The church of Philadelphia was an amazing church! Read Rev 3:7-13. They were a small group of believers but they were known for their strength and power! As a result, they helped many come to the knowledge of God. Jesus applauded them for their courage and desire to impact others with the Gospel. They had a door of opportunity open, and they said, “yes!” to what God asked them to do! Praying the Jabez prayer is the perfect prayer for us to become like this church; “God bless me, and enlarge my territory. May Your hand be on me and keep me from scandalous ruin after You have been so good.” (I Chronicles 4:10) We feel our weakness and do not want to misuse God’s blessings. Philadelphia was a small church, small in skills, small in education, small in workers, small in resources. You may feel you are small as well, but we give all we are and all we have to God and ask for His blessings and then watch Him multiply the little into much! In John 15 Jesus teaches us that our service to God and the fruit that comes from it flows from our committed life. He prunes us… and we bear more fruit! As we pray and God enlarges our territory, we are soon bearing much fruit! Wow! As we close today, remember that God wants to use your life, even if you feel weak! In fact, it is in weakness when we lean heavily on Him! Suddenly the weakness is our strength and our lives have much fruit that Glorifies God! Pray to grow in grace and knowledge. Greater capacity = how much I can do and greater capability = how many different things I can do. Pray for these two words to grow in you. Amen!
