churches." 02:13 Father in Heaven blesses us now as we go into your word. 02:16 As we study and preach on your sixth church. 02:22 I pray that God your spirit would rest rule the by not just in this sanctuary, 02:26 but in homes, and parks, and cars, wherever your people are. 02:31 Lord when the appeal time comes, do what you always do, 02:35 but today I am asking for a sevenfold portion of what you do. 02:38 Give me strength today and give your people receptive hearts and minds to your word. 02:44 Pray this prayer asking you Lord to again forgive us of our sins, in Jesus name, amen. 02:51 Amen. 02:53 Philadelphia, the enduring church. Now come to Philadelphia, 03:02 the six of the Seven Churches in Revelation. 03:07 Now of the seven churches addressed by Jesus, 03:11 two of them were commended without correction. 03:15 The first you will remember was Smyrna, and the second is now Philadelphia. 03:23 Like Smyrna, Jesus offers no rebuke. 03:28 Only encouragement to the Philadelphians for their faithfulness 03:32 and endurance in the midst of oppression. 03:36 Now, we all know there is no such thing as a perfect church. 03:41 If you think there is, there is no such thing as a perfect church. 03:45 Neither is there anything as such as a perfect Christian. 03:50 So the church then, is a collection of imperfect Christians trying to do their 03:56 best to serve a perfect God. That is what the church at Philadelphia was. 04:04 A group of imperfect church members doing their best to serve a perfect God, 04:12 which is why Jesus was pleased with them and Jesus had nothing negative to say about them. 04:20 Now, the city of Philadelphia, and I am not talking about Philadelphia Pennsylvania either, 04:26 but the city of Philadelphia was not a perfect city either. 04:31 It was a city of many temples. It was called my mini little Athens 04:36 because of its many idols and lowercase g, gods. 04:41 Philadelphia was about 28 miles southeast of Sardis 04:46 and it was about 75 miles from the coast of the Aegean Sea on a great 04:52 highway linking roots to the east and to the west. 04:56 Because of its location, Philadelphia was a victim to a lot of earthquakes. 05:04 In fact in AD 17, an earthquake devastated the area, 05:08 and so the people in Philadelphia were constantly concerned 05:11 because earthquake tremors continued on a regular basis. 05:17 Now, you also need to know that the church at Philadelphia was not a big church. 05:23 It did not have a lot of resources. It did not have a lot of people. 05:30 It did not have a lot of money, but it was doing what he could for the Lord. 05:38 Too many churches or ministries that are small, 05:43 think they cannot do big things for the Lord, but that is not true. 05:49 You can do whatever God tells you to do. 05:53 I hear people all the time say, "Well, Pastor Byrd, you can do what you do 05:57 because you pastor a big church." Well, the reality is my friends, 06:02 I would have never gotten the privilege of pastoring a big church, 06:05 if I were not doing big things at little churches. You see, I have learned. 06:11 You cannot be big if little has you, 06:15 but I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 06:20 Do I have a witness in this place? The God I serve it is not into quantity, 06:26 but he is into quality. The God I serve use gideon 06:31 and three hundred soldiers to defeat a hundred thirty-five thousand midianites soldiers. 06:38 The god I serve took two fish and five loaves of bread 06:43 and fed five thousand men plus women and children. 06:47 Somebody knows that little becomes much when you place it in the master's hand. 06:53 Do not you subscribe to small time thinking. 06:56 Do not you subscribe to small ministry thinking. 07:01 Do not you subscribe to grasshopper thinking. 07:05 After all God has done for us, some of us still doubt him. 07:10 We still see the enemies of God as giants and we see ourselves at grasshoppers 07:17 and when you see yourself as a grasshopper, other people will see you as a grasshopper. 07:23 I learned a long time ago. People treat you the way you let them, 07:29 but when you realize who you are and you realize whose you are, 07:34 then you will be and seek deliverance from a grasshopper mentality that tries to stop you 07:40 from experiencing and living God's purpose for your life. 07:44 Grasshopper mentality is fearful. Grasshopper mentality is myopic thinking. 07:51 Grasshopper mentality is small mindedness, but the Philadelphia Church, praise God, 07:58 did not have grasshopper mentality. 