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WEEKLY
Volume 2 Number 6
8 July 2007
Hold Fast Which Thou Hast
(Message
delivered by Rev Hien Nguyen at the Sunday Worship Service, 2 pm, July
1, 2007)
Text:
Rev 3:7-13
People in this world usually experience
their costly lessons when they put their trust in man. It is
disappointing to trust in ungodly man because he is neither perfect nor
holy, and due to his weaknesses and sinful nature, he may make mistakes
and be not even true to himself, to his words and his promises. The
Psalmist wisely puts his trust in the Lord and His Word, saying, “It
is better to trust in the LORD than to put confidence in man…in princes”
(Ps 118:8-9), and “So shall I have wherewith to answer him that
reproacheth me: for I trust in thy word” (Ps 119:42). Among a
people of unholiness, ungodliness, and lies, “them of the synagogue
of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie,” our
Lord Jesus encouraged the Church in Philadelphia to trust in Him and His
Word and hold fast what they had because He is holy, true and mighty.
Jesus’ Words to the Church in
Philadelphia
Recipient:
The messenger of the church in Philadelphia. Philadelphia (brotherly
love) was a city in Lydia of Asia Minor. It was built by Attalus II,
also known as Philadelphus, who reigned as king of Pergamum from 159-138
BC; therefore, it bore his name, Philadelphia. Having a very good
location, Philadelphia served as a vital link in communication and trade
between Sardis to the west and Laodicea to the east. With fertile
plains, it was rich with vineyards and was a centre of the wine
production. Its chief pagan god was Dionysus, in Greek mythology the god
of wine (the Roman Bacchus). It was a center of agriculture, leather
production, and textile industry.
It was about twenty-eight miles (45 km)
south-east of Sardis. Subject to several earthquakes, it was heavily
damaged by the great earthquake in the year AD 17 and was rebuilt by the
Roman emperor Tiberius. Due to earthquakes and persecutions, the
believers in Philadelphia were poor.
The church in Philadelphia was founded upon
the ministry of the apostle Paul to his disciples at the school of
Tyrannus in Ephesus for two years, “so that all they which dwelt in
Asia heard the word of the
Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks”
(Acts 19:10).
When the apostle John wrote from Patmos
near the end of the first century, the churches of western Asia
including Philadelphia were undergoing persecution. Our Lord Jesus did
not rebuke them but gave them encouragement and precious promises. Some
years later, the bishop of Antioch, the martyr Ignatius, wrote a letter
to the church in Philadelphia, expressing appreciation for his recent
visit with them.
A few ruins are found, including remains of
a wall and about twenty-five churches. In one place, there are four
strong marble pillars which once supported the dome of a church.
Philadelphia is known today as Alashehir (the City of God).
Author:
The Lord Jesus manifested Himself as “he that is holy, he that is
true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man
shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth” (v 7).
As He is holy, His name is holy (Ps 111:9),
His Word is holy (2 Tim 3:15), His promise is holy (Ps 105:42), all his
works are holy (Ps 145:17), His law is holy and His commandment is holy
(Rom 7:12). Then, our Lord cannot make mistakes and His Word cannot have
any mistakes. We are to fear Him and honour His Word, and we can
wholeheartedly put our trust in Him and His Word without any doubt,
reservation, regret or apology.
Our Lord is true because He is the living
and true God (Jer 10:10; 1 Thess 1:9; 1 John 5:20), the true Light (John
1:9), the true bread from heaven (John 6:32), the true vine (John 15:1),
the true witness (Rev 3:14), and is called “Faithful and True”
(Rev 19:11); moreover, His Word is true (Ps 119:160), His
record/testimony is true (John 8:14), His judgment is true (John 8:16;
Rev 16:7), and His ways are true (Rev 15:3). Then, we will not be
disappointed or regretful when we trust in Him and His Word.
Our Lord “hath the key of David, he that
openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth.”
“The kingdom of David” (Mark 11:10) refers to the Messianic kingdom
under the reign of our Lord Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of
lords, who shall sit on the “throne of David” (Luke 1:32) and who has
“the key of David,” which refers to the key of His kingdom, “And the
key of the house of David will I lay upon his shoulder; so he shall
open, and none shall shut; and he shall shut, and none shall open” (Isa
22:22). Then, our Lord Jesus Christ is sovereign and mighty, and no one
nor anything can hinder or stop what He is doing according to His will,
purpose, and pleasure. Truly, all power is given unto Him in heaven and
in earth (Matt 28:18), and we can put our trust in Him, His work and His
timing and wait upon Him with our full dependence and submission. When
we are helpless and hopeless and it seems that we have come up against a
brick wall in our ministry, what should we do? Many do not want to learn
the lesson of humility and submission in waiting upon the Lord’s
sovereign will, way and timing, so they are willing to compromise God’s
Word and Truth to extend their own “kingdom” in worldly ways. How about
you and me? May the Lord help us patiently and humbly wait upon Him and
look unto Him, who has the key to open a door for us in His right time.
