Opportunities, Opposition and Optimism

We're going to begin our worship of God now, singing firstly tonight, today in Psalm 46,

in the Scottish Psalter, Psalm 46.

We're going to be focusing later on in the service on the supremacy, a rule of Jesus,

or God through Jesus Christ. So we'll sing these well-known words, I'm sure for most of us,

in Psalm 46, the tune of Stroudwater, God is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid.

Therefore, although the earth remove, we will not be afraid.

Though hills amidst the seas be cast, though waters roaring make and troubled be,

yea, though the hills by swelling seas do shake.

We'll sing to the end of verse 7, God is our refuge and our strength.

If you're able to stand, please stand to sing.

What is our refuge and our strength, in straits a present aid?

Therefore, although the earth we have, we will not be afraid.

For the flames of the best we will not be afraid,

For the hills amidst the sea be cast,

While waters falling make and troubled be,

by swearing seeds to shake.

And when the desert streams to die,

the city of the God,

the holy place where the Lord

most high hath is the Lord.

In the midst of heart doth dwell,

nothing shall the re-boot.

The Lord to die on Elmeroo,

on that right air he knew.

The evil bridge to outrust thee,

the kingdom's new let dwell.

The Lord your love, the lax is born,

the earth did melt for thee.

The Lord of hosts upon our side,

the hope shall thee remain.

The God of thee,

the God of the rest of the rest,

the Lord have still thee to maintain.

Well, let's now pray.

The prayer is going to focus mostly on the children and young folks just now.

Lord, our God, we thank you for the truth of these great words that we have been singing,

that you have given us to sing.

For they are part of the record of your word,

that God is our refuge and our strength,

in our straits of very present help in our times of need.

And we give thanks, Lord, today that we can sing these words

with the conviction that we know from our own experience as you people that they are true.

For you have proved yourself down through the generations

to be one who is utterly trustworthy and dependable.

And we give thanks that you are the God today whom we worship.

Bless then, we pray today, our young people.

Bless our children.

Grant them your blessing in all their activities,

in all that they learn of your word and of the gospel.

Lord, we pray that your Holy Spirit will lay these things to their heart

and that as they learn them, they will apply them in their own lives day by day

and realize more and more the importance of being related to God in a saving way

and of placing God first in their lives.

So bless them today and bless all who teach them.

Help them, Lord, at this time of holiday as well,

that they will know of your blessing to enable them to relax and rest.

And give us, we pray, to value those things that we have at times

when we are able to turn aside from a normal course of life

into a time of rest and recovery.

Bless us then now in the remainder of the service and throughout this day.

We ask it all with the pardon of our sin for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, children, since I retired, since I left and went to live in Tongue,

and you're welcome to come and see me anytime, come and see us there.

But one of the pleasures is taking Roscoe for a walk every morning.

Everybody knows who Roscoe is, I'm sure.

Those are our visitors.

Roscoe's our wee Jack Russell.

He's 14 now, still quite lively, keeps you on your toes.

But I take him for a walk every morning, usually around 7 in the morning or so,

down to the beach nearby.

And last week, it wasn't quite fully light when I went down with him.

And I looked out on a large area of rock jutting up above the sea level.

I thought what I saw was a seal.

I'd seen a seal there some weeks before that.

And I thought, this is definitely a seal.

It's pulled itself up out of the water.

It's lying on this rock.

And I was sure, even though I couldn't see because it wasn't quite daylight properly,

I was sure I saw it move.

So I went down, and I thought, it'd be good to get a photograph.

I had my phone in my pocket.

So I crept out with Roscoe on the lead across an area of seaweed.

Tide was quite far out.

And then as I reached closer and closer, I thought, no, it's not actually moving.

And it turned out it was just a huge rock sitting on top of this area of rock.

And as I'd pulled Roscoe along on his lead, I turned around, and he looked at me as if to say,

you stupid man.

You should have been dragging me all this way just to see a large rock.

Well, it looked like a seal from a distance.

And it reminded me of how the Bible teaches us or warns us against something that looks like being a Christian,

but not really a Christian.

Or something that looks really like the gospel or the teachings of the Bible,

but isn't really true to the Bible.

There are many ways of belief that you can actually follow.

And sometimes, as the Bible tells us, there's a belief which has Christian things in it or attached to it,

but isn't really the true gospel.

And salvation is not really found except in the true gospel and in a saving relationship with Jesus.

