It Starts Small

Jesus address the letter the the church in Philadelphia identifying Himself with two characteristics: Holy and True. These are significant! Jesus is holy. Jesus can not lie.

Jesus presents His unique authority to each of the seven churches. To the church of Philadelphia, Jesus describes Himself as someone who is holy and true and holds sovereign authority over the church. This speaks of the character of the one speaking to the church. His character gives Him the authority to deal with the issues of the church. Hebrews 7 tells us how Jesus is the better priest than all the priests past and present in Israel.

²⁶ For this is the kind of high priest we need: holy, innocent, undefiled, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

Hebrews 7:26

This verse describes Jesus as a high priest who us holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.

As someone who is “holy,” Jesus has the right to judge the church in Philadelphia. The word “holy” carries the idea in the Bible of someone separate and distinct.

And one called to another:

Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Armies;
his glory fills the whole earth.

Isaiah 6:3

“To whom will you compare me,
or who is my equal?” asks the Holy One.

Isaiah 40:25

Jesus is the Unique One. No one is like Him. There is no flaw in Him.

Jesus, as the “true” one, is the one who corresponds to reality. He is the only one true to reality. He is the Genuine One in contrast to liars. He is true to truth. He guards His church against false doctrine. We can count on Him to be true to His Word. He is the truth itself.

⁶ Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John 14:6

The phrase “key of David” may come from Isaiah 22:22.

²² I will place the key of the house of David on his shoulder; what he opens, no one can close; what he closes, no one can open.

Isaiah 22:22

God gave Eliakim the key to the house of David. Before Eliakim received this key, an incident occurred that gave Eliakim the rights to the “key of David.” King Hezekiah caught Shebna, the former key holder, in a fraud. God sent him in exile to Babylon. God replaced him with Eliakim, giving him the “key of David.” This gave him access to all of David’s riches. Jesus, as the heir of the Davidic Covenant, will inherit the millennial kingdom. This is His political right. He will administer His church as He sees fit. 

No one can oppose the will of Jesus. He has authority over the church. No one can contravene His will. By His sovereign, political authority, Jesus opens opportunities for the church. He sovereignly acts on behalf of the local church. Places of opportunity that would otherwise be closed, Jesus acts in those situations and makes them possible. 

The word “shuts” means shut, lock, bar. Jesus bars certain church situations in His providence from happening. Jesus closes doors of churches when He pleases to do so. When churches become obstinate to His will, He closes their doors. He works to will and do of His own pleasure.

For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose.

Philippians 2:12

 If Jesus opens a door for us to minister we should walk through any door that the Lord opens. 

 After they arrived and gathered the church together, they reported everything God had done with them and that he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.

Acts 14:27

³ At the same time, pray also for us that God may open a door to us for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains, ⁴ so that I may make it known as I should. ⁵ Act wisely toward outsiders, making the most of the time. ⁶ Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.

Acts 3:4-6

 because a wide door for effective ministry has opened for me—yet many oppose me.

1 Corinthians 16:9

¹² When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though the Lord opened a door for me,

2 Corinthians 2:12