What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan's Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
Jesus' prophetic history of the church is pretty disparaging up to this point. A left first love, a persecution from the synagogue of Satan, doctrines of Balaam and Nicolaitans, and the suffrage for Jezebel leaves a church with “thou hast a name that thou livest, and art dead” (Rev.2,3:1). But everything changes, for a moment, in the message to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. There is a minority, a remnant of the church as it were, whom Jesus said, “thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name” (3:8).
“If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” (Prov.24:10). “Strengthen, O God, that which thou hast wrought for us.” (Ps.68:28b). Hey Joshua, “Be strong and of a good courage ...” (Deut.31:6, cf. 1Cor.16:13, Eph.6:10, 2Tim.2:1).
Thou hast kept my word … hide it in your heart (Ps.119:11), bountifully (vr.17), in affliction (vr.67), more than the ancients (vr.100), and refraining from evil (vr.101, 168), because that's what genuine believers do (Jhn.17:6)! Philadelphians do not deny his name; they walk in paths of righteousness for his names sake (Ps.23:3). They receive a child (Lu.9:48), Ask-Seek-n-Knock (Jhn.14:14), and fill with the Holy Ghost (vr.26) in his name. Philadelphians keep the word of Christ's patience … “for even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example” … (1Pet.2:21).
Philadelphians hold fast to the five available crowns (Glory&Honor, Heb.2:7; Righteousness, 2Tim.4:8; Life, Ja.1:12, Rev.2:10; Soul-Winners-Rejoicing, 1Thes.2:19; and Pastor's, 1Pet.5:4). They are pre-millennial and pre-tribulational in looking for Christ's coming, i.e. they are kept from the hour, and know that Christ has the Key of David. Be Philadelphian in these last days! Keep his word, don't deny his name, and add to your faith … patience (2Pet.1:5-7).
An Essay for week #39 - Sep 26, 2021
Msg in audio at www.GSBaptistChurch.com/audio/gs210926.mp3
Over 850 Penny Pulpits www.GSBaptistChurch.com/ppulpit
Copyright © 2021 Good Samaritan Baptist Church, All Public Domain, Freely Copy and Distribute.
A weekly 300 word essay- The Penny Pulpit
Our mailing address is:
Good Samaritan Baptist Church
54 Main St. Box 99
Dresden, NY 14441