In his letter to Philadelphia. Chapter three and verse seven going down through verse thirteen. To the angel of the church in Philadelphia. Write these things that 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. I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door. No man can shut it, for thou est a little strength. Thou est kept my word. Thou est not denied my name. 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. because thou hast kept the word of my patience. I also will keep thee from the hour of trial or trouble which shall come upon all the world, to try then that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly. Hold that fast which thou hast, that no man takes thy crown. Him that come, 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. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit said unto the churches, May the Lord bless the reading and the hearing of this precious portion of his words. May I particularly emphasize the preciousness of this letter written by John the Apostle, dictated by the Lord Jesus himself, relative to the church conditions prevailing from the beginning of the church to the end when the Lord Jesus will come again. It's a wonderful thing to realize. The Blessed Lord Jesus, and may I point out, in every one of these letters, you've got two words. In fact, you can say four, where the Lord Jesus says to each one, I know, I know, I know, usually express, I know thy word. you don't need to tell him about yourself he knows more about you than you know yourself and wanted a joy to have him say to each one I know and to Philadelphia he doesn't speak of many things of anything special that they do but he does say I know thy words and their words of appreciation without question or doubt but I want you to notice the three things in this particularly in the eighth verse note the three things the Lord Jesus said this company of believers add which they possess three particular characteristics telling to him what they were to which are first of all right in the center of the verse thou hast a little strength in contrast to those that were around Laodicea with its magnificence, Sardis with its stiff formalism, Taitira with its great pretension of being the teacher to the world, as well as even Pergamot, being a worldly church. Here was a little company of whom the Lord Jesus said, Thou hast, numerically, I believe he was speaking outwardly, Not inwardly. He speaks of that later. Outwardly, thou hast a little strength. And in contrast to that which was around in the profession of Christianity, they were very few. They may not go further. What he is saying, you evidently are very weak. But the Lord doesn't despise. I think of the words of the prophet Zechariah. For Zechariah was living in a day, very similar to ours. When the testimony of the Lord and the rebuilding of the house of God under Zechariah in his day, under Ezra, Nehemiah, Haggai, Zechariah, contemporaries, they were building the house of the Lord, but they were being ridiculed. Nevertheless, the prophet wrote, Who hath despised the day of small things? And may I say very frankly, the Lord Jesus doesn't despise small things. The Lord Jesus doesn't despise small companies. No, he prizes them. And may I go further to see why? Though they had a little strength, note the second thing he declares they have. Thou hast kept my word I want to tell you something that I've enjoyed tonight taking the Lord's Supper in obedience to my Lord I do know what you think of it to me it's the most important responsibility I find I have in relation to my Savior As I think of him saying, and I quote the words now, First Corinthians chapter eleven, verse twenty-six, For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do show, you announce, you proclaim by the very doing of it, the Lord's death till he comes. And here is one feature. Did I fully believe Philadelphia was carrying out? Well, in fact, what we have before us, the expression, thou has kept my words, is even more comprehensive, completely comprehensive in all places of their responsibility. And it included, without question or doubt, remember me till I come back. Do this until I come. Now let me give you the talk. In Luke's Gospel, the Lord Jesus also told his disciples another responsibility which our brother has brought before us in our hymns tonight. Service. And I know two scriptures. The Lord Jesus tells his servant, Occupy, serve me till I come. And the Lord Jesus tells his children, remember me in the breaking of the bread and the drinking of the cup till I come and I suggest obey them both obey them both till he comes and here is a compliment excuse me a compliment from the Lord thou wast kept you've observed you've cherished My word. Oh my beloved fellow believer, how the Lord Jesus longed and desires and encourages as well as exhausts us. Keep my word. Go with me to John's Gospel, chapter fourteen for just a moment quickly. Let me know two verses of scripture in this wonderful fourteenth of John. On the occasion when the Lord was together with his disciples for the last time, before Gethsemane and Calvary and