How Do You Measure Up as a Believer in Christ?

We all want to be like the Church of Philadelphia. We are people who are designed to hear things, like bumps in the night or a car driving down the street. We hear it even though we are not listening for it. God is announcing to us in those words, "he who has an ear, let him hear" that they are simply not words, but a question to us, "Are you listening?" Are you listening to what God is saying to you about your life?

Jesus is writing to the Church of Philadelphia, in a letter that applies not only to the seven real churches of that day in Asia Minor, but also to where we stand in our lives as Christian believers. It is interesting to note that Jesus' final words are not found in the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, but in the Book of Revelation, where He writes seven letters to the churches in that region, just east of the Mediterranean Sea, in what is now modern day Turkey. Even though there were many more churches in that region at that time, but it is an elongated area that makes up the region of the churches that occupied that territory with seven very specific personalities. Just like there are pastors in leadership at the church, they had their own personalities and their own problems. They had challenges, specific locations, that had characteristics that through a chronological folding of time, you can see the progression of the church from its establishments to modern day.

Revelation 3:7-13 ~ "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. 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. 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. 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. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him, who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of 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. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

Proverbs 25:25 ~ "Like cold water to a weary soul is good news from a distant land."

This letter to the Church of Philadelphia was the best letter written to the seven churches. Why? First of all there is no correction given by Jesus. There is no rebuke, only praise. Was it a flawless church? No, there is no such thing as a flawless church, because the moment we step in the door, we are flawed. But when God, the Father, looks at you who believe in Jesus Christ, is our Lord and Savior, God puts on glasses as it were and sees you dipped in the blood of Jesus. God takes our life, completely immerses us in the blood of Christ, and when we come up, all He sees is Jesus, not on what we do, but what He has done.

It's a letter of praise to this church. Imagine what your position is in Christ, if you are like this church. It determines what kind of Christian you are. Each of these letters applies to some aspect in your life of where you are at as a Christian. People attend various churches not because their is division among the groups, but it is because each church serves up a different flavor in the way they teach the Word of God that appeals to each person, kind of like your preference for In and Out Burgers over McDonald's burgers. One is not greater than the other, because Jesus loves them all.

John, the apostle, the postmaster of Patmos, brings us this letter addressed to the church of Philadelphia. Remember Jesus is still speaking to all of us through these letters we read. He is speaking right now by the power of the Holy Spirit. Whenever the Bible is taught, the Holy Spirit moves in our lives. This is the letter any pastor at church would love to receive from Jesus Christ, because, if the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ is the chief Shepherd of His church, and if it is also true that the church is made up of believers around the world through faith in Jesus Christ, then it is also true, that Jesus must still be speaking to His churches, His pastors and to all of us!

Hebrews 1:1-2 ~ "In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, who he appointed here of all things, and through whom he made the universe."

Hebrews 13:8 ~ "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and forever."

The city went by the name, Philadelphia. Today it is a Muslim city, Alasawart. It is what is left of the Roman Empire and is a small city under Muslim control. Politically by the city was named Philadelphia, which we know what it means, brotherly love, based on the same city we have in our country today. It was founded by Attalus Philadelphus and was commissioned as the "City of vision or the Mission City of the Empire. That mission given to it by Rome was to spread the Greek language and the Roman influence toward the east. Philadelphia became Rome's cultural mission outpost to the world on behalf of Caesar. Philadelphia as a city existed longer than any of the seven churches.  So Rome nicknamed it the "missionary city." It was an outreach by which Rome pumped money into it to spread the Roman influence of paganism to the world.

The physical church at Philadelphia was the typological forerunner to church chronologically, that brings us out to the 19th century, into what is known as the "revived church age."This the period when the church on the heels of the Reformation period moved out into the world with a great missionary movement. From the 14th to the 18th century, there was a turning back to the Bible, a teaching of the world through Europe and early America. From the 19th century until now, there has been the greatest global effort to communicate the gospel - The Revived Church or Missionary Age Church. Remember when we were in school, most of us hated history, but now as Christians, we love it! When a movement takes back the Bible, it can only hold some much and then it has to put that to work. Did you know that Billy Graham in one night reached 2.3 billion people? It has never happened before in human history.

