Faithful in Weakness, Crowned in Glory | Revelation 3:7-13

[0:00] Welcome to Ontario Community Church, where we are encouraging, equipping, and engaging lives for Christ.! I'm Pastor Patrick Daly, and you're listening to week 9 of our sermon series through the Book of Revelation.

[0:13] Before we jump into today's message, I want to give you a little behind-the-scenes context. We have been journeying through these seven churches in Revelation for the past couple of months now, and honestly, it has been a rewarding experience for me personally, and I hope that it's been rewarding for you.

[0:31] Each church has taught us something different. Ephesus, they lost their first love. Smyrna faced persecution. Pergamum struggled with compromise.

[0:43] Thyatira tolerated false teaching. And last week in Sardis, we saw a church that looked alive on the outside, but was spiritually dead on the inside.

[0:54] Today, we arrive at Philadelphia. And I have to tell you, this church is special. It's one of only two churches that receive zero criticism from Christ.

[1:06] Just pure accommodation and encouragement. In this week's sermon, I use a lot of fun analogies, a lot of connections with movie references, specifically from Disney, such as Monsters Incorporated and even Frozen.

[1:19] Now I know, I know, lots of movie references lately, but they really help us to understand the concept of doors, keys, and who has the authority to open and to shut them.

[1:32] What I want you to listen for as you hear this message is how Christ introduces himself. He says he has the key of David. And this goes all the way back to the prophet Isaiah in Isaiah chapter 22.

[1:47] When you understand what that means, it completely changes how you see Christ's authority in your life. Also, this church in Philadelphia had little power.

[1:57] They weren't influential or impressive by worldly standards, but they were faithful to God. And that is what Christ honors. One more thing before we start.

[2:09] This is actually our last week in Revelation in 2025. We're going to be pausing for a little while. Next Sunday, we are beginning our Advent series as we prepare for Christmas.

[2:20] But don't worry, we'll come back to finish Revelation after the New Year. We still have to go over Laodicea, and then there's some really exciting stuff in the rest of Revelation.

[2:32] So let's settle in, and let's dive into this message together. Here is Faithful in Weakness, Crowned in Glory. Well, good morning, everyone.

[2:43] We are continuing our sermon series through the book of Revelation. We have been going through these churches in Revelation. Before we begin, I want to ask you guys, how many of you guys have a set of keys?

[2:58] You don't have to take them out of your pocket, right? But we should, I mean, at least most of us should all have a set of keys for a car or a house or a storage unit or whatever, right?

[3:10] And what we're going to be going over today is how Christ has the key of the house of David. And he shall open a door that no one can shut.

[3:22] And it's going to show the power and the awesomeness of our Lord and our God. So I want you to keep two things in mind as we are beginning, and that's keys and doors. Something that's very practical for us today.

[3:34] So let's go ahead and let's bow our heads and let's pray together, and we'll go ahead and begin. Father God, we thank you for this time and this opportunity for us to gather this morning as we are going through the book of Revelation.

[3:46] We pray that you will bless this time, let your Holy Spirit move in and through our lives. And we just pray that we'll learn something new. For those of us that may not know Christ, may we come to believe in your Son, Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life.

[4:03] May we all grow together collectively and individually. And may we be moved to do good in the name of Jesus Christ. It is in the name of Jesus that we pray and we all say together, amen.

[4:15] So go ahead and turn your Bibles. It's going to be to Revelation chapter 3, verses 7 through 13. How many of you guys have seen Monsters Incorporated?

[4:27] Monsters Inc. Monsters Inc., right? Or maybe you've seen the show Monsters University. That was kind of a pretty cool one, right? You have this movie where you have these doors that open to different places, right?

[4:43] And the whole premise, I don't want to give too many spoilers if you haven't seen it. You should go see Monsters Inc. if you haven't. Is this idea that he who has the power of the door will be able to open and shut it.

[4:57] And it's very connected to what we're finding here in Revelation with Christ as the one who has the key and the one who can open and shut the door, right? I think of that specific imagery of when you have Sully and Mike Wazowski.

[5:13] They get banished into this frozen tundra, as it were, right? This frozen land. And they're trying to open the door. They're trying to get back to Monsters Incorporated. And they just can't.

