Philadelphia The Healthy Church

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Philadelphia - The Healthy Church

• Overcomers - Part 6 of 7
• Revelation 37-13 Selected
• Cross Creek Community Church
• Pastor Dave Martin
• September 15, 2002

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Written to seven individual churches which are
representative of seven periods of church history

• 1. Ephesus Apostolic Church 30-110 AD
• 2. Smyrna Persecuted Church 110-312 AD
• 3. Pergamos State Church 312-500 AD
• 4. Thyatira Tolerate Church 500-1500 AD
• 5. Sardis Dead Church 1500-1750 AD
• 6. Philadelphia Healthy Church 1750-Rapture

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PREVIEW PhiladelphiaBrotherly love

• Situated on a 800 hill overlooking important
  trade routes, 38 miles SE of Sardis

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The Church at Philadelphia
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• An archeological image found of a god the people
  worshipped
• Primary deity worshipped was Dionysus god of
  wine.

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PREMINENCE Of Jesus Christ

• Rev. 37 "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.

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Jesus Christ is

• Holy - Absolute holiness, purity, without sin,
  unblemished
• True - Genuine, no perversion or lies.
• Key of David - Represents sovereignty, authority,
  the messianic kingdom.

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PERSPECTIVE

• Rev. 38 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 know your deeds full and complete knowledge.

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Four Characteristics of a Healthy Church

• A Sense of POWERLESSNESS.
• Have a little strength
• 2 Cor. 129-10 But he said to me, "My grace is
  sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect
  in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more
  gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's
  power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's
  sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in
  hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For
  when I am weak, then I am strong.

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Four Characteristics of a Healthy Church

• A Passion to OBEY GOD.
• Have kept my Word
• John 1423-24 Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me,
  he will obey my teaching. My Father will love
  him, and we will come to him and make our home
  with him. 24He who does not love me will not obey
  my teaching. These words you hear are not my own
  they belong to the Father who sent me.

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At Cross Creek, we believe

• A Great Commitment to the
• Great Commandment and the
• Great Commission will grow a
• Great Church
• Mt 2237-39 Mt 2819-20

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Four Characteristics of a Healthy Church

• A Burden for OUTREACH.
• Have not denied my name
• 1 John 26 Whoever claims to live in him must
  walk as Jesus did.
• Matthew 2819 Therefore go and make disciples of
  all nations, baptizing them in the name of the
  Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

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Four Characteristics of a Healthy Church

• A Steadfast personal WALK.
• Endured patiently
• Matthew 1022 All men will hate you because of
  me, but he who stands firm to the end will be
  saved.
• Col. 110 And we pray this in order that you may
  live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him
  in every way bearing fruit in every good work,
  growing in the knowledge of God,

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PITFALLSNo condemnation mentioned
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PROGNOSIS

• Rev. 39-10 10Since 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.

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Because of our faithfulness, Jesus will

• Open doors of Opportunity.
• V8 I have placed before you an open door that no
  one can shut.

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Because of our faithfulness, Jesus will

• 2. Vindicate Believers.
• V9 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.

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Because of our faithfulness, Jesus will

• Rapture the church
• (before the tribulation period)
• V Verse 10 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.

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Rev. 311 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you
have, so that no one will take your crown.

• Jesus is coming soon!
• Remain faithful in serving me!
• You will not lose your rewards!

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PROMISE

• Rev. 312-13 Him who overcomes I will make a
  pillar in the temple of my 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. 13He who has an ear, let him hear what the
  Spirit says to the churches.

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Jesus promised the Overcomers

• Believers are made a pillar forever in Gods
  temple.
• Have names written on all believers.
• Name of my God
• Name of the city, New Jerusalem
• Name of Jesus new name

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A Healthy Church will have

• A Sense of Powerlessness in ourselves
• Submissive dependence upon the Lord
• A Passion to Obey God
• Having a hunger for Righteousness
• A Burden for Outreach
• Striving for the mind of Christ
• A Steadfast Personal Walk
• Growing in an intimate love relationship with God

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The true church will soon be caught up!

• If Jesus were to return today, would you be
  ready?
• Matthew 2444 So you also must be ready, because
  the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do
  not expect him.