08:00 The Philadelphia Church may have been small in number, 08:04 but they were giants in faith. 08:06 Jesus told the church in Ephesus, "I know your works." 08:11 Jesus told the church at Smyrna, "I know your worries." 08:15 Jesus told the church at Pergamos, "I know your whereabouts." 08:19 Jesus told the church at Thyatira, "I know the woman in your midst." 08:25 Jesus told the church at Sardis, "I know you are withering." 08:29 Jesus told the church at Philadelphia, "I know your weakness. 08:33 I know you are small, but even though you are small, you are still faithful." 08:38 Stop focusing on what you cannot do and utilize what you can do. 08:42 Because when you focus on what you cannot do, you will have an excuse to do nothing, 08:46 and nothing will be nothing but nothing for there is nothing to do but nothing. 08:49 So because nothing is nothing, for heaven's sake, do something. 08:53 It was this little church in Philadelphia. The game, the attention of Jesus. 08:58 Not because of the size of the church, not because of the programs of the church, 09:02 but because it was faithful to the word of God. 09:05 Jesus opens this letter to the Philadelphian Church by sharing three attributes of himself. 09:11 Number one, he says, "He that is holy." This now is a little title attributed. 09:19 This is a title attribute to God throughout the Old Testament, 09:23 but here, it is attributed to Jesus. Jesus is holy. Thou are holy. 09:30 Holy means you are set apart. You are set aside. You are set apart for a special purpose. 09:38 Jesus is holy. Jesus is pure. He is declaring himself sinless and of a pure character. 09:45 He is encouraging the Philadelphian Church to be of a pure character as he was pure. 09:51 Then the second attribute, Jesus says, "He that is true." 09:56 Now, there are two Greek words for true. 09:59 One refers to a true statement as opposed to a false statement. 10:03 The other refers to that which is real versus that which is fake. 10:08 Jesus is true and Jesus is real. Then we have the third attribute, 10:15 not only is he holy, not only is he true and real, 10:19 but Jesus says, "I have the key of David." 10:22 This reference to David reminds the Philadelphians of the Messiah, 10:26 and Jesus is the Messiah. The righteous branch who springs from David's line. 10:32 If we study the Old Testament in Isaiah chapter 22, 10:35 we find the story of a corrupt leader of the Jews being replaced by an honorable man 10:40 called, Elyakim. Isaiah 22 says, "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of 10:48 David. When he opens, no one can shut. When he shuts, no one can open." 10:56 So the idea here of the key of David, is tied to the idea of opening and closing doors. 11:04 Jesus comes as the one who is supremely in charge of opening up doors and closing doors. 11:14 Jesus says in Revelation chapter three verse number eight, "I know thy works." 11:21 Jesus again revealed that he knew the works of the church, 11:24 but he continues in verse eight, "Behold, I have set up before thee an open door 11:30 and no man can shut it." 11:31 Thou hast a little strength, but has kept my word and have not denied my name." 11:38 In other words, Philadelphia, you have kept my command to endure patiently. 11:46 In the text, there is clear indication that there was persecution, 11:51 but there is power in this church because of their obedience. 11:55 Because of their obedience, 11:57 Jesus tells the Philadelphian Church that he is going to open doors for them 12:02 because they have kept his word. That he is going to open doors for them 12:08 because they have not denied his name. 12:10 You see, Jesus knew that there was something about his name. 12:14 Demons tremble at the name of Jesus. Understand at the name of Jesus, 12:19 lions lay down like house dogs at the name of Jesus. 12:24 At the name of Jesus, donkeys talk. They had not denied Jesus name. 12:30 Jesus is not telling them that they will have an open door for dynamic ministry 12:34 because they have a big church, they have big programs, or a beautiful church building, 12:39 but Jesus is telling them he is going to open doors for them because they were faithful. 12:44 It was their faithfulness, not physical power, 12:48 but their faithfulness that is the power source of a truly dynamic church. 12:53 There was nothing impressive about the church at Philadelphia. 12:57 Jesus said in the text, "I know that you have little strength." 