may I read verse twenty-one with you and read verse twenty-three please note them very carefully may I suggest we find that lovely hymn what a beautiful hymn channels only and what joy it is when you and I yield ourselves to be his channels now note the words He that hath my commandments then keepeth men. He it is that loveth me. And he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father. I will love him and will manifest myself to him. Would you please note, it's the one who in obedience, loving him, cherishes and obeys his word. Look at verse twenty-three, if a contemporary verse. Jesus answered and said unto Judas, not Judas Iscariot, if a man loved me, he will keep my words. And my father will love him. We will come unto him and make our resolve with him. Now I commend to you, it is the evidence of loving the Lord Jesus when we obey his word. And may I suggest, I just take those two thoughts, many things could be added to both of them. whether worship or service. But here are the two thoughts. As often as ye eat this bread and drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till he come. Remember him till he comes back. And then as you have it in Luke's gospel, occupy, meaning in service, till I come. And thus you have the joy of the Lord in the Philadelphia testimony. I know you're not many. I know you're a feeble group, but thou hast kept, you have cherished, you have been seeking to obey my word. Know the third thing. Thou hast not only kept my word, thou hast not denied my name. In other words, may I give the suggestion, you've not denied my authority over you. That blessed name is a name of authority. The Lord Jesus Christ. Much sometimes is made concerning the Lordship of Christ. May I give you the thought. Don't think that he's your Lord unless you're obeying his word. Acknowledging him. He is the Lord Jesus Christ. Thou hast not denied my name. And may I point out again. disindicate not merely the knowing of his name the bearing of his name but the obedience to the authority of that precious name now they give me a let me give you another sample of it whatsoever ye shall ask in my name said the Lord Jesus I will do it in other words even in relation to prayer you and I have to pray and make the petition making sure what we're asking with God is authority for the purpose for which we are seeking to have him answer and one of the greatest desires of the heart in prayer is to know I'm asking according to his will and for his glory with his authority not denying his name but confessing it and bowing to his authority. Let me just repeat quickly. Here are three precious facts that he saw relation to the company of Philadelphia and thou hast a little strength but thou hast not, thou hast kept my word and third thou hast not denied my name. My fellow believer, can I give you this thought? I need it, and by God's grace I've tried to practice it. It's the Lord Jesus whose authority should be over every one of us. Can I repeat that? Did not the Lord Jesus say, when upon the earth to his disciples, One is your master, all ye of reverence? And I would like to put before you very forcefully, my beloved believer, you be sure you're doing what he wants you to do. Don't do what I tell you to do, unless I'm giving you what he says you should do. How we can recognize, I'm very frankly saying, I've had some preachers tell me when going to a city, the preacher, I think a one in this town in this state, when I went to preach for a week of meeting, I went to visit a certain preacher. I knew his father well. And as I chatted with him and told him I was in the city to have some special meeting, the preacher told me what not to preach about. Well, I tell you, I should look at him. I said, you've got no right to tell me what I should preach. Oh, I'm just going to let him tell me. Who is my master? My beloved. And I say very frankly, what to God that every Christian was serving that master as they are. Everything could go a lot better. One master, not denying his authority. But go further. Lovely things in the chapter. I want you to go down in verse ten with me. In verse nine he speaks of those that are the synagogue of the... In other words, what he reveals in verse nine, he says, you've got some folks that don't even like you. They're against you. My beloved, let me please say this, and this is true. If you obey the Lord Jesus, you're not going to please men. Do not fall right. If I please God, I cannot please man. Make up your mind. Are you going to please God or are you going to please man? And let me please. Don't make this father an exception either. I'm not going to tell you what you should do. I can only preach the word. But your responsibility is to please him. And there were some that objected. as well as maligned and spoke against it. Not necessarily that they were Jewish. They said they were Jewish. What they were doing, they had other things to preach about that was opposing the true gospel and the true teaching of the Word of God. But now please I want you to note at the end of that ninth verse, I will make them come and worship before thy feet and show them I've