Believers in this world have a constant uphill struggle with the world, our own flesh, and the devil. We have constant trials, constant temptations, constant struggles with our own sin, constant perplexities, constant obstacles standing in our way as we attempt to walk in this world for the glory of God and seek everlasting glory in Jesus Christ the Lord. We have a race to run and it is a difficult, difficult race. We're admonished to lay aside every sin and the weight that doth so easily beset us. We're admonished to encourage one another to lift up the hands that hang down and give strength to the feeble knees, lest we fall by the wayside. And those admonitions are given with a reason, because many do fall. Many do quit.

As I was preparing this message for this evening, I kept trying to ask myself, how can I, as God's servant, as your brother, as a fellow pilgrim, as a fellow runner in the race, help to encourage you and myself to persevere in the faith of Christ, to persevere in devoting ourselves to Christ, to persevere in consecration, to persevere in giving ourselves unreservedly in the calls of Christ. And I've got the answer. It's found in our text this evening in Revelation chapter 3, verses 8 through 13.

This is the only of the churches to whom our Lord addresses himself in these two chapters about which no word of reproof is given. This church at Philadelphia is held before us as an example of what every gospel church and every believer ought to be in this world. Our Lord begins the letter by assuring us that he who is God, our Savior, is holy, true, and sovereign. He is our holiness and he gives holiness alone to us. He is truth and he alone is truth. The embodiment, the revealer, and the teacher of truth. And our Lord Jesus is that one who holds the keys of David, so that universally, with regard to all things, he is the one who opens and no man can shut. He is the one who shuts and no man can open.

And then in verse 8, he says, I know thy works. Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. For thou hast a little strength, and has kept my word and has not denied my name." With those words, our Lord Jesus gives a word of commendation and praise to his church. A word of commendation and praise to this little insignificant band of believers as far as men were concerned in Philadelphia. He speaks to them this word of praise, this word of commendation to encourage them to continue as they had been. While others apostatized, while others grew cold, while others became languishing, while others became indifferent, while others became lukewarm, the Philadelphian church stayed the course. They were steadfast, and our Lord speaks this word of praise to them.

Now imagine that. The Son of God Himself bends over from His lofty throne to speak a word of praise to a band of believing sinners upon the earth. Now, I'd sure like to be in that crowd, wouldn't you? Of men and women who are commended by Christ himself. Well, listen to the commendation. Certainly, he is here giving us an example to follow. We are usually very quick to point out one another's faults and failures, but love is always quick to forgive and quick to praise. Always is. You find a son or a daughter loved of his parents. Parents do not, if they're wise, do not fail to see the error of their child and correct the error. But loving parents are quick to forgive and very quick to praise everything good done by the child. A little praise, you see, is a great means of encouragement. I know some people who seem to think that kindness is blasphemy. But if the Son of God speaks a word of praise to us, then certainly it is proper for us to speak a word of praise now and then to one another. We need some help in this regard because we too often neglect to give a word of commendation and are too quick to give a word of criticism.

I can't tell you how weary I get of getting correspondence from folks, getting calls from folks, who find something they don't like, or hear something they don't like. You get done preaching, somebody raises an objection to something said in a message. Rather than finding what's profitable, rather than hearing what is beneficial, find something that they criticize, and they, you know, just, you know, we don't want to puff your head up too much by giving you any credit. Well, my head's got enough of a problem, but I could use a little enthusiasm anyway, couldn't you? I could use a little bit of encouragement in that which is done.

Let me give you something illustrative for you. Four A's on a report card, one D. Nine times out of ten, what you see is that D. Nine times out of ten. You send your son out to wash your car, he cleans that thing up, works all day long, cleans up, and misses a spot right down under the front fender. And that's what you call attention to. We ought to commend the A's and commend the cleaning. And maybe the spots and the D's take care of themselves.

We need encouragement. All of us do. And our Lord here encourages this church in Philadelphia and He encourages you and I in this matter of persevering faithfulness by a word of commendation. But what was there about these believers which caught the attention of the Son of God, that which caused Him to see fit to commend them and praise them? The matter of commendation and faith or praise was rather their works, their works of faith, of love and of patience.

Look at the text with me here in verse 8. First, the Lord says, I have set before thee an open door. Now, commonly, that term, setting before you an open door, has reference to an open door of ministry, an open door of utterance for the gospel. The Apostle Paul frequently said, a door was opened unto me of the Lord. Apparently, the Lord Jesus had given these men and women an opportunity to serve him and the furtherance of the gospel for the building of his kingdom and the glory of God. He had given them an opportunity, and they seemed to have seized the opportunity with both hands. They faithfully performed the work which their hands found to do. They didn't talk about what they wanted to do, or what they used to do, or what they were going to do, but they talked rather about what Christ had done, and they simply did what the Lord put in their hands the opportunity to do.

