Lord’s Day, Vol. 11 No. 39
Behold, An Open Door!
Revelation 3:8 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.
Fitting words of commendation from our Lord that the church may be strengthened to keep looking to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith, the One that opens the doors of witness.
For when Jesus opens those doors, there’s no man who can shut them. And, if Jesus shuts those doors, there’s no man that can open them.
Behold, I have set before an open door – a statement of truth that our Lord Jesus is presenting before His people. Not just to see but behold! Hold your attention to see what the Lord has done.
The word “set” is the verb “to give”. As it is in all things pertaining to life, it is God that first giveth. And the verb is what is called in the original the “perfect tense”. The perfect is the tense of complete action.
It views the action as a finished product and presents the picture of one at the top of the hill taking a backward look at the climb or of a runner who having run the race glances backward again. Such a person is pictured as looking back from the standpoint of one who has finished and completed the race and having completed it in the past, it is the results that are continuing.
This is the nature of the work of the gospel. The church is impacting lives for eternity. What a great privilege for the service God has given to the church! The church therefore must not forget, that it is appropriate to come in thanksgiving toward our good God.
Let the Lord put that gladness in your heart to rejoice to see His goodness toward you as the psalmist did in Psalm 118:23 This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.
Two thoughts:
- Dependence, Faithful (v8a)
- Dependable, Faithfulness (v8b)
- Dependence, Faithful (v8a)
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,
Why did God open this door of service for the church? Recall the great joy when the church first received the news that the Registry of Societies has given the approval for the beginning of Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church.
As the Apostle Paul said in Romans 13:1 Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Without any approval from the authorities, you cannot function and exist as a church. It is thus from the sovereign hand of God.
Our text says “… for thou hast a little strength”.
This is the first mark of a living and thriving church. God has given them the opportunity of service by opening the door of salvation to people who will come through the doors of this church.
Jesus alone is the Head of the Church, He alone can extend the ministry of this faithful church, “….I will build My church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it” (Matthew 16:18).
The word “strength” is the word that describes the dynamite power of God. This is the outworking of the Holy Spirit in the believer’s life as he yields, and submits to the leading of the Holy Spirit in obedience to God’s Word. This dynamite power was manifested through the Holy Spirit in Acts 1:8 that enabled the Christian to witness, and in the gospels.
It is translated “miracle” to describe the supernatural manifestation of God’s power. This is the word translated “virtue” when the woman who had an issue of blood touched Jesus and was healed. This is the power that Jesus gave to His disciples over devils and cure diseases. This is the power that when Jesus said to Peter “let down your nets for a draught” and he obeyed and caught a whole net full. This is the power that sustains the breath in our nostrils.
With Jesus, battles are swift and simple. He said it and it was done. He says wind be still, and the raging storm stops. This is the God who is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and is the Saviour that we proclaim!
And notice that Christ described the members of the church in Philadelphia as having little strength. This is the mark of the true Christian – a humbleness of heart that brings with it spiritual power. Spiritual power is flowing through that church, transforming lives. Did not our Lord say at the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount when He gave the marks of a true Christian? He has a poverty of spirit and he mourns for his sins
But it is acknowledged that the strength of this church is little. In that it has to constantly to be in touch with the Lord for Him to fill us.
Spurgeon made a good observation concerning our spiritual need when he wrote commenting on Psalm 42:1 “As the hart panteth after the water brooks...” describing how Christians need to be coming to God periodically, continually to be filled with a little strength. This is the verb “hath” describing a continual action.
“A camel does not pant after water brooks, because it carries its own water within. But the hart does, because it has no inward resources. After being hunted on a hot day, it has no inward supplies; it is drained of its moisture. So are we. We do not carry a store of grace within of our own on which we can rely. We need to come again and again and again to the divine fountain and drink of the eternal spring. Hence it is because we have a new life, and that life is dependent on God, and has all its fresh springs in Him, therefore we pant and thirst after Him.”
Even with little resources and want of gifted men, in the smallest of congregations, the Lord delights to use despised ones for His glory – But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in His presence.” (1 Corinthians 1:27-29) This is the mark of a thriving church, a sense of dependence upon God that brings spiritual power.
And how can the church continue to have that “little endowment of strength from the Lord”, it is by feeding upon His Word for nourishment and strength on a daily basis.
(2) Dependable, Faithfulness (v8b)
Why did God set an open door for the church in Philadelphia?
“for.. thou..hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”
“Thou hast kept my word”. The second mark of a thriving church. Her obedience to Christ. The believers at Philadelphia were also marked by obedience.