[5:24] And they have to find a way back into the corporation. And that's a very interesting scene, right? We think of doors and how we can open and go through them.

[5:35] We can also think of how doors can get shut, right? How many of you have been locked out of your house before, right? You don't have to raise your hand, right? Or you locked your keys in your car, right?

[5:46] These are very real situations and moments that happen in everyday life, right? And it goes to show how important it is for us to have keys and to have the appropriate door.

[5:59] And I hope for a lot of us, we lock our cars and lock our doors. Don't tell me if you do or don't, right? But it's so important to know the power of the door, but also the power of the key.

[6:09] And we're going to see here in Revelation how that is tied in with our scripture. What is Pastor Patrick talking about? Monsters, Inc. and doors that are teleportation? It is directly tied into what we're going for.

[6:22] So we'll go into the, we're going over the church in Philadelphia. It's going to be, let's turn our Bibles there. Revelation 3, chapter 7, excuse me, verse 7 through 13.

[6:35] And as we turn there, keep in mind doors and keys here, right? Are we all there, church? All right, let's read it together. And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, right?

[6:48] Write the words of the Holy One, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens.

[7:00] Well, that's, there it is right there, right? We're talking about the key of David and the ability to open a door. No one else has that key. Verse 8. I know your works.

[7:11] Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

[7:23] Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say that they are Jews and they are not. What do they do? They lie. Behold, I will make them come and bow down before whose feet?

[7:37] Your feet. And they will learn that I have loved you, because you have kept my word about patient endurance. And I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth.

[7:51] I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have so that no one may seize your crown. The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

[8:02] Never shall he go out of it. And I will write on him the name of my God. The name of the what? The city of my God. The new Jerusalem. Which comes down from my God out of heaven.

[8:15] And my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. Wow. We've got a lot to unpack here, right? So we start off when Christ is introducing himself.

[8:28] We can go ahead and go to that next slide here on what are the things that we can observe within the text here. So Christ is introducing himself as the holy one and as the true one, right?

[8:39] He's speaking to the church in Philadelphia. We know that Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, right? That our God is holy, right? That our God is righteous. We think of all these attributes, right?

[8:51] And Christ is, he has the key of David, right? He can, it is only Christ that can open the door and shut it. That's something that's very important that we can initially take away.

[9:04] We think about that. We may live in a, we do live in a culture. We live in a world where people may say, well, I have the key. I have the answers. I have the way, but we know in scripture that it is Christ who has that key of David, right?

[9:22] I want to show you, there's a verse in here. It's Isaiah 22. I'm keeping Erin on her toes right now. So very interesting. Where do we find this key of David that's being referenced in Revelation here?

[9:37] We find it in Isaiah chapter 22, verse 22, and I will place on his shoulder the what? The key of the house of David, right? He shall open and no one shall shut.

[9:49] And he shall shut and no one shall open. So this is a direct reference from the prophet Isaiah, right? And so that's something we should take note, right? When you see these direct connections within scripture.

[10:02] Going back to what we can observe here, Christ acknowledges, I know your works. I know the things that you do. And he has set before them an open door, which no one can shut.

[10:16] That's so important. We keep seeing this idea of this open door. And though they have little power, they have kept his word. That's a very beautiful verse right there.

[10:28] How many of us have felt like we do not have a lot of power? We may be placed in a situation or we may even be going through a situation where we are weak.

[10:39] But yet it is Christ that is strong. And we can place our trust in him and leaning on him, fully relying on God as our strength and as our refuge.

[10:50] So they are faithful. And it's mentioning, as I put on here, that Christ has the key of David. Now, we have in verse 9, those of the synagogue of Satan.

[11:03] Now, for those of you who have been here previously, we know we've talked about this idea of the synagogue of Satan. Specific people. In this particular context, it's talking about Jewish people that are liars.

[11:17] Now, that's very interesting, right? Those that are opposing this church in Philadelphia. And it's such a problem. Whatever this lie is, they're lies that are being spread or they're living out, whatever it is, that Christ is saying that he will make them bow down before the ones that are against the church, against the believers.

[11:45] Now, that's very interesting. Now, it's not to bow down and worship them. No, it's for them to bow down in reverence, to recognize or to acknowledge the people of God.

[11:57] Now, I do have, do I have Isaiah? I should have Isaiah 60 in there, verse 14. Now, this is also fulfillment of prophecy.

[12:08] The sons of those who afflicted you shall come bending low to you, and all who despised you shall bow down at your feet. They shall call you the city of the Lord, the Zion of the Holy One of Israel.

[12:21] This is another direct connection where it's talking about the city of God, and those that are opposing the people of God will bow down in recognition to the people of God.

[12:32] And we have also in here showing that how Christ loves his people, right? Because you are precious in my eyes and honored, and I love you.

[12:44] I give men in return for you, people in exchange for your life. So it's just very interesting seeing how these passages in Isaiah are all connected when we think about it.

[12:55] It's that first one in Isaiah 60 is talking about the holy city, the future Israel. And then in Isaiah 43, 4, it's speaking of Christ.

[13:09] So it's kind of showing the prophetic, as it were, the things that will happen in the future. We go over to verse 10 and 11, right, where it's mentioning here, because you have kept my word about patience and endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial.

[13:28] Now, the hour of trial, we see that in Scripture, right, where the hour is at hand, right? When it mentions in Luke, this is your hour and the power of darkness, which is talking about judgment or testing that is going to come.

[13:42] So in this context, what Christ is saying in verse 10, you have kept my word and I will keep you from the hour of trial, from testing, from judgment, as it were.

[13:54] So they are remaining in Christ. They've been faithful to him. And it's wonderful to know, despite what these Jewish people, these people who are opposing the church, they feel or they are weak by worldly standards.

[14:16] And yet in Christ, they are strong. What a wonderful parallel that we can think, especially when it comes to us in our own situations, when we are dealing with culture, when we're dealing with those tough situations.

[14:30] It may not be specifically someone who is opposing you, but maybe it is. Maybe you have experienced someone who is directly opposing you and your walk in faith in Christ.

[14:43] Maybe it's someone who is opposing what you believe in and what you hold dear. The call is for you to remain in Christ, to hold fast as it were.

[14:53] That is the lesson that we can learn. And that was the message for this church in Philadelphia. So he's calling for them to remain so that no one seizes their crown.

[15:04] Now, it's very interesting when we're talking about this idea of crowns, right? When I talked about lampstands for churches, it was this imagery of a church's witness being lost, that you don't want to lose your witness.

[15:20] And when it comes to receiving your crown, that is speaking of your testimony. That's not necessarily a salvation thing. That is your testimony. Now, what's very interesting about it is that being saved by believing in Jesus Christ, we have the ability to wear.

[15:40] There's many types of crown. There's the crown of life. There's the crown of righteousness. There's all different types of crowns that we can wear. But it's important for us not to, in other words, not to lose our testimony.

[15:53] We remain in Christ and we make sure that our lives, the actions, the things that we do, the words that we speak, are in alignment with Christ.

[16:04] That they're in alignment with Scripture. Because you don't want to be a hypocrite, let alone a liar at that. And that's very important for us, is may we live lives that honor and glorify the Lord.

[16:19] And so that crown there is just very interesting and beautiful imagery, right? You don't want to have anyone steal your crown, right? You think about that. I kind of think on a more practical level, like if you've ever been to Burger King and you've worn the little crown, right?

[16:35] You don't want your friends or your family, like I've got kids here. So, you know, when one kid wants to, Aaron specifically, wants to celebrate his birthday, of course people want to steal his crown, right?

[16:47] So you can kind of think of that kind of imagery here. But certainly the crown of life and the crown that is being mentioned here in Scripture is not a Burger King crown. Let me make that very clear here.

[16:59] But it's important for us to get that imagery nonetheless. Don't lose your witness. Let your testimony, may that be worn, may that shine as it were.

[17:10] And so that's very important. And so it is witness, it is reward, and wearing this crown is the call to remain in Christ. Just as it says in James 1, verse 12, blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

[17:35] And it goes on, we go back to Revelation in verses 12 to 13, the one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

[17:46] What a strange language, right? A pillar? What do you mean by that? When it's talking about a pillar in the temple of God, it's being remembered. Just like how we've had the imagery of the book of life, right?

