Weak Watch and With

Looking at our study “Change Now” via the letter to the churches of Revelation. Here we have Jesus speaking to the church in Philadelphia, through John the Apostle. That should get out attention, all by itself. Jesus Himself is writing to a church, one of His. He has decided to use John as a revealer. I would think if that piece of mail landed on my desk I would read it, tell the whole church, and make it known to others. Why is it believers today can go days without His word? A letter to us, written in its latest reveal some 2000 years ago. Who wouldn’t want to read that? Our flesh does not want to hear truth, at all. Our society around us (the world) doesn’t want to give you the time, space, or desire to do so. Bonus, it doesn’t say, “To the First Baptist Church of…”, instead it is for you and me, today. It simply is history to some, to be listened to and ignored. But for me, and many others I believe, it is God’s very revelation of Himself to us. It shows us how He thinks, what He wants, and what we are to do about it, or not do. In this case it’s much more the latter. 

Jesus just finished in Revelation 3 with— “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it” (3.8). He also just said— “I know thy works”. Good or bad, He knows. In this case, He knows that they are what pleases Him. So Jesus then tells them why He has opened this door no man can shut— “for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” Maybe it’s my Western thinking here, but do you not see 3 things they are doing/not doing that pleases God? I do. He said clearly— “I know thy works”. Here they are on display. The whole world for the last 2000 years has been allowed to peek into this church’s business. Would you want the world to have a looksie into your actions and inactions for Christ? I think we are at a place where we think we are doing all the things right and in the right mode. Let us reconsider through the lense of truth today. 

First, the Philadelphians were told they had “little strength”. This isn’t a condemnation, rather a fact. Thayer’s Lexicon places Revelation 3.8 and the word “strength” or ‘dunamis’ under the category “power and resources arising from numbers” (subset “e”). Some others do the same because so often int he New Testament it’s used as: ‘an army, or a host’. It literally means ‘strength, ability, power’. We get our English words: ‘dynamite’ and ‘dynamic’ from this word. And the literal transliteration is: ‘dynamo’. In any and all of these cases, “little strength” is in reference to: ‘power’.  

It seems to me that everyone is striving to have a dynamic and power packed ministry. According to this, you would have it backwards. He is the dynamite. He makes it dynamic. It’s Him! How arrogant for us to think we have any power at all! Notice He relates this in and of themselves, “they” had “very little power”. Also note that the word “little” is where we get our English word micro (mikro). He knows that they are weak. That they lack strength in power and numbers, so He opened a door for them, that no man can shut. Sound familiar? He has been doing this for Israel for millennia. Jesus has always focused His attention on the ones being meek, lowly, humble, unable, weak, and broken. It’s where He will show up. Being able and ready and muscling it through, will remove the real power. Weak is power in Jesus’ economy. The Apostle Paul learned this lesson in 2 Corinthians 12. Look for a moment at verses 8-10— “8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” There you have it! 

Jesus then shifts to the fact they have also— “kept my word”. For starters, it’s His word, and not ours. His truth, not ours. When the scripture says “kept” it literally means to ‘guard’. Specifically it means: to ensure or protect that it be acted upon or carried out. The word for guard here means: ‘to attend to carefully, take care of; not to leave.’ In military terms of the first century it was to ‘watch’, or ‘take the watch’, as a guard over. It’s something precious that needs our attention to watch over, make sure it’s carried out and lived by. Is it? 

This is the solemn obligation of a covenant assembly that claims to be Jesus’ church— “…in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.” (1Timothy 3.15). Truth from the revelation of the Revealer Himself is most precious. The Word of God is indeed our instruction manual, but much more than that. The Holy Scripture is our window into who Jesus is and what He knows about us. It is essential for the disciple of Jesus. We now have the authority in our very hands. So why would we ask for market strategy or any other worldly means to govern or maneuver His church? His church must guard His Word. I find it interesting, if not strange, that churches are more comfortable with man-strategy than the book of Acts. Why in the world would we not ‘attend to carefully, take care of; not to leave’ the Word of God? Why not ‘watch’, or ‘take the watch’, as a guard over this precious truth? We must ensure that it is known and lived as an assembly. 

Jesus then tells them another reason why the door is open for them: “have not denied my name”. To “deny” in the New Testament is the opposite of “confess”. It is to repudiate or disown a thing (in the moment). It is the opposite of “to identify with”. They used this in the first century as one who would “contradict”, “stand against”, or “refuse to affirm”. In other words, this church stood up for Jesus. They identified with Him in a public and purposeful way. They confessed Him to others and took an evident stand. Have we become so tolerant that we are no heavenly good anymore? It’s time to pick a side! His name is blasphemed all day, every day. In that moment, the church of Philadelphia ‘confessed Jesus. They made it clear who they stood with. The question has to be asked— Have we identified with Him, especially when it may cost us? Secondly, we must ask— Have we taught our kids the same? It is the church’s job to led others to see that it’s worth standing alone if you have to? Everything done in His name is done for Him and to His glory. It is worth the stand. Do you think churches have a problem with running down what others in the church are doing for Jesus? Definitely. This same disease was plaguing churches in the first century also. I’m so thankful for the instructions left to them, for us. You could imagine how hard it would be to stand for Jesus, when you are outnumbered, and quite frankly, powerless. We already know this was their problem, but we also know that Jesus commended them for this. This brings the idea of out loud stating, for everyone to hear… “I’m with Him!”

It is at this point that Jesus changes focus on those who are working to tear it all down. Those who would shut the door if given the chance. In verse 9 He calls them the “synagogue of satan”. Because they were workers for satan, by helping believers deny christ, and by stamping them out (by death in most cases). No different than pagan worship. All worship to anyone but Jesus is pagan worship. He says they were not Jew’s. They were Jew by birth, but not spiritual jews at all. In other words posers. Imposters to the true faith. 

Taking a stand and moving forward, with few at your side, would be difficult. To do so with little strength would be strenuous. Added to that a group of antagonists pushing back at you, and you have to have something to stand with. They were indeed weak. They submitted themselves to stand watch for the word. They also committed to be with Jesus to their end here on Earth. This is a church of conviction not convenience. This is a high expectation church. This is a church that belongs to Jesus Christ Himself. 

That is the church I want my kids and grandkids to grow in. How about you?