(25)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on November 17, 2019
Topic: The Assessment of the Churches (23.2): The Church in Philadelphia (To Whom Shall the Lord Open a Door? (2))
(use the audio to study)
Background
We continue with the second part of our discussion on "<strong>To Whom Shall the Lord Open a Door?</strong>" from where we left off last week. We had noted that there were certain criteria which the church in Philadelphia exhibited which made the Lord set before them an open door. We looked at two of these last week and they are; that they had little strength and that they kept His word.
We equated "little strength" to their weaknesses, their helplessness, their numerical deficiency, etc. We also said that even if one had the physical strength to accomplish a task or financial muscle to have things done or some other capabilities but recognized his need for God regardless of these 'strengths' then such an individual or church would qualify as being of "little strength". We thus said that "little strength" signified a state of humility before God!
As for "keeping the word of God" we noted that this is about obeying the word of God from a heart of love, rather from fear, through compulsion, or only because we want something from God. We also noted that keeping the word of God is about the promptness of our obedience—which leaves little room for procrastination. Furthermore, we said that keeping the word of God is about keeping (or storing) the word of God in our hearts so that we can keep it (that is, obey it) in our daily walk. Thus, we noted that to keep the word of God signifies holiness or purity!
Therefore, we concluded that the Lord will open doors to those who are humble and holy in every conversation, among others.
Scripture Text(s)
Revelation 3:7-8
We continue with our study now as we turn to the last of the criteria in <strong><em>v.8</em></strong>, "<em>and have not denied my name.</em>" And as stated last week, we shall also see two additional criteria for the Lord opening a door unto people.
In order to appreciate what the Lord is speaking about not denying His name, we have to look at how He speaks. In <strong>Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 31-32</strong>, we see that the Lord addressed the underlying basis for sin as the main issue, and as important as the sinful act itself. Hence, regarding someone as being justified to be killed, is as much a sin as the act of murder; to look upon a woman to lust after her is as though you have already committed fornication/adultery already; and, to divorce your wife and remarry is adultery, just as the divorced woman marrying someone else is adultery! When we apply these to the issue of denying the Lord looking at the classic case of Peter's denial of the Lord, we come to an understanding of what the Lord meant by "<em>and have not denied my name.</em>"
Luke 22:31-34, 39-40, 46, 54-62; Matthew 6:24; 2 Peter 1:5-11; John 17:1-3; Matthew 12:42; John 4:29, 39-42; Deuteronomy 7:7-8; 8:18; Luke 1:67-75; John 14:12-14; 16:23-24; Mark 11:22-26; 1 John 5:14-15; James 4:3; 2 Timothy 2:13.
Conclusion
We have seen that to deny the Lord or the name of the Lord includes exhibiting traits of self-confidence rather than confidence in Christ; not praying when one should or not praying at all, thus making one a candidate for Satan's temptation; not wanting to be seen as associating with the Lord or not wanting to be labelled a fanatic, which amounts with following the Lord from afar; and seeking comfort and convenience in one's Christian walk. The end product is that when one exhibits these traits, he is exhibiting traits of disloyalty. Thus, not denying the name of the Lord is basically our undivided loyalty to the Lord!
We've also seen that growing in our knowledge of God manifesting as growing from the rudimentary saving faith to maturity in the Lord, growing from being told about Christ to experiencing Him firsthand, and growing from hearing about the Lord to developing intimacy with Him. Growing in the knowledge of God, which is another basis for the Lord opening the doors of heaven particularly, is essentially intimacy with the Lord.
Finally, we've seen that the Lord will open a door to those He has promised that He would open a door unto either directly, or indirectly, having told it to their ancestors. This was the case of Israel in regards to the Promised Land. God had promised Abraham that his descendants would inherit the land, and He did everything possible for them to inherit the land. Thus, the last criteria is not about the individual or the church, but about the integrity or faithfulness of God to keep His word.
In all, if the Lord is to open a door unto us, we must exhibit humility before God, purity of heart towards the word of God, loyalty that cannot be impeached unto God, and intimacy with the Lord. All four agree because it is impossible to have one without having the others. Also, even when the Lord opens a door unto a person or church because of His integrity/faithfulness in fulfilling His promise, without the first four we shall no sooner lose the blessing of the fulfilled promise of an open door. May the Lord help us to drill deep into our hearts, these four traits so that we can be beneficiaries of open doors that will never be shut and that will be of continual blessings on to us.
Back to all Bible Study Outline List