[17:59] Not being blotted out of the book of life, being remembered. Now that is some pretty powerful language. In fact, in... Do I have Isaiah 65?

[18:12] I think I do. There you go. This is very interesting. Directly connected with what we're seeing in Revelation. I'll read it out loud. For behold, I create new heavens and new earth.

[18:22] That's very Revelation-like language right there, right? Prophetic. And the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind, but be glad and rejoice forever. That which I create, for behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy and her people to be a gladness.

[18:38] I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people. No more shall be heard in the sound of weeping and the cry of distress in here. And when we're reading this language, it's directly connected in dwelling into the city of God.

[18:56] And that imagery of being a pillar is being part of this city, as it were. Being remembered. We think of Christ as the foundation. Well, imagine your life being a pillar upon that foundation.

[19:07] You can think of many different words or ways to explain this. But it's very interesting when we're talking about the city of God and the new Jerusalem and how this is connected with Isaiah.

[19:18] There's a lot of Isaiah parallels and connections that we see in here. But it helps us with our understanding of Scripture. It helps us to grow in our faith and to see God how to plan all along.

[19:31] And we praise God. Can I get an amen on that? I mean, that's beautiful. That's remarkable. And so in this, then, let's go to the interpretation. Those are all the things that we can observe and that's a lot in there.

[19:44] We're talking about pillars and keys and doors and remaining. That's very important. But it's simplistic language. Think about it. Christ has the key to open the door and to close it.

[19:59] That's easy. That's easy for us to understand. Or how important it is for us to know that when we are weak, it is Christ who is strong.

[20:11] That's a wonderful thing, right? And here, that's the interpretation, right? Directly connected. Only Jesus can open and close the door.

[20:23] Only Jesus can. It is Christ who is the one who is in control. Not man, not society, not culture, not even government.

[20:40] And I want you to think of that imagery I gave earlier of Monsters Incorporated, right? That movie, right? Where the guy is trying to open the door and he can't get through. Might as well be locked.

[20:52] It's a useless door at that point, right? We have to think of that and how that's connected. This shows the power of Christ and his ability to open and close the door.

[21:05] It's like how I've mentioned in previous sermons, I've said it before and I'll say it again, that Christ gives us time, but not forever. When we have that imagery of the open door, by golly, go through it.

[21:20] Enter through the narrow gate. Enter through the door, as it were. We think of this imagery and the opportunity for us to go through the open door. Especially, what comfort it is when we are weak.

[21:34] to know that God is the God of comfort and he's always there for us. Even when we have our battles and when we're facing the synagogue of Satan, a group of people who are liars and opposing.

[21:47] Even if we do face something like that, I hope that none of us do. But if we do, know that God is there with you. That he is for you and he is not against you.

[21:59] I want you to ask yourself, am I trusting in Christ, knowing that he has opened the door before me? Are you going to go through it? That's a question for you to think of.

[22:11] The second thing then is, as I was mentioning, when we are weak, he provides a way. This is how it's all connected in here. That we are not alone. That God is there with us.

[22:23] Well, even when people think that they have the power. We think of the culture in which we live in, the technological advances and all the things, right, that are happening in the world.

[22:37] It is God who is in control. And I know for a lot of us, don't we, don't raise your hand please, don't we wish we were in control? Right? We all have that tendency.

[22:47] I mean, especially if you're a controlling person, right? A lot of us have that tendency to want to be in control. But there's limits to our power, and to our control.

[23:01] We think of God. He is the one who is in control. Not us. And I know it's hard because for a lot of us, that's very humbling. I want to be in control. What are you talking about?

[23:13] But essentially, the truth remains truth. God is in control. And we face experiences in this imperfect world. Our struggles, our trials, and our tribulations.

[23:26] All of these things that we experience, not only is God there with us, but he provides a way. He provides comfort. He's always there for us.

[23:37] And just think of that imagery of the open door that is available to you when you're going through a trial or a tribulation. And as I was mentioning, our enemies, culture and society, may think that they have control, but at the end, they don't.

[23:56] Even the ones that try to steal our crown, may we know that we are protected in Christ. And then finally, I have as the third point, endurance brings forth rewards in the city of God.

