Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 291

October 18;   Revelation 3:12;      241/260(IV);      ‘A Pillar’

Revelation 3:12 He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he shall go out no more. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the New Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God. And I will write on him My new name. 

The Lord Jesus is addressing the church in Philadelphia.  The church was being persecuted by the Jews and the harassing Jews were called the synagogue of satan (verse 9).  Jesus commends this church for persevering.  Those who overcome will be like a pillar in the temple of the Lord.  Cities often honored notable citizens by erecting a pillar in a temple with that leading citizen’s name on it.  ‘He shall go out no more’ indicates that the Lord will honor those faithful, permanently inscribing upon them the ‘Name of My God,’ the name of ‘New Jerusalem,’ and the name of Jesus.  These names indicate a possession of God and spiritual citizenship and a life that reflects the character of Christ.  The Word teaches that we are the body of Christ (Ephesians 1:22-23).  We are to continue His ministry (John 17:18). We have the Holy Spirit living in our spirit to help us (John 14:17).  We have the character of Jesus (the fruit of the Spirit Galatians 5:22-23).  We are empowered by the Holy Spirit to minister just as Jesus was (Acts 1:8).  We are called Christians, ‘Christ like.’  When we become born again, eternal life with the Lord is ours.  What a comfort that is.  What is incredibly exciting is that while we are here on this earth, we have a role that we never could have imagined until we became a Christian.  That role is to represent Jesus and continue His ministry.  We are to treat others with love as Jesus treats us.  We are to share the Word with others as Jesus did.  We are to pray for others by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus’ pillar.