Cork Free Presbyterian Church, 10 Briarscourt
(Annex) Shanakiel, Cork, Ireland
Pastor: Colin Maxwell. Email: colin.maxwell@fpcmission.org
Seventh in a series of 8 messages
READ: REVELATION 3:7-13 TEXT v11 HOLD FAST/CROWN 8/8
Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown.
The name Philadelphia has an interesting meaning: "Brotherly Love"
Hendriksen tells us that it was acquired when Attulus II who was a King in a place called Pergamon (Turkey)
This pagan king did something that every Christian is exhorted to do
i.e. he let brotherly love continue and stood loyally with his sibling
Eumenes
Hendriksen doesn't tell us how the gospel came to Philadelphia
While it would be nice to know, yet I find it strangely encouraging that no one seems to have the required information
A few unknown, unsung and unremembered folk moved into this town and evangelised the lost and saw a NT church established
May be unknown, unsung and unremembered as far as men are
concerned…but God knows, God praises and God remembers all that
His great unknowns have done
Once again, to a congregation in many ways like ours, this great NT exhortation to hold fast is sounded forth
None of us can walk away from these words
They are not mere suggestions - optional extras to be dispensed with because they might not suit at this particular time
The stating of any command is enough to establish it's importance
The repeating of it (x8/NT) must surely rivet it to our hearts
Even into the last Book/NT (whole/Bible) we have these words coming incessantly at us/to us
There can be no letting up - On our very death beds, let us hold fast
the various things which must be stout-heartedly maintained
Our text divides into 4 main points:
1) WHAT THE PHILADELPHIAN SAINTS HAD WAS WELL WORTH HOLDING ON TO:
Evidently they had something, hence the exhortation
Otherwise: Exhorted to gain for themselves what they needed
But they seemed to have possessed quite a lot
A/ A powerful God who is sovereign in all His ways (v7)
If God opens a door - none can shut it
If God shuts a door - none can open it
That excites me! I have this God and (more importantly) this God has me!
I will be their God and they shall be my people (2 Corinthians 6:16)
How can this not excite us? If it doesn't, it is because either
[i] We are ignorant of the fact - Learning it for the first time
[ii] We have failed to thoroughly grasp it, esp. its wonderful implications:
In which case, study it afresh and let it wash over your soul
Or
[iii] We have let it slip away from us (hence our text)
We have a bit of explanation given with this truth
Needful because of the potency of this text - dangerous stuff in the wrong hands i.e. of unbalanced fanatics
Sovereignty/God is regulated by all of God's other attributes
He is not a reckless depot void of any other characteristics
He is described in this sovereignty verse as being holy/true
God does not do anything that contravenes His own holiness/truth
His sovereignty, although absolute, is absolutely in line and consistent with these fundamental parts/His character
He will not throw His weight about to do any thing unholy or false
This truth is something we should hold fast
Should maintain it against Arminian brethren in the Evangelical Church
Also against its perversion by the hyper Calvinists also and any
others
B/ They had also many opportunities given them by God
God in His Sovereignty had opened them an open door (v8)
Similar phrase is used in 1 Corinthians 16:9
Great and effectual door is opened - there are many adversaries
We have many opportunities today: Serve God and witness for Him etc.,
We should hold them fast - Things which lie unused are often removed
Things often lie unused because they are despised
Considered either worthless or useless or out of fashion
No longer being considered in the in thing to do so many things which God has opened the door for us to do
To open the door of gospel service in Britain and Ireland, the English Reformers gave their lives
What would Tyndale think of desktop publishing? Cheap paper and ink?
What would he think of the internet/email? Or even a postal service?
Yet how little advantage are we taking of them!
Text is telling us to use them effectively while we have them
C/ They had the word/God (v8) - What a treasure they had there!
All the promises/God -all the doctrines - precepts to keep them right - the helpful warnings for the same purpose etc.,
In v10 the Scriptures are referred to "as the word of my patience"
Commentators come at this phrase many different ways e.g. the
word which teaches the patience/Christ (gospel) etc., Every thought
good
What happens when such a word is given up? Answer: v9
These Jews who had abandoned the Scriptures (once their advantage:
Romans 3:2) no longer could be rightly considered so: Synagogue/Satan
In this regard…let none of us be high-minded but fear (Romans 11:20)
D/ A distinct promise that they would overcome any temptation with
which the world would be afflicted (v10) - along with the regular
promises to overcomers (v12) These were all the things (listed)
E/ These were all worth holding unto - not an empty exhortation
2) ALTHOUGH THEY HAD BUT LITTLE STRENGTH, THEY WERE WELL ABLE TO HOLD UNTO THESE THINGS:
A/ Holding fast denotes a strong grip - applying of a grip of the hand
Implies an effort especially in a tug-o-war type situation where some would want to relieve us of what we presently possess
B/ Philadelphia is described as having a little strength: Of what kind?