[24:10] We keep the word in our heart. Let God work in and through you and may we be able to tell people, to show people our living testimony.

[24:21] May we witness to God. Now certainly, we're not perfect. Anybody here perfect, right? Just like that verse, let he who is without sin cast the first stone. Nobody threw the stone, right?

[24:32] If you haven't read that, right? And I always love that scene when Jesus is writing on the sand. A lot of scholars debate, what was he writing in the sand? I like to think he was writing down their sins or writing down their names.

[24:45] That's why they're all walking away, right? But in any sense, it's just important for us to remain in him. Even when there is judgment or there's trial, people that are rising up against us, we remain in Christ.

[25:03] Let our testimony, let our witness remain. Let's not lose that crown, as it were, right? I know I mentioned Burger King, but this is something that's much more significant than a silly Burger King crown, right?

[25:15] I use that only as imagery because I don't think I've ever worn a crown. Maybe I've worn a plastic crown. Maybe you have as well, but I can't think of many instances where we wear crowns, do we?

[25:26] We might wear a hat from time to time, but crowns, probably not. And so we are to live our life in preparation and anticipation of Christ's return and reign.

[25:40] And we will be rewarded to live in the city of God, the new heaven and the new earth. And I don't know about you, but when I think of Christ ruling and reigning and his way being higher and in that Isaiah, can you pull up the Isaiah chapter 60?

[26:05] When we went in that, I think Isaiah 65, let's try that other one, yeah.

[26:17] The new heavens and the new earth, the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind, but be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create. Behold, I create Jerusalem to be a joy and her people to be a gladness.

[26:32] I will rejoice in Jerusalem and be glad in my people. No more shall be heard the sound of weeping or the cry of distress. I don't know about you, that's very comforting.

[26:45] How many times have we been in distress or how many times have we wept here on the earth? Don't answer that. But we think of that kind of imagery of the new heavens and the new earth.

[26:58] Very powerful. To dwell with him forever. That's something that's, it's astonishing. And it's something certainly that's maybe hard for us to wrap our minds around, I admit.

[27:10] But it's beautiful nonetheless. Ask yourself, where are you or when have you been weak? And how can you trust in God who is the strong one?

[27:24] Or ask yourself the question, where is Christ calling me to patiently endure? And finally, we have our application, how should we respond?

[27:39] Well, the first thing is to seek Christ, right? To seek Christ, the holy and true one. First and foremost, you've got to know Jesus Christ, the way, the truth, and the life.

[27:50] God is holy and righteous, just like we had in our interactive reading, to ask, to seek, and to knock. Well, in this case, we're talking about a door that is open, that only Christ can open.

[28:02] May you respond by going through the door, responding to Christ's invitation for salvation. Trust in the Father who gives the Holy Spirit.

[28:12] the greatest reward that we can receive here on earth is salvation from Jesus Christ. By believing in the Lord and being saved, the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

[28:25] And that second thing, then, is to remain in Him. I put in here, be a pillar, right? Be a pillar and be crowned with life, right?

[28:38] Our call is to grow in Christ and to remain in Christ in our spiritual walk. We think of this imagery where, I mean, how many of us have gone hiking before, right? I mean, I sure hope we all have.

[28:50] Is every path or every journey, if you're trying to get on top of a mountain or you're trying to go down to a river or whatever it is, is it always easy? Well, no. Sometimes you trip over a rock and you're like, I've walked this trail many times.

[29:06] Or other times, the path may be a rocky way, as it were. All I'm saying is that the journey may not be perfect.

[29:19] There will be times where we trip and we fall. There may be times where we may even question what we're doing. But in any sense, we have got to be on this path, this journey in Christ, growing, being transformed and becoming more like him.

[29:38] And we think about it as we journey, the culture, the world, people may go against you, but may you never be distracted. May you never be derailed, right? May you never deter from your walk in Christ.

[29:55] Remain in his word. Remain in his love and his promises. And so we not only respond by receiving the gift of salvation, but we continue to respond by repentance, our mind being changed, our heart being transformed as we journey through this life becoming more like him.

[30:16] It's rewarding. It's wonderful when you see someone become more Christ-like. Now, I'm sure many of you may know a pretty wicked person.

