The Link between Holiness & Healing X - Living Grace Fellowship

Sunday 06/16/13

Topic: The Fear of the Lord & Healing

Series – And He Healed them all:

The Link between Holiness & Healing X.mp3

Key Text:

Rev. 3:7-13

To the church of Philadelphia write…

We began with a brief review of what we’d covered already concerning the letter to the church of Philadelphia:

For you have a little strength: The term a little strength does not imply weakness, but real strength.

Guzik says, “They were weak enough to be strong in the Lord. We can be “too strong” or “too big” or too sure of ourselves for God to really use us. The church in Philadelphia had the poverty of spirit to know they really needed God’s strength.”

Have kept My word, and have not denied My Name: The church in Philadelphia also was faithful to Jesus and His word. The idea behind have not denied My name is not only that they expressed their allegiance to Jesus, but that they lived in a way that was faithful to the name and character of Jesus.

Some churches that claim great faithfulness to the word of Jesus deny His name – His character. They represent the manner and style of Jesus as something very different from what the Bible shows.

We’ve addressed this MUCH in here over the past 3 years.

Consider the features of the church in Philadelphia:

They had been given an open door – possibly for evangelistic opportunity
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)

Barnhouse says about their faithfulness…

“The church of Philadelphia is commended for keeping the Word of the Lord and not denying His Name. Success in Christian work is not to be measured by any other standard of achievement.

It is not…

rise in ecclesiastical position.
the number of new buildings which have been built through a man’s ministry.
It is not the crowds that flock to listen to any human voice.

All of these things are frequently used as yardsticks of success, but they are earthly and not heavenly measures.”

These features seem “unspectacular.” and for that reason are not the focus of most ministry today. Yet Jesus was completely pleased with this church. He has nothing negative to say to it.

Rev 3:10 Because you have kept my word about patient endurance, I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world, to try those who dwell on the earth.

Luke 8:15
Luke 21:19
Romans 2:5-9
Heb. 10:36
James 1:3-4
James 5:10-11

I will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world: Jesus also promises them protection from the hour of trial coming on the whole world.

Most Bible scholars see this hour of trial as a prophetic reference to the Messianic woes, the Great Tribulation, which precede Jesus’ earthly kingdom. Jesus promises to keep these Christians from that hour of trial.

To test those who dwell on the earth: The test is directed against those who dwell on the earth. This phrase is used nine times in the Book of Revelation, and it speaks of those who are not saved in Jesus. Rev. 17:8 makes the term synonymous with the lost: And those who dwell on the earth will marvel, whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world. So it is possible that this test is for unbelievers, not Christians.

Does this promise to keep you from the hour of trial imply an escape before the Great Tribulation? Or does it promise protection in it? Each side believes this passage easily supports their position.

However, persevere is in the past tense, showing it is something that the Christians had already done before the hour of trial, which has not yet come upon the world. The promise is a reward for past perseverance, not the equipping to persevere in the future. “As far as the Philadelphian church was concerned, the rapture of the church was presented to them as an imminent hope.” (Walvoord)

In addition, the ones tested by this hour of trial are not primarily believers, but those who dwell on the earth – whose home is this earth, who are not citizens of heaven (Phil. 3:20).

Rev 3:11 I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

Behold, I am coming quickly: First, the church at Philadelphia must remember that Jesus is coming quickly, and they must prepare for His coming.

“The expression ‘quickly’ is to be understood as something which is sudden and unexpected, not necessarily immediate.” (Walvoord)

Hold fast what you have: The church at Philadelphia must not depart from its solid foundation, as described in Rev. 3:8:

Evangelistic opportunity (I have set before you an open door)
Reliance on God (You have a little strength)
Faithfulness to Jesus (have kept My word, and have not denied My name)

These things can and must continue among the church in Philadelphia, but it will only happen as they hold fast what they have.

That no one may take your crown: If they fail to hold fast, their crown might be given to another. The idea is not that it might be stolen by another, but given.

This is not a crown of royalty, given because of royal birth though many Christians seem to think it is just that due to being born of God. This is a crown of victory. Jesus encourages His saints to finish their course with victory, to “play the second half” just as strongly as they “played the first half.”

For more, listen to the audio by clicking the above link.

Pastor Mark

View posts by Pastor Mark

Hi my name is Mark and though I am opposed to titles, I am currently the only Pastor (shepherd/elder) serving our assembly right now.

I have been Pastoring in one capacity or another for nearly 30 years now, though never quite like I am today.

Early in 2009 the Lord revealed to me that the way we had structured our assembly (church) was not scriptural in that it was out of sync with what Paul modeled for us in the New Testament. In truth, I (like many pastors I am sure) never even gave this fundamental issue of church structure the first thought. I had always assumed that church structure was largely the same everywhere and had been so from the beginning. While I knew Paul had some very stringent things to say about the local assembly of believers, the point of our gatherings together and who may or may not lead, I never even considered studying these issues but assumed we were all pretty much doing it right...safety in numbers right?! Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong!

So needless to say, my discovery that we had been doing it wrong for nearly two decades was a bit of a shock to me! Now, this "revelation" did not come about all at once but over the course of a few weeks. We were a traditional single pastor led congregation. It was a top-bottom model of ministry which is in part biblical, but not in the form of a monarchy.

The needed change did not come into focus until following 9 very intense months of study and discussions with those who were leaders in our church at the time.

We now understand and believe that the Bible teaches co-leadership with equal authority in each local assembly. Having multiple shepherds with God's heart and equal authority protects both Shepherds and sheep. Equal accountability keeps authority and doctrine in check. Multiple shepherds also provide teaching with various styles and giftings with leadership skills which are both different and complementary.

For a while we had two co-pastors (elders) (myself and one other man) who led the church with equal authority, but different giftings. We both taught in our own ways and styles, and our leadership skills were quite different, but complimentary. We were in complete submission to each other and worked side-by-side in the labor of shepherding the flock.

Our other Pastor has since moved on to other ministry which has left us with just myself. While we currently only have one Pastor/Elder, it is our desire that God, in His faithfulness and timing, may bring us more as we grow in maturity and even in numbers.

As to my home, I have been married since 1995 to my wonderful wife Terissa Woodson who is my closest friend and most trusted ally.

As far as my education goes, I grew up in a Christian home, but questioned everything I was ever taught.

I graduated from Bible college in 1990 and continued to question everything I was ever taught (I do not mention my college in order to avoid being labeled).

Perhaps my greatest preparation for ministry has been life and ministry itself. To quote an author I have come to enjoy namely Fredrick Buechner in his writing entitled, Now and Then, "If God speaks to us at all other than through such official channels as the Bible and the church, then I think that He speaks to us largely through what happens to us...if we keep our hearts open as well as our ears, if we listen with patience and hope, if we remember at all deeply and honestly, then I think we come to recognize beyond all doubt, that, however faintly we may hear Him, He is indeed speaking to us, and that, however little we may understand of it, His word to each of us is both recoverable and precious beyond telling." ~ Fredrick Buechner

Well that is about all there is of interest to tell you about me.

I hope our ministry here is a blessing to you and your family. I also hope that it is only a supplement to a local church where you are committed to other believers in a community of grace.

~God Bless!