-highlight:yellow'>Open DoorsRev. 3:20

Rev. 3:8-10a

Introduction:

I have for your consideration “Two Doors.”

·         Both of them have been set before you by an Omnipresent, Omniscience, Omnipresent CREATOR God,

·         At the 1st door, God stands outside and knocks.  If you choose to open and invite Christ in, He will come in.

·         If you have opened the 1st door, God automatically sets before you a 2nd door.  This one God opens and invites you to come in.  We choose whether to enter or not.

I.              The Door of Salvation:

Please open your copy of God’s Word to:  (Rev 3:20)  Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

ILLUSTRATION:  Muslim convert in Uganda

·         While in Uganda some time ago, my wife and I and our team were ministering on a high school campus

·         Young man approached my wife wanting one of the QT’s we were passing out.

·         He gave her his testimony.

o   Heard the message

o   Holy Spirit convicted his heart

o   God knocked on his hearts door and he had to make a choice whether or not to go through that open door.  After much consideration, he choose to receive God’s wonderful gift of salvation.

o   This was not an easy choice for him to make for you see he was Muslim and his family were committed Muslims.

o   His choice had consequences: 

·         1st Bible

·         2nd Bible

·         3rd Bible – looking for a 4th.

o   Said, “they can kill my body but they cannot kill my soul.“

May I ask some simple, elementary questions?

A.   Who created the door for him to invite Christ to enter?

1.     It was God.  Before the foundations of the worlds were made, God had his plan of redemption.

·         Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

·         Act 4:12  Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.

·         Act 16:31  And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

2.     Every second of every day God is knocking on humanities door.  2Co 5:19  To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.

3.     Fact is that God has created the open door .  We choose whether to open and invite Christ into our lives. 

B.   Why him?  Why was it possible for this sinner, this Muslim – denier of the faith, to have access to the very God of the Universe?

a.     Because God loves him.

·      John 3:16  For God so loved the world . . . .

·      1Ti 2:4  Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.  

·       2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance

b.    Because, that is God’s design.

·         (Col 1:20)  And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.

·         (Rom 5:9)  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him

·         (Eph 1:7)  In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;

It is amazing to know that God knows everything about me and still loves me. In fact it is not vain to say that He even likes me.  Many believers will live out their full three score and ten and never ever know the full meaning and depth of that love.

C.   What did it mean for him to open the door?  This is a cause and affect situation.

1.    Before he opened the door, he reasoned many things, amongst them

a.     Is there really a God?

b.    Do I trust Him enough to believe that there is a eternal heaven waiting for me?

c.     Is this the only way to know and have eternal fellowship with God?

2.    When he opened the door,

a.     Eternally, his sins were forgiven.     

b.    His standing with God, he now is a child of God. 

c.     All that belongs to Christ, now, as an heir, is his! 

·         Joh 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

3.    But there were consequences:  He paid with unmerciful beatings and loss. 

4.    If time permitted, I could walk you around the world and tell you of countless hundreds that are suffering greatly, even unto death for their faith in Christ.

a.   Foxes book of Martyrs is being played out in many parts of the world.

D.   Who can open this door?

1.     The whosoever of this world.  (Which to our Ugandan friend, was great news.)

·        (Act 2:21)  And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

·        (Act 10:43)  To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.

·        (Rom 10:11)  For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.

How many of you, when God knocked on your heart’s door, asked Christ into your life?  Are your Sins forgiven?  Do you know you have heaven for all eternity?  Are you Glad?

• If your child would come to and say, “Christ is knocking @ my heart.”  Would you say,
1. To Young
2. Just what is in heaven – really??
3. I Fear for you
4. How do you know it is God that is knocking?

We would not respond this way!!  We would with great joy do everything we possibly could to encourage that to happen.

• Best Teacher, Best supporter, Best cheerleader

THERE IS A SECOND DOOR . . . .

II.            Door of Service

We often fail to even recognize that God has set before us another door. 

If we do acknowledge it, we are quick to deny and are comfortable to ignore its’ existence.

·      We are quick to open the 1st door and do not want to deny its existence. 

·      If we did, it would mean hell for us for all eternity.

But did it ever occur to us while we welcomed the first and deny the second that it is God that made the second one also?  THE DOOR OF SERVICE.