[30:27] Don't give me names. Don't tell me who. Maybe later, right? But you may know of a wicked person who has a hardened heart, right?

[30:39] Maybe you know of someone whose heart has been softened, whose heart has been transformed, or even the very way that they think is different.

[30:51] You want to talk about transformation, the working of the Holy Spirit? spirit. That is but one example you can think of. Think of what, it may even be you.

[31:03] You may be like, I don't know anybody. Well, maybe it was because it was you, right? Maybe God was working in your life to be more like him, to be transformed. I think I've mentioned, I'm not going to give any names, but I knew of one gentleman who was married to a very good Christian woman, very angry, very bitter.

[31:27] He didn't want to be around the guy. He wasn't a pleasant person. after the, what, five years that I knew him, I think the first three were, I didn't want to hang out with him.

[31:41] I wanted to hang around the rest of the family. But over time, prayer, being present, the Lord worked in his life to the point where the man made a decision for Christ, got baptized, and he ain't perfect.

[32:00] And none of us are. Right? But to see the transformation in his life, to see his heart soften, where, now your family wants to be with you more so.

[32:15] Now that hostility and that toxicity is being changed. And that's just maybe a more extreme example. Maybe not.

[32:26] But how God works in us, the ability for us to be molded, people see that. People recognize that. People will know, like, hey, you're not the same person that I know.

[32:41] And granted, a lot of it's just because we're growing up, right? But there's also that spiritual transformation where there's something about you. Or there's something that God is doing in your life that, and I can't put my finger on it, but people know these kind of things.

[32:58] And so, how very powerful is it? Respond by word and action. Think about how you respond to people.

[33:13] And I know for some of us, we'd rather not deal with people, right? But we live in a world where we have to deal with people. And I pray that for each and every one of us, whether you're online or whether you're here in person, that God will work in your life and that you will be transformed and that you can share and shine the light of Christ with other people.

[33:40] Just think about how so many people are in darkness or how many people do not know the truth and how your very interaction can have such a profound impact.

[33:54] My wife will tell you the story of someone who was not a Christian, grew up with this woman, and years later, high school reunion said, you know, I knew you were always a Christian and I didn't know about this Jesus person, right?

[34:10] Just little interactions. The everyday. The people that we talk to, the things that we do, all of these things. They make and they have a profound impact.

[34:23] And finally, the third one is to show others the door. And I don't mean show them out of the door, get out of here, because I got to be careful when I write these kind of things. Show others the door, get out of here, right?

[34:34] No. Show others the door, what church? That Christ provides for all. We have to think that God gives us time for us to be saved, to grow, to transform, and to act by sharing in the gospel of Jesus Christ with other people.

[34:52] May we minister. May we speak truth. May we deal in love and may we let people know that, hey, Christ is the way, the truth, and the life.

[35:04] And there is a door that Christ has the key to and that door is open. And then, you better go through it. easy language we can think of.

[35:15] Simplistic, but very powerful and very well connected. I mean, when we're looking at all those connections with Isaiah, use that kind of imagery, though. A key to a door, a door that is open and the opportunity of how you can speak the gospel message to others.

[35:35] Think of the opportunity of you serving others, speaking truth, inviting people to church and encouraging them in their life journey. Certainly, as I mentioned earlier, none of us are perfect, but certainly, we should all be journeying together in our life in Christ.

[35:54] I challenge for you, look for one person that you can talk with this week. Think of one person that, not showing them the door out, but showing them the door in, the door to come to Christ and how powerful that is.

[36:12] Your very interaction can literally be life-saving. Just think about that, that your one interaction can have such a profound impact on people and that can be convicting to us, right?

[36:27] It was like, well, what if I was having a bad day? You know, am I going to affect them negatively? You can still speak to that. We're all human, but may we own up to it. May we be able to show people the love despite our imperfections.

[36:46] And so ask yourself the question then, who can I show the open door of Christ's love? Think of one person. Could be a phone call, could be a text, it could be a visit.

[36:57] There's all these kind of opportunities for us to minister to people and we have to think, we are all called to share in the gospel message. We are all called to be saved by, in Christ, by believing in him.

[37:13] We're all called to grow and we're all called to act upon it. And so how important it is for us to share. Let people know of the open door.

