Revelation 3:7-13, The Church of Philadelphia complimented

Revelation 3:7-13, The Church of Philadelphia complimented

3:7-13,
7. "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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.
11. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12.  Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him 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 him my new name.
13. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

  Even small can be great. * Israel, Vatican City!
Even small can be complimented. So is the Philadelphia Church. Why was it complimented by Jesus, even though small?

1. Look at Jesus. Verse 7,

 1) The Lord is holy and true.
 2) He has the keys of David. Isaiah 22:22 (Eliakim), Matthew 28:18, All authority. Life and death.
 3) Jesus opened the door(8). He has absolute sovereignty of salvation and death.

2. Jesus' compliments to that church,  Verse 8

 1) Even with little power, it kept His word and did not betray His name.
 * Little boy's obedience-Miracle, * What is your little power? Are you obeying?
 2) It did not betray the name of the Lord by its lips and life.
 3) Open the door to the church, especially the door of evangelism (2 Cor. 2:12; Acts 14: 27-28).

3. Jesus' exhortation. Verse 11.

 1) Hold fast to what you have (Stephen, Paul, etc.)
 2) Do not take away your crown (Esau, King Saul). What do you have? How will you keep your crown?

4. Jesus' blessings to the victor, Verse 10,

 1) I will save (keep, guarding) the time of temptation (the time of God's providence/ purpose).
 John 16:33; Romans 8:37; 1 Corinthians 10:13; Overcome without avoiding!

 2) I will make it the pillar of God's temple. Verse 12,
 *Two pillars of the Solomon's temple,
 *Peter and Paul, two figures from the Roman cathedrals.
 * Safety protection from earthquake anxiety.

 3) Writing a new name (God, Jesus, Jerusalem) (12)

Conclusion /
 Let us all save others' souls and keep our crowns, even through the smallest things that we are received. Let us live in the blessing of being protected by trial, becoming the pillar of the temple, and being written the name of Jesus.