13:02 They did not have much. They want big but they were faithful a church 13:08 and God intended to use them in a mighty way. Friends of mine, 13:14 when we allow ourselves to be used by God, our small strength can accomplish big things. 13:22 Verse number nine tells us that the Philadelphian Church face opposition within the church. 13:29 What am I talking about? 13:31 Jesus tells them, "I will make those who are of the synagogue of 13:34 Satan who claim to be Jews, though they are not, but are liars. 13:38 I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 13:44 " Then I like the way the clear word bible puts it. 13:46 It says. "Some who are worshiping with you, are serving Satan. 13:52 They claim there are true sons of Abraham, but they are not. 13:58 They are lying, and someday I will make them come and bow at your feet, 14:05 and make them acknowledge that I have loved you." Understand, friends of mine. 14:10 Are you hearing what I am saying? Understand that for the sake of time, 14:14 I am not going to get into a debate about what the word says about the Jews, 14:19 in the fact, they did not recognize Jesus as the Messiah. 14:23 I do want to touch today on the fact that the Jews did 14:28 and hear to a strict code of rules and regulations 14:31 and it reminds me of the Pharisees of the gospel, 14:35 who were more concerned about religion than relationship. 14:39 Today, we have modern day Pharisees in the church who feel it is their 14:44 god-given duty to check and make sure that everything we do is done to the letter of 14:50 the law. You see I have learned that it is often within the church. 14:56 Not outside, but within the church. 14:59 Within the ranks, where we have the greatest attacks and the greatest opposition. 15:04 It is not always the folk on the outside, but the professors of Christ on the inside, 15:09 who are the biggest problems and attack you. 15:12 If I can testify a minute today just this week, 15:16 I received an email from someone within the corporate church, 15:20 accusing me of spreading division in the church simply 15:24 because I was speaking at a peaceful protest and leading the march against racism 15:29 and racial injustice. They said, "I saw your picture, I saw you on the internet, 15:38 and as a minister of the gospel, you should not be doing that." 15:42 Then they had the nerve to say, "I expect a response." I said to them now, 15:49 because I did not have to respond. But I said, "If you read your Bible 15:54 and you read Proverbs chapter thirty-one verses eight and nine, the Bible says, 15:58 you should defend those who cannot defend themselves. Speak up for the poor 16:03 and the helpless and see that they get justice." Micah 6:8. 16:07 We quote it all the time. "What is required of thee? Do justly, love mercy, 16:12 and walk humbly with God." But it was Jesus himself, 16:16 who said in Luke chapter four verse eighteen, "The spirit of the Lord is upon me, 16:20 because he has anointed me to preach the gospel, preacher to the poor, 16:25 heal the brokenhearted. He has sent me to preach deliverance to the captives, 16:29 recovering of sight to the blind, and to set at liberty them that are bruised." 16:35 So when I read the word of God, when I read what Jesus did himself, 16:39 I have a god-given mandate as a minister of the gospel of Jesus, to speak up, 16:45 to speak out, and march against racism and racial injustice. 16:52 How can somebody call themselves a Christian and not speak out against racism? 16:59 How can someone call themselves a Christian and be silent about racial injustice? 17:05 How can one call himself a Christian and claim that Jesus died for all people, 17:11 but then they do not support the equality of all people. It is an oxymoron. 17:18 It is hypocrisy at its best. 17:21 Somebody said I would rather be known in life as an honor sinner than a lying hypocrite. 17:27 Having a form of godliness, denying the power thereof, 17:32 and we wonder why the collective corporate church is not growing. 17:37 Far too often, we have been attacked within the church 17:41 and whether it is in the church or whether it is out of the church, 17:44 I am here to tell somebody we will be attacked. So I do not get discouraged. 17:48 We will be attacked. That comes with the territory, but I have been learnt. 17:51 I tell young people, if you plan to go into ministry 17:55 and you cannot handle being attacked, this is not for you. 17:59 Because those that live Godly lives will suffer persecution. 