loved thee. Let me ask you the question. Wouldn't you rather wait, no matter what they say about you, because you're loving the Lord and you're serving the Lord, wouldn't you rather wait for the Lord Jesus to prove someday? I love those people. And may I say this, we have noted a text that said we should love him. Now here's the text that says, look, if you do what I ask you to do, no matter what opposition you find, I'll love you. I show them I have loved thee. Please may I ask, I value the love of all my fellow believers. I cannot tell how much it means to me to have the saints love me. But let me ask you the question. Isn't it greater? Isn't it far greater to know that I can live and should live that he might love me? and enjoy me and manifest his love to me because of my obedience to him. So God granted. But now note the promise in verse ten. A lovely promise. Because thou wast kept the word of my patience. Now let's pause and reflect. What's he mean? Keeping the word of his patience. Let me go with you to the first, I think it's first or maybe second Thessalonians. But you look with me at the verse in Thessalonians, if you please. It might be even in the first epistle, chapter five. No, I think it's there. No, it's in the second epistle, please. It's chapter three in verse five. And I want you to note this prayer the apostle makes for the Thessalonians. Chapter three of the second epistle in verse five. The Lord directs your hearts into the love of God and into the patient waiting for Christ. Let me repeat it again and I'll quote it as it ought to be in its proper translation. The Lord directs your hearts into the love of God and directs your hearts into the patience of Christ. Now let me raise the question, what is Christ waiting for? what is he with patience waiting for well beloved I believe and I know he's waiting to come again he's waiting for the time when he will fulfill John fourteen in verse three the wonderful truth I will come again and receive you unto myself that where I am there ye may be also and my beloved I must say that many of us today are longing we're waiting we're anxious we desire earnestly that the Lord would come and all the problems of life and this world will be over forever how long has the Lord been waiting in patience and Paul prayed not only to direct our hearts into that love of God but into the patience of Christ. Now go back to our text in Revelation. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience. Meaning, Lord, we too are waiting for you to come. We are waiting for your coming. We long to see you. And we are waiting. And we are told to wait. Looking for that blessed hope. And the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. And patiently we wait for him to come. We may be feeble. We do try to keep his word. We seek to bow to his authority. But, oh, we wait for that moment when he said he would come again and will. And because, keeping his patience, here's the promise. I also will keep thee out of the hour of trouble, of specific time of trouble. And if you know, please, which shall come upon all the world. May I add very emphatically, this whole world is headed for trouble. Trouble that has never been known like it before, in all human history. All you need to do is read the words of Jesus in Matthew twenty-four. There shall be great tribulations such as was never in the world before. And unless those days shall be limited, all flesh will be destroyed. And I say very humbly, but I say very forcefully, according to the word of God, the world is headed for the greatest trouble it has ever known. I'd like to ask you to consider that. May I point out to you The world has its political problems. They can never settle them. They never will. They'll become worse on the sin of Satan and its power and its authority. The world has its moral problems, if you please. And those moral problems are getting worse. Let me give you a scripture, please, from Revelation, if I may, chapter nine. And I want you to note that you, God in the world right now, that is troubling even our nation. The false prevailing moral sin. And they are mounting up, bringing that day of judgment that will come upon all the world. Chapter nine of Revelation. Let me read the last verse. Where you have one of the judgments of God that is yet to come upon the world. And following it, you've got this confession that John writes by the Spirit. And may I point out, eighteen hundred years ago or more, John the Apostle wrote, What you and I are seeing before our eyes and hearing with our ears today. The moral, four prevailing moral sins at the end of the age. Note then. Neither repented they of their murders. Number one, multiplicity of murders. I often refrain today turning on the news. Frankly, in my own city, it's terribly every day there's a murder. And very frankly, one never knows who's going to be murdered. the multiplicity of murders. Is not that in an indication of the near end of the age? Not the next word. Neither do they repent of their sorceries. Now that word sorceries in the Greek word we get our pharmakutic. The word pharmakutic, pharmakium in