And we do earnestly desire that all believers everywhere may seek to be taught of the Spirit what is the mind of the Lord concerning Philadelphia and conform to it. Do we not? Let us, therefore, read the Epistle to Philadelphia together, and let me tell you, as I have this opportunity, what I think the Spirit has shown me. But, I entreat you, dear one in the Lord, to receive all that we say as the word of man only. Say in your heart-"Lord, is it so ?" I. THE NAME. Have you, my fellow-believer, asked the Lord to show you, by the Holy Spirit, the meaning of this? I have, and trust you will. Do so noc. In the first place, the Son of God notes only a little strength" in the church at Philadelphia. That church had not strength sufficient to go forward of itself-it had strength enough to follow, follow the Lord, follow when He opened the way, and not till then. How natural that the Great Shepherd of the Sheep should smilingly approve of the patience and humble dependence of that portion of His flock which, (instead of trying to force a way for itself, waits patiently upon the Lord to provide a way—an open door. Let us, therefore, as churches, if we need any temporal help, look to the Lord and wait. He de "When Israel was a child, then I loved him." (Hos. xi.) "I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt." (Jer. xxxi.) "The Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way ye went, until ye came into this place." (Deut.i.) "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked." (Deut. i.) There's the danger-and the result-trouble. Shall we not, therefore, as churches, desire to remain little in our own eyes, that we may have the special help of the Lord? What though in the eyes of others we are a contemptible little crew! 1. In the first place, does not the name betoken lights to help the helpless whose help is in the Lord. the special visible characteristic of this church? "Philadelphia" means Brotherly Love. We rejoice to think that this is increasing in our midst. Is it so in yours, beloved? At your prayer-meetings is a lively interest shown and expressed in the circumstances of the members, individually? do you come together to "bear one another's burdens" to the throne of grace, and "to cast those burdens upon the Lord"? Are your meetings really in all simplicity, liberty, and love, as the children of the one family of God? Do you bear with one another, when things are done or said in the assembly which seem to you to show a want of subjection to the Holy Spirit of God? Do you seek to "wash feet," or do you brandish the rod, forgetting that the use of the rod devolves upon the Head of the family? Then again, are the sick and the aged really cared for among you-visited, comforted, nourished? the unemployed prayed for that their faith may not fail, and are they spoken for to others? the needy ministered to? the wilful, the worldly-minded, and the young watched over, their fleshly tendencies noted and arrested by timely united prayer? If so, beloved, then, so far, is the name Philadelphia deserved by you, and especially if, in addition, you mourn over and appropriate the failings of believers everywhere as your failings-the failings of the One Body. "As touching Brotherly Love, ye need not that I write unto you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1 Thess. iv.) "This is my commandment, That ye love one another AS I have loved you." (John xv.) Thus Philadelphia is the "Church of Brotherly Love," which makes it (with other good features about it), the Church of Christ's love also. II. "LITTLE STRENGTH. In the second place, let us note the three things of which the Lord approves in Philadelphia. "I know thy works; behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it; for thou hast A LITTLE STRENGTH, -AND "Fear not, worm Jacob!" It is not pleasant to be only a worm; ah, but it is conformity with Him whose experience down here was "I am a wORM, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." (Ps. xxii.) Satan is ever seeking to delude us with the thought that much strength is desirable, and urges us to wish for larger buildings, able men, more money. Hence Annual celebrations, lists of donations, and censuses the machinery some of us resort to-such as Reports, of members. What exultation if our church is added to! if our sum-total of money has run up! if we have increased our roll of hired servants! The very fact of our craving visible resources shows that we lean on them, and in proportion as we lean on our visible resources the Lord withdraws Himself, and then, that which comes to pass is this Much outward strength--little inward grace: Little outward strength--much inward grace. As is seen in comparing Philadelphia and Laodicea : "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire," &c. Beloved, is your place of meeting a small one, and are your numbers few? Then you are like Philadelphia, possessing "little strength." Don't look upon and covet what other Christians have; but "wait on the Lord; be of good courage; and He shall strengthen your hearts: wait, I say, on the Lord." "He will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly." Having "little strength," however, must not be confined to little outward