18:04 I would dare to suggest to you, that if you are not being attacked, 18:08 you and the devil must be running in the same direction 18:12 because when you stand for Jesus Christ, you will be 18:15 You will be oppressed even from those within the church, 18:20 but I am so glad that the word of God says no weapon formed against you is going 18:26 to prosper. Jesus says that the day is coming wherever make your enemies your footstool. 18:31 The day is coming. He says in the text where the liars in the church, 18:36 those who attack you, those who oppose righteousness, 18:39 I will make them come and bow at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 18:43 Hallelujah. Somebody. 18:45 Jesus continues in verse ten. He says, "Because you have kept my commandments 18:52 and endured so much criticism, because of me, 18:55 I will be with you as you go through the time of trouble that will come on all those who 18:59 live on this Earth." The Lord is affirming the Philadelphians for their endurance. 19:05 To endure is to suffer something painful or difficult patiently. 19:10 The Philadelphians suffered patiently, but Jesus says, "Because you have endured for me, 19:16 because you have lived for me, 19:18 I will keep you from the hour of temptation that is soon coming in this world." 19:23 He says, "I know, it is hard sometimes. I know, if you feel like giving up sometimes. 19:29 Because you have patiently endured, I will be with you in the time of trouble, so hold on. 19:36 " Life my friends is a race, but this race is not a 100 yard dash. 19:42 This race is more like a marathon. In the marathon, you have to endure, which means, 19:48 you are going to have some ups, you are going to have some downs 19:51 and you are going to have to endure. In a marathon, you have some good days, 19:55 you have some bad days, but you got to still endure 19:59 because the race is not given to the swift or to the strong, 20:02 but to the one that endures and to the end, 20:04 some of you have no endurance in this race 20:07 because you are still holding on to weights in your life that are causing you to be 20:10 burdened down. 20:12 Then he also says in verse ten, "Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou has. 20:19 That no man may take your crown." In other words, 20:23 hold tightly to the little strength you do have and I am going to give you, 20:28 hallelujah, crown of life. Jesus can return at any time. 20:33 There will be no warning, no time for preparation when the trumpet of God sounds. 20:39 We have got to live, friends of mine, every day as if it were our last. 20:42 We cannot conform to the ways of the world, 20:45 but we must hold fast to that which we have in Christ. 20:48 Jesus reminds us that there is a reward for those who endure. 20:53 There is a reward for those who hold fast. No one will be able to take your crown. 20:57 Your salvation cannot be stolen, nor can it be taken from you. Hallelujah. 21:02 Then Jesus tells us in verse number twelve of Revelation three that he will make a 21:07 pillar in heaven's temple. I am almost done 21:11 but let me tell you what the significance of this is. 21:15 Remember earlier, I said that the city of Philadelphia was often the victim of 21:20 many earthquakes and so the people lived in constant concern, 21:23 constant worry about whether an earthquake was coming. 21:26 When an earthquake would hit the city, 21:28 oftentimes the only thing left standing were the pillars of the different temples. 21:34 Jesus is saying, hallelujah, that enduring Christians will be like pillars in his temple. 21:40 That through it all they will still, hallelujah, be standing. 21:45 People come and people go but they will still be standing. They will endure. 21:52 I am a witness to that fact. Life is turbulence. Life is rough. Life is tough. 21:59 Life is chaotic, things get shaken, attitudes get shaken. 22:03 Sometimes God will shake stuff to change your attitude. 22:06 Sometimes God will shake stuff to bring you to your knees. 22:10 Sometimes God will shake stuff so you do not trust in money. 22:13 Sometimes God will shake stuff so you will find out who your real friends are. 22:17 Sometimes God will shake stuff so you will get your focus back on what really matters 22:22 in life. Sometimes God will shake stuff because he is not really after you 22:27 but he is after folk in your house. 22:30 Sometimes he has to shake your stuff to get their attention, but we have got to endure. 