God has a lot of Christians that are in the stands. They just show up to watch the game.

But Dr Tony Evans says there are benefits for believers who take to the field.

You are an obedient saint who does not deny him.

You are an overcomer.

This is the alternative with Dr. Tony Evans, author, speaker, senior pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, and president of the Urban Alternative.

When faced with adversity, it can become tempting to just throw in the towel.

But today Dr Evans explores how we can instead tap into God's matchless strength,

giving us hope and ultimately transforming our despair into victory.

Let's join him as he begins.

The church at Philadelphia.

This is the first Philadelphia,

the city of brotherly love. This Philadelphia in

the city of brotherly love.

This Philadelphia in verse 7 of revelation 3

is located some 30 miles southeast of Sardis, a great commercial city with a major trade route,

plagued often with earthquakes. That was the nature of this city. Inside this city was a

small church, a small gathering of believers Philadelphia Bible Fellowship. The small gathering of believers found themselves

in this pagan realm and Jesus who is the spokesperson through the shepherd of each one of these churches, speaks

through this leader to the Saints at Philadelphia Bible Fellowship at the church in Philadelphia and

notice what he says.

Verse 7 he who is holy who is true who has the key of, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this.

So before we get into all the idiosyncrasies of what he has to say to this church,

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