It is fitting to say at this juncture that the name Philadelphia means “brotherly love”. A little background of this church. Though located at an elevation of 800 feet, it was not a military outpost like Thyatira but was the centre for trade and the spread of Greek culture, being located at the junction of several important trade routes bordering regions Mysia, Lydia and Phrygia. It is called the “gateway to the East”. And so, it was located in a prime location of gospel opportunity and missionary endeavours! It is also a danger zone because it is located near active volcanoes and earthquakes, the land is fertile but the people are on their toes all the time, ready to evacuate.
This city worships many gods. It is known for its idolatry and was nicknamed “little Athens” because of the abundance of pagan temples. Many pagan temples in Biblical times among which the principal deity was Dionysus, the god of wine. Perhaps from the fertile ground, many wineries were located there.
Despite all the temptations and gross pageantry that surrounded this church, they kept Christ’s words, speaking of their obedience and submission.
John 14:23 Jesus said, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. 24 He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.
As the Apostle Paul would put it in Romans 8:
Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness? 17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you. 18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
This is the life of yielding, cleaving, leaning, and
blessing. They were bound to Scripture. They will not deviate from it. This is the joy of everyone that preaches the Word of God, nothing is more encouraging than to have people who will hear it and obey it.
7 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;
The messenger sent by our Lord has arrived in Philadelphia handing to them the report of their spiritual health.
It is interesting that our Lord described Himself as holy and true – God being holy does not tolerate sin and God being true does not tolerate error. How can anyone stand before a holy and true God? It is expected therefore the members to falter and tremble before the Thrice holy God as the prophet Isaiah did at the throne room of God. God judges sin for what sin is.
How Isaiah trembled as he recalled how King Uzziah died for intruding into the priest’s office to offer sacrifices before God, dying a leper. This is the holy and true God who is speaking. Rebuke is expected to come along but instead, what came was commendation! This is very intriguing. What is the secret of strength in this church? What distinguished them so that even the holy and true God accepted them? Not only is God described as holy and true. He is described as having sovereign authority, having the key of David that opens a door that no man can shut and shuts a door that no man can open.
This is a phrase that the prophet Isaiah spoke of in Isaiah 22:2 of God’s servant Eliakim, the son of Hilkiah (Isaiah 22:20) having the key to all the treasures of the king. He was the one who could open up the door and let people into the treasure. He had the authority over the royal treasury, or he could lock it up and keep it in. The key of David is the key over royal riches. Eliakim has authority over David’s treasure house, just as Christ has authority over His church. Eliakim has the key to the treasury of David’s house just as our Lord alone is able to open the way of salvation to sinners and open the treasure house of blessing to any whom He pleases.
Isaiah 22:22 And the key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open.
Then comes a description of what makes this a living and thriving church. And there was no judgment coming but God is pronouncing future blessings upon this church. God is giving them an open door of opportunity for service that no man can shut. Why should this church deserve such honour? How was this church worthy in the sight of a holy God? It cannot be that the people there were without sin? There are no perfect churches. But it was a place where people were aware of their weaknesses but the people sought the strength and grace of God to fill their lives.
2 Timothy 2:19-22 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity. But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work. Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.
We observe that thou “hast not denied my name”, they were loyal to Jesus Christ, they did not deny Christ’s name, no matter what it would cost them. They were focused on preaching Christ and Him only! Christ was exalted and magnified in their midst. They were faithful in spite of threats from the Jewish community that denied the Deity of Christ. Verse 9 tells us.
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.
This phrase, “the synagogue of Satan,” (v9) may be an indication of a significant threat to them from apostate Judaism, as in Smyrna (Revelation 2:9).
10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience – Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, this church persevered faithfully through all the trials and difficulties, there is that steadfastness in their faith that was able to endure, a steadfast endurance.
Because they had a humbleness of heart that brings with it spiritual power, obedient and loyal and steadfast in their faith in the face of trials. God has set before them an open door, a ministry of reconciliation where may sinners to Christ in salvation. What a great blessing this church is experiencing!
Faith means Bible Doctrine. The faith is based on the Words of God. If we have a wrong copy of the Hebrew, Aramaic and Greek Words, we cannot keep the faith. That is what we have in our English King James Bible.
Paul said I have fought a good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith (2 Timothy 4:7).
This is the commendation for this church in Philadelphia.
1 Peter 5:4 And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.
Believers in this church will be honoured. They will be pillars perhaps alluding to the custom in Philadelphia of honouring a magistrate or philanthropist by placing a great pillar with his name inscribed on it in one of the temples. A pillar is stable, permanent, immovable, continuance, a description of honour. A place where there is permanence, eternal, secure. Believers will be so honoured in the temple of God which is heaven, the glorious dwelling place of God, and permanently – “and he shall not go out.”
Revelation 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. 8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
…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.
The promise is security forever in heaven and a relationship with God. He will be a citizen of heaven – that’s the meaning of the writing of the name. They are to hold fast, to continue to be faithful as they are doing now.
13 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.
May Christ’s church be faithful till He comes. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee