The Church in Philadelphia: Weak but Worthy
Today’s passage: Revelation 3:7–13
Focus verse: “I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8)
The church in Philadelphia is another church that only appears in Revelation. In Jesus’s letter to them, he offers encouragement for both the present and the future.
The closest thing he has to criticism comes across more as an observation. He knows that they have little strength. He doesn’t condemn them for being weak or command them to become strong.
He does, however, acknowledge that despite having little strength, they have kept his word and not denied his name.
What encouragement this is for those of us who feel weak, lacking the faith-filled strength we see in others and not having it in ourselves. Even from our weakness, we—like the church in Philadelphia—can still accomplish what matters most.
We can hold true to God’s word, obeying what he says and living a life that honors him. We can also affirm Jesus as our Savior and not deny him before others. That is, we can tell others about him.
These qualities stand as two foundational traits of what it means when we follow Jesus: to do what he says and tell others about him.
Since the church in Philadelphia has kept Jesus’s commands with patient endurance, he promises to shelter them from the future world-wide test, the hour of trial that is to come.
They have proven themselves already and will not need to do so again. God will protect them from that onslaught.
He also reminds them that he’s coming soon and encourages them to hold on to what they have. This isn’t, however, permission to coast. It’s an instruction to press forward in what they’re already doing and finish the race strong.
He promises to make the victors into a pillar—a central support structure, an element of strength—in God’s temple. (See 1 Peter 2:4–6.)
Questions:
- If we perceive ourselves as weak, what can we do to follow the example of the church in Philadelphia?
- If we perceive ourselves as strong, how should we act?
- How well do we do at obeying Jesus?
- How well do we do at telling others about him?
- Is our church coasting or pushing hard to finish strong?
[Discover more about weakness in Ezekiel 34:16, Joel 3:10, and 2 Corinthians 12:10. Read about strength in Romans 15:1 and 1 Peter 4:11.]
Tips: Check out our tips to use this online Bible study for your church, small group, Sunday school class, or family discussion. It’s also ideal for personal study. Come back each Monday for a new lesson.
Read more in Peter’s devotional Bible study, A New Heaven and a New Earth: 40 Practical Insights from John’s Book of Revelation.
Peter DeHaan writes about biblical Christianity to confront status quo religion and live a life that matters. He seeks a fresh approach to following Jesus through the lens of Scripture, without the baggage of made-up traditions and meaningless practices.
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