Pleasing Jesus
Revelation 3:7-13
July 3, 2016
I’ve called the study of this 6th church here in the book of the Revelation: “Pleasing Jesus”
By this point in our study you may find that to be a rather curious title.
5 churches into this study and it has almost seemed as though
Pleasing Jesus isn’t an option on the table.
We’ve studied 5 and 4 were not pleasing.
• Pergamum, Thyatira, and Sardis were all threatened with impending
judgment.
• Ephesus was warned that it would no longer be a church.
The only 1 of the 5 who received a positive review was Smyrna,
Whom the Lord commended for being faithful despite the opposition.
But even Smyrna was told that there was more testing to come in the form of tribulation, imprisonment, and death before a final assessment would be made.
The point is that after studying the first 5 churches it can tend to leave one wondering if pleasing Jesus is even possible.
After all, Jesus is the One with lofty expectations.
Ephesians 5:25-27 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless.”
In the Sermon on the Mount He said:
Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
Words like “spotless”, “blameless”, “holy”, “perfect”…
That is obviously a difficult standard.
AND THEN THERE’S US
• We seem to be well aware of our struggles and our short comings.
• We know our weaknesses
• We know where we are prone to fail
• We know about all of our mistakes
So the question is:
In light of our weaknesses and Jesus’ standards, is pleasing Him even possible?
Now to make sure that we don’t get our theological wires crossed
It is important to understand exactly what we are talking about here.
We are NOT talking about obtaining the position
Of being made pleasing to God.
That is called JUSTIFICATION
And that occurs purely by faith alone.
Romans 3:21-24 “But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction; for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus;”
Romans 5:1-2 “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.”
When we place our faith in Jesus Christ,
His righteousness is immediately imputed to our account
And we are declared righteous before God.
That is why Paul could say:
Romans 8:1 “Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.”
So we are not talking about salvation here.
Jesus settled that on the cross. He has made us pleasing to God.
What we are talking about is our manner of life after salvation.
We are declared righteous before God, but it is obvious that
Jesus now wants us to also live in a pleasing manner.
That is we are to now do the things that please Him
And abstain from the things that do not.
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 “Therefore we also have as our ambition, whether at home or absent, to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
Colossians 1:9-10 “For this reason also, since the day we heard of it, we have not ceased to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;”
Ephesians 5:6-10 “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.”
So obviously the goal is to please Him.
And yet after studying Jesus’ evaluation of these first 5 churches
There must be a least a little doubt in our minds
As to whether or not that is even possible.
THAT IS WHY WE LOVE TO STUDY THE CHURCH AT PHILADELPHIA!
They are the church that pleased Jesus.
No more tests
No more trials
Jesus reveals His final verdict and Philadelphia was a pleasing church.
I don’t know what that does for you, but it is highly ENCOURAGING to me
To know that it is possible in this life to live in such a manner
That brings only commendation from Jesus and no correction.
It is encouraging to me to know that it is possible, even in this life,
To live in such a way so as to please Jesus.
Let’s look at this church that pulled it off!
#1 THE CHURCH
Revelation 3:7a
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:”
• The city of Philadelphia was a strategic center for Greek culture.
• It was built as an outpost of sorts.
• It was not a military outpost, but rather a cultural outpost.
It was used a center meant to spread the Greek culture and Hellenism
Throughout Lydia and Phrygia.
In this city was the church at Philadelphia.
They were a church with “a little power”
Their opposition came in the form of “the synagogue of Satan”
Regardless they “kept the word of [Christ’s] perseverance”
LET ME SHOW YOU SOMETHING I FIND INTERESTING
• There is no word of imprisonment…
• There is no word of martyrdom…
• There is no word of present tribulation…
The ONLY THING we know they were dealing with was
A heavy Greek influence and a nagging Jewish presence.
And we realize that not all standing strong has to do with
Enduring physical pain or imprisonment or death.
Philadelphia was a church asked to stand against
The ideals and beliefs of a pagan culture.
It reminds me a little of what Paul told the Corinthians.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6 “For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.”
If you’ll notice the things Paul was fighting were “speculations”
And arguments raised up against “the knowledge of God”.
Paul said he was “taking every thought captive”.
• His warfare was against bad doctrine.
• His battle was against faulty thinking.
• He refused to let what was untrue continue to be proclaimed as truth.
And if you’ll remember, this gets right back to
The heart of the purpose of the church.
