The Strategy Satan Stole

But the men reached out their hands and pulled Lot into the house with them, and shut the door. And they struck the men who were at the doorway of the house with blindness, both small and great, so that they became weary trying to find the door.

Here we find the messengers of God hitting the men of Sodom and Gomorrah with blindness. The purpose was to save Lot and his family from the crowd who intended to do harm.

The blindness itself was so that the men crowding the door would not be able to find their way into the house. The blinding was such an effective tactic that scripture says they “became weary” trying to find the door.

The blindness had the same effect on each of the men. Both small and great became weary searching for the door. All because of blindness.

Satan has stolen this tactic from God. Blinding people.

People are in a state of weariness and confusion.

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 NKJV

But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them.

Blinded so that they do not believe.

When the Pharisees were offended at something Jesus had taught he told the disciples to...

Matthew 15:14 NKJV

Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”

They are blind they will never see truth, and will eventually fall into a ditch taking the ones that follow with them.

The trouble with being spiritually blind.

We accept -

A sinful degenerate as being spiritually blind.

The immoral as being spiritually blind.

But those aren’t the only blind. We struggle with...

The sincere - still blind.

The morally clean, a good person - still blind.

Religion is split into hundreds and thousands of different groups.

Christianity is split into hundreds and thousands of different factions.

It leaves people wondering which way to go. Because of this millions and millions of souls are going to hell. The enemy has blinded them.

I am sorry for a blinded, staggering, stumbling world of people trying to find a door leading them out of this dilemma.

There is a door!

John 10:9 NKJV

I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

Jesus says I am the door! Thank God in the middle of all the confusion there is a door.

We must find the door. It is easy. Jesus is the door. It settles it. Stop searching, stop reaching, stop wandering. Jesus is the door.

If you have been looking for the escape hatch, here it is Jesus is the door.

Jesus gave the keys to the door to Peter.

Matthew 16:16–19 NKJV

Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Notice that Peter has just proclaimed his revelation of who Jesus was, the Christ! Immanuel, God with us.

I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. I am the door. I am going to give you the keys.

We have the door (Jesus), we have the man with the keys to the door (Peter). That is settled.

Three times Peter used the keys.

The Day of Pentecost

Acts 2:1–4 NKJV

When the Day of Pentecost had fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven, as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there appeared to them divided tongues, as of fire, and one sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

About 120 people in that room start to speak with other tongues - languages that were not known to them. The sound caused people to come see what was happening.

Acts 2:6–8 NKJV

And when this sound occurred, the multitude came together, and were confused, because everyone heard them speak in his own language. Then they were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Look, are not all these who speak Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each in our own language in which we were born?

Peter stands up in the confusion and begins to preach about the door - Jesus Christ. When they ask what should we do?

Acts 2:37–38 NKJV

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Repent, be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Samaria

Acts 8

Phillip goes to Samaria preaching the gospel of the door - Jesus Christ. Many people believe and are baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

Acts 8:12 NKJV

But when they believed Philip as he preached the things concerning the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, both men and women were baptized.

Peter and John comes to help.

Acts 8:14–17 NKJV

Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.

They had believed - repented, baptized in the name of Jesus but had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

Get altar music ready.

Cornelius’ Home

Acts 10

Peter preaches about the door - Jesus Christ.

Acts 10:43–48 NKJV

To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.” While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Then Peter answered, “Can anyone forbid water, that these should not be baptized who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?” And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then they asked him to stay a few days.

If you are here today… weary, tired of searching, being deceived by every voice opposing God. Don’t allow Satan to blind you, make you weary trying to find the door.

The door is Jesus Christ. Believe and do what Peter has said. Repent, get baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. You shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit speaking in other tongues.

Altar Call

If we allow the enemy he will confuse us, blind us, and let us get worn out trying to find the door.

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