Jesus’ Words of Praise and Encouragement
Our Lord Jesus did not rebuke the faithful
believers in Philadelphia but encouraged them, “I know thy works:
behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for
thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied
my name” (v 8). Our Lord Jesus knew their works and was pleased with
their faithfulness in keeping His word and not denying His name even
though they had little strength and were living in ungodly and hostile
environment where “the synagogue of Satan” was. The verb “keep”
here means “obey, observe, fulfill a duty watchfully, vigilantly.” This
shows how they loved the Lord, “If a man love me, he will keep my
words” (John 14:23) and “But whoso keepeth his word, in him
verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him”
(1 John 2:5). They not only kept God’s Word but also kept it with
endurance, “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience” (v
10). That means they were willing to endure all things including trials,
sufferings, persecutions, and temptations to keep/obey God’s Word
without giving up their faith in Him and His Word. Then, do you and I
truly love the Lord and keep/obey His Word with faith and perseverance
no matter what may happen to us?
It is so encouraging to hear the words from
the Lord, “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut
it.” It is always good for us to remember that it is the Lord who
opens a door for us to serve Him so that we may not be proud and think
that it is due to our efforts, ability or cleverness. The Bible tells us
that Paul and Barnabas “rehearsed all that God had done with them,
and how he had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles” (Acts
14:27). Paul acknowledged the Lord’s work, “For a great door and
effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Cor
16:9), and “Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s
gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord” (2 Cor 2:12), and
he asked the believers in Colossae to pray for him, “Withal praying
also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak
the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds” (Col 4:3). May
God help us have the same attitude as Paul’s.
Then, the Lord encouraged them, “Behold,
I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy
crown” (v 11). The verb “hold fast” means “keep hold of something
that belongs to oneself, so that it cannot be taken away from him,” and
this verb is an active command in the present tense, denoting, “Keep on
holding fast.” What did the believers in Philadelphia have and keep on
holding fast? It is their little strength, their faithfulness and
perseverance in keeping God’s Word and their public confession of Jesus’
Name. May the Lord help you and me keep on holding fast our submission
and obedience to the Lord and His Word and our faith in His Name until
He comes.
Jesus’ Precious Promises
Our Lord promised, “Behold, I will make
them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not,
but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy
feet, and to know that I have loved thee” (v 9). Only God is worthy
to receive our worship (John 4:23-24; Rev 4:10; 14:7). The angel dare
not receive the worship from man (Rev 19:10; 22:9), neither did Peter,
Paul and Barnabas (Acts 10:25-26; 14:11-18). Then our Lord did not mean
to make the false Jews to come and worship before the feet of believers
in Philadelphia. The term “worship” literally means “kiss toward
someone, to throw a kiss in token of respect.” The ancient oriental
(especially Persian) mode of salutation between persons of equal ranks
was to kiss each other on the lips; when the difference of rank was
light, they kissed each other on the cheek; and when one was much
inferior, he fell upon his knees and touched his forehead to the ground,
throwing kisses toward the superior to show his great respect. It is so
encouraging to know that our Lord Jesus some day will cause those who
have despised, hated, and persecuted us to come and give their great
respect to us and know that He has loved us!
Our Lord also promised them, “Because
thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the
hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the
world, to try them that dwell upon the earth” (v 10). The word
“temptation” here also means “trial, test, testing for the purpose of
proving someone.” Our Lord confirms that temptation, trial, or test will
come upon all the world to try/prove them that dwell upon the earth. Can
you and I endure and stand that trial? “Wherefore let him that
thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall” (1 Cor 10:12). You and
I do not know what may happen to us tomorrow, but our Lord knows, so if
we humbly trust in Him and keep His Word with perseverance, He will keep
us from that hour of trial as He has promised. Thanks and praise be to
the Lord! Then, how can those who do not keep His Word but question,
criticize or cast doubt on His Word stand?
Rewards for Those Who Overcome
Due to earthquakes, the believers in
Philadelphia understood that strong pillars were so important and vital
to support their church buildings. Here our Lord said to them, “Him
that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and
he shall go no more out:” (v 12). The Church is the temple of God (1
Cor 3:16-17; 1 Tim 3:15). Do you and I want to be “pillars” in
His church? James, Cephas (Peter) and John seemed to be “pillars” of the
church (Gal 2:9). God only uses those who overcome Satan and humbly
submit themselves to Him and His Word with faith and love to keep
important and vital roles in His church! Furthermore, our Lord promises,
“I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city
of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from
my God: and I will write upon him my new name.” Is it not a great
blessing and honour for you and me to be written upon the name of our
God, the name of God’s city and the new name of our Saviour?
Conclusion
My friends, our Lord is still speaking to all the
churches and to each one of us today. To be blessed, we must overcome
Satan and keep on holding fast our faith in, and our humble submission
and obedience to the Lord and His Word until He comes. May the Lord help
us trust in Him, His Word and His sovereignty and then patiently wait
upon Him, His will, His way and His good timing. Amen.
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