Sermon

The sermon this morning was from Revelation 3:7-13. It's entitled, "The Church of Little Power."
Here are some points that stood out to me:

1. When Jesus says that the church in Philadelphia has "but little power" (Revelation 3:8), it's a commendation. Having little power isn't always good, but having little power also isn't always bad.
2. In verse 9, Jesus says, "Your lack of resources, money, and manpower proved no obstacle to your accomplishing great things for the kingdom of God."
3. The Philadelphian believers did more than simply not deny the name of Jesus. They loudly and proudly proclaimed Him as "the Holy One!"
4. The greatness of a church is not measured by the size of its congregation, but by the size of the Savior.

         Jesus, the Keeping King:
A. The notion that any Christian is assured of special protection from trials, tribulations, and persecution is unbiblical.
B. The trial or tribulation that is coming is designed for the judgement of unbelievers, not Christians.
C. The promise is for spiritual protection in the midst of physical tribulation.
D. Pretribulationists typically think that the only way God's people can be spiritually protected from the outpouring of divine wrath is by being physically removed from the.  earth. However, John 17:15 stands in opposition to this, "I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one." In this text, "keep from" is actually contrasted with the notion of physical removal. Jesus does not pray that the Father physically take them out of the world, but that the Father "keep them from"  Satan's effort to destroy their spiritual life.
E. It is in remaining faithful unto death that our greatest victory is achieved, not in being "raptured" to safety.