the Greek. And you know what it means? Literally in the Greek word it means drug addiction. Drug addiction. You know how prominent it is. Hearing some newscast, I was surprised and amazed as I listened and I decided to know what was going on in the way of drug addiction as they broadcasted a two-hour session. And I listened carefully and amazed that in our own country, sixty percent of all the drugs in the world are brought into the United States. John told it eighteen hundred years ago. It's been a while. And then third, the word fornication. Promiscuous sexuality. And beloved, you're seeing it. And unfortunately, too many are hearing it. And it's abounding. And then last of all, you've got sex. Stealing it. Who can measure it? I tell you one thing. What you and I buy in the stores today we pay a lot for because people are stealing. Everything that's stolen in merchandise today goes on your bill and mine, increases the price of the commodity. And yet there's some people stealing by the millions. Trouble? Judgment? But go back to our verse in Revelation three. I'm glad I'm staying. Here's the promise. When that day of judgment comes, I'll keep you out of it. I'll take you out of it. Not keep you through it. It doesn't mean that. I'll take you out of it. When it comes upon all the world to try them that dwell on the earth. Am I glad I'm saved? For when the Lord Jesus comes, thank God. with all that are raised from the graves and the living that are changed, will rise up together to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. My, what a blessed promise. My. Again, every reminder, from Matthew twenty-four, verse fifteen, and on through, the Lord Jesus plainly stated, at the end of the age, there would be a time of trouble unprecedented in human history. And if it were not for the elect's sake, those who would belong to him during that period and what trouble they'll have to go through and suffer for his sake. Yet if it were not for them, the whole world would be destroyed. Everyone would perish. But I say again, my brother, my sister, please, Remember the Lord's coming for reason. And as we saw this morning in chapter four, the Lord will say, Come up with us. And thank God we'll be in heaven looking down instead of looking up. Looking down. I'd rather be up there looking down than down here looking up to see what's coming down on me in the day of judgment. Oh, you know, you know, if I wasn't saved, I'd run as fast as I could to the Savior tonight. And they love saving. And thank God he's willing to save. Which of God many was seeking while they can. Now please notice we go to the end. Verse eleven. And please know what he says. Look. Oh he says to this little company. Look. I'm coming. And when I'm coming, I'm coming quickly. I come quickly. And they know what he exhorts. hold that hat which thou hast that no man takes thy crown what did they have we have it in verse nine or verse eight they have a little strength they kept his word they kept his authority and not denied it hold it for he said you'll get a reward don't let anyone rob you of your crown I don't know the name of this crown. All I can see from the words of the Lord Jesus is, look, though you've got layered sphere around you, you've got sardines, you've got fire timer and purgament, those great places. Now listen. I value you because of your love for one another. I value you because you're seeking to enjoy me, my holy person, my faithful person. I value you because you're listening to my word and seeking to obey and following that word and by authority. Holy Facts. And when I come, I'll reward you. Don't let anyone take your crown away. Oh, my beloved, made you and I realize, I said, please, I'm coming quickly. Meaning it'll be pardoned. Let me give you what Paul wrote in Corinthians fifteen. He will come in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last drop. The dead shall be raised, incorruptible, and we that are alive shall be changed. Call us together to meet the Lord in the air. In a moment. quickly you got in chapter twenty twenty two look in the last chapter in the in the revelation please note with me these words I want you to see what the Lord says back in the last chapter regarding its coming look at verse seven behold I come quickly look at verse twelve behold I come quickly and my reward is with me and so on look at the end of it in verse twenty surely I come quickly My beloved, when he comes, he's coming in a hurry. And when I leave, and when you leave, my fellow brother and sister, we're going in a hurry too. You know, there's one thing I'm sure of this. When the Lord comes, he's going to get all of his people. Many years ago, I recalled his home. we had a little get together in the little chapel we had before it was then large and we had it was at the Christmas season and on one Sunday evening before we had our service we had a little luncheon together with friends that gathered together and I remember one of the young men came to me and said brother John isn't it nice to see all the Christians here tonight together they're all here and I looked at him and I said see you know what