“The Church That Wouldn’t Quit: Revelation 3:7-13, The Faithful Church
7 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”:
8 “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
9 Indeed, I will make those of the synagogue of Satan, who say they are Jews and are not, but lie—indeed, I will make them come and worship before your feet, and to know that I have loved you.
10 Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.
11 Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.
12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. 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 out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name.
13 “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.”
I see the Church of Philadelphia as the church that would not quit. I feel deeply that churches that lose and stop teaching the Ministry of Intercession, the Mantle of the Prophets.
It’s not so important we keep following the dead thing, but rather we follow the living; following Jesus is in my heart. I know Jesus is about to return; I know it in my soul. My heart cries for the Lost sons and daughters; the Lord is Jealous; he’s a jealous God.
He said to Jeremiah in Jeremiah 8:21-22 King James Version
21 For the hurt of the daughter of my people am I hurt; I am black; astonishment hath taken hold on me.
22 Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered? The Holy Spirit cries through my heart; can you not hear that cry? I’m not just talking about the one in my heart but the one he’s trying to put in your heart.
Amos 3 NKJV
1 Hear this word that the Lord has spoken against you, O children of Israel, against the whole family which I brought up from the land of Egypt, saying:
2 “You only have I known of all the families of the earth; Therefore I will punish you for all your iniquities.”
3 Can two walk together unless they are agreed?
4 Will a lion roar in the forest when he has no prey? Will a young lion [a]cry out of his den if he has caught nothing?
5 Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth if it has caught nothing at all?
6 If a [c]trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the Lord have done it?
7 Surely the Lord God does nothing unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.
8 A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord God has spoken! Who can but prophesy?
The next-level church is a church that takes every son and daughter. We rescue the perishing; we don’t look through the eyes of judgment; we see through the eyes of grace.
If people don’t get right, they will pay the price, but let’s be the agent who brings them to Jesus.
I see something I have to warn you of. When you start taking what belongs to God from the darkness, hell is going to notice it. There is a price you will pay for helping me. It will come and possibly never stop; hell wants anyone who burns for Jesus to die and anyone connected to it to die.
Anyone connected to the great commission will suffer; God’s church will suffer persecution for being faithful to God. You see, the devil runs a syndicate; he already has the next drug dealer ready to step up; the next prostitute is ready to take her place.
What would happen if Taylor Swift gave her heart to Jesus?
Hell won’t let that happen. But what would happen if the stars come down and the Son is lifted up.. We have too many stars and not enough Jesus being lifted. I see America as the Laodicean church; organizations move toward profits instead of raising Prophets.
Revelations 3:14-17 The Lukewarm Church
14 “And to the [i]angel of the church [j]of the Laodiceans write, ‘These things says the Amen, the Faithful and True Witness, the Beginning of the creation of God:
15 “I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
16 So then, because you are lukewarm, and neither [k]cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of My mouth.
17 Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’—and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked.
I need Jesus; this Church belongs to Jesus, and every heart belongs to Jesus; if you are going to be backsliding in this church, you are going to be miserable. I’m not following the dead; I’m following Jesus.
The church wouldn’t quit. The church that kept winning one soul after another. The church that prayed God give me one more.
Hacksaw Ridge is a 2016 biographical war film directed by Mel Gibson. The film focuses on the World War II experiences of Desmond Doss, an American pacifist combat medic who, as a Seventh-day Adventist Christian, refused to carry or use a weapon or firearm of any kind.
Doss became the first conscientious objector to be awarded the Medal of Honor, for service above and beyond the call of duty during the Battle of Okinawa.
Desmond Doss refused to give up; he refused to let people die with no one to care for the dying. Doss’s unit is deployed to the Pacific Theater. During the Battle of Okinawa, Doss’s unit is tasked with ascending and securing the Maeda Escarpment (“Hacksaw Ridge”).
During the initial fight, with heavy losses on both sides, Doss saves the life of his squad-mate Smitty, earning his respect. Smitty apologizes for doubting his courage, and Doss reveals to him that his aversion to holding a firearm stems from nearly shooting his drunken father, who threatened his mother with a gun.
The next morning, the Japanese launched a massive counterattack and drove the Americans off the escarpment. Smitty is killed, and Howell and several of Doss Sorry for the interruption. Here’s the continuation:
Doss’s comrades are left injured on the battlefield. Doss hears the cries of dying soldiers and returns to save them, carrying the wounded, and Smitty’s body, to the cliff’s edge and belaying them down by rope, each time praying to save one more.
This Pastor’s heart is, “God, give me one more. One more son, one more daughter.” I know they won’t look great, but it’s God’s sons and daughters—it will matter to Him. My heart is crying, my soul is crying for the dying.