And right now there are billions of people around the world, with the opportunity to hear the gospel message through modern technology, Sir Isaac Newton, Keplar, all Christian men who loved God, international churches, and personal missionary efforts. Look at the number of Bible Studies or messages from pastors that are being broadcasted quite literally all over the world, for people to hear the message in their own language and know Jesus. In the wake of the great missionary movement, hospitals, schools, universities, human rights and scientific breakthroughs, have accelerated in a way never before known to mankind. All of this is important background information for where we are headed in this portion of our study. Now you can see how all of this applies to our study into the Church of Philadelphia.

The Church of Philadelphia is a church that every single pastor would pray to receive from Jesus and something we need to make sure our life mirrors in every way as a Christian. Can you apply your personal life to this? How do you measure up? If you want to know the truth about someone, ask those that live with them. Are you excited about God's Bible? About knowing Him? About His return? You just might be a Philadelphian believer if you can answer yes to all of these questions.

What kind of church are you, when Jesus calls you to follow Him.

Revelation 3:7-8 ~ " 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. 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."

When Jesus calls you to follow Him, He calls us to be His example, His witness.

Revelation 3:7a ~ "To the angel of the Church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true," 

The structure of this is comforting. Here is our challenge. He calls us to be His example and His witness. This is not contrary to the other letters, it's not a rebuke but an encouragement. He is saying because I am Holy and I am true, and so are you. He wasn't calling them out in any way. Jesus says, He who is holy and He is true. We are blessed by Him by being guilty through association.

Leviticus 20:7 ~ "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the LORD your God."

1 Peter 1:15-16 ~ "But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

How do you hear that? Do you hear a judgmental God or a loving God? When you begin to study the Bible you have to realize that it is by our faith in Him, that we can become holy like Him. He has commissioned us to be holy and true and not be defiled by the things of this world.

We should try and live our life in the witness of what this church has been called and commissioned by Jesus to do. Our number one goal in life is to be like a Philadelphian church. Sold out body, mind and spirit to Jesus. We will pick this up tomorrow. Hope you will join me!

How Can Your Name Be Blotted Out of the Book of Life?

The most profound for God is the most simple for us. We won't be declared worthy by God because of our robe. We don't get it white by washing it. It's all by faith. Do you have all your rest and all your faith on Jesus Christ? Your salvation, what makes you worthy, is your faith in Jesus, not your works.

Jesus is still writing about our life today and your life. He's still writing because you are a Christian and you are the church! Are you part of the few names Jesus mentions at the closing part of the letter to the church in Sardis? Maybe this is why this book isn't often read.

When you worshiped the pagan gods in imperial Rome and you were excepted by the priest, or priestesses of those gods. You were given a white robe as a sign that you have been accepted so you can go further into the perversion that was happening in those places of worship. Do you ever notice how people get into weird stuff, they go deeper into more weirdness? Jesus was telling them He would give them a robe of righteousness that would never be soiled.

Ephesians 2:4-9 ~ "But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."

Saved - in the original Greek, means that it's a done deal. It's past tense. We need to move forward now. Stop wishing that one day you might feel saved. 

2 Timothy 3:14 ~ "But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you have learned it."

1 Timothy 4:16 ~ "Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers."

Acts 14:22 ~ "strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. "We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God," they said."

Did he encourage them to tithe more? To serve in children's ministry? No, to start making time to gather together as a church especially in these last days so we can encourage and strengthen one another in our faith.


Hebrews 10:25 ~ "Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another - and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

We need to make an effort to be more than Sunday Christians, not of us are that resilient to stand alone, we need to hang out with more Christians to gain strength and get strong.

When all hope seems to have slipped away, we must look to His approval. We only need to look to God, and no one else in this world for approval. Don't let the world determine your standards for living or self worth. They will always come up lacking and short.

Revelation 3:5 ~ "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels."

2 Corinthians 9:6-7 ~ "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give when he had decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."

What are you now planting for spring? Nothing? You'll get nothing. A little? You'll get a little. Some? You'll get some. A lot? You'll get a lot! We all want to hears the words, "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter in." when we arrive in Heaven. Not over easy, scrambled or sunny side up!

When all hope seems to have slipped away, we must rejoice in His promises that endure.  Ever have those moments when you open your Bible, and a verse speaks to you as though God put it there for you especially? Those are apples of gold from God in your life.