if you want to get all the Christians together give them some to eat they'll come and he said I said there's another occasion they'll all have to go when the rapture comes they got to go we shall be caught up together oh my beloved please let me say we shall all be caught up together I want to tell you I'll be glad when that occasion comes all the Christians Even the ones that may disagree with you. They'll be there too. And you'll be there. And we'll all be just... I like the word together. We'll be together forever. We'll be together in heart. We'll be together in mind. We'll be together with Christ forevermore. Now, may I say frankly, it's going to take the coming of the Lord as several all that we... trying to settle ourselves and don't know how to do it. He'll do it. And oh, the blessed promise. But oh, take his exhortation. Behold, I come quickly. Oh, that hath which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Now know what he says in verse twelve. Oh, the joy of seeing what he promises. Things that overcome us. And I suppose if you've read these seven letters you've noted it. Every letter speaks about a person overcoming. Now may I give you the clue? The Lord speaks to every individual in each of these seven churches. Even though the church collectively may not be what it should be. The Lord says, Look, he that has an ear. Let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. And so he addresses the whole letter to the whole congregation before he ends every letter. Is anyone, is anyone believer listening? Is there anyone who's got an ear listening to what I'm saying? And the one who hears what he says and obeys what he desires is the one who will be the overcomer. overcoming the difficulty, overcoming the dangers, overcoming the obstacles, looking to Him to get them through. And Him that overcome it. And I want you to note the reward. Please note it. Will I make a pillow, not a pillow now. We've got too many pillows in the church. You know, people that go to sleep on pillows. But I will make him a pillar, a support. Please note, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. And I want you to know something. The true Philadelphian goes from a little strength to a pillar of strength. In heavenly testimony. In the heavenly temple of God. Fevil in strength outwardly down here, eternally strengthened, a pillar in the temple of God. Please may I put it in this way. My beloved Christian, what you and I are up here, we're going to be up there too, according to our faithfulness. He that is faithful in that which is least shall also be faithful in that which is much. And may I be reminded with you, when the Lord told the parable of the servants, at the end of the Talents he said, Well done, thou good and suspect. No, he didn't say suspect that. Well done and thou faithful servant. Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord. I'm going. You know, I remember when I was a young fellow, first thing, you know what I wanted to be? I wanted to be Diomodi. Look at me, here I am in Florence preaching to you foothold. What am I doing? I do what the Lord wants. Thank God. His faithfulness. Whether it is in great or small things, but he that is faithful in that which is least shall also be faithful in that which is mine. my beloved I tell you frankly if you will be faithful to the Lord in this assembly no matter what it costs you you'll be promoted in heaven you'll be promoted in heaven oh my I remember a little statement I've never forgotten that in the day of the judgment seat of Christ in that day he will look as over he will not look for degrees he will not look for the honors that we've earned and made upon the earth He will not look upon us for the successes that we had down here, but he looked for scars, for wounds, for bruises, what we suffered. Go with me to St. Timothy chapter two, please. Let me point out something in the second epistle of Timothy before we go a little further. Second Timothy chapter two, if you please. Let me point out these words in verse eleven and twelve. Chapter two is second Timothy. It is a faithful saying, for if we be dead with him, we shall also live with him, that is with Christ. If we suffer, we shall also reign with him. My beloved, may I say, the measure of your glory will be according to the measure of your sufferings for him. And if you note the rest of the verse, I hope you understand it, if we deny him, it doesn't mean denying him as your Savior, but if we are unwilling to suffer for him, he'll have to deny us some of the glory, the reward. Remember what we read in Revelation chapter three there? Hold that past which thou hadst, that no man take thine cross. And if you'll fail to hold that, you're going to lose that special cross. And that which the Lord said, He that overcomes, I'm going to make Him a pillar in the temple of my God. All of Him love Him. He rewards His no one else. Then He shall go no more up. But how would you know something else? I'll make that overcomer not only a pillar, but I will write upon Him the name of my God. What does He mean? You'll see more of God in that kind of a person even