A lot of folks talk a big game and don't do anything. Believers ought continually to walk before Christ with humility, but walk before Him with dogged determination to serve Him. Let's not talk about what we do. I understand we haven't done anything. Bob Ponson, when you and I have done everything we can possibly do for the glory of Christ, I don't care what sacrifice it is, I don't care what it involves, I don't care what it costs us, we have done only that which was our reasonable service to do. And only then are we still just unprofitable servants. So let's not talk about what we do or used to do or would do, but rather do what God gives us the opportunity to do and do it with all our might. You see, nothing done for Christ is insignificant. These men and women simply did what they could for the glory of Christ. It may have seemed insignificant to others. I have no record of it anywhere in history, which is available to my knowledge anyway, of anything that's outstanding about them except the fact that they continued steadfast in the faith and were committed to the cause of Christ for nearly 800 years. That's enough. In the 8th century, as I said last week, they still were found persevering in the faith of the gospel.

Our Lord Jesus takes that which we do for Him, for His glory, anything done for Him. for His glory, for the interest of His kingdom, and receives it and praises it. He says, I know your works. You remember what our Lord said concerning that poor widow? He said, She hath done what she could. Oh God, give us grace to do what we can for our Redeemer. The one thing He requires of us is faithfulness. The one thing He honors among men is faithfulness. And when the Lord Jesus opens a door for us, as we faithfully follow Him, no man can shut that door until He shuts it. Has He not proved that to us over and over again? Have we not proved His word true? He opens a door before a band of folks who are insignificant and meaningless. And when He opens the door, all hell can't shut it until He shuts it. And when He shuts it, nothing can open it. Nothing. I am he which openeth and no man shutteth. I am he that shutteth and no man openeth.

Now he says to you and me, Laird, I've set before you an open door. Oh, what open doors he's set before me and before you and before us as a congregation. Let's see the open door he sets before us. And then our Lord says, for thou hast a little strength. Now, in the original language, in the Greek language, there is no such thing as a definite article. So really, or rather an indefinite article. So really this sentence would better read like this and more accurately describe what our Lord is saying. Thou hast little strength. You have a little strength, He said. Now this is not taken as a word of reproach, but rather a word of praise. These men and women at Philadelphia had been faithful in their service to Christ though they had but little strength, little ability to serve him, little with which to serve him.

You see, many of the Lord's churches, like this church at Philadelphia, have little strength, only a little. And the same could be said concerning this congregation here. They had little numerical strength. Of all the churches that are mentioned here in these three chapters, this church here at Philadelphia appears to have been the smallest. They had very few in their congregation of any great significance, and they had very little strength with which to work. Their lack of numbers, however, didn't deter them. They just simply rallied together and did what they could for Christ. And the Lord commends them for it. He commends them because they used what little strength they had. The few numbers they had, they came together as one body and served the interest of his kingdom.

They not only had little numerical strength, they had little monetary strength. This congregation, above all the other seven, was made up of just ordinary men and women, just common folks, laboring men and women, for the most part, a band of poor people. There were no people of means among them, nowhere listed in history. They were a people, however, precious to the Lord Jesus Christ, who counts sincerity, honesty, faithfulness of greater worth than all the gold in the world.

And these people were people of little strength insofar as talents, gifts, and abilities were concerned as well. I was thinking this afternoon preparing the message, looking back over 1 Corinthians, the church at Corinth, how different it was. The church at Corinth was a huge, flourishing congregation. And they had all kinds of talents. They had at least pretended to have every gift of the Spirit that was They had folks who prophesied, folks who had dreams, and folks who spoke in tongues, and folks who practiced healing. They had all kinds of talents, but they had no grace at all. They were people who seemed to just be what Paul describes as carnal. He said, you behave as a people who have never experienced the grace of God. You behave as carnal men.

This church, however, seems to have no one of extraordinary talent. No one with extraordinary gifts, no one that would stand out in the crowd, but these are a people full of grace. Grace had made them faithful. Much was done for the glory of Christ. Much done for the souls of men. Much done for the furtherance of the gospel. They had little strength, but the little strength they had, they used it for Him. Oh, God, give us grace to use what we have for Him. For Him.

And this is what I'm saying, Samuel. You're not responsible to use what I have for you. You're not responsible to preach. You're not responsible to study. You're not responsible to use what strength I have for Christ. But you are responsible to use what you have for Him. Whatever ability you have. Whatever strength He's given you. Whatever talent you have. It's our responsibility. Oh, what a terrible word that is. It's our privilege. It's our privilege to use it for Him. Just for Him.

Thou hast a little strength. That was perhaps their misfortune, but not their fault. And therefore they're not blamed for it. The Lord doesn't blame them for having little strength, but He blames men and women for having little faith, little love, little devotion, little zeal, little consecration. That's blameworthy. Little strength is not. If our strength is little, Let's pray for grace that our little strength may be used entirely for Christ.

