Revelation 3:7-13  To the church at Philadelphia Jesus identifies Himself as the One who is "holy and true, who holds the key of David."   There is none like Jesus in holiness.. in truth.. in power and authority. "who opens and no one will shut and who shuts and no one will open."   He has the final say over every door.. every kingdom.. every nation.. everything.  He is the Alpha and Omega.. the beginning and the end. His words here to the church are powerful.  We can be confident and assured of these truths.. 

Jesus says, "I know your deeds".  He is well aware of every church.. every small group of believers and every large mega church. Size does not matter to Him.. what really matters are the deeds.. the works.. the actions and the undertakings.. the labor and efforts of His people.  Do we walk through the door that He opens?  Do we turn away from those that He shuts?

The church at Philadelphia had "little power"... but Jesus promised to open a door for them.. a door that no-one could shut.  The promise was given to them because they had kept His word and had not denied His name. Even in the face of "the synagogue of Satan".. the church stood firm. 

There would be a time of testing  "upon the whole world".. but Jesus told the church that He would keep them from it.  He was coming.. soon! "Hold fast"! 

This message rings true for the church today..  We need to stand upon the promises of Jesus that He will keep us in His powerful hands. He has the authority to open and shut every door. He knows our deeds and He will reward those who remain steadfast in Him. The Day is coming when He returns and takes the church out of the testing and trials that are going to come "on the whole world."   The victory is ours in Christ our Lord. He has a crown for us if we hold on!  He will make us "a pillar in the temple" of God.  We will bear His Name.  What an incredible future is awaiting the church who stands firm in Him!

Father in heaven, help us to stand firm and to hold on!  Help us to be faithful and true in all that we do in the church.  Help us to rest assured in the promises of our Lord Jesus.  Open the doors that You desire for us and shut the doors that our not Your plan for us.  May He who is holy and true be exalted in our church and in the churches around the world. We ask this in His Holy Name. Amen.