Now, Paul, when he was writing to Timothy, he said there would be a time

when people would have a form of godliness, but lacking or denying the power.

And so for you children today, and for us as adults too,

it's important to realize that salvation includes, very much includes, a proper relationship to Jesus.

If somebody looks like a Christian and acts like a Christian,

somebody will say, well, I live a good life.

I don't use bad language.

I don't abuse other people.

I don't do the bad things that I see in the world.

So is that not enough to be a Christian?

Well, you ask them, well, what's your relationship with Jesus?

Oh, I don't want to know Jesus.

I don't want to be that religious.

But I think I'm okay as I am.

Well, the Bible is saying to us, that looks like what a Christian is.

That looks like Christianity, but it's not.

Because you have to have this personal relationship with Jesus as your Savior in order to actually know eternal life in him.

And so when the Bible tells us to be aware of that, how do we actually ensure, how do we make sure that what we've got is not just something that looks like Christianity or looks like what being a Christian is about, but isn't really?

Well, as I say, the first thing is, how do you relate to Jesus?

What place does Jesus have in your life?

Is Jesus the most important person in your whole life?

And if you can say that he is, that's what it's like to be a Christian.

No Christian is perfect.

I'm not perfect.

Nobody in here is perfect.

But Jesus is, and as a perfect Savior, he is always dependable for us.

So remember, being a Christian is not to be like what the Bible describes a Christian to be.

Having a Savior is not something that looks like Jesus, someone who appears like Jesus, making up your own mind of what the Bible teaches.

It has to be a proper, saving, believing relationship with Jesus.

All the things the Bible tells us belong to a Christian life must be found in our life too, rather than just something that looks like it.

So be sure, children, that you're following Jesus, that you're trusting in Jesus, that the Jesus of the Bible is your Savior,

and that you're following him so that you have in him eternal life, whatever happens in this world.

Well, we're going to say the Lord's Prayer again together.

Our Father, which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.

Amen.

We're going to sing again now some verses to God's praise this time in Psalm 115.

Psalm 115.

That's on page 395.

Tune is St. Thomas.

We're singing from verse 12, page 395, Psalm 115.

The Lord of us hath mindful been, and he will bless us still.

He will the house of Israel bless.

Bless Aaron's house he will.

Both small and great that fear the Lord, he will them surely bless.

The Lord will you, you and your seed, a more and more increase.

His wonderful words of promise that when God's people are faithful to himself, they can indeed

rightly expect his blessing, and his blessing to continue with them according to his own

great promises.

We'll sing these verses 12 to 18.

The Lord of us hath mindful been.

The Lord of us hath mindful been, and he will bless us still.

He will the house of Israel bless.

Blessed are God's hearts he will.

the Lord of us hath mindful been, and he will be, and he will be, and he will be, and he will be, and he will be.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord the Lord, and you see thy more and more increase.

Blessed are ye all the Lord, the mighty earth of heaven.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Blessed be blessed, the Lord, and you see thy more and more.

Yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

Behold, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan who say they are Jews and are not, but

lie.

Behold, I will make them come and bow down before your feet, and they will learn that I have

loved you.

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.

I am coming soon.

Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

The one who conquers, I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God,

and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem,

which comes down from my God out of heaven,

and my own new name.

He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

And to the angel of the church in Laodicea,

write the words of the Amen,

the faithful and true witness, the beginning of God's creation.

I know your works.

You are neither hot nor cold.

Would that you were either cold or hot.

So because you are lukewarm,

and neither hot nor cold,

I will spit you out of my mouth.

For you say,

I am rich,

I have prospered,

and I need nothing,

not realizing that you are wretched,

pitiable,

poor,

blind,

and naked.

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire,

so that you may be rich,

and white garments,

so that you may clothe yourself,

and the shame of your nakedness be not seen,

and salve to anoint your eyes,

so that you may see.

Those whom I love,

I reprove and discipline,

so be zealous and repent.

Behold, I stand at the door and knock.

If anyone hears my voice and opens the door,

I will come in to him and eat with him,

and he with me.

The one who conquers,

I will grant him to sit with me on my throne,

as I also conquered,

and sat down with my father on his throne.

He who is anear,

let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Again, we pray that God will bless this reading of his word to us.

Let's join together once again in prayer.

Lord, our gracious God,

we are conscious from these readings in your word,

that we come to the one who is described here

as above all things and presiding

over all the events that ever happened in history.