1 Timothy 3:15 “but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.”
The church supports the truth.
The church at Philadelphia would fight its battles
Against a culture of error and worldly thinking.
I think this most closely resembles the battles we currently fight.
(Certainly the day of physical tribulation may come)
We fight on a battle ground for truth,
And not just against the obvious heresies of the culture
And things like homosexuality and abortion, etc.
We also live in a nation with an enormous amount of religious influence
And a great deal of it is wrong.
Even much of what is considered to be evangelical Christianity.
And this seems to be the battle Philadelphia was fighting as well.
The Church
#2 THEIR LORD
Revelation 3:7b
“He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:”
HOW DOES JESUS REVEAL HIMSELF TO PHILADELPHIA?
Unlike the other 5, Jesus doesn’t draw from the chapter 1 revelation.
They get a special revelation
“He who is holy”
Holy is a title reserved for God.
Isaiah 6:3 “And one called out to another and said, “Holy, Holy, Holy, is the LORD of hosts, The whole earth is full of His glory.”
And so it is significant that it is a title used of Jesus.
A terrified demon screamed.
Mark 1:24 “saying, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
Peter proclaimed
John 6:69 “We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.”
Jesus is the Holy One.
This implies His deity and His ABSOLUTE FAITHFULNESS in judgment.
A holy God does not tolerate sin.
A holy God does not let it slide.
The implication from Jesus is that
I am the One who does not let sin go unpunished.
No one who deserves punishment will skip it.
Romans 2:9-11 “There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, but glory and honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God.”
Jesus also reveals Himself as:
“He…who is true”
Not only will He Faithfully Judge,
HE WILL ACCURATELY JUDGE.
John 7:24 “Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Jesus certainly did this.
John 5:30 “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I do not seek My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me.”
John 8:16 “But even if I do judge, My judgment is true; for I am not alone in it, but I and the Father who sent Me.”
His judgments are always right
And He will most certainly enforce them.
I’m not thinking that Philadelphia would have been necessarily
Set at ease by these two attributes of Jesus here.
And He continues…
“who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one will open.”
This speaks of His authority
Any time you come across the word “key”
It is a term that indicates authority or control.
Earlier we read that Jesus had “the keys of death and Hades”, indicating that He has authority over death, He has control over it.
HERE HE HAS THE POWER TO OPEN AND CLOSE THE KINGDOM.
Isaiah 43:13 “Even from eternity I am He, And there is none who can deliver out of My hand; I act and who can reverse it?”
Not only that, but “the key of David” was a unique term.
It is taken from Isaiah 22.
Isaiah 22:20-22 “Then it will come about in that day, That I will summon My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah, And I will clothe him with your tunic And tie your sash securely about him. I will entrust him with your authority, And he will become a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. “Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.”
• In Isaiah 22 we find a man named Eliakim who was given the “key of the house of David”,
• This would have been the key to David’s treasure house.
• It was the treasure accumulated from David up to the time of Hezekiah and dispensing of that treasure fell under the authority of Eliakim.
Jesus here is referencing His authority or control to that kingdom.
He controls the entrance to the kingdom
John 14:6 “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.”
He controls the blessings of the kingdom
Ephesians 1:3 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,”
The implication here from Jesus is getting pretty clear.
• I am the Holy Judge who never lets anything slide.
• I am the true One who always judges accurately.
• I have all the authority to enforce My judgments
• My judgments will never be overruled
• And I have the keys indicating that everyone must go through me.
That’s a pretty terrifying way to introduce Himself.
Jesus just revealed Himself as the Only Judge
Who is always holy and always true.
What must be coming next?
#3 THEIR EVALUATION
Revelation 3:8-10
Their evaluation is full of the things they were doing well.
• (Vs. 8) – “I know your deeds.”
• (Vs. 8) – “you have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
• (Vs. 10) – “you have kept the word of My perseverance.”
And Jesus seemed to be most impressed by their perseverance
Because He understood how difficult it was for them to do those things.
(Vs. 8) “Because you have a little power”
If you’re paying attention we are really RUNNING TO THE EXTREMES when we look at these churches.
• We’ve seen a church that had conviction but had no love (Ephesus)
• We’ve seen a church that had love but no conviction (Pergamum)
• Smyrna was a church that looked poor, but was really rich.
• Laodicea is a church that looks rich, but is really poor.