22:36 We have got to keep on standing, 22:39 but even more than this in the first century when a prominent citizen 22:41 did something not worthy and worth memorializing, 22:45 they would inscribe their names on one of the pillars in one of the temples. 22:50 So then the pillar would have the name of a well-known, famous, 22:54 or honored person carved on the temple pillar. Jesus is saying, hallelujah, in this text. 23:00 That our names would be carved in the temple of heaven. 23:04 That God will put hallelujah his name on us. 23:08 We will have a pillar with our name on it, 23:10 signifying that we are permanent citizens of heaven. 23:14 So do not worry about if you do not get your name on a building down here. 23:18 You go, get your name on a building up there. 23:20 Because the pillars of a building cannot be removed without the building collapsing. 23:26 The saved, when we get to heaven, cannot be removed from the body of Christ. 23:31 This world is wicked, but we are on a firm foundation, never to be removed. 23:38 There is one last thing I want to tell you about our reward. 23:42 Jesus says, "I will write on him, the name of my God and the name of my city, 23:49 the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven that is a bride adorned for her husband 23:56 and he is going to write upon me, my new name. I am no longer a loser. I am winner. 24:06 I am no longer a victim. I am Victor. I am no longer in object, but I am an overcomer. 24:15 I am no longer a sinner, but I am now saved. Because he that shall endure unto the end, 24:24 the same shall be saved.” So today I know somebody feels like giving up. 24:31 I know somebody feels like throwing in the towel. 24:34 I know you are tired of putting on a mask, staying at home, not going in public, 24:39 not being able to go to church, dealing with corona virus. 24:42 I know you are tired of racism. I know you are tired of racial injustice. 24:47 I know you are tired of knees to your neck, but you have got to keep on standing. 24:53 You have got to keep on fighting. This is not a time to be weak. 24:58 This is not a time for you to hang around penny wenny folk. 25:01 You have got to be around folk who are ready to fight. 25:04 You got to be around folk who been through something and they are still able to testify. 25:09 I have been through it, but I made it. 25:12 I got sick, but I made it. He left me, but I made it. 25:16 She left me, but I made it. I lost my house, but I made it. 25:21 I did not have a job, but I made it. I lost my car, but I made it. 25:26 I was in trouble, but I made it. Stand on the promises of God. 25:31 Stand and having done all to stand. Get your back straight. 25:35 Get your feet on the floor. Stick your chest out. 25:39 The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear. 25:44 The Earth is the Lord, the fullness thereof and all them that dwell therein. 25:49 The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want. 25:52 Fret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious of the workers of iniquity. 25:57 They shall soon be cut down like the grass. Jesus says in the text, "I am coming back, 26:05 if you just hold fast. If you just hold fast, I have a pillar for you. 26:14 I have a pillar with your name written all over it. I have a new name for you. 26:21 I have a new city for you. Because when the battle is over, we shall wear a crown.” 26:32 In the New Jerusalem, there will be no more crying there. 26:38 There will be no more dying there. There will be no more sickness there. 26:43 There will be no more corona virus there. There will be no more racism there. 26:49 There will be no more racial injustice there. There will be no knees to the neck there. 26:55 Jesus will be there. I plan on being there. I hope you are there because Christ returneth, 27:04 hallelujah, hallelujah. Amen. 27:10 Thank you very much for tuning in to this week's Breath of Life broadcast. 27:15 We hope and pray that you've been blessed by Dr. Byrd's inspirational message. 27:19 If you would like to hear this sermon in its entirety, 27:21 please feel free to visit us at www.breathoflife.tv. 27:27 Or, call us at (256) 929-6460. 27:33 [END] 27:41 When I was eight years old, I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. 27:47 When I was fifthteen, I had my first surgery. When I think about the time that I lost 27:57 during my adolescent years, I just can't seem to put it togther. Even now I'm doing 28:08 treatment for my disease. Everyone experiences loss. It's not of matter of if but when. 28:21 www.breathoflife.tv |
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