We thank you today for the privilege of drawing near to you,

of coming before your throne,

of worshipping you as we seek to do in spirit and in truth.

We thank you, Lord,

for the many promises that come to meet us

as we come to you through your word,

and through especially the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

We thank you today for the way that he is our access to you,

that he is the way, the truth, and the life,

and that no one comes to the Father except through him.

We bless you for the way that he is the way,

the truth, and the life is so abundant in grace

and in love and in mercy.

We thank you that even as we contemplate,

as we read in these words of the final judgment of all,

we know that he will do all things right.

We pray, Lord, today that your blessing will reach us here

as we meet in your name.

We thank you once again for the privilege

of being together to worship you,

and we pray that all the privileges we have in this life

will be blessed to us

and will be appreciated by us,

and that we will treasure them in our hearts.

For it is in your kindness and your goodness,

O Lord,

that you have dispensed so many good things to us,

and we know as a people how we can look back over many years

and realize that in this place in which we live,

in common with many other places in the world,

there are so many good things to enjoy.

And we thank you today for your day,

for this Lord's day,

for this day that you have set apart

so that we would keep it holy to yourself,

that we might enjoy its benefits,

that these might come each successive week

to remind us, O Lord,

that your goodness in providing this for us

is a goodness that dispenses to us

so many good things.

Bless your day to us, we pray,

and grant that we may in every endeavor

we have to maintain it,

and that we would know your own blessing

and help in doing so.

And we pray, Lord,

when we face so many other views of this day

and so many activities

that are not conducive to our right advance

in holiness and grace.

Lord, we pray today

that every attempt to undermine,

to overthrow your holy day

might indeed be thwarted by yourself.

Lord, you know how our hearts crave

that everybody should enjoy

the good things of life

and that we should seek, O Lord,

that all around us would enjoy

the benefits of a Lord's day,

the benefits of rest,

the benefits of rest for mind and for body,

the benefits of worshipping together

in the name of Christ.

And we pray, gracious one,

that all attempts in the present day

that we're so aware of,

that you would come, O Lord,

and show how this day has been so beneficial

in our history,

in our society,

and in our own culture locally.

And we ask that you would enable us,

as we appreciate your day,

to take our stand meaningfully

and tactfully and lovingly

against all attempts

that would seek to overthrow

those things that are precious to us.

And so we ask that you would hear us

in our prayers

as we address these matters to you.

We pray, Lord,

that you would give us

in reaching out with the gospel

into our neighborhoods

and throughout our whole country

at this time.

We pray, gracious one,

that you would bless the gospel,

that you would help us

in an unashamed stand for it,

to know your blessing following,

and give us the kind of life, O Lord,

that would commend your gospel,

that would commend your word,

so that we ourselves

may not act contrary

to those things

that we recommend to others.

We pray for a spirit of love

to continue to pervade us

in our dealings one with another.

And we ask, O Lord,

that you would continue

to own and bless your word

amongst us especially.

Hide your face, we pray,

from our sins,

for we all individually

have sins to confess.

And as we confess them, Lord,

we pray that you would be pleased

to forgive,

to restore,

to lift us up in righteousness,

and to enable us

to progress as a people,

not in the things

which we ourselves

might imagine

are the basis

of a true prosperity,

but give us, Lord,

we pray,

to prosper in the things

of the gospel,

to prosper in holiness

and righteousness of life,

and to prosper in a way

that would commend

the things of God

in a knowledge

that they are

above all else

the things

that you have provided

for us to enjoy.

Bless this congregation.

Continue, Lord,

to be with them

each and every week

that goes by.

Bless them in all

their endeavors

in the gospel

to reach out

with the message

of Christ

and of salvation

in him.

We ask that you'd bless

each and every activity

in the congregation

along with the regular

services of worship.

We pray your blessing

for those today, Lord,

who come to avail themselves

of the advantages

that we have

in the congregation here.

We ask that you would

bless these times

of meeting together

in different ways,

and we pray that they'd be

blessed to young

and old alike.

Bless, we pray,

our generation.

Bless our young people.

Continue to provide for them.

We pray those things

that are wholesome,

those things that,

in the gospel especially,

will give them

to thrive spiritually

and mentally and physically.

And help us, we pray,

to be living examples

to them.

Remember our nation

at this time, we pray.

