In this episode of our Revelation series, we walk through the letter to Philadelphia — the spiritually alive church.

Unlike many of the other churches, Philadelphia receives no rebuke — only encouragement. Jesus recognizes their faithfulness, even though they had “little strength.” They held fast to His Word and did not deny His name.

We unpack what it means to be spiritually alive in a world full of pressure and opposition. This church reminds us that true strength isn’t found in numbers, influence, or power — it’s found in faithfulness to Christ.

Jesus also speaks of an open door that no one can shut, showing us that when God moves, nothing can stand against it. Their obedience, even in weakness, positioned them in a place of promise.

This message is full of hope:
➡️ You don’t need to be strong to be faithful
➡️ God honors obedience, even when it feels small
➡️ What God opens, no one can close

If you’ve ever felt like you don’t have much to offer, this episode is a reminder that God works powerfully through those who simply remain faithful.

Scripture Focus:

• Revelation 3:7–13

Support & Connect:

🌐 Website: https://www.iammatthewministries.org
💙 Donate on Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/IAmMatthewMinistries
📧 Email: robert@iammatthewministries.org

In this episode of our Revelation series, we walk through the letter to Sardis — the spiritually dead church.

Jesus delivers one of the most sobering messages to this church: you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. Outwardly, everything may have looked right — activity, appearance, even influence — but inwardly, something was missing.

We unpack what it means to have the appearance of life without the reality of it. How a church — or even a believer — can go through the motions while becoming spiritually lifeless.

This message is a wake-up call:
➡️ Reputation is not the same as reality
➡️ Activity is not the same as spiritual life
➡️ What looks alive on the outside can still be empty within

But even here, Jesus gives hope. He calls them to wake up, strengthen what remains, and remember what they first received. This isn’t a message of condemnation — it’s a call to revival.

If you’ve ever felt like your faith has become routine, distant, or empty, this episode is an invitation to come back to life in Christ.

Scripture Focus:

• Revelation 3:1–6

Connect

🌐 Website: https://www.iammatthewministries.org
💙 Donate on Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/IAmMatthewMinistries
📧 Email: robert@iammatthewministries.org

Scripture Focus:Support & Connect:

In this episode of our Revelation series, we walk through the letter to Thyatira — the church dealing with corrupt doctrine.

Jesus begins by acknowledging their love, faith, service, and perseverance — even noting that their works had been growing. But in the middle of that growth, there was a serious issue: they were tolerating false teaching.

We unpack how this church allowed harmful doctrine to take root, leading people away from truth and into compromise. This wasn’t just a small issue — it was something Jesus addressed directly and firmly.

This message challenges us today:
➡️ It’s possible to be active in ministry and still drift in truth
➡️ Growth does not always mean health
➡️ What we tolerate matters

But even here, there is hope. Jesus calls His people to hold fast, return to truth, and remain faithful to Him.

This episode is a reminder that real hope is not built on activity or appearance — it is built on sound doctrine and a faithful walk with Christ.

Scripture Focus

• Revelation 2:18–29

Support and Connect

🌐 Website: https://www.iammatthewministries.org
💙 Donate on Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/IAmMatthewMinistries
📧 Email: robert@iammatthewministries.org

In this episode of our Revelation series, we walk through the letter to Pergamum, often called the worldly church. Jesus acknowledges their faithfulness in a place He describes as where “Satan’s throne” is, recognizing that they held firmly to His name even in a hostile culture.

But even with that faithfulness, Jesus confronts a serious issue — compromise. Some within the church had begun adopting teachings that blurred the line between the truth of Christ and the values of the world.

This letter challenges us to examine our own lives and churches. Are we standing firm in truth, or slowly allowing the world to shape our beliefs and practices? Jesus calls His church not just to endure hardship, but to remain pure and faithful to Him.

The hope in this message is that Christ doesn’t abandon His church when compromise appears. Instead, He calls us back to truth and promises a reward for those who overcome.

Scripture Focus:

Revelation 2:12–17

Support & Connect:

🌐 Website: https://www.iammatthewministries.org
💙 Donate on Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/IAmMatthewMinistries
📧 Email: robert@iammatthewministries.org

In this bonus episode, I expand on a conversation I once had about a powerful truth: if obedience requires acceptance, then it’s not really obedience.

Sometimes we step out in faith expecting open doors, recognition, or support — but God never promised that obedience would always be popular or widely accepted. In this episode, I reflect on that reality and share a personal revelation about the direction of this ministry and the I Am Matthew Podcast.

This may never be a mainstream podcast. And that’s okay.

The goal has never been popularity, influence, or numbers — the goal has always been faithfulness to Jesus Christ and His Word. Sometimes obedience means continuing forward even when the crowd isn’t there, trusting that God sees the work and that He is the one truly directing the path.

This episode is an honest reflection on ministry, calling, and what it means to follow God even when the road feels lonely — knowing that hope is not found in acceptance from people, but in obedience to the One who called us.

🌐 Website: https://www.iammatthewministries.org
💙 Donate on Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/IAmMatthewMinistries
📧 Email: robert@iammatthewministries.org

In this episode, we walk through the letter to Smyrna — the persecuted church. Unlike other churches in Revelation, Smyrna receives no rebuke — only encouragement to remain faithful in suffering.

We unpack what Jesus says to believers who were facing poverty, slander, imprisonment, and even death. And yet, in the middle of that pressure, He reminds them that they are spiritually rich.

This letter reminds us that hardship is not proof of God’s absence. Sometimes it is the very place where hope is refined. Jesus doesn’t promise comfort to Smyrna — He promises Himself. And He promises a crown of life to those who endure.

If you’ve ever felt opposed, rejected, or worn down for your faith, this message is for you. Hope is not canceled by persecution. It is strengthened through it.

Scripture Focus:

• Revelation 2:8–11

  
  

  Support & Connect:🌐 Website: https://www.iammatthewministries.org
  💙 Donate on Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/IAmMatthewMinistries
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Can you be doctrinally correct… and still spiritually drifting?

In Revelation 2, Jesus confronts the church of Ephesus — a strong, disciplined church that had one fatal flaw: they left their first love.

In this teaching, we break down:

• What “first love” really means

• Why spiritual routine can replace relationship

• The warning about the lampstand

• The hope Jesus offers before judgment

This isn’t just history — it’s a mirror.

If you feel spiritually busy but relationally distant from Christ, this message is for you.

Jesus always corrects with the goal of restoration. The call is simple: Remember. Repent. Return.

Ministry Link:
https://iammmatthewministries.org

YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@IAMMatthewMinistries

Before Adam ever took a step, God’s plan was already written—and in Revelation 1, we catch a glimpse of its fulfillment. In this first episode of our Hope in the Revelation series, we dive deep into Chapter 1 and explore:

• Jesus as the Aleph and Tav, the first and last letters of the Hebrew alphabet, representing the fullness of God’s plan.

• How these symbols echo throughout Scripture, from Genesis to Zechariah 12:10, revealing God’s unwavering purpose.

• A comparison of John’s vision of Jesus with the appearance of a man in David, highlighting the continuity of God’s promises across time.

• How these glimpses of Christ give us hope for the future, reminding us that the One who was, is, and is to come is faithful and victorious.

Join us as we uncover the hope, the promise, and the awe-inspiring truth of Jesus in Revelation 1.