The Open Door to Power and Blessing A Three-minute Bible Study Print, Study and Apply Title: The Open Door to Power and Blessing Keywords: "open door" "perseverance" "power" Welcome to eXXit, the web site designed to help you stand strong in the face of sexual temptation. In each of these studies (June 1-7), we will be looking at one of the seven letters to the seven churches of Revelation. These are actually letters written by Jesus to churches that existed in the first century. The letters have great application, though, for Christians today. They point out what Jesus commends in a Christian and what He wants to see changed in a Christian. There is even helpful application for people who are struggling with chronic temptation to destructive habits like porn. Read on — and God bless you! Passage: Revelation 3:7-13* 7. "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: 8. ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. 9. ‘Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie-- behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you. 10. ‘Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. 11. ‘I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. 12. ‘He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon 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 My new name. 13. ‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches." Questions 1. What is the distinctive of the church at Philadelphia?   2. What is the reward Jesus promises to Christians and churches that keep walking through “open doors”? To what do you think “open doors” refer?   Practical help Jesus’ commendation of the church at Philadelphia for their “open door” policy sheds light on the conflict many porn strugglers face. Why is it that this church, for which Jesus has no harsh statements, is a church that steadfastly refused to stop reaching out to others? Just this: With all of their energies pointed outward, they found fulfillment in those things that were very, very good and realized the bankruptcy of those things that were unhealthy, dangerous and sinful. The honest truth is that reaching out to others has a purifying effect. When we fix our energies on bringing the Gospel to others, ministering to others, serving others, we find ourselves energized to do what is God-honoring in our private lives. Involvement with porn does exactly the opposite! It focuses all the attention on the viewers — their gratification. It becomes a self-feeding addiction. Break the cycle. Don’t just say “no!” to porn; say “yes!” to reaching out lovingly to someone in your world for Jesus’ sake. eXXit homepage Index of three-minute studies Copyright 2000, 2004 by eXXit *Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, © Copyright The Lockman Foundation 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995. Used by permission. ----