up there. I'll write on him the name of my God. He is like my God. And there's the indelible impression forever. Right? Let me put it in this way. Here down on the earth you get the names of men. Great men of the earth. But here's the humble believer. who is faithful to the word of God. Praise God for the glory of the Savior, no matter the God. And when promoting the name of God is written on that believer's earth in glory. He stood for God. And not only the name of God, please go out, the Lord said, I'll write upon him the name of the city of my God. The new Jerusalem! We've come it down out of heaven for my God. And I want to tell you very frankly, you read chapter twenty-one of the revelation, verse nine, and down into chapter twenty-two and verse five, and you've got the glory of that city, the new Jerusalem. But may I say, according to your service and ministry and faithfulness to the Lord, will be commensurate in glory that you bear in that wonderful testimony of the heavenly Jewish people. What you do and shine for the Lord down here will be reflected forever on you and on me in that glorious city when the Lord Jesus comes. That cometh down out of heaven from my God. But then that something else is added. I will write upon him my new name. What? Lord, you're going to have a name, yes? I'll write over him, it's my new name. Well, I declare, Lord, do you have a new name? Why not? When you and I get saved, we get a new name. How joyful it is to be able to sing. There's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine. I've trusted the same yet. But may I point out to you, you and I are going to glory. We're going to share. in the glory that is to come. And the sufferings of our present time are not worthy to be compared to the glory which shall be revealed in us. But says the Lord Jesus, I'm going to get glory too. My new name will be one glorified above all others in the universe. And he said, when you be faithful to me, I'll rub some of my new name on you. I'll write upon you my new name. Our beloved, it's a wonderful thing to realize. What there is a head for the one who overcomes. And just as you look at this little company of Philadelphia, feeble in strength. And if you feel weak enough, do you know what you're wanting? One of the best things to know you're weak. If you think you're strong, you're full of pride. But as Paul said, when I am weak, I am strong. For the Lord Jesus told Paul, my grace is sufficient for thee. My strength is made perfect in weakness. And when you and I can prove, though weak as we might be, our strength is in the Lord and find in him all the sufficiency And be faithful to his word and to his person. There's going to be heavenly and eternal rewards. Now. Sometimes they can't wait to get there. I know I've got to be judged. I know the Lord will have praised my life. And I want to tell you that some things I'm sorry he'll probably blow them up. The wood and the hay and the stubble. But oh the joy of knowing. Though fever may be the effort. but faithful to him, to his word, to his person, and to his name. There will not only be deliverance from that great worldwide trial that is coming upon the earth, but ah, there's going to be a reward. The crown that he gives, nameless in character, nameless here, he doesn't name what it is, but he describes what it will bring. There will be the joy and the portion of those that overcome. And may I give you the thought as we close? You say, how can I overcome? May I suggest to you every Christian possesses overcoming life? Who is he that overcomes the world? But he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God. And every believer has within him and within her the genuine spirit of God, the enabling power to overcome. You don't overcome yourself, He does it. You faith in Him and through Him alone, you possess that overcoming life. And oh, may I pray, by the Spirit you and I will be overcomers. And thus win the merited crown. and the glory when he comes he will pay it pays to sow Jesus it pays every day it pays every step of the way though the pathway to glory may sometimes be drear yes I'm happy he steps away for it pays does it now you can tell me tell me Do you think it won't pay if you're faithful to Christ? Bill, I'll tell you, pay eternal dividends. Eternal dividends. I don't know how much pay you get every week or every month, as the case may be. That's nothing. What the Lord pays is forever. Eternal rewards. And it's worth going after. And the more difficult it is, the more blessed it will be to prove faithful. in the midst of the trial and difficulty overcoming. God grant, every one of you being overcome, myself included, shall we pray, giving thanks to the Lord for his encouragement. Oh, blessed Lord, we take those words again to keep thy word. How we thank thee for the privilege and the deep joy we have, remembering thee in thy death. Doing it, Lord, in remembrance until you come again. And when you come, you'll never need the bread and the wine. Lord help us to realize until you come, let's break the bread and drink the cup, showing forth thy death. And then we do pray thee, Lord.