strength, in respect to numbers and means. It means no confidence in them. A church may be comparatively large and wealthy; but if its confidence is in the Lord, then it is Philadelphia. It is strong in the Lord-not in itself. Its strength is that of the true woman-weak in herself, but strong when leaning on the arm of the Beloved. But while "little strength" spiritually may be possible with large external means, it is doubtful if they are often united. The Lord knows the danger of riches "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! "And the disciples were astonished at his words. "But Jesus answereth them, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the Needle's Eye [a small postern door], than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark x.) In this passage is vividly shown that having and trusting generally go together. It may also be noted that the Lord does not refer, in the above passage, to the increased difficulty of a rich man believing unto eternal life (though that may be true.) He speaks of "riches" hindering those who were on the ground of being God's people from "entering into the kingdom"-that is, apprehending and going on with that new and divine order of things at the head of which Christ is. Or, in other words, if we possess riches we shall be in danger of walking by sight, not by faith. Now, what is dangerous to the individual is also dangerous to the assembly. Hence it is that the dear Lord, "who hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence," (Eph. i.) sees it best to keep us in little companies and with slender (yet sufficient) resources. May we fall in with the will of God concerning us, and be content to have "little strength." "Be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Heb. xiii.) Not content to stand still spiritually-no. But"content with such things as ye have." Spiritually speaking, as assemblies, let us press on; let us desire to see the work of the Lord going on in our midst. But let us be careful not to hang grace on bricksand-mortar, money and men. So shall we please the Lord, like the church at Philadelphia, by having "A LITTLE STRENGTH.' 3. "HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN SHUTTETH.” As the church is added to by the Lord, additional places of meeting may be felt to be needful. Well, the Lord goes before the church which has "little strength," and "opens the door," and the church has just strength enough to follow-and that degree of strength is all that is needful. Blessed it is to wait, and to be kept waiting, till we see the Lord Jesus going before. To follow Him is the path of safety and blessing to His dear sheep. Now let us ask the Lord to show us what "opening the door" means. Surely it means— A WAY INTO BLESSING. If a church feel itself rather straitened for room and means, let it wait upon the Lord, who will give all that He sees needful for His own glory and its usefulness. But sometimes we suppose something to be needful (of the nature of temporal means) which the Lord sees to be not so. If, therefore, it is kept from us, it is the very best thing for us. Let us beware lest, in our impatience, we do not press forward before the Lord. Suppose, from the increase of numbers, for instance, a larger place of meeting is thought to be desirable. Or, suppose, from the members in fellowship residing somewhat apart, an additional little place of meeting is thought to be needful. Well, what would Philadelphia do? Would it not say"Dear Lord, we look to Thee; give us what we "think we need, if it be to Thy glory. Not our " will, but Thine be done." how is Philadelphia to judge that it is a door of the Now, suppose a place in which to meet offers itself, Lord's opening? The first question would be-Has the Lord provided the means - provided the means the rent were £40 a quarter? Can it be said that BEFOREHAND, in His own gracious way? Suppose the Lord has opened the door unless the rent for the first quarter is provided before the church goes in? Surely not? It is the special duty of the Head, the Lord, the Husband to provide-to provide for the Body, the Church, the Spouse. Shall we, therefore, take future liabilities upon us for the Lord? we? who " are not our own," and may be called away to-morrow? Oh, this is a grievous failure. thing in the future? We can only reckon on one Again. How can any of us reckon on any thing in the future-and that is, the coming of the Lord. Suppose, then, the church be caught away just before the end of the quarter-would it not be a slur upon our testimony? If the building rented belong to a man of the world, let us desire to be beforehand, in such a case? It would be a special opportunity of precious testimony. Let us not provide by worldly shifts of our own, such as giving "bills," or promises of payment, for materials and work done; engaging to meet rent when it becomes due; borrowing money on interest, and mortgaging the property to secure the principal to the lenders, &c. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Are not such expedients forcing a door open, instead of looking to the Lord to open "the door"? Oh, the grief and the shame which would have been spared to many if they had not gone before the Lord in this matter! Even when we meet our engagements, we have practically dishonoured the Lord, because we have taken into our own hands what we ought to have left in His. But-when we do not meet our engage And we do earnestly desire that all believers everywhere may seek to be taught of the Spirit what is the mind of the Lord concerning Philadelphia and conform to it. Do we not? Let us, therefore, read the Epistle to Philadelphia together, and let me tell you, as I have this opportunity, what I think the Spirit has shown me. But, I entreat you, dear one in the Lord, to receive all that we say as the word of man only. Say in your heart-"Lord, is it so?" I. THE NAME. 1. In the first place, does not the name betoken the special visible characteristic of this church? "Philadelphia" means Brotherly Love. We rejoice to think that this is increasing in our midst. Is it so in yours, beloved? At your prayer-meetings is a lively interest shown and expressed in the circumstances of the members, individually? do you come together to "bear one another's burdens" to the throne of grace, and "to cast those burdens upon the Lord"? Are your meetings really in all simplicity, liberty, and love, as the children of the one family of God? Do you bear with one another, when things are done or said in the assembly which seem to you to show a want of subjection to the Holy Spirit of God? Do you seek to "wash feet," or do you brandish the rod, forgetting that the use of the rod devolves upon the Head of the family? Then again, are the sick and the aged really cared for among you-visited, comforted, nourished? the unemployed prayed for that their faith may not fail, and are they spoken for to others? the needy ministered to? the wilful, the worldly-minded, and the young watched over, their fleshly tendencies noted and arrested by timely united prayer? If so, beloved, then, so far, is the name Philadelphia deserved by you, and especially if, in addition, you mourn over and appropriate the failings of believers everywhere as your failings-the failings of the One Body. "As touching Brotherly Love, ye need not that I write unto you, for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1 Thess. iv.) "This is my commandment, That ye love one another As I have loved you." (John xv.) Thus Philadelphia is the "Church of Brotherly Love," which makes it (with other good features about it), the Church of Christ's love also. Have you, my fellow-believer, asked the Lord to show you, by the Holy Spirit, the meaning of this? I have, and trust you will. Do so now. In the first place, the Son of God notes only "a little strength" in the church at Philadelphia. That church had not strength sufficient to go forward of itself-it had strength enough to follow, follow the Lord, follow when He opened the way, and not till then. How natural that the Great Shepherd of the Sheep should smilingly approve of the patience and humble dependence of that portion of His flock which, (instead of trying to force a way for itself,) waits patiently upon the Lord to provide a way-an open door. Let us, therefore, as churches, if we need any temporal help, look to the Lord and wait. He delights to help the helpless whose help is in the Lord. "When Israel was a child, then I loved him." (Hos. xi.) "I took them by the hand, to bring them out of the land of Egypt." (Jer. xxxi.) "The Lord thy God bare thee, as a man doth bear his son, in all the way ye went, until ye came into this place." (Deut.i.) "But Jeshurun waxed fat, and kicked." (Deut. i.) There's the danger-and the result-trouble. Shall we not, therefore, as churches, desire to remain little in our own eyes, that we may have the special help of the Lord? What though in the eyes of others we are a contemptible little crew! "Fear not, worm Jacob!" It is not pleasant to be only a worm; ah, but it is conformity with Him whose experience down here was "I am a wORM, and no man; a reproach of men, and despised of the people." (Ps. xxii.) that much strength is desirable, and urges us to wish Satan is ever seeking to delude us with the thought for larger buildings, able men, more money. Hence the machinery some of us resort to-such as Reports, Annual celebrations, lists of donations, and censuses of members. What exultation if our church is added increased our roll of hired servants! to! if our sum-total of money has run up! if we have that we lean on them, and in proportion as we lean The very fact of our craving visible resources shows on our visible resources the Lord withdraws Himself, and then, that which comes to pass is this— Much outward strength-little inward grace: Little outward strength--much inward grace. As is seen in comparing Philadelphia and Laodicea : "Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name." "Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked, I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire," &c. Beloved, is your place of meeting a small one, and are your numbers few? Then you are like Philadelphia, possessing "little strength." Don't look upon and covet what other Christians have; but "wait on the Lord; be of good courage; and He shall strengthen your hearts: wait, I say, on the Lord." "He will withhold no good thing from them that walk uprightly." Having "little strength," however, must not be confined to little outward strength, in respect to numbers and means. It means no confidence in them. A church may be comparatively large and wealthy; but if its confidence is in the Lord, then it is Philadelphia. It is strong in the Lord-not in itself. Its strength is that of the true woman-weak in herself, but strong when leaning on the arm of the Beloved. But while "little strength" spiritually may be possible with large external means, it is doubtful if they are often united. The Lord knows the danger of riches "How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! "And the disciples were astonished at his words. "But Jesus answereth them, and saith unto them, Children, how hard is it for them who trust in riches to enter into the kingdom of God! It is easier for a camel to go through the Needle's Eye [a small postern door], than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God." (Mark x.) In this passage is vividly shown that having and trusting generally go together. Now let us ask the Lord to show us what "opening the door" means. Surely it means A WAY INTO BLESSING. If a church feel itself rather straitened for room and means, let it wait upon the Lord, who will give all that He sees needful for His own glory and its usefulness. But sometimes we suppose something to be needful (of the nature of temporal means) which the Lord sees to be not so. If, therefore, it is kept from us, it is the very best thing for us. Let us beware lest, in our impatience, we do not press forward before the Lord. Suppose, from the increase of numbers, for instance, a larger place of meeting is thought to be desirable. Or, suppose, from the members in fellowship residing somewhat apart, an additional little place of meeting is thought to be needful. Well, what would Philadelphia do? Would it not say"Dear Lord, we look to Thee; give us what we "think we need, if it be to Thy glory. Not our will, but Thine be done." how is Philadelphia to judge that it is a door of the Now, suppose a place in which to meet offers itself, Lord's opening? The first question would be-Has the Lord provided the means hindering - provided the means BEFOREHAND, in His own gracious way? Suppose the rent were £40 a quarter? Can it be said that the Lord has opened the door unless the rent for the first quarter is provided before the church goes in? Surely not? It may also be noted that the Lord does not refer, in the above passage, to the increased difficulty of a rich man believing unto eternal life (though that may be truc.) He speaks of "riches those who were on the ground of being God's people from "entering into the kingdom "-that is, apprehending and going on with that new and divine order of things at the head of which Christ is. Or, in other words, if we possess riches we shall be in danger of walking by sight, not by faith. Now, what is dangerous to the individual is also dangerous to the assembly. Hence it is that the dear Lord, "who hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence," (Eph. i.) sees it best to koep us in little companies and with slender (yet sufficient) resources. May we fall in with the will of God concerning us, and be content to have "little strength." "Be content with such things as ye have: for He hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." (Heb. xiii.) Not content to stand still spiritually-no. But"content with such things as ye have." Spiritually speaking, as assemblies, let us press on; let us desire to see the work of the Lord going on in our midst. But let us be careful not to hang grace on bricksand-mortar, money and men. So shall we please the Lord, like the church at Philadelphia, by having"A LITTLE STRENGTH." 3. "HE THAT OPENETH, AND NO MAN SHUTTETH.” As the church is added to by the Lord, additional places of meeting may be felt to be needful. Well, the Lord goes before the church which has "little strength," and " opens the door," and the church has just strength enough to follow-and that degree of strength is all that is needful. Blessed it is to wait, and to be kept waiting, till we see the Lord Jesus going before. To follow Him is the path of safety and blessing to His dear sheep. It is the special duty of the Head, the Lord, the Husband to provide-to provide for the Body, the Church, the Spouse. Shall we, therefore, take future liabilities upon us for the Lord? we? who "are not our own," and may be called away to-morrow? Oh, this is a grievous failure. Again. on How can any of us reckon anything in the future? We can only reckon on one thing in the future-and that is, the coming of the Lord. Suppose, then, the church be caught away just before the end of the quarter-would it not be a slur upon our testimony? If the building rented belong to a man of the world, let us desire to be beforehand, in such a case? It would be a special opportunity of precious testimony. Let us not provide by worldly shifts of our own, such as giving "bills," or promises of payment, for materials and work done; engaging to meet rent when it becomes due; borrowing money on interest, and mortgaging the property to secure the principal to the lenders, &c. "Whatsoever is not of faith is sin." Are not such expedients