Standing Strong in the "Shine": Lessons from Philadelphia

  

 Have you ever experienced a season where everything in your spiritual life just seemed to "click"? Perhaps you felt an unshakeable passion for the Word, a deep sense of peace in prayer, or an undeniable excitement to share your faith with others. Perhaps these moments came about by a personal alone time with the Lord, or through a powerful spirit filled church service. These "on fire" moments are beautiful, but they often come with a lingering question: What do I do now to keep this flame from burning out?.

    The church in Philadelphia was in exactly that kind of season. Out of all the churches addressed in Revelation, Philadelphia shines the brightest. They weren't perfect, but they were faithful. They were a people who didn't just read the Word; they lived it out in their daily lives. They didn't rely on their own strength, but on God’s. Because of their "evangelistic fervor," Jesus didn't give them a list of failures to fix; instead, He gave them a door of opportunity that no one could shut.

The Challenge of the "Finish Line"

    In the world of sports, the most dangerous moment is often right after a major victory. Athletes train for years for a single Olympic moment, but many struggle with "post-competition depression" once the goal is reached. Because they have not thought about what the next goal should be, they fail to train with the same intensity as they did before. They simply bask in their achievement's while at the same time lose the very ground that they worked so hard to achieve. 

    The same mindset is true when it concerns our faith. When things are going well, we can easily slip into a "spectator" mindset, moving from the front lines to the sidelines. When we experience these "revival" type experiences we tend to depend on them rather than build upon them. Recent studies on religious commitment suggest that many believers experience "spiritual plateauing," where active engagement drops significantly after the first few years of a "mountaintop" experience. 

    According to Barna Group research, Christians who feel they have a clear "calling" or "mission" are three times more likely to stay consistently engaged in their faith over a decade compared to those who view church as a mere weekly obligation. Those revival experiences are wonderful, but if we don't connect them with the deep seeded calling from God to live our lives on mission. Than we are more likely to face this quick burn out. Where the fire that is ignited in a moment of revival fervor is extinguished due to our inactivity. Truth of the matter sometimes what we are chasing is the experiences of God rather than the calling of God on our lives. 

    For the Philadelphian church, the "open door" wasn't just a reward; it was a responsibility to stay in the game until the very end.

"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”: “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... 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. Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.”'" — Revelation 3:7–8, 10–11 (NKJV)

Christ’s Commendation and Challenge

Even for a church doing well, Jesus provides a three-part "game plan" to ensure they don't lose their victory crown.

1. Look to His Coming

    Jesus reminds the church that He is coming "quickly"—which means suddenly and unexpectedly. This shouldn't cause us to live in dread, but it should compel us to prepare. If you knew a guest was arriving at your house today, you would clean up and get ready. How much more should the imminent return of Christ motivate us to live out our faith right now? 

    Furthermore the return of Christ should be a great motivating factor in sharing the gospel to our family and friends. We should not only desire for us to be ready but for others to be prepared for Jesus Christ's arrival. It should cause us to go to the Lord in prayer and pray for the souls who are not yet ready. We should pray for God given divine appointments where we are given the opportunity and the ability to share the gospel with those we are around. 

    You see as we do this we get to see God at work, not just in our own lives as we draw closer to Him, but as we see individuals getting saved and their lives being changed. Doing this is like putting more wood on the fire, insuring the fire in our hearts will grow even brighter and longer as we prepare for the Lord's return. 

2. Keep Holding On

    Jesus gives a firm command: "Hold fast to what you have". This is a call to stay on the solid foundation. A call to not lose ground but to continue on following and drawing closer to God. It's important for us to remember the lesson we learned about the church in Ephesus. We can be busy doing a lot of things, even good things but still lose our first love. 

    While it is important to share the gospel, feed the hungry, serve others and show compassion. It is important that we maintain our connection with God. Continue to go to the Lord in prayer and not just praying for praying sake. Rather seek to draw closer to the throne room of grace, seek God's presence while you enter into prayer. As you read God's word, do so not focusing on the amount of scripture you read, but rather the amount of scripture that is reading you. What is God trying to say to you? Are you listening to what God is saying to you. Doing this will help you build your walk with God and lead you into a deeper, intimate relationship with him. This in turn will continue to build that fire in your heart as you draw ever closer to God. 

3. Keep God’s Power Present

    Jesus warns that we must hold fast so that "no one may take your crown". This isn't about losing your salvation, but about losing the "victory crown" of a life well-run for the Gospel. If we choose to ignore our calling or stay on the sidelines, the opportunity to be used by God may be given to someone else. God’s will will be done; the question is whether you will be a spectator or a participant in His power. 

    This sounds easier than it really is, because following God's call on your life requires sacrifices on your part. It may require you to give of your time, talents, or your things to follow God's call on your life. It often requires us to get out of our comfort zone and do things that we are not readily willing to do or feel we can't do. Another words, following God will at times require you to step out in faith and trust him. 

    This is where many people lose out. God calls us to serve him in some way and because we feel we can't or we don't want to do it we just refuse. However if we will just trust God and step out in faith you will find not only can you do it but that in doing it you will find a greater joy and fulfillment in your faith. So many churches lose the fires of revival all because they refused to step out in faith. So many individuals who were once on fire for God lose that fire all because they refused to trust in the direction God was leading them.  

Stepping Through the Open Door

Being "on fire" for God is wonderful, but the goal is to be a "steady flame" that lights the way for others. There are no "Heisman trophies" or "Super Bowl rings" for those who stay on the sidelines.

Are you prepared?: If Jesus returned today, would you be ashamed of the life you are living, or would you be ready to meet Him?.

Who is behind your door?: Is there someone God is calling you to minister to or share your faith with this week?.

Are you in the game?: Are you relying on God's strength to fulfill your calling, or have you become a spectator of your own faith?.

    Jesus has set an open door before you. Don't let your "good works" become a finish line; let them be the fuel that keeps you running the race with patience and joy.