“Behold, I come quickly: Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” Rev. 3:11 (NKJV)

 

When I read this verse, I hear God advising His people not to take with levity what they have but to recognize that it is valuable and they should do everything within their power to hold fast unto it. To say “hold fast to what you have” is to say

 

Hold Fast What You Have

BASED ON A VISION FROM GOD, JOHN WROTE A LETTER EACH TO THE 7 CHURCHES IN ASIA MINOR:

  • Ephesus – Loveless Church (needs to repent)
  • Smyrna – Persecuted Church (needs to remain faithful)
  • Pergamos – Compromising Church (needs to repent)
  • Thyatira – Corrupt Church (no more burden, hold fast)
  • Sardis – Dead Church (Be watchful & fix up)
  • Philadelphia -Faithful Church (hold fast what you have)
  • Laodecea  – Lukewarm Church (Be zealous and repent)

 

Hold Fast What You Have

¡  WHO IS SPEAKING HERE IN VERSE 7-13?

Jesus Christ (vs. 7) – speaking to Philadelphia Church (75 – 81 miles southeast of Sardis, built by Attalus Philadelphus, king of Pergamos). This place still exists today as a Christian town in Turkey “under the name of Allah Shehr, City of God.”

  • He who is holy (separated from evil) & true
  • He who holds the keys of life and authority over governments, churches, heaven & earth. He is the one who has the keys of David, typifying keys to the kingdom of God – as the King forever, allowing people to coming in or barring them from coming in:
    • When He opens, no one can shut
    • When He shuts, no one can open.

So the One who is asking you and me to hold fast what we have is not a joker. He is the decision maker; and it is best for us if we take to His advice now.

 

 

Hold Fast What You Have: Remember, you are a church of brotherly love (don’t join the loveless, compromising, corrupt, lukewarm or dead church (gang) of hell-going people). The name “Philadelphia” comes from a combination of two Greek words, “phileo” and “adelphos.” Phileo (φιλεω) means “to love” and adelphos (αδελφος) means “brother”. Therefore when you combine phileo with adelphos, you have Philadelphia (brotherly love). This is why it is called the city of brotherly love. Hold fast to loving one another. Love is the crown that decorates you, don’t allow anyone to take your beauty.

 

LETTER’S CONTENT:

  • I know your works (vs. 8), your works are in verse 10 – you always keep my words to persevere, hold fast to that. Those of you who persevere in serving God, keep doing it. Don’t let ay friend or foe tell you that it is not worth it. In the case of Job (Job 13:2), he told his friend, “what you know, I also know; I am not inferior to you. But I will speak to the Almighty.” When people tell you they know more than you or that they are better than you, tell them, “Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him …” (Job 13:15). Though wife, children, businesses are taken away, I will keep trusting God. Hold fast what you have, don’t allow anyone to tell you that you are inferior in Christ.
  • I know your works – When you are not at fault you still try to make peace with your adversary.
  • I know your works – Some of you always stay on the side of truth, keep doing that.
  • Though you have little strength but you keep my word
  • You do not deny my name

 

Hold Fast What You Have

BECAUSE YOU DO NOT DENY MY NAME:

  • Liars and those who are full of themselves will come to bow before you who keep my words (9)
  • I will keep you from a big trial that is coming upon the whole world (10).
  • But be warned that I will come quickly and I will only take those who hold fast to the truth of God’s word (11)
  • Anyone who overcomes will receive a crown, enter into a new city and receive a new name (12)

Hold Fast What You Have

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HOLD FAST?

  • Read, hear & do the word of God that you are receiving (Rev. 1:3); Eccl. 9:10 (zeal).
  • Watch in prayers and character & Persevere
  • Do not deviate
  • Although Christ knows we have little strength, yet we as believers must not be complacent. We should strive to grow in grace and be strong in faith.

 

Hold fast what you have:

Presently God has decorated you with a crown. Crown in the bible, represents a symbol of honor for a set-apart person; and so to remove or loose one’s crown I a thing of shame. God is saying to His children not to allow their crown (honor) to be removed. You and I hold a place of honor in God’s sight. He has set us apart and decorated us, so we must not lose this.

 

Hold Fast What You Have: futuristically,

WHAT TYPE OF CROWN AWAITS THOSE WHO HOLD FAST?

  • Incorruptible crown for people who follow the rules and become victors –1 Cor. 9:25-27; 2 Tim.2:5
  • Crown of righteousness – To everyone expecting His appearance (2 Tim. 4:8; Rev.6)
  • Crown of life for those who endure temptations (James 1:12; Mat. 5:11-12)
  • Crown of glory for those who are faithful till death (1 Pet. 5:4; Rev. 2:10)

 

Hold Fast What You Have

WHAT MUST WE DO?

HOLD FAST to guard your crown.

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