Revelation 3:5-6 ~ "He who overcomes will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out his name from the book of life, but will acknowledge his name before my Father and his angels. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

There was the Lydian Roll of Sardis, if you born under that Lydian Empire, your name was on that scroll. There was the Roman Registry of the Empire, and there is the Book of Life. Every human being who has ever lived, every one of you right here, reading this, from Adam and Eve to Now, you have been placed in the Book of Life. Every citizen of humanity! From Hitler to Charles Darwin. Your name is in there if you have been born in this world on earth. Every single one! Don't be confused by the Book of Life and the Lamb's Book of Life.

But there will be a "blotting out day" to come says the Bible. What keeps your name in the Book of Life, is if your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life. If you don't know Jesus, your name will be blotted out and you will face an eternal death. Just like the Roman Empire, your citizenship will be stripped away and you will be judged. No good works will get you in the Lamb's Book of Life. ONLY believing in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior.

All those who have been given life are recorded in the Book of Life. From the Book of Life, some names, it's not many names, that will be transferred over to the Lamb's Book of Life.

Revelation 21:27 ~ "Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful of deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's Book of Life."

Revelation 20:15 ~ "If anyone's name was not found written in the Book of Life, he was thrown into the lake of fire."

Psalm 69:28 ~ "May they be blotted out of the Book of Life and not be listed with the righteous."

If you are reading this now, your name is written in the Book of Life, but if you want to get to heaven, you need your name copied over from the Book of Life to the Lamb's Book of Life. It's like saying, go to the Book of Life, highlight your name, go to Edit, then click Copy. Then go to the Lamb's Book of Life, go to Edit, then click Paste. If your name isn't copied over, it is your own doing. It will be deleted and blotted out, from the Book of Life forever. It makes you discern whether you are a Christian or not and that is the point. If you are a Christian, a true believer, than you will never be blotted out of the Lamb's Book of Life. Do you know Him as a personal Lord and Savior of your life.

In the Ancient Roman Empire, if you were tried and convicted of a "capital" offense, the judge would order your name removed from the Census or Registrar. And at that moment your citizenship was revoked, you were sold into the confines into the gladiators if you were a man and made to be part of their spectator sport, or you were then carried away to prison having no name. Please understand this, Jesus says, "I will confess his name (yours and mine) before my Father and His angels. When Jesus calls us, He calls us publicly!

Matthew 10:32-33 ~ "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. "

Jesus places a public call on every heart. You may have done it privately, but one day you will tell someone of your faith. That is your public call. Your confession of faith in Jesus. Hearing your name in a crowd, hearing your name in a conversation, there will come a day when you will hear your name, and I will hear my name,

Revelation 1:4b-17 ~"I turned around to see the voice that was speaking to me. And when I turned I saw seven golden lampstands, and among the lampstands was someone "like a son of man." dressed in a robe reaching down the his feet and with a golden sash around his chest. His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow, and his eyes were like blazing fire. His feet were like bronze glowing in a furnace, and his voice was like the sound of rushing waters. In his right hand he held seven stars, and out of his mouth came a sharp double-edged sword. His face was like the sun shining in all of its brilliance. When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. Then he place his right hand on me and said:"Do not be afraid." 

One day, Jesus will call us by name. He knows all about us. He will forgive you of your sins, by His sacrifice on the cross. He will stand proud before His Father and claim you as one of His own. Isn't that great? 

Luke 10:20 ~ "However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven."

Hebrews 12:23 ~ "to the church of he firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect."

There is security in knowing that. Rejoice in that great news. What this must mean to us is this, the heart of the matter is this, how does a church die? When the people inside, fall asleep spiritually speaking.

Ephesians 5:14 ~ " for it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: "Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you."

A sleepy pastor can kill a church, and/or sleepy Christians can kill a church! In the spiritual realm, I wonder what this church (our life) sounds like from the outside? Is there living worship spilling out on the streets? Or is there respectable, reverent silence that is interrupted by the occasional snore or twitch?

A personal passion, a personal explanation Is Your name written in the Book of Life and in the Lamb's Book of Life? Be afraid of those who can take your life and cast your life in hell. You can be in heaven based on what Jesus has done on the cross and you accept that, or you wind up in hell for what you neglected to receive into your own life. The Bible is perfectly clear, God sends no one to hell, they wind up their through their own choosing. Why would your name be blotted out? Only if you command it so.

Tomorrow we will take a look at the 6th church in the Book of Revelation!