And remember the nations

of the world

in times of great turmoil.

Remember the places

where war and terror

and persecution

and such a drastic loss

of life is so evident,

Lord, as we see

in our news items

day by day.

Bring peace, we pray,

where there is war.

Bring people to lay down

their opposition

and hostility

to one another.

And grant that you would

create through the advance

of your kingdom

that situation

and these conditions

that will prove to be

of benefit to us all.

Lord, continue with us

now, we pray.

Hear us in this prayer

and pardon our many sins

for Jesus' sake.

Amen.

Amen.

Well, before we turn back

to that passage

in Revelation,

let's sing once again.

Singing in the

Sing Psalms version

this time.

Psalm 103.

The tune is

before the throne.

We're singing

verses 1 to 11.

That's on page 135

of the Psalm books.

Praise God, my soul.

With all my heart,

let me exalt

his holy name.

Forget not all

his benefits,

his praise,

my soul,

and song proclaim.

The Lord forgives you

all your sins

and heals your sickness

and distress.

Your life he rescues

from the grave

and crowns you

in his tenderness.

Psalm 103,

Psalms 103:1–11

verses 1 to 11.

Amen.

Psalm 103,

Psalms 103:1

verse 1.

Let me exalt

his holy name.

Forget not all

his benefits,

his praise,

my soul,

and crowns you

in song proclaim.

The Lord forgives you

all your sins

and heals your sickness

and distress.

Your life he rescues

from the grave

and drowns you

in his tenderness.

and crowns you

in his tenderness.

And bless you

in his tenderness.

Father,

I swear to you

decide

from his

amending

stores of good

so that just like

the eagle's strength

your youth will make

a lift

renewed.

The Lord has zoned

for righteous act

and justice

to down-throught

and wards.

To Moses he made

no choice

his mighty deeds

to his

well-sons.

His mighty deeds

to his

well-sons.

For his merciful

and kind

to hunger

slow

and full

of grace

he will not

thoughts

and fleeting

prove

or in his

anger

hide his face.

He does not

punish

our misdeeds

or kill

our sins

their just reward.

How great

is love

as high

as

heaven

towards

all those

who fear

the Lord.

Towards

all those

who fear

the Lord.

Well,

please turn with me

now to the passage

we read in Revelation

Revelation 3 · chapter mention

chapter 3.

We're going to look

for a short time

at verses 7

to 13.

this letter

that's headed

the letter

to the church

in Philadelphia.

Not to Philadelphia

of course.

We know nowadays

in the USA

but Philadelphia

and that area

where these other

churches were

situated

and about the

Ephesus

area there

in Laodicea.

So from verse 7

until the angel

of the church

in Philadelphia

write

the words

of the Holy One

the True One

who has the key

of David

who opens

and no one

will shut

who shuts

and no one

opens.

Well,

you might say

the whole of the book

of the Revelation

is about the supremacy

of Jesus.

It's about the way

that he and his people

will ultimately prevail

through his grace,

through his power,

through his rule

not by anything

in which they themselves

are qualified

to have such

a status.

and as you look

at these two chapters

the letters

to the seven churches

I think we can take it

that because

they're seven churches

not that they weren't

through historical churches

they were in fact

actual churches

at the time

but because

the number seven

in many ways

in the Bible

in many places

is a number

that has to do

with completeness

or wholeness

we can take

these seven letters

as indicative

of God's message

to the church

at all times.

In other words

when you take

these letters

to the seven churches

there

that applies

then to the church

wherever the church

is placed

because there are

things in them

not that every detail

is applicable

to every church

but the principles

in it

and the basic message

in these letters

really applies

to the whole church

in every age.

It deals with things

like decline

life

recovery

service

and the relationship

with God

especially

is at the heart

of each of these letters

and the message

they bring.