And then our Lord Jesus says to these Philadelphian believers, Thou hast kept my word and hast not denied my name. There's something to be said for that. Brother Scott Richardson was introduced in one of the preachers at his conference back in April, and he introduced him in I was with Brother Donnie Bell and we talked about the church there at Costwell. God had been there a long time. Held together a band of believers, labored faithfully in the cause of Christ, and just steadfast, steadfast, steadfast. And he says, if you think that's not something to commend, you've never done it. A band of believers, steadfast, steadfast in the faith, in the midst of opposition, held together in Little Street. Little strength given by God's grace holding them together keeping them together in the cause of Christ

Well, what was this word which these folks kept this faith that they did not deny? Our Lord tells us in verse 10 thou has kept the word of my patience So the Word that they kept, the faith they did not deny, has something to do with the Word of the Gospel. The Gospel of Christ and Him crucified is that Word of His patient sufferings as our substitute and our Redeemer. Hold your hands here and turn back to 1 Peter for a moment. 1 Peter chapter 2. I want you to see that what I'm saying is exactly according to Scripture. When he speaks here of the Word that they had not denied, this word that they had kept. He's talking about the word of his patience. That is the word of the gospel.

Look here in 1 Peter 2 and verse 21. For even here unto were you called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example that you should follow in his steps, who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth, who when he reviled, reviled not again, When he suffered, he threatened not, but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously."

The Lord Jesus, by example, says, now you follow my patience, you follow my humility, you follow my way of life and faith before God as a man. Verse 24, "...who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness by whose stripes we are healed."

so that our Lord's suffering and death is our substitute. His obedience to God on our behalf was not only the expiation of our sins, though certainly it was that, it was also setting before us an example of how we're to live in this world in patience before God.

How did these folks keep this word of his patience, the word of the gospel? They believed it. That's how we keep it. God gives us his word and we believe it. We just believe it. Nothing honors God like believing. Nothing. Nothing honors the Word like believing. Just bow into it.

Not only that, but they loved it. This is the love of God that we keep, His commandments. And His commandments do not grieve us. These folks believed it, they loved it, and they obeyed it. It's called the obedience of faith. Faith submits to and obeys the Word of God. Always does. I don't mean by that it perfectly does, not by any means, you know better than that. But faith submits to the Word. Faith seeks to follow the Word. Faith bows to the Word of God. It doesn't fuss about it, doesn't argue with it, doesn't buck against it. That's revealed in the book. We just bow to it. Well, I don't understand it. There's a lot I don't understand. There's a whole lot I don't understand. but we bow to the revelation of God. This is our rule. This is our order. This is our book of law. This is our rule of life.

This word of patience that they kept, they also defended. They were set for the defense of the gospel. As Jude admonished us, they earnestly contended for the faith once delivered to the saints. They didn't ever compromise truth. These men and women were weak, few in number, a people of worldly insignificance, that we grant, but they were always ready, always ready, at all times, against all odds, to hold to and defend the gospel of God's grace. What an example.

Most men, most religious people, are like spiders. You know how a spider makes his web? You ever watch one? from his own bowels, from his own excrement, he spends his wealth. And that's the place where he lives, that's his abode, that's his sphere, that's his life. And most people get their doctrine from their feelings, their emotions, their sentiment, their own selves. They spin their theology out of their own excrement, out of their own bowels, and their theology has absolutely nothing to do with the revelation of God. With regard to the truth of God, these men and women at Philadelphia valiantly refused to budge a solitary inch. They had no regard for the thoughts and ideas of infidels. They had just paid no attention. Just paid no attention. And I would urge you to do the same thing.

I want us always to be ready to give answer to every man who asks a reason for the hope that's in us. Be ready to give an answer according to the book with meekness and fear. But if you stand around and argue with folks about things of God, it's unworthy of the book of God. It's unworthy of our Lord. It's unbecoming the character of our God. No point in... Don't cast your pearls before swine. Don't do it. Don't stand around and debate with folks about things. Just leave them alone. Just leave them alone. And earnestly for the faith. If you want to believe it, go ahead. Just go ahead.

As a matter of fact, I told a fellow a while back. He asked me some questions. I was trying to bear witness to the truth. I told him the truth. He started to argue. I said, well, if that gives you what you need, you go ahead and hang on to it. Just hang on to it, and we'll find out at judgment day who's right and who's wrong. That's not cocky. That's not arrogant. That's just that. I'm not going to stand around and argue with infidels about God's truth. I don't care what they think. I'm not going to stand around and argue with men and women who blaspheme God about the things of God. I'm not interested in their opinions.

