(week 03/07)
Olubi Johnson
In our last article we saw that God at this time wants us to be ‘Philadelphia’ saints so that we will be carriers of His glory and so have a new name: ‘The Lord is there’ a place of consistent manifestation of the glory of God:
Revelation 3:12; 21:10-11 (NKJV); And 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. 21:10-11 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a great and high mountain, and showed me the great city, the holy Jerusalem, descending out of heaven from God, 11 having the glory of God.
Ezekiel 48:35 (NKJV): The name of the city from that day shall be: The LORD Is There.”
The home is the unit of the church: so the ‘Philadelphia’ homes are built by ‘Philadelphia’ saints who make covenant with God and His messengers, like Rahab did with the two spies and so saved her entire home:
Joshua 2:8-21 (NIV): 8 Before the spies lay down for the night, she went up on the roof 9 and said to them, “I know that the LORD has given this land to you and that a great fear of you has fallen on us, so that all who live in this country are melting in fear because of you. 10 We have heard how the LORD dried up the water of the Red Sea for you when you came out of Egypt, and what you did to Sihon and Og, the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, whom you completely destroyed. 11 When we heard of it, our hearts melted and everyone’s courage failed because of you, for the LORD your God is God in heaven above and on the earth below. 12 Now then, please swear to me by the LORD that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign 13 that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them, and that you will save us from death.” 14 “Our lives for your lives!” the men assured her. “If you don’t tell what we are doing, we will treat you kindly and faithfully when the LORD gives us the land.” 15 So she let them down by a rope through the window, for the house she lived in was part of the city wall. 16 Now she had said to them, “Go to the hills so the pursuers will not find you. Hide yourselves there three days until they return, and then go on your way.” 17 The men said to her, “This oath you made us swear will not be binding on us 18 unless, when we enter the land, you have tied this scarlet cord in the window through which you let us down, and unless you have brought your father and mother, your brothers and all your family into your house. 19 If anyone goes outside your house into the street, his blood will be on his own head; we will not be responsible. As for anyone who is in the house with you, his blood will be on our head if a hand is laid on him. 20 But if you tell what we are doing, we will be released from the oath you made us swear.” 21 “Agreed,” she replied. “Let it be as you say.” So she sent them away and they departed. And she tied the scarlet cord in the window.
So to build a ‘Philadelphia’ home: a saint in that home must be in covenant with God and His appointed leadership: like Rahab with the two spies even when it seems to put your life at risk in order to fulfill God’s purpose.
Covenant means everything God has is yours and everything you have is God’s. Now God has given you His blood, His Word and His Spirit by the death of His Son. Now God expects you to give Him all of your life, as it is required, to do His will by your death to self, crucifying the flesh by the Spirit.
In doing this you will not only save yourself but also your household.
Luke 9:23-24 (NKJV): 23 Then He said to them all, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me. 24 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will save it.
Romans 8:12-13 (NIV): 12 Therefore, brothers, we have an obligation-but it is not to the sinful nature, to live according to it. 13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live
It is instructive to note that Rahab was not married and had an immoral past, but God’s grace through her faith saved her and her household.
Hebrews 11:31 (NKJV): 31 By faith the harlot Rahab did not perish with those who did not believe, when she had received the spies with peace.
1 Timothy 4:16 (NKJV):6 Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you.
Acts 16:31 (NIV): 31 They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved-you and your household.”
So today any ‘Philadelphia’ saint, whether married or single, irrespective of what happened in his past, can save his home by keeping covenant with God: doing the will of God even when it seems risky by faith using the blood, the Word and the Spirit to develop the love of God in their lives, so casting out fear (1John. 4.16-17) and so build ‘Philadelphia’ homes.
Revelation 12:11 (NKJV):11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. 11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death.
In our article next week we will see this same truth exemplified in Ruth’s covenant with Naomi so causing Ruth to build a home with Boaz, through which ultimately David and Jesus came.