Philadelphia

was a true church

as we said

like the others mentioned

but it wasn't

a very strong church

they needed actually

a building

they needed

to have strengthening

and so the letter

is designed itself

at that particular time

to bring

that strengthening

to them

all the things

that the Lord

mentions here

as his letter

effectively to them

are designed

to actually give them

further strength

and encouragement

in the service

that they are

carrying out

for Jesus

himself.

that itself

is important

to us here

because we need

that strengthening

we need that encouragement

we need the Lord's

own word

to encourage us

we need more

than the encouragement

we can

and are able

to give to each other

because as we sang

in Psalm 46

for example

it is God

who is our refuge

and our strength

and in difficult times

in challenging times

whether they're challenging

to us as people

as a congregation

as congregations

our individual

our families

the encouragement

we need

the strengthening

we need

is from God

directly

from himself

through whatever

agency he uses

but these words

remind us

this is where

our strength

our security

our hope

really lies

so what is this church

what is it saying

about this church

what was Jesus

in his message

to this church

saying to them

first of all

he reminds them

they are a church

under his stewardship

under the stewardship

or control

or guidance

of Jesus himself

secondly

he reminds them

they are actually

engaged

in Christ's service

in his own service

despite the fact

he says

they're weak

yet they've been faithful

and he's

writing to them

to continue

to do what

they're doing

and he will actually

look after them

thirdly

they are

ultimately secure

in Christ

they have in fact

the prospect

of greater security

to come

of course

in eternity

and you could say

the letter

is really about

opportunity

opposition

and optimism

in looking

to Jesus

and I hope

that these

will be

useful for yourselves

as a congregation

in your own

situation

and that you

will find

even from

the likes

of this letter

further evidence

of opportunities

given to you

to serve the Lord

opposition

and how to face it

and optimism

in grasping

the promises

of God

and applying

them to yourselves

so what is he saying

about Christ's

stewardship

well you notice

how he begins

in describing himself

the words

of the holy one

the true one

who has the key

of David

who opens

and no one

will shut

and shuts

and no one

opens

under Christ's

stewardship

he describes

himself as

the holy one

the true one

in other words

he's guiding them

immediately

to his own

perfections

he's guiding them

to trust

in him

as one who is

utterly dependable

and true

and holy

and faithful

there is nothing

imperfect

about this

Lord

that is

presiding

over the

issues

of the church

he guides

them to

think of himself

and that's

itself

an important

matter

for you

and for me

as individuals

for you

as a congregation

as well

who do you

look to

when do you

look to

it's this

Jesus

who presides

over your

life today

and mine

over the life

of this

congregation

of his whole

church

who is he

he is

the true

one

he is

the holy

one

he's the one

who's always

dependable

he's the one

who's never

short of

fulfilling

his promises

he's the one

whose word

you can trust

he's the one

that you have

to place

above all

others

whatever your

relationship

with him

is

so is this

the one

who's controlling

your own

life today

is it to

this Jesus

you're looking

or just

some other

description of him

in the word

in a loose

or a formal

sort of way

do you know

him in your

own life

personally

as one

who is

holy

and true

one who

has proved

himself to

you

and will

never

actually let

go of you

or let

you down

ah the

holy one

the true

one

and then he

says who

has the

key of

David

who opens

and no

one will

shut

why does he

say he

has the

key of

David

well you

know David

in the old

testament

the king

David

was someone

who ruled

over

Israel

for

a

fair long

time

and

he is

brought out

in the bible

as one

who is

in many ways

the ideal

king

it wasn't

perfect

but the bible

talks about

Jesus as

the son

of David

because promises

were that

from David

himself

eventually

would come

one

who would

roll over

God's

people

and that

happened

when Jesus

was born

and came

into the

world

and lived

the life

he lived

and died

on the cross

and rose

from the dead

and ascended

to heaven

he is

himself

the son

of David

in that

way of

lineage

but also

in terms

of promises

that spiritually

this is the

ideal king

this is the

one who

could be said

to be the

king

par excellence

but why

does he say

he has the

key of

David

who opens

and no one

will shut

and shuts

and no one

opens

well of course

to give somebody

a key

is a sign

of trusting

in that

person

for somebody

to have a

key

to a safe

means that

that person

is dependable

not only

dependable

but has

actually been

given authority

to open

that safe

or that

door

or whatever

it is

he has a

key to

or she

has a

key to

the possession

of keys

is indicative

of having

authority

to use

them

the right

to use

