"Letters for Home - Part 6" | Pastor Ben Kellert

These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹ I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. 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 on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth.

¹¹ I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. ¹² The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. ¹³ Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches."

How Christ Describes Himself:

1. He is Holy

• 1 Peter 1:14-16 "As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. ¹⁵ But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; ¹⁶ for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy."

2. Christ is not only Holy, He is True

• True: Genuine & Real.  Trustworthy & reliable.
• We can depend on Jesus.
• We sometimes hide behind masks, but not Jesus.  
• Let's aim to be like Jesus: true and authentic.

3.  Christ is also Sovereign

• Isaiah 22:22 "I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open."

Description of the Church:

1. (vs 8) It was a Faithful Church

• "You have kept my word."
• Believe and obey; reflect Jesus in your life.

2. It was a small church

• "Little is much when God is in it!"
• Be faithful regardless of your size.

3.  It had a good reputation

• They stood up for Christ

4.  It had a Great Opportunity

• "I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut"

4 Promises in verses 9-12:

1. It's Enemies will be Humiliated

• Don't give up!  Christ is still in control and He still loves you

2.  It will not go through the tribulation (vs 10)

3.  It will receive a Crown (vs 11)

• 2 Timothy 4:8 "Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing."
• 1 Corinthians 9:25
• 1 Thessalonians 2:19
• 2 Timothy 4:8
• 1 Peter 5:4
• James 1:12
• Revelation 2:10

4. It will receive a New Identity

New Identity with 3 New Names:

1. I will write on him the Name of God
2. The Name of God's City - Rev 21:2 - Our citizenship is in Heaven
3. I will write on him my New Name - we are identified with Christ and belong to Him.

He is Holy

He is True

He is Sovereign

He is always faithful!

*Next, click here to watch the full replay of this message: "Letters to Home - Part 6".