Msg#2541 From Sardis to Philadelphia

Msg#2541 From Sardis to Philadelphia

What The Bible Says

Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice

In Christ’s prophetical history of the church Sardis gets no commendation, Philadelphia no condemnation. One has a name but is cold and dead, the other “has not denied Christ’s name” and has an open door, life, and heat. This church in Philadelphia is addressed by “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” (Rev.3:7). Christ gives them this open door which leads out of Sardis’ cold deadness. No coincidence, Philadelphia means “brotherly love” and this 6th church address manifests the 6th addition to maturing faith “to (5) godliness (add) (6) brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness (7) charity” (2Pet.1:7). Recall how “all men shall know ye are my disciples” in John 13:35, it is “if ye have love one to another.” Also no coincidence, that the very city where a Declaration of Independence and its Constitutional Law was signed, law which locked open a door where state-run churches are banned, and state persecutions of Christians prohibited, that city was Philadelphia. To this church Christ says, the synagogue of Satan shall bow “to know that I have loved thee.” This church “will be kept from the hour of temptation which shall come upon all the world”, and is told, “Behold, I come quickly”, and that, overcomers will be made “a pillar in the temple of my God” and will have a new name. These accolades are not given to previous churches, in fact, Sardis is warned, “If therefore thou shalt not watch, I will come on thee as a thief, and thou shalt not know what hour I will come upon thee” (3:3). That’s the difference between cold and hot. Next we will see that Laodicea spells lukewarm.

An Essay for week #41, Oct 12, 25
See F.W. Grant Lectures in Vol 09 www.GSBaptistChurch.com/theology
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs251012.mp3