공동체와 양육

Philadelphia: Holding On to Jesus (Rev 3:7-13)

2010.06.06Rev. Eddie Byun

Jesus encourages the small, faithful church in Philadelphia, and the same encouragement applies to us: hold on to Jesus to the end, and he will love, protect, and honor you. Run the race with your flame still burning for him.

Hold on to Jesus until the end, with the flame of your heart burning

The Greeks once ran a marathon in which the winner was the one who crossed the finish line with his torch still lit. That image fits the call of Revelation's letters: we are to keep running with hearts ablaze for Jesus until the very end. Philadelphia was one of only two churches in these letters that received no rebuke, and Jesus wanted to encourage them. The city was built on unstable volcanic soil and was known for earthquakes, and the Christians there were also cast out of the local synagogue. Yet the church held on to Christ in the midst of these pressures. Holding on to Jesus is the goal we are to share together.

Jesus has opened the door of salvation, and no one can shut it (7-8)

Jesus introduces himself as the Holy and True One who holds the key of David, an echo of Isaiah 22:22. The Jewish synagogue had claimed to hold the key to acceptance before God and excluded the Christians from worship. Jesus answers that he himself holds the keys of salvation. If he has opened the door of salvation in your life, no one can close it, and no one can tell you that you are not pleasing to God. Jesus also knows the church's little power and their weakness, and he sees that they have kept his word and not denied his name. Success in God's eyes is measured by faithfulness, not by size.

Jesus loves those who hold on to him, even in suffering

Jesus loves those who hold on to him, and holding on in suffering is an expression of love to him. Quoting Habakkuk 2:4 and James 1:12, the sermon teaches that the righteous live by faith, and that faith is most needed when we suffer. Saying to Jesus, "Life hurts, but more than my comfort, I love you," delights his heart. Whether the marriage is falling apart, the family is breaking, or the person is unemployed or at the breaking point, the call is the same: hold on to him, trust him, and know that he loves you.

Jesus protects those who hold on to him (10)

Because the church kept his word about patient endurance, Jesus promises to keep them from the hour of trial coming on the whole world. He does not promise to spare them from suffering but to protect them from his wrath, so that they triumph and grow stronger through trials. Quoting John 17:15, the sermon notes that Jesus prays that we be kept from the evil one, not taken out of the world. When pain rains down, we run to Jesus, who is our shield and shelter, and we find our security in his embrace and his promises.

Do not let anyone steal your crown (11)

Jesus says, "I am coming soon," which is a warning for those who are lazy but a blessing of encouragement for those who hold fast. The phrase "so that no one may seize your crown" means that other people can influence our conviction either toward greater commitment or toward compromise. The sermon gives the example of a woman who grew from passion for the Lord into apathy after her fiancé told her to stop being radical and to pursue wealth and the American dream. Encouraging one another to love and good deeds, as in Hebrews 10:24 and Proverbs 27:17, helps us all keep our crowns.

Jesus honors those who hold on to him, writing his name upon them (12)

To the one who conquers, Jesus promises to make him a pillar in the temple of God, a position of honor like the apostles who were called pillars (Galatians 2:9), and he will never go out of it. He will write three names on the overcomer: the name of God, the name of the city of God, the new Jerusalem, and his own new name. The first marks everlasting belonging to Christ, the second is new citizenship and an eternal home, and the third brings deeper intimacy with Christ. Our identity is defined by whose we are. The Toy Story example of Buzz Lightyear, whose owner wrote his name on his foot, illustrates that belonging matters more than abilities. Jesus is proud of those who choose to hold on to him.

Apply to Life

  • Hold on to Jesus, not to money, reputation, or unhealthy relationships, because only those who hold on to him will be secure, loved, and honored until the end.
  • Let us keep the flame of our love for Jesus burning, guarding it until the very end, even when we can only crawl.
  • Let us not let others lead us into compromise and coasting, but encourage one another to live for the Lord with conviction.
  • Let us trust Jesus in our suffering and say to him, "Life hurts, but I love you more than my comfort."
  • Let us pray for grace to love him faithfully and passionately until the final day.

This summary was made automatically from the sermon's captions and may differ from the sermon.

← 영어 예배(English Service) 목록