The Faithful Spirituality

(Rev 3:7-13 KJV) And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; {8} I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. {9} Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. {10} Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. {11} Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. {12} Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. {13} He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.

Continuing our study of the seven letters to the seven churches in Revelation, today we study the sixth letter. This letter is to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. Of the six churches this is the only one that Jesus does not have something against. They have a little strength, they have kept the Word of God and they have not denied the name of Jesus. I title this message The Faithful Spirituality.

Each of the seven letters addresses spiritual conditions that can be found in churches and individuals in our world today. The last few weeks we have studied the first five letters and found that conditions of loveless, Hopeless, Faithless, Permissiveness and Overconfidence have been addressed. All of these spirituality’s have been and are in existence in Christian churches and in individual lives of those claiming to be Christ’s. Today we consider Jesus’ message to the faithful church. Thank God for the faithful spirituality. It is what every Christian should be striving for.

When the Word of God takes root in your heart, your faith is strengthened. You keep God’s Word. You honor and praise God by the way that you live. You develop a genuine, consistent love for God. You have hope because you believe God. In keeping God’s Word, you discipline your life, you refuse to give place to the devil, you yield your body to the will of the Holy Spirit. In so doing you open the door to the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of righteousness and peace and joy that only comes from being obedient to the Holy Spirit.

Remember Jesus introduces himself with different characteristics to each church. The characteristics used are keys to the spirituality that He is addressing. To Philadelphia He begins with the character of “holy and true”. Jesus is holy and true and His children are also holy and true. Our God is a holy God and the only way to serve Him is to yield to the Holy Spirit and live a holy life. To attempt to be a Christian without living holy is to attempt to be alive when you are dead and buried. This is a wonderful introduction to hear from your Lord. “These thing saith he that is holy, he that is true.

Jesus is true. You can count on what He tells you. His Word is the Word of God. It will never fail, it can be depended on. As a Christian your word is good. We can depend on what you say to be the truth. With the power of the Holy Spirit working in your life, you have learned how to tell the truth even when it hurts. Jesus is true and his followers are like Him. They are honest! They are sanctified by the truth.

(John 17:17 KJV) Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth.

Another characteristic of Jesus’ introduction to the faithful condition is “.. he that hath the key of David, he that openeth and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth ..” When Jesus first introduced himself in chapter one he said:

(Rev 1:18 KJV) I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

It is through Jesus Christ that we have eternal life and it is in His power to determine your destiny in this world and in the world to come. He has control of the keys that lock and that unlock the mysteries of life and death. He is the door to eternal bliss. He is the door to a blissful, peaceful, happy life in this world.

(John 10:1-29 KJV) Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. {2} But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. {3} To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. {4} And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. {5} And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. {6} This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. {7} Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. {8} All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. {9} I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. {10} The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. {11} I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep. {12} But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. {13} The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. {14} I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine. {15} As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep. {16} And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd. {17} Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. {18} No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. {19} There was a division therefore again among the Jews for these sayings. {20} And many of them said, He hath a devil, and is mad; why hear ye him? {21} Others said, These are not the words of him that hath a devil. Can a devil open the eyes of the blind? {22} And it was at Jerusalem the feast of the dedication, and it was winter. {23} And Jesus walked in the temple in Solomon's porch. {24} Then came the Jews round about him, and said unto him, How long dost thou make us to doubt? If thou be the Christ, tell us plainly. {25} Jesus answered them, I told you, and ye believed not: the works that I do in my Father's name, they bear witness of me. {26} But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. {27} My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: {28} And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. {29} My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand.

Yes, Jesus is the door to a beautiful life; He is the one that controls who enters and who is shut out. He opens the door to those that obey His voice and He closes the door to those that refuse to obey Him. His sheep know His voice and they follow Him. When you obey the Lord and follow His voice, you learn to recognize the truth of living holy and righteous. Your Lord is indeed your shepherd and He leads you in paths of righteousness and you follow. Your Lord takes care for you and protects you from every beast that would attempt to destroy you. You have the ultimate security when Jesus is your Lord. Nothing can harm your soul. All things that happen to you are for your good. You are held in the hand of Jesus and no one has the power to remove you from his hand. The only one that can remove you from his hand is you!

Jesus commended the Philadelphia church for keeping His word. The only way that you can have any strength to live a Christian life, is to obey The Word of God. Obedience will give you a little strength and enable you to resist the devil. With your little strength, the Lord adds His great strength and you overcome all sin. The big reason that many people think that they cannot keep from committing sin is because they have no strength to resist the temptation. And, the reason that they have no strength to resist temptation is because they are not keeping the Word of God. If you have no strength to resist temptation, then you either don’t know God’s Word or you refuse to be obedient to it. Either way you remain a servant of sin and as such you cannot be a servant of God.