• Thyatira and Sardis had earthly power, but no endurance
• Philadelphia has a little power and they never quit.
They are impressive.
He’s not calling them weak here or making fun of them,
Jesus is merely pointing out that from an outward appearance
They did not have the things that most people would look for
When looking for a strong or powerful church.
• Maybe a poor congregation with few resources
• Maybe a small congregation with little manpower
• Maybe an isolated congregation with little support
WHATEVER THEIR WEAKNESS, IT DIDN’T STOP THEM
It reminds us of that statement from Paul:
2 Corinthians 12:10 “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.”
And Jesus was impressed with this church.
You want something even more impressive?
THERE IS NO WORD OF CRITICISM FOR THIS CHURCH
And that’s really saying something since we just learned that
Jesus is the Holy and True Judge who doesn’t let anything slide.
Does that mean they were perfect or sinless? No
• But in the place where Jesus had put them
• And regarding the mission Jesus had asked of them
• They fulfilled it exactly as Jesus had instructed.
He has no criticism for this church.
(and this wasn’t just one individual in the church, this was the whole church!)
It encourages me to know that pleasing Jesus is possible.
It encourages me to know that it is possible for the Lord
To look at our church and say, “Well Done”.
THAT MEANS PHILADELPHIA HADN’T FAILED WHERE THE OTHERS DID.
• Philadelphia did not struggle with their love for Jesus (Ephesus)
• Philadelphia did not struggle with their conviction for truth (Pergamum)
• Philadelphia did not struggle with endurance (Smyrna)
• Philadelphia did not struggle with dangerous influences (Pergamum, Thyatira)
• Philadelphia did not struggle with worldliness (Thyatira)
• Philadelphia did not struggle with true spiritual life (Sardis)
And we know that because those are all things
Jesus criticized the other churches for struggling with.
And the Holy and True Judge
Would have most certainly criticized them for it as well.
They held fast His name
They maintained their love
They refuted error
Jesus has no criticism for the church at Philadelphia.
WHAT A WONDERFUL AND ENCOURAGING TRUTH
WHAT DOES IT TAKE TO PLEASE GOD?
Hebrews 11:32-40 And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets, who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. Women received back their dead by resurrection; and others were tortured, not accepting their release, so that they might obtain a better resurrection; and others experienced mockings and scourgings, yes, also chains and imprisonment. They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy), wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes in the ground. And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised, because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect.”
• God is not looking for a strong church
• God is not looking for a wealthy church
• GOD IS LOOKING FOR A FAITHFUL CHURCH
PHILADELPHIA IS PRAISED BECAUSE THEY TRUSTED GOD.
“Little ones to Him belong, they are weak, but He is strong.”
Matthew 17:20 “And He said to them, “…for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.”
Because they had little power, but great faith…
“Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one will shut.”
I HAVE OPENED WIDE THE KINGDOM TO YOU.
And all the blessings therein!
AND…
“I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie – I will make them come and bow at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.”
That “synagogue of Satan” were more of those false followers of God.
You’ll remember they were in Smyrna as well.
They were Jews, and they had synagogue, but they didn’t really love God.
Imagine the ridicule they dished out to this church in Philadelphia
• Both claimed to be God’s people.
• Both claimed to be true followers of God.
• Both claimed to be the ones that God was pleased with.
I’m sure the hostility was real,
And here Jesus said, “I’m going to settle the debate!”
I’m going to “make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.”
Imagine if everyone who ever maligned you for Christ sake,
All of a sudden came to you in repentance,
And desired to trust Christ and serve Him alongside of you.
Not only that, but…
“I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
MANY SEE THIS AS A PROMISE THAT THE CHURCH WILL SKIP THE GREAT TRIBULATION. (I have no problem with that).
HOWEVER, WE ARE TRYING TO EVALUATE THE CHURCH
Do you remember why Smyrna was promised persecution?
“for your testing”
It is important to know who is real, and who is not.
AT WHAT POINT DO YOU STOP TESTING?
Once a person has adequately exhibited they can pass the test.
WHATEVER PHILADELPHIA’S TEST,
THEY HAD PASSED IT, AND HAD NO NEED TO TAKE IT AGAIN.
PHILADELPHIA HAD LITTLE POWER, BUT WERE STRONG.
THEY HAD ENORMOUS FAITH, AND PASSED THE TEST.