[i] May be said spiritually since none (in/off ourselves) have any strength
John 15:5 - but I don't think passage is referring to this general thought
[ii] Refers to their lowly position in the world around them
So small (perhaps) as regards numbers - certainly regarding influence
No big money men in their congregation - Nobody in secular authority etc.,
Perhaps even hardly noticed/appreciated by the world round about them
I think (through God) they were quite big/strong spiritually
Apart from this ambiguous verse…nothing bad said about them
Hadn't suffered Jezebels etc., Certainly not like Laodicea
But they were small/weak outwardly
C/ Yet, they were commanded to hold fast what they had
The world cannot crush the church/Jesus Christ
Make things pretty awkward - they can lure away the folk to whom
exhortations like ours become a bore and smell of supposed legalism
But if the Lord has opened the door to a gospel witness then none can remove it if they hold fast
D/ This teaches us that the Lord is well able to look after His own work
The church does not need the world nor does it need to ape the world in order to maintain a viable testimony for Christ
We are in the world and we may make recourse to the justice systems
etc., to secure our rights: Paul did so (Acts 22:24-30/25:11)
But if they are withheld and no help is extended - we will survive!
We believe in an all Sufficient Sovereign God who has set down/writing
principles to guide us and so we should not think of letting the
world's way of gaining success influence us whatsoever
Worldly churches have the money/ influence…but their power/God is gone
Cp Laodicea who were rich/strong materially but knew not their great abounding poverty before God (v17)
E/ What do we have as a people? Small numbers - moderate finances -
little or no influence upon the high/mighty's in civic government
But that is no barrier to our fulfilling of this/any other exhortation
3) A CROWN AWAITS THOSE WHO HOLD FAST THESE THINGS:
A/ Salvation (although a complete unit) comprises of 3 separate stages
[i] Justification: Flows from the grace of God, purchased for us by the
blood/Christ and applied to us by faith once we come/Christ for
salvation
It is (for Believers) a one off, complete, perfect 100% declaration
that they stand before the Law/God without any guilt/condemnation
[ii] Sanctification: Ongoing work of the Spirit in the lives/justified people
Admits of degrees - incomplete in this life - ebbs/flows according as the Christian obeys God
[iii] Glorification: The reward (based/grace) which comes to the
justified Christian either at death or if the Lord returns first
This crown relates to the glorification/Christian: Consider these verses:
1 Corinthians 9:25/2 Timothy 4:8/James 1:12/1 Peter 5:4/Revelation 2:11
B/ Not our intention to look at each crown nor even guess at what particular crown is on offer here - suffice to say:
[i] A crown is of great value
[ii] A crown denotes great power
[iii] A crown carries great beauty
None of these things are to be given up
They are to be tightly maintained at whatever cost
4) THERE IS A DANGER THAT OUR CROWN TOOK BE TAKEN FROM US:
A/ Text implies it is possible through the exhortation
Says as much also in the words "that no man take thy crown"
B/ I don't believe that salvation can be lost (John 10:28) although God
uses means to preserve His people - such as texts like this one
But Believers can lose their crowns - they can forfeit their rewards
They can be saved - and yet so as by fire, suffering great loss in rewards
C/ All kinds of men will seek to rob us of our crown
[i] Even other Christians may be guilty of this charge
Not every professing believer is a true one and some true ones are
worldly in their thoughts and can lead a brother astray in these things
[ii] The religious establishment can lead you astray
Mistaken view out there that the church needs to show an acceptable face to the world in order to be accepted Cf. Acts 17:6
[iii] Fanatics can lead us astray - Ultra Separatists etc., who would
have us paint ourselves into a corner like wide eyed buffoons
[iv] Worldly, carnal men who want to silence our witness so that they
can keep sinning without having us awaken their consciences etc.
Just keep to the Book, whatever the price/opposition, and your crown will be kept safe for you
Conclusion/Whole series: The eight fold exhortation is easy to understand
Hold tight! Don't let go what you have - all that is good and Biblical keep
Let go anything else that gets in the way
Pray/God for strength to do so
Stand near the Cross where the Lord Jesus wore the crown/thorns
From where all our spiritual power flows
The man at the Cross is the safe man and the best rewarded
THE END