▼ Show Notes

What do you think about, what do you do, when you are weary, when you are attacked or persecuted? When do you feel like the world is getting the best of you? When you feel tired and like life is handing you adversity on many fronts?

I tend to become inwardly focused. What am I doing wrong? What can I work harder to accomplish? Why does this happen to me? While some introspection is healthy, I cross a line and become a secularist, and act as if I am on my own, and all outcomes are dependent on me. I can become weary, tired of the struggle, and frustrated that my prayers aren’t answered as I would like.

Jesus’ instructions to the church in Philadelphia give us a helpful perspective as we face these circumstances. This perspective is assuring, secure, and forward-looking.

The city of Philadelphia was 28 miles southeast of Sardis. It was in an area noted for its agricultural products but afflicted by earthquakes that destroyed the city several times, most recently around AD 37. The city was named for the king of Pergamum, Attalus Philadelphus, who had built it.

The church in Philadelphia has endured persecution. They have been faithful, but they are weak and weary. Jesus promises them retribution against the synagogue of Satan, which says that they are Jews and are not. (Judaizers).

We should therefore know and keep the word of God. His word teaches that we can rest in Christ. He has conquered, so we can overcome the world even in the face of opposition. When we are weak and weary, we can look to Him. He has already conquered.

Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview

John Warren

▼ Show Notes

This episode of Relentless Truth isn’t what you think it is. It isn’t about a feeling of euphoria that you work yourself into every morning. It isn’t about the feigned sense of friendship with everyone that some employ. It isn’t about persuading yourself that this isn’t so bad.

Today’s episode features the church at Sardis in Revelation 3. This church is lesser known among those referenced in the New Testament. Jesus calls them dead and tells them to wake up. He tells them that only a few of them haven’t soiled their garments. Then he tells them to remember the truth that have received and to repent.

Near the end of this short section, Jesus says that the one who conquers will be clothed in white garments. Without consulting commentaries and sermons on this paragraph in Revelation, we can see that Jesus is referencing the Gospel. This clothing metaphor has been used in several places in the New Testament to refer to the work of Jesus Christ through the Gospel.

The point of application in this passage is it is Christ who has overcome the world. John 16:33 states this explicitly. He defeated Satan (Colossians 2:14-15). He conquered death (1 Cor. 15:54-57). And we overcome through Him (1John 4:4; 1John 5:4-5. We see the significance of this clearly in Romans 8:35-39. Nothing will separate us from Him, and we are surpassingly overcomers through Him.

Thank you for listening to Relentless Truth. Please share this episode with your friends and family. Please share our work on social media. Your endorsements have been incredible in expanding our reach worldwide. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at john@johnwarrenmedia.com, and please visit our website for more information about our work at johnwarrenmedia.com. #theology #christian worldview

John Warren