In verse 9 of our text, Jesus tells us that He will “.. make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie ..” The only way to be a real Jew is to be born again of the Holy Spirit of God. Any other claim to be a Jew is a lie. Jesus has the key and He is the one that opens or closes. He will put you in the proper place according to you works and not according to your claims. Too many people in our time are claiming to be Jews (Christians) and are living like the devil. The devil is not a Jew and his followers are not Jews either.

(Rom 2:28-29 KJV) For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: {29} But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.

If you have not had the circumcision of your heart, then you are not a Jew. Circumcision was the identification mark of the children of God from the time God instructed Abraham to begin the practice. Just because some heathen was circumcised did not make him a literal Jew, even so a heathen that claims a new birth is not a spiritual Jew. The only way to become a spiritual Jew is to be truly born again of the Holy Spirit of God. When you become a spiritual Jew, Jesus sets you free from the bondage of sin. You no longer have to commit sin. Praise be to God!

(John 8:33-47 KJV) They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free? {34} Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin. {35} And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever. {36} If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed. {37} I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you. {38} I speak that which I have seen with my Father: and ye do that which ye have seen with your father. {39} They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham. {40} But now ye seek to kill me, a man that hath told you the truth, which I have heard of God: this did not Abraham. {41} Ye do the deeds of your father. Then said they to him, We be not born of fornication; we have one Father, even God. {42} Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me. {43} Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. {44} Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it. {45} And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. {46} Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? {47} He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God.

As there were those in the time of Christ’s physical ministry claiming to be the Children of Abraham, so are there those today making the same claim. Just because you have been born into a Christian family, or just because you have always gone to church, or just because you have been baptized, or just because your name is on a church ledger does not guarantee that you are a spiritual Jew. The devil has been and continues to work his deception by getting people to feel secure in their claims to be Children of God. The devil is a liar, there is no truth in him, he is the father of lies. The Word of God is truth, Jesus is truth, God is the father of truth. How important is the truth to you today?

(Rom 1:18-32 KJV) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; {19} Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them. {20} For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: {21} Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. {22} Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, {23} And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. {24} Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: {25} Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. {26} For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: {27} And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompense of their error which was meet. {28} And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; {29} Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, {30} Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, {31} Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: {32} Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Holding the truth in unrighteousness brings the wrath of God. Any one that studies the Bible will soon discover that the truth is that God is holy and He expects His children to live holy lives. When you claim to be a Christian and know the truth of what God expects, and continue to live in sin, you deceive yourself and have only the wrath of God to look forward to. We certainly see this darkening of hearts today in our churches. Many have become so darkened that they no longer recognize the truth from the lies of the devil. As a result God is turning many over to the vile sins of the flesh. They are trying to tell us that homosexuality is a result of birth. While the Word of God plainly condemns such action as sin. Even common sense will tell you that homosexuality is no more a result of birth that is being a pedophile, a thief, a murderer or any other such sinful behavior that fills our world. Jesus is setting you in your proper place. His word places the sinner in the synagogue of Satan and the Saint in the Kingdom of God. The only way to keep the Word of God is to live a righteous life.

(Isa 26:1-4 KJV) In that day shall this song be sung in the land of Judah; We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks. {2} Open ye the gates, that the righteous nation which keepeth the truth may enter in. {3} Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. {4} Trust ye in the LORD for ever: for in the LORD JEHOVAH is everlasting strength:

This is one of the great promises of God. Keep the truth, live a righteous life and you will be allowed to enter into the city of God. God will keep you in perfect peace because your mind is fixed on Him. His laws are right and true, He leads into pleasant paths. Keeping His law and trusting in Him brings everlasting strength.

Another promise the Lord makes to the faithful is that because you keep the “.. word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.” This is easy for the Christian to understand because we have learned to keep our mind on the laws of God. We have learned that right thinking brings peace, righteousness and joy to our lives. In so doing temptations lose their power over us. We are still tempted, but because we keep our minds stayed on the Lord, He keeps us from yielding to the temptations. Temptations lose their power in the presence of the Lord.

All people are tempted and without the help of the Lord all will fail. When you keep the Word of God and gain strength by doing what it teaches you, you gain power to overcome the temptations and the Lord makes you a pillar in the temple of God. “I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out ..” The pillars are those that support the building. The temple of God is made up of people that are born again. They are supported by the overcomers. They hold up the truth by the life styles that they live. They live righteous and holy in this present world. They keep the Word of God and they have strength to resist the temptations of the devil.

(1 Tim 3:15 KJV) But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.