Radio Broadcast – Bible Study - Part 1

In our study on the message to the church in Philadelphia last week, I dealt with the divine declaration found in verse 8, I know thy works, behold I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it. If you are listening to the broadcast, you might remember that I mentioned that the open door, I mentioned the open door on earth, and the open door in heaven. The open door on earth speaks very clearly of the door of opportunity that is set before the church in these last days. And again let me say, there never was such an opportunity of spreading the gospel to every nation as there is today. The glorious gospel of Christ is being sent by missionaries, by means of radio and television to every country in the world. In spite of all the attempts of godless communism to hinder it, God has said, I have set before thee an open door, and no man, and that includes Khrushchev, no man can shut it. Jesus said of the gospel of the kingdom, the full gospel with kingdom power shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations, and then shall the end come. My earnest prayer is that we shall not miss this day of opportunity. But then you remember I spoke also of the open door in heaven. In the next chapter, chapter 4, verses 1 and 2, we read that John saw a door open in heaven and saw the one who sat upon the throne. And there is an open door to the heavenlies, to the very throne room of God, where we as believers may receive the power necessary to carry the gospel of the kingdom in all its fullness. Acts 1 and 8 says, Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you. And I repeat, I am convinced that only by the power of the Holy Ghost can the Church meet the challenge of these last days. Christian education in itself is not sufficient to meet the challenge of this modern age of ours. We must be able to declare with the Apostle Paul, My speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. You remember when Philip the Evangelist went to Samaria, it says in Acts 8 and 6, The people with one accord gave heed unto the things which Philip spake, hearing and seeing the miracles which he did. For unclean spirits, crying with loud voice, came out of many that were possessed with them, and many that were taken with palsies, and that were lame, were healed. The word of God was confirmed. God confirmed his word with signs following. Christian friend listening to me today, oh, let me remind you, the promise is unto you. You can receive power just as those fishermen did on the day of Pentecost. You can take hold of the promise of Mark 16, verses 17 and 18, for remember, it does not say these signs shall follow the preachers only, no, no. These signs shall follow them that believe. They shall cast out devils, they shall speak with new tongues, they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Who? To whom is he speaking? Them that believe, and the door of heaven is open. Jesus has opened up the way, and you, read your friend in Christ this morning, can receive throne room power. Oh, may the Spirit of God make it real to us. First then, there is a divine declaration given to the church in Philadelphia. Then notice secondly, there is a word of divine commendation which is also found in the same verse, verse 8. Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Now I want you to notice the link between the word of the Lord and the name of the Lord. There are some people who want to use the power of his name, but do not keep his word. They seem to have an idea that all they need to do is just use the name of the Lord Jesus, has some magic power, and they will receive anything they ask for. But there is a divine principle taught in the scriptures. Let me read John 15 and 7, where Jesus said, If he abide in me, and my words abide in you, he shall ask what he will, and it shall be done unto you. There is a condition here. If he abide in me, and my words abide in you, then you can ask, and it shall be done unto you. Psalm 138 and verse 2 says, I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness, and for thy truth. Now notice, For thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name. Let me repeat, You cannot know the power and the authority of the name of Jesus unless you abide in him, and his word abides in you. The Spirit says to the church in Philadelphia, Thou hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Oh, let me urge you this morning, give the word of God its rightful place. I know there are people who wonder why we put so much emphasis on Bible teaching in the Philadelphia Gospel Temple and in our broadcast. The reason is simple. We believe that the word of God is God's power unto salvation. Paul, speaking a word to the Ephesian elders in Acts 20 and 32 said, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them that are sanctified. Listen to him again as he counsels the young man Timothy. 2 Timothy 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. Chapter 4 I charge thee before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, preach the word, preach the word, be instant, in season, out of season, reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. Then go back to Psalm 119 and underline the words, thy word, thy testimonies, thy commandments. Thy word, said the Psalmist, have I hid in my heart that I might not sin against thee. I wrote a little note in my Bible some years ago. Sin will keep you from the word, but the word will keep you from sin. Oh, may God enable us to give his word its rightful place in our lives. May it indeed be a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. The Spirit was able to say of the church in Philadelphia, thou hast kept my word. But now let me go on to the second thought before I close today. Not only is the church in Philadelphia commended because they kept his word, but because they did not deny his name. You see, they honored his word and they honored his name. Thou hast not denied my name. Have you ever thought how many people who call themselves Christians are somehow reluctant to talk about the name of Jesus? Oh, they'll talk about God in a general sense. They'll talk about religion. They'll even talk about their own church. But the name of the Lord Jesus Christ is seldom upon their lips. And yet the New Testament is full of significant references to the power that is in his name. You remember the angel of the Lord said to Joseph, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son and shall call his name Jesus, for he shall save his people from their sins. Go on to the book of Acts, over and over again, you'll find the apostles using the authority that is in the name of Jesus. Acts 3, 16, And in his name, through faith in his name, hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know. Acts 4 and 12, Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Acts 8 and 12, Says Philip went to Samaria, and they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, and were baptized both men and women. Acts 16 and 18, Paul spoke to the evil spirit of divination in the woman who had followed them as they preached and said, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her. And the Bible says the evil spirit came out that same hour. There is salvation in his name, there is healing in his name, there is deliverance in his name, there is divine authority in his name. And bless God, we read in Philippians 2 and 9, that the day is coming when at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Think of it, every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. The word of commendation to the church in Philadelphia is, Thou hast kept my word, thou hast not denied my name. Oh, may it be said of us, may it be said of you and I, that we have kept his word, we have not denied his name. Now I see my time is gone, this is Pastor Poole saying goodbye for now. God bless you, everyone.