Message by Dr. David Drake
What Kind Of Church Are We?
Philadelphia, The Loving Church
Revelation 3:7-13
Introduction:
In The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren of Saddleback Community Church wrote about six paradigms of church “character.” They are:
The Soul-Winning Church
The Experiencing God Church
The Family Reunion Church
The Bible Classroom Church
The Social Conscience Church
The Purpose Driven Church
Revelation 3:7-13 (NASB)
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this:
8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and are not, but lie””I will make them come and bow down at your feet, and make them know that I have loved you.
10 ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown.
12 ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write on him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name.
13 ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’
In the church in Philadelphia (1750-1950) and needed in the church today…
1. There must be a “Loving” Foundation…vs. 7-8
This foundation must be built on the Character of Christ*.
Galatians 5:22-23 (NASB)
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.
*Supreme Holiness
Revelation 4:8 (NASB)
8 And the four living creatures, each one of them having six wings, are full of eyes around and within; and day and night they do not cease to say, “HOLY, HOLY, HOLY is THE LORD GOD, THE ALMIGHTY, WHO WAS AND WHO IS AND WHO IS TO COME.”
*Surpassing Holiness
John 14:5-6 (NASB)
5 Thomas *said to Him, “Lord, we do not know where You are going, how do we know the way?”
6 Jesus *said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
*Sovereign Authority
Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB)
9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,
10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
This foundation must be built on the Conduct of the Believer.
2. There must be a “Loving” Faithfulness…vs. 9-10
Followers must be faithful…
-in their Worship of God
-to keep the Word of God
3. There must be a “Loving” Family…vs. 11-12
A church must genuinely know God and must be genuinely known by God.
John 13:34-35 (NASB)
34 “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, even as I have loved you, that you also love one another.
35 “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
If you want to be an overcomer, you must be overcome.
1 John 4:8 (NASB)
8 The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
John 3:16 (NASB)
16 “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.
Romans 5:8 (NASB)
8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.