#4 THEIR EXPECTATION
Revelation 3:11
Notice there is no further expectation.
There is no change that needs to be made.
Jesus simply tells them to keep on keeping on!
“hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
The implication here isn’t that they are competing with other churches for the prize and they need to make sure some other church doesn’t pass them in the end.
The implication is that they don’t give in to the tempter and somehow disqualify themselves now.
Remember the Galatians?
Galatians 5:7-8 “You were running well; who hindered you from obeying the truth? This persuasion did not come from Him who calls you.”
Remember what the writer of Hebrews said?
Hebrews 12:1-2 “Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Remember what Paul said about his own ministry?
1 Corinthians 9:26-27 “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
The church in Philadelphia had run well.
• They had jumped many hurdles, and crossed many dangers.
• They had passed every test.
• And the hard part is behind them.
But the race is not quite over
They simply need to keep on the path and finish strong.
I’m reminded of a statement made by a Scottish preacher.
“Keep this in mind from an old man. There is no finality to the Christian life, this side of eternity.”
That was his way of saying there is no such thing as Christian retirement.
You don’t get to just stop because you think you’re time is over.
It is true that your ministry may change.
Even in Scripture a young woman has a different ministry than an older woman
And a young man has a different calling than an older man.
But neither are told to just quit.
You’ve run a good race, you’ve completed your trials, you’ve passed your tests,
Now just keep running strong.
BE FAITHFUL.
Philippians 3:7-16 “But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.”
That’s it, just keep running.
#5 THEIR EXAMPLE
Revelation 3:12-13
“He who overcomes”
There again we ask, “overcomes what?”
What did Philadelphia overcome?
They had “a little power”
• What is your weakness?
• What is it that makes you think you can’t move forward?
• Moses stuttered
• David was the youngest of his brothers
• Paul was formerly a blasphemer and violent aggressor and later a thorn in the flesh
• James and John were judgmental
• Peter had a propensity to be too impulsive
• Thomas was a pessimist
• Zacchaeus was a wee little man
• Martin Luther struggled with guilt
• Charles Spurgeon struggled with depression
Everyone has those things that threaten them and make them feel inadequate and tempt them to retire and sit on the sidelines.
(And granted some of them are bigger than others, I would pretend like they aren’t)
But regardless of what that weakness is,
Or that area where you have “a little power”
To overcome is to be faithful anyway.
Jesus told Philadelphia, “you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
You didn’t disobey Me and you didn’t deny Me
Even though it didn’t feel like you had a lot to work with at times.
And can I remind you again that Jesus didn’t have one single word of criticism for this church?
Don’t make too much of your limitations and weaknesses.
Just be faithful even though you have them.
Overcome the temptations and accusations of the enemy
Who says you are unworthy or unable or unusable.
What did Peter teach us?
2 Peter 1:5-8 “Now for this very reason also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In short, be faithful.
You are useful despite your limitations.
And if you overcome…
“I will make them a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore.”
THEY CANNOT BE SHAKEN
THEY CANNOT BE MOVED
THEY “will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”
“I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God.”
WHAT DOES A CHILD DO WITH A BELOVED POSSESSION?
WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR LUGGAGE?
YOU WRITE YOUR NAME ON IT
IF YOU OVERCOME, YOU WILL BE MINE,
AND WILL BE WITH ME FOREVER.
Learn from the church at Philadelphia:
• He doesn’t ask us to be rich
• He doesn’t ask us to be large
• He doesn’t ask us to be talented
• He doesn’t ask us to be powerful
• HE ASKS US TO BE FAITHFUL
Think of some of the most notable commendations Jesus gave in the Bible.
• We have the Centurion who simply believed Jesus had authority.
Jesus said, I haven’t found faith like that in all of Israel.
• We have the woman who brought the alabaster vile.
Jesus said, wherever the gospel is recorded, I’m including this story.
• We have the woman who gave the two pennies
Jesus singled her out for giving all she had
• We have the Syrophonecian woman with a demon possessed daughter
Jesus said there wasn’t faith like that anywhere in Israel
Jesus was always commending those
Who seemed the weakest and least useful.
And yet He continually had rebukes for those with power.
JESUS LOVES A FAITHFUL CHURCH
This may not be the attributes by which the world evaluates a church,
But it is the attribute by which Jesus evaluates the church.
AND JESUS IS PLEASED.