forcing a door open, instead of looking to the Lord to open "the door"? Oh, the grief and the shame which would have been spared to many if they had not gone before the Lord in this matter! Even when we meet our engagements, we have practically dishonoured the Lord, because we have taken into our own hands what we ought to have left in His. But-when we do not meet our engage They are helped, indeed, in answer to prayer; "But let them not turn again unto folly." (Ps. lxxxv.) If, therefore, purchase is contemplated, let us pray, and look, and wait till we get ALL the money: If the rental of a place is contemplated, let us pray, and look, and wait, for the FIRST QUARTER's rent before going in. Then, if it is the Lord's will that we should stop, He will provide, by freewill offerings, during that first quarter the rent for the second. The same course should be taken with places rented by the week, month, or year. Saints may not have been acting exactly in this way heretofore: nor have we ourselves. But being enlightened, we hope to do so for the future. This, surely, may be regarded as one meaning of the blessed assurance-"I have set before thee AN OPEN DOOR.' say If the rent of each quarter is not thus provided before a fresh quarter is entered upon, who shall it is a door of the Lord's opening? It may have been, but the means being withheld, it is shown to be a door of His shutting? "And shutteth, and no man openeth!" Thus the Lord Jesus Christ does shut, as well as open! Yes, indeed; it is a solemn fact! If Satan can succeed in exciting strife in an assembly-this will be a giving "place to the Devil;" and will not the door be shut, if such strife be not soon repented of? has "kept His word." It is with much joy that we call to mind the fact that of late years there has been throughout the Church a gathering conviction of the Sufficiency and Supremacy of the Word of God. A passage of Scripture is required for everything. Believers are now to be met with who read nothing but the Word of God. Indeed, this is the case with us, with very occasional exceptions. Joyful day, when saints have advanced to this state of real fellowship-dependence on the Holy Ghost, to lead them into all truth by the Word of God. The consequence is a general gathering back to Scriptural simplicity on such subjects as The Certainty of Eternal Life to every one that believeth; Baptism in Water; Showing forth the Lord's death weekly; The duty of Individual and Collective "Holding forth the Word of Life;" The Ministry of the Spirit; The Coming of the Lord. The Presence of the Lord Jesus in the midst. Though these and other great and precious truths are now being "kept," treasured, or held fast, by the Church increasingly, yet it is noticeable that the singular "word" is used-not words, (as in John xv., "Abide in me, and my words abide in you.") What "word" of His can it be that the dear Lord alludes to? May it not be that "word," or single commandment, expressed in this Church's name "Philadelphia"-Brotherly Love? "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." (John xv. 12.) "These things I command you, that ye love one another." (John xv. 17.) Thus, the Lord Jesus Christ has laid down this law twice. - "This is his [the Father's] commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he [the Lord Jesus] gave us commandment.” (1 John iii. 23.) This one law this great, simple, single comChrist not only shuts, but He also says "No man openeth!" We may, by our contrivances, and nip-mandment is reiterated by the Holy Ghostping, and pressing, manage to hold possession of bricks-and-mortar, and the Lord will meet with us therein, according to His assurance (Matt. xviii. 20). But blessing will be comparatively limited. We shall not advance into blessing, as through an open door. Difficulties and depression will be felt, and that in proportion to the light sinned against. The Lord must and will bring us to an end of ourselves-our confidences and our devices, that He may be all in all. And then how foolish to struggle to keep possession of a place, when the Lord, by withholding the means before it is due, and by other signs, shows that He has shut the door! Doubtless, "an open door" means not only a place or places to meet in, but includes ALL Opportunities of serving God and fellowship with one another in worship and work-widening out before a church. IV.-" AND HAST KEPT MY WORD." The second feature which the Lord Jesus notes with approval in the church of His love, is that it Alas! how have we all failed in "keeping" this, our Lord's commandment or "word!" Individually, we must all feel our failure. And, as churchesalas! the bitterness we have shown towards those who have failed and fallen among us, and also towards other churches. There has been, in some quarters, a vast deal of "putting away" for matters to deal with which the church has received no power. The Lord turn us from our evil ways! Let us remember that our Lord, whose we are-body, soul, and spirit-has commanded us to love one another— and to love one another as He has loved us. Would we be Philadelphia? Let us love "all the holy brethren with a pure heart fervently." So will the Lord Jesus approvingly regard us as "keeping His word." |