Day 05 - West Central Turkey: Aphrodisias, Philadelphia

"Overcome"

On this Lord’s day we celebrated communion in (or near) the Church of Philadelphia, the smallest of the 7 churches in Revelation. It was a day of self-assessment and reflection.

The amount of agricultural land is striking. Each day we pass through areas with fruit trees, olive trees, avocados, and small vineyards. One thing many of us heard before leaving was, “Oh, in Turkey, you will love the food”

The pace is slower today and the sun less severe. As our bus races over hills and hundreds of kilometers of farm land, we have been retracing footsteps of Paul. We now pivot to the apostleship of John, and the churches of Revelation.

Yesterday we were in Laodecia, and today Philadelphia. But first we stopped at the ancient city of Aphrodisias. This was originally a first century Roman city of artists, primarily sculptors. The ruins and archaeological work wind through a greener space with many trees and vegetation. It is nice here. You could linger for some time, more than we had.

Our reflection was from Hebrews in a 20,000-person ancient stadium. The heroes of faith surround us on our race. Heroes of the Bible and heroes from our own lives. Imagine those heroes sitting in the stadium as we run. “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us...” (Hebrews 12).

We had maybe our best meal yet at a local restaurant. Entree choices were stuffed mushrooms, grilled chicken kabobs, meatloaf, or trout. Dessert choices were mixed fruit or yogurt with honey. Yes, in Turkey, you will love the food.

Next we traveled to Philadelphia. This is in an urban area and the modern city is now called Alaşehir. Pastor Kent’s message in this place, as with John’s letter to the early church, is that we should not feel small or defeated. "The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God", says the Lord (Rev 3). We come to the table in hope (Rev 21). We can overcome.

Yesterday, a powerful moment in the trip was when Eve spoke from memory the letter to the church of Laodicea as we stood in the very spot of an early house church worship space. Today, Pastor Kent read the letter to the Church of Philadelphia for another powerful moment.

Today we met at the table, today we learned, today we sang, today we wondered.

Then to the next hotel for dinner and rest.

“To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: 'These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come on the whole world to test the inhabitants of the earth. I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. The one who is victorious I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will they leave it. I will write on them the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on them my new name. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches'.”
Revelation 3:7-13 NIV

Dave