These men and women did not deny the faith. They didn't budge an inch. Don't you do, or you do likewise. And let me do the same as well. God give us grace in these days of our many and free will works religion. While almost the whole religious world teaches and embraces that which the Apostle Paul calls will worship. Give us grace to hold fast the gospel of his free and sovereign grace in Christ.

Turn to 2nd Timothy for a moment. 2nd Timothy chapter 1. The Apostle Paul is writing his last epistle. He's about to suffer death for the cause of Christ. He says in verse 9, God hath saved us and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, but is now manifest by the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles, for the which cause, that is, for this cause of the gospel, I also suffer these things. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Now, look at his admonition. Here's his dying word to Timothy, his dying word to you and me. Here it is. Hold fast the form of sound words which thou hast heard of me in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. Don't give any ground to any form of religion, any religious teaching, practice, doctrine, whatever you call it. Don't give any ground to anything that puffs up man and exalts man. Don't even be kind in your thoughts or comments concerning it. Don't encourage it in any way whatsoever. You're not doing your family, your friends, you're not doing them any favors by encouraging them in false religion. Don't do it. But rather hold fast that form of sound words which you have heard right here in the book of God. This book plainly states things that we constantly repeat. And I don't find it grievous or burdensome at all to repeat them to you. The Word of God states plainly that our God is absolutely solid. Absolutely. He has his way always. Always.

Now, folks can argue, debate, fuss, and say, what about this? I don't know. I don't know. I'm not even concerned about all the ramifications. But I know God's either in total control, Larry Chris, or he's not God. There's no in-between ground.

This book declares that man, by nature, is absolutely dead spiritually. Dead in trespasses and in sins. Dead with regard to all things spiritual. Separated from God. Incapable of doing anything pleasing to God. That means, if that man's ever saved, God's going to have to do something for him, rather than him do something for God. Salvation cannot, it cannot in any way depend upon a lost doomed, damned, helpless, condemned sinner doing something for God. He can't do anything. If salvation depends on man, then no man has any hope. If salvation depends on man to any degree, then no man has any hope.

The Scriptures tell us plainly that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came into this world to save His people from their sins. Now, either He did it, or He's not the Son of God, He's not our Savior, and we have no business worshiping Him. Now, there's just no in-between ground.

Somebody asked me just yesterday. I got a letter. A fellow said, Am I understanding you correctly? You believe that people who don't believe in limited atonement, that's the word he used, are lost? I go, Rebecca, of course. Of course. Folks who believe that Jesus Christ died for somebody who actually goes to hell, that Jesus Christ paid the sin debt for somebody who's lost, He paid the sin debt for somebody who perishes under the wrath of God. He satisfied the justice of God, but they must as well. Yes, they're lost because they declare that Jesus Christ is a failure. And this book doesn't teach any kind of Savior like that.

Jesus Christ, the Son of God, actually put away the sins of his people. The Word of God tells us that we are saved like this. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. In other words, salvation is the work of God's irresistible grace. God the Holy Spirit comes to chosen redeemed sinners at the appointed time of his love and mercy, according to the arrangement of divine providence, at exactly the time he has ordained from eternity, and he effectually grants them life and faith in Christ.

You were dead. You were dead. But he's quickened you by grace, you say. That's what salvation by grace means. Now, any mixture of man's will and man's work and man's worth and man's doings, any mixture of man and God in this business of salvation is a total denial of God's grace. A total denial.

The Lord says to this Philadelphian church, you've kept my word. You've not denied my faith. These men and women at Philadelphia understood that salvation is God's work and God's work alone.

There is more with regard to these things in my heart than just doctrinal opinions, just doctrinal orthodoxy. These are the things by which I have lived for 30 years. And if need be, God helping me, these are the truths by which I intend to die. I'm not going to budge, not for anybody, not for any reason. This is the very fabric of my salvation. To deny these things would be to deny my only hope before God and blaspheme his name, whom most I desire to honor. To deny the doctrines of the gospel is to deny Christ who taught me these things. And those who embrace these gospel truths, I embrace as brethren. Those who are the enemies to these truths are the enemies of our God And with regard to all things spiritual, I count them my enemies, even my dearest relations.

" Even my dearest relations. Not my enemies in a carnal sense, no. Not my enemies in the sense I want to take up arms against them, no. My enemies in the sense they oppose my God and his kingdom and his family. This is how David spoke. He said, Thou wilt slay the wicked, O God. Depart from me, therefore, you bloody men, for they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain. Do not I hate them, O Lord, that hate thee? And am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with a perfect hatred. I count them mine enemies.

So pastor, how important is it that we hold the word, hold fast to faith, keep it? It's this important. But if we depart from it, we've never known God. Our Lord said he'll present us faultless before the presence of his glory if we're moved not away from the hope of the gospel. Believers persevere in faith. Believers continue in faith. They continue to hold fast the faithful word for the glory of God. Amen.