Please open your copy of God’s Word to: Rev 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. (9) Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (10a) Because thou hast kept the word of my patience,

A.   Who created this open door?

1.     Not opened by:  Programs  or Man's initiative

a.     *By looking to the world for its signals, the modern day church is suffering from an identity crisis of monumental proportions.   

There are countless isms, schisms , emerging types and methods that have been created to reach out to the lost. One emerging church organization decided to evaluate where they were after 20 years of ministry.  The report reveals that most of what they have been doing for these many years and what they have taught millions of others to do is not producing solid disciples of Jesus Christ. Numbers yes, but not disciples.  In their own words “it was a FALIURE. “

b.    With our programs and by our own initiatives . . . We are not "making it happen." 

·         The missionaries are reaching about 2 million lost every year.

·         Compare the 2 million with the 65 million increases in world population. It looks frustrating.

·         By a three to one margin (71% to 26%) adults noted that they are personally more likely to develop their own set of religious beliefs than to accept a comprehensive set of beliefs taught by a particular church.

o    (Following is Barna research 01/12/09)

·         Although born again Christians were among the segments least likely to adopt the a la carte approach to beliefs, a considerable majority even of born again adults (61%) has taken that route.

·         Leading the charge in the move to customize one’s package of beliefs are people under the age of 25, among whom more than four out of five (82%) said they develop their own combination of beliefs rather than adopt a set proposed by a church.

·         Americans are increasingly comfortable picking and choosing what they deem to be helpful and accurate theological views and have become comfortable discarding the rest of the teachings in the Bible.       

2.     Christ opened the door. He owns it. 

a.       *Ultimately, God must be the driving force.  He brings His glorious presence and all-sufficient power (OMINIPOTENCE, OMINPRESENCE AND OMNISCIENCE) to bear upon the door. 

Zec 4:6  Then he answered and spoke unto me, saying, This is the word of the LORD unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the LORD of hosts.

b.     Biblically, it is God’s responsibility to CREATE AND OPEN EACH door of opportunity (Rev 3:7). AND NOTE, HE IS CONSTANTLY DOING THIS FOR EACH OF US ON A DAILY BASIS!

(The following is from*Steven J. Lawson, Southern Baptist Journal of Theology 3)

3.     Realizing that it is God who opens doors, Paul requested prayer to this end. On one occasion, (Col 4:3). Paul said Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:  (4) That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak. 

4.     Note concerning the Open Door of Service, Paul again says  

2Co 2:12  Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,

a.     His concern was not so much for comfort for his body, but for opportunity to speak, to witness.

b.    Paul did not force opportunities, but rather, through prayer, he depended on God to provide opportunities.

c.     Thus, prayer for the harvesters involves praying that the saints will be given opportunities to witness.

d.    “Paul knew that any door that was to be opened had to be opened by God!”

ILLUSTRATION: University of Science in Paris – Students

B.     Why us?  Why does the Lord create open doors for us?  . . . for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.

1.     Because God loves us.  He likes us.  He is confident that with the gifts and talents he has given to us, we can accomplish the purposes God has given us with each opportunity.

a.     Many may think that they are not worthy to go through the doors of opportunity that the Lord opened,  - we feel so inadequate – so unworthy – so not qualified – so . . . “I really don’t want to do this!” 

b.    But trust the Lord when He says of each of us:

·         Isa 55:8  For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

·         Jer 29:11  For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

2.     Because that is God’s design.

a.     As we noted earlier, why does salvation require a blood sacrifice?  Because that is God’s design.

b.    Why does God choose to use people?  Because that is God’s design.

·         Joh 15:16  Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

·         | When I was at TTU – Dr. Robinson never called me and said, “David, let me discuss w/you intimate details at what I am going to do –     I am a student/servant – NOT inner circle – FRIEND. |

Joh 15:15  Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. 

·         We are his friends, folks.  God not only loves us but trusts us.

ILLUSTRATION:  YRO – Marine – Kenya (Salute smartly and carry on!)

C.   What does it mean to go through the open door? 

. . . Especially for those that . . . hast not denied my name.

1.     Evidence of love and obedience.  Our Lord could not have made it any planner to his friends . . .

a.     (Joh 14:15)  If ye love me, keep my commandments.

b.       (Joh 15:10)  If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. 

c.     