[37:24] I think of, just as a little humor here, you think of that song, is it Frozen, Love is an Open Door? Am I right? Okay, okay, it is Frozen, right?

[37:35] You can think of that song too, right? I know, I have a lot of movie analogies, you guys. I mentioned Lion King last week, I'm mentioning Monsters Incorporated, what's going on here, right?

[37:47] But you can think of that analogy, right, in Frozen, of love is an open door, that Christ has the door that is open and he's exhibiting his love by opening.

[37:58] May you respond to that love. All these kind of connections that we can relate with people and we can connect with people. That's the beautiful thing about movies and all these things.

[38:09] It can be an opportunity to point them to Christ. And so in all of this, let us remember, let us think about this church in Philadelphia, that Christ holds the key to the door.

[38:21] He determines what's open and what's shut. When we are weak, it is Christ that is strong. He gives us comfort, strength, peace. He is that strong tower.

[38:33] And then also that, may we remain and become a pillar, right? May we wear that crown as it were. Let's pray together. Father God, we thank you for this time and once again, this opportunity for us to go through Revelation.

[38:50] We know that Revelation is such an unusual book of the Bible, but by golly, it is your word. And we humbly come before you and your word.

[39:01] We ask that the Holy Spirit will move in our hearts and our minds to transform us. May we understand more this church in Philadelphia.

[39:13] when we're thinking about those that are opposing that church, may we know that there are people that will oppose us.

[39:25] May we recognize that when we are weak, you are strong. And may we turn to you during trials and tribulations or even in moments of weakness. I pray for everyone here this morning who's in person and those that have joined us online on Rumble, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook, wherever, or even those listening later.

[39:50] May you come to know Christ, the way, the truth, and the life. May you begin on a journey in him, being transformed and growing in him. And may you be moved to wear the crown, the crown of life.

[40:06] May you speak truth. May you live like Christ as a beacon of hope for others. We love you, we praise you, we glorify you, and we honor you.

[40:19] It is in the name of Jesus Christ that we pray and we all say together, can I get an amen? Amen. Thank you for listening to today's message. I hope that this sermon encouraged you.

[40:32] You know, when I was preparing this message, I kept thinking about that gentleman that I mentioned, the one that was so angry and bitter, and how God transformed his heart over time.

[40:42] That is the power of what we're talking about here. God is the God of transformation. When we remain faithful, even when we feel weak, God works in us and through us in ways that we can't even imagine.

[40:58] And that's really what Philadelphia teaches us. This church didn't have influence, they didn't have power by the world's standards, standards, but they had something more important.

[41:09] They were faithful to God. They kept Christ's word. They didn't deny his name. And I want to challenge you this week with something practical. Think of one person, just one person who needs to hear about this open door that Christ provides.

[41:25] Maybe it's a co-worker, a family member, a neighbor, someone who is walking in darkness and needs to know that there is a door of hope and Christ has the key. Maybe it's a text, a phone call, an invitation to coffee and the great thing is you don't have to have all the answers, you just have to point them to the one who does.

[41:47] And hey, if you are feeling weak or powerless right now, if you're going through something difficult, remember this church in Philadelphia. Christ doesn't need your strength, he needs your faithfulness.

[42:01] When you are weak, he is strong. And that is a promise that you can hold on to. We'll come back to Revelation after the new year to finish the seven churches with Laodicea.

[42:13] And then, we'll dive into the really exciting prophetic visions in the rest of the book of Revelation. But for now, let's enter in the season of Advent together.

[42:24] All of our resources from today, the Bible study, congregational notes, slides, they're all available for free on our website at OntarioCommunityChurch.org.

[42:36] Everything is in our sermon archive, so you can go back and review or even share it with someone else. Thank you for being a part of this journey through Revelation with us.

[42:46] It has been such a blessing to study these churches together and to see what Christ is saying to his church then and now. May you hold fast and remain into what you have.

[42:59] May you walk through the open door that Christ sets before you. And may you trust in his strength when you have little power, knowing that he is making you into a pillar in his temple.

[43:12] God bless you. We will see you next week as we begin Advent. Advent. Thank you.

[43:46] Thank you.

[44:16] Thank you.