Title: The Church We Want to Build
Text: Revelation 3:7-13
The church we want to build
A small rescue station was installed in an island village where there were frequent accidents due to severe storms. The rescue station was just a small abandoned warehouse converted to a few old chairs and an old boat soaked in water to rescue a drowning person. However, 5-6 dedicated rescuers in the village protected the sea day and night, and many lives were saved through their dedicated efforts, which made the area quite famous.
Our church is not a mega church, but we must become a church that achieves great results with small abilities. If the church neglects to evangelize, it loses its vitality as a church and loses its existence value. So, all of you who are gathered here today, I bless you in the name of the Lord that it will be a blessed time for you to be interested in saving souls and to commit yourself to this work. In the text we read now, there was a church in Philadelphia in Asia Minor.
At the time, this church was only a shabby and small church. Nevertheless, among the seven churches in Asia Minor, there was no rebuke from the Lord, and even though they had little power, they were only praised as pillars of God's temple. If so, what kind of church could this church have been able to receive such praise and good evaluation from the Lord? I hope that our Seongsan Church will be established as a church that is recognized and praised by the Lord, and we bless it in the name of the Lord. What kind of church was the Philadelphia Church established, and what kind of church do we want to build?
1. It was established as a church that obeys the Word.
Verse 8: “Behold, I have put a door open before you, and no one can close it. Despite their little power, they obeyed the Word. The Philadelphia church was a church and saints who thought about how to use what they had rather than how much they had.
So they did the best they could, and they were praised by the Lord. In this way, we also say that we have little power and ask, “What can we really do with this kind of power and ability?” “What can you do with such a small scale, so few numbers, and with so little power?” Rather than becoming discouraged, we must become saints who obey the Lord's word first. A church that God recognizes and praises is not a church with a beautiful building or a large number of people and a large budget, but a church that obeys the Lord with the power God has given to us. I bless you in the name of the Lord that you may become a church that obeys the mission God has given to the church by doing your best to spread the gospel.
2. It was established as a church that is zealous for evangelism and missions.
The Philadelphia Church was a church that was zealous for evangelism and missions despite their shortcomings. In verse 8 the Lord said that he had placed an open door in this church. In verse 7 of the text, “Write to the angel of the church in Philadelphia, saying: He who is holy and true and has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one can open:” The Lord appeared with the key. The one who has the key can open or close the door with that key. But the Lord opened the door in front of this church with that key.
In verse 8, “Behold, I have put an open door before you...” The Lord opened the door wide to preach the gospel of salvation in front of the Philadelphia church. So, the Philadelphia Church was praised by the Lord for becoming a church that preaches the gospel diligently by making the most of that opportunity. So are we. We too must be zealous for evangelism and missionary work. I need to pray with the lost souls around me in my heart. Even if there is no sign of acceptance now, we should not stop praying for the salvation of that soul. And we must preach the gospel again. As I repeat, we must focus on the salvation of souls in all ministry of our Seongsan Church from kindergarten to seniors. So, before the door of the gospel closes, before the opportunity passes, I bless you in the name of the Lord to become a church that puts more effort into evangelism and missions.
3. The church was established as a rewarding church before the Lord.
The Lord promised the Philadelphia church a reward from God. Verse 11 says, “I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have and let no one take your crown.” The Philadelphia church was indeed a church that did not lose its crown. We Christians do not lose our salvation just because we do not evangelize. However, if we neglect the most important command of God, the mission of evangelism and mission, we lose our reward. In 1 Corinthians 9:27, “I beat my body to subjection, lest after I have preached to others, I myself will be rejected.” confessed. I hope that you will be used by God. In the name of the Lord, we bless our Seongsan Church to become a church that satisfies the heart when the Lord sees it, a vibrant church that fulfills its mission for the Lord, a church that is recognized and praised by the Lord, and its members.
Dear Seongsan Family! What kind of church do we want to build? Like the church in Philadelphia, it must be established as a church that obeys the Word. It must be established as a church that is zealous for evangelism and missions. We must establish it as a church that is rewarded before the Lord. I bless you in the name of the Lord that it will be established as a church that obeys the Word, a church that is zealous for evangelism and missions, and receives a reward before the Lord. Hallelujah!