them

the ability

to use

them

the knowledge

to use

them

the wisdom

to use

them

whether they're

opening things

or shutting

things

the possession

of the keys

is a mark

of status

and here is

Jesus saying

I have

the key

of David

I have

the key

of supreme

kingship

I have

that which

belongs to

the ideal

sovereign

who opens

and no one

will shut

who shuts

and no one

opens

and that's

true of him

in many respects

you go back

to the very

beginning of

the revelation

and you find

someone there

described in

these wonderful

terms

from verse

12

onwards in the

first chapter

all the way

through there

he stands

in the midst

of the church

or the churches

and he says

fear not

I am the

first and

the last

I am the

living one

I died

behold I am

alive forevermore

and I have

the keys

of death

and of

hades

the keys

to death

itself

and to life

beyond death

the keys

of heaven

the keys

of hell

whose hand

are they

in the hand

of this

Jesus

who today

presides

over eternity

who presides

over the things

of time

who presides

over the

development

of events

in the history

of the world

in whose hands

are the keys

to the destiny

of human beings

they are in the

hands of this

Jesus

whatever people

may think of him

whatever people

may think of this

Bible

as Christians

that is what

you believe

and as you

believe them

you are thankful

today

that the destiny

of this world

the advance

of the course

of this world

whatever it will be

is not in the hands

of human beings

human beings

have a part in it

human beings

very often

make a disaster

of it

and yet

all of that

comes under

the overall rule

and kingship

and sovereignty

and the key

possession

if you like

of David

of the son

of David

of Jesus

you know

when Jesus

opens

no one can shut it

that's what he's saying

to us

as we'll see

in a minute

when Jesus

opens something up

opportunities

events

great things

in history

no one can shut

these

when Jesus shuts

nobody can open it

and Jesus

brings something

to an end

then that's an end

of it

unless he opens it

again

that's the kind

of person

he is

not a despot

not a tyrant

but the ideal king

the one who has

the authority

over all things

ultimately

that's what he says

about himself

even death

itself

he has the keys

to it

I have the keys

of death

and of Hades

it's a solemn

thing to say

but we have to

say it in keeping

with the message

of the Bible

death is something

we all face

death is something

we're so familiar

with

and in a society

in a community

like we live in

it's quite common

to attend

funerals

of friends

of relatives

of neighbours

to show support

and that

frequency

with which we do

that reminds us

of the frequency

of death

and reminds us

especially

of our own death

and what's lying

in front of us

that that death

is going to be

our death

one of these days

in whose hands

are we

how are we

facing that

prospect

that inevitability

are we

in the hands

of the one

who has the keys

to it

who can open

out death

for us

so that we

live beyond it

that we live

above it

that we conquer it

that's who Jesus

is

the one who is

himself

the way

the truth

and the life

remember he said

at the grave

of Lazarus

before he raised

him from the dead

I am the resurrection

and the life

whoever lives

and believes

in me

shall never die

and then he said

to Martha

do you believe this

she said

yes I do Lord

do you believe it today

are you living

by this conviction

today

that your life

is directed

by the one

who has the keys

of death

that death

is not going

to claim

yes you're going

to die

I'm going

to die

what's beyond

it though

will be ushered

into

the eternal

life

that Jesus

gives to his

people

or will it be

the opposite

of that

what the Bible

calls death

or hell

these are the

issues

when you think

about the one

who has the key

and who opens

and no one

will shut

well that's

Jesus

a church

under his

stewardship

but they're

engaged

in Christ's

service

he says

I have set

before you

an open

door

which no one

is able

to shut

I know

that you

have but

little power

and yet

you have

kept my

word

and have

not denied

my name

now very

often in the

Bible

you find this

description

Paul for

example

writing to

the Corinthians

spoke in

chapter 16

of his first

letter

that an

open door

was set

before him

but there

is much

opposition

there are

many enemies

but he spoke

about this

open door

this open

door of

opportunity

for the

gospel

and that's

what he's

saying to

us today

that's why

you and I

are here

today

to make

the best

possible use

of the

opportunities

God gives

us to

serve him

and he's

saying to

you today

as a

congregation

I've set

before you

an open

door

yes there

are

just like

Paul said

there are

many opponents

there's much

opposition

but if

Jesus has

opened a

door of

opportunity

nobody's

going to

shut that

until he

shuts it

see that

you're making

the most

of that

open door

use that

opportunity

while you've

got it

to serve

him

to love

him

to commend

him

to be

his people

in this

world

that's why

he saved

you

that's why

he's given

you the

gospel

not so that

you'll hide

