Sermon pm 06112005

6th November 2005 PM

HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU HAVE ! Pastor Colin Meadows

Revelation 3:7-13

Ø Let’s hang on to what we’ve got: This was the title of a song by Frankie Valli in the 70’s; it told of the desire of a young couple to cling to what love they had between them. Here the church in Philadelphia was told by the Risen Christ to hold on too:

Rev 3:11 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

This church had so much positive said about it. In fact, down through history, different groups and churches have sought to identify by name with this church! In 1681 for instance, a London woman, Jane Lead, pronounced that the Philadelphian Society, with which she was linked, was ‘the sole true church, the virgin bride of Jesus Christ whose members formed the pure and holy church, as was the case in the time of Christ’. Quite a challenge to live up to!!

The name Philadelphia meant ‘brotherly love’. It was a city of some importance, sited on several main trade routes. Today it is called Alasehir and has a population of around 30,000 people. The Christians there had stood firm. The pressure was on for the Christians in Philadelphia to let go. It was so hard for them - persecutions, abuse, and opposition from both within and without the church. What should they do? Just walk away from Christ? ‘No’, came the gentle voice of the Lord. ‘Hang on to what you have’. That is what Jesus is encouraging us to do as well. No matter what is happening in our private and public worlds, hold on to our precious faith in Christ!

The word used ‘hold on’ is a very strong one. It is used again in referring to the ‘arrest’ of Christ:

Math 26:48 ‘Now the betrayer had arranged a signal for them: “The one I kiss is the man. Arrest (grab hold of) him.”’

When those soldiers grabbed Jesus, it was not just a casual light touch to his hand. They used force to grab hold of him. That is what is being spoken of here. Cling to your faith in Christ.

When we went ‘white-water rafting’ on the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe many years back, we were told to hang on to the rope around the edge of the boat with a ‘white knuckle grip’. That is a grip that does not let go no matter what! That is what is being spoken of here. Hold on to Christ as if your life depends on it for it does!!

But Christ did more than just tell them to hold on with a ‘white knuckle grip’. He gave them several great promises as they held on and each of these promises is centred in Christ himself. Let’s look at them now.

Ø Christ holds the key to the door of life: Sometimes we think God has lost control of this world. We look at the chaos around us, the rebellion of nations, abuse, and persecution. Stop and remember that Jesus still holds the keys. He is still in charge and no one enters into new life apart from him.

Rev 3:7 “…What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”

Let us not forget this, especially in tough times. Hold on. He is the way, the truth and the life. No one can enter God’s presence apart from Christ. Hold onto Christ.

Ø Christ loves us - even our enemies will acknowledge that: Right now people may ridicule and question whether God even cares for us as his children. That situation will change in the future. Hold on to what we have for the wheel will turn.

Rev 3:9 “I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.”

Never forget that Christ loves you. His love for us took him to the cross. Don’t forget that, especially as you go through tough times. Hold on.

Ø Christ keeps watch over us: There is coming a time of judgement the scope of which is frightening to contemplate. The wonder of God’s love is this – we will be kept from it. Jesus has already been judged in our place.

Rev 3:10 “Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.”

There is a question here at to how these words should be translated. It could read “I will keep you in and through the hour of trial”. If we accept this way of translating it reminds us that he will provide the strength and courage under trials.

It could also be translated “I will keep you from undergoing the hour of trial”. Here is the promise that Christ will take us to be with himself before the final judgement comes. I sense both meanings apply here. No matter what may happen, we can with confidence put our hand in the hand of Christ as we go through the shadows of difficult times. Just hang on.

Ø Christ will acknowledge us before the Father: There is incredible mystery here. As we hold on and overcome to the end, so Christ will present us faultless before his father.

Rev 3:12 “He who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God.”

It is difficult to know all that is meant by these words but this much is clear. Christ has a special future for us all as his people. In Philadelphia , when a man had served the city well, a pillar was erected in one of the temples with his name inscribed on it. In that way they would honour such people. This should give us courage to hand on! Let us be a pilgrim in this life so that we can be a pillar in the next. Hold on to Christ.

Ø Christ is coming again: We can have complete confidence in that. Jesus will return. The Bible reminds us so clearly of this:

Rev 3:11 “I am coming soon…”

The reminders of his return are numerous. Jesus will return, this time not as saviour but as judge. Today is the day of salvation but in the future will be the Day of Judgment.

Story is told of a US frontier town where a horse and wagon with a small boy in it bolted. Seeing the boy in danger, a young man risked his life to catch the horse and stop the wagon. The little boy grew up to a thief and was later convicted for murder. As he stood before the judge he recognised this judge as the man who years before had saved his life. He thus pleaded for mercy. The judge replied “Back then I was your rescuer but today I am your judge.” The same will be true when Christ returns for he will come as judge.

Hang on. The challenge is for us to hold until he returns.

Ø Let’s hold to what we’ve got:

Hang on to what you have, your precious faith in Christ. Don’t let it slip out of your heart. It is the most precious possession you have. Never let it go.

Winston Churchill, former Prime Minister of England during the dark days of WW2 was asked to speak at his old school, Harrow School on 29 Oct 1941. It was at one of the darkest times in British history with the nation struggling to survive the might of Nazi Germany. Part of his speech to the boys went:

“Never give in – never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”

He was a man who refused to allow the thought of giving up or of letting go to enter his thinking. The same should be true of us. Even though Philadelphia became a Moslem centre long ago, the city still has a Christian bishop to this day – it has held on to its faith. What about us?

Rev 3:11 “I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”

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