Little Strength, Open Door, Awesome God

In this message centering on Revelation 3:7–13, Chuck Swindoll examines the letter to the church in Philadelphia, the smallest and most insignificant of the seven cities addressed in Revelation. Swindoll contrasts the city's physical instability—historically plagued by terrifying earthquakes—with the spiritual stability offered by Christ. He notes that while Philadelphia was a "tough place to live," often viewed as merely a town to pass through, Jesus saw it as a church of "insurmountable opportunity" [8–10]. Swindoll focuses on the character of Jesus as presented in the text: He is Holy (separate from sin), True (authentic), and Sovereign (holding the Key of David). Because Christ holds the key, He has the sole authority to open doors that no one can shut and shut doors that no one can open [15–17]. Swindoll applies this to the believer's life, explaining that while we often weep over closed doors of broken promises and disappointed dreams, God uses those closures to direct us toward unexpected, "insurmountable opportunities". The message details the specific attributes of this faithful congregation. Though they had only "a little power" and limited resources, they remained biblically faithful and did not deny Christ’s name. In response, Jesus offers them powerful promises: the humiliation of their enemies, protection from the coming Tribulation, and a permanent identity as a "pillar" in the temple of God—a comforting image of stability for people accustomed to the ground shaking beneath them [26–28]. Swindoll concludes with the heart-rending story of a father in the 1989 Armenian earthquake who dug for 38 hours to save his son, illustrating the faithfulness of God who will "always be there" for His children [30–33].

Message Key Facts:

• Insurmountable Opportunity: Swindoll quotes the comic strip character Pogo to set the theme: "We are surrounded by insurmountable opportunity." He notes that these opportunities are often disguised as impossible situations.
• The Confederate Soldier's Prayer: To illustrate how God answers prayer in unexpected ways, Swindoll reads a prayer found in the pocket of a Confederate soldier: "I asked God for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey... I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for".
• The "City of Brotherly Love": Swindoll explains the origin of the name Philadelphia. It was founded by King Eumenes, who named it in honor of his loyalty to his younger brother, Attalus. He called him Philadelphus ("brother lover").
• The Key of David: Swindoll connects the "Key of David" in Revelation 3 to Isaiah 22, where Eliakim is given the key to King Hezekiah’s treasury. This symbolizes absolute ownership and administrative authority; when the King opens a door, no human power can shut it [16–17].
• Little Strength: The phrase "a little power" comes from the Greek mikron dunamin. Swindoll emphasizes that this was not a "mega church" or a "super church," but a small group with limited resources. He uses this to argue that God does His best work through ordinary, garden-variety people [20–21].
• Hugh Latimer and Little Bilney: To illustrate the power of the "little," Swindoll tells the story of Hugh Latimer, a great English reformer. Latimer was not converted by a great theologian, but by a "nobody" named Little Bilney, who tugged on Latimer's robe and shared his testimony. This small act "lit a candle in England" that was never extinguished [21–23].
• The Promise of the Rapture: Swindoll interprets the promise "I will keep you from the hour of testing" (verse 10) as a reference to the Rapture. He argues this indicates believers will be taken from the earth before the Tribulation unfolds.
• The Armenian Father: The sermon concludes with a story from the 1989 earthquake in Armenia. A father, remembering his promise to his son ("No matter what, I will always be there for you"), dug through the rubble of a flattened school for 38 hours despite police and fire officials telling him to give up. He eventually found his son and 13 other children alive in a pocket of the debris [30–33].

Message References:

• Revelation 3:7–13: The primary text containing the letter to the church in Philadelphia.
• Isaiah 22:22: "I will set the key of the House of David on his shoulder... when he opens no one will shut".
• Proverbs 16:7: "When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him".

Message Speaker:

Pastor Chuck Swindoll