it and keep

it to

yourself

but go out

with it

tell people

about this

Jesus

and he's

saying here

I have set

before you

this open

door

that's important

to the

Philadelphians

it wasn't an

easy place

in which to

witness to

Jesus

and then he

says you have

a little

power and

yet you have

kept my

word and

have not

denied my

name

you see he's

describing them

the reality

of what

they are

and who

they are

and the

circumstances

in which

they're

placed

and that

itself

is really

a wonderfully

encouraging

note

for us to

actually see

that Jesus

knows today

our exact

circumstances

and therefore

our exact

needs

and he's

able to

provide for

us

exactly as

we require

and here

he is saying

to them

I know

your works

I know

that you

have but

little power

and I know

that you have

kept my

word and

have not

denied my

name

you might

think today

that you're

doing all

too little

for Jesus

nothing like

as much

as you'd

like to

or as much

as you might

think others

are doing

he knows

and he knows

exactly what

you're able

and not able

to contribute

be encouraged

today that

whatever you're

doing for

Jesus

he has

registered it

he knows

it

he's taken

note of

it

it's in

his book

it's in

his record

book

and you see

what he's

saying

I know

that you

have but

little power

and yet

you have

kept my

word

and have

not denied

my name

you have

kept my

word

have not

denied

my name

despite the

fact that

they have

little power

and are

weak

spiritually

perhaps morally

too

but he's

saying

you have

kept

my

word

and have

not denied

my name

remember Paul

writing to

Timothy

he wrote to

Romans as well

saying that he

wasn't ashamed

of the gospel

he wrote to

Timothy in

1 Timothy

in 2 Timothy

2 Timothy 1:8

chapter 1

verse 8

not to be ashamed

of him

Paul the apostle

as a prisoner

for Jesus

and not to be

ashamed of

of this message

this gospel

but he says

take your own

share of the

afflictions of

the gospel

now that gives

us a key

into understanding

what the Bible

means by being

ashamed of

Jesus

when you've

got something

you're ashamed

of you don't

bring it out

into the open

well

sometimes

nowadays

that's actually

commended

things that people

ought to be ashamed

of that's another

issue

but if there's

something you know

you're deeply

ashamed of

you don't go

around broadcasting

it to the world

you keep it hidden

or you keep it

to yourself

and to be ashamed

of the gospel

really means

essentially that

it's not just a

feeling

it's not just a

conviction

it's an action

it's a hiding

of things which

ought to be brought

into the open

to be ashamed

of the gospel

to be ashamed

of Jesus

means to keep

him hidden

to keep him

well to keep him

to yourself

or to keep him

so that he's not

at all made known

through your life

now you're not

going to be like

that I'm sure

because if this

Jesus means

anything at all

to you

as I hope he does

to everyone here

you're not going

to keep him hidden

you're not going

to be ashamed

of him

you're not going

to say well

I think I am

a Christian

but I really

I don't want

to make that

known to the

world

what will others

say

what will my

family say

what will my

friends say

what will my

work colleagues

say

don't be ashamed

he says to

Timothy

of me his

prisoner

of the gospel's

teaching

but take your

share

of the afflictions

of the gospel

following Jesus

brings difficulties

following Jesus

doesn't make

many times

for an easy

life

but the

comforts that

Jesus brings

far outweigh

any of the

difficulties

or the afflictions

or the troubles

that accompany

following him

being true to him

making him known

and facing the

world's hostility

because of that

what he's saying

is I know

your works

I know that you

have little power

yet you have

kept my word

and have not

denied my name

you have not

been ashamed

of me

and Jesus

is saying

I know that

and I know

that and it

will not go

unnoticed

in eternity

and he goes

on to say

I will make

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

and that

hour of

trial

seems to be

referring to

the final

judgment

where he is

saying that's

coming on

the whole

world

to try

those who

dwell on

the earth

behold I'm

coming

soon

and that's

not so much

in terms of

time or span

of years

it's just that

in the whole

scheme of things

it's not that

far away

and here he is

giving us this

great promise

too

because you

have kept

my word

I will keep

you

you see the

correlation

between the

two

when you're

faithful to

Jesus

you'll find

that he is

always faithful

to you

that he will

be faithful

to his

promise

in that

great day

of judgment

if you've

been faithful

to him

doesn't mean

your eternity

and your

salvation is

dependent

on your

faithfulness

or the

level of

your

faithfulness

it's

dependent

ultimately

on him

but there

is a

correlation

there is

a relationship

between

faithfulness

on your

part to

God

to Jesus

here

and his

faithfulness

to his

promise

that he

will keep

you

that he

will look

after you

that he'll

bring you

safely

into eternity

and he's

also saying

that their

opponents

will actually

come to

bow

he will