In this series we are exploring one of the seven churches in Revelation 2 and 3. I have highlighted Philadephia in chapter three because it sits between two disasters, Sardis and Laodicea. Philadelphia has no bad report and we have found two reasons why this church sits well with Jesus. The first is that they had placed themselves in a position where they had no elements that hindered their access the the Lord and His access to them. Consequently they were yielded to Jesus, obedient to his word and walked well within that context. We also explored how this sort of discipleship is persecuted by other Christians. Jesus is clear about how much He values this sort of commitment and verse 10 and 11 underlines this.
Rev 3:10-11
It is great to have a walk with the Lord that is constantly yielding, obedient and walked well. However it is keeping this on the right track which is the challenge for everyone. Everyone falters over time but it is not the faltering that is the problem. It is a disregard for the faltering and remaining in a state of 'couldn't care less' about your walk. If we find ourselves walking in our own strength, disobeying God and enjoying the flesh over the Lord we need to repent. If however you have chosen a church system where there are people placed above you in rank, that hinders the passage to the Lord and his to you. Christians need to repent of following their Pastor! "How can you make a claim like that Gary?"
It isn't me who makes this claim... it is the Lord through Scripture! In 1 Samuel 8 we see God's people insist on having a King to rule 'like other nations.' In Deuteronomy 17 we find God predicting that the people would want a King and God sets out his criteria. In Samuel's day they chose to have a King but cared little for God's instructions in Torah. God relayed to them what would occur but allowed them to go ahead and have a King over them. Many miss the chilling consequence of this in 1 Sam 8:18 when God says he will not answer their cries once they have chosen the king and the systems and structures having a King brings. The principle of having people as 'kings' introduces rank and the ekklesia says nothing of rank or hierarchy.
Meeting without rank, honoring 'family' as the basis for our fellowship and allowing Jesus to lead is hard. Many times Iv'e wanted to return to historical church structure simply because it feels better! However I am convicted by the thought that Jesus wants people to continue to meet the way He wants us to until the end. Jesus says those who endure patiently will be spared from the hour of testing coming upon the earth. I don't think this is the Day of Jacobs Trouble, the great tribulation because the entire church is snatched away before that. Somehow these believers will be spared from a time when the earth will be tested... is this the 'sorrows' - the 'birth pains' before the 70th week of Daniel? I'm not sure at all but I'm sure I don't want to be in those times!
When this church is on the earth Jesus says he's coming soon! It is my understanding that this end times church is the pursuit of Biblical church where people exit the systems and structures of Sardis and Thyatira and meet within biblical directives of 'This do...' a full meal in homes with numerically small groups and leaders who avoid rank. Laodicea is the corrupt state of the church that follows its prosperity orientated insistence. Jesus indicates to us that a person can or people can take the crown off Philadelphia, another clear indication that allowing someone to usurp Jesus leadership of such a group is entirely possible.
The biggest and most seductive lure for us in our day is to give in to the voice of "you really should be doing something about that problem." If we kick into works mode to solve problems or reach people we go ahead without the sending of the Lord. So even people who appeal to us with worthy causes are to be thoroughly examines and scrutinized to see if it is the Lord or a diversion from what the Lord wants. So its not just graeco-roman leadership ranks that are the problem. It is also the good causes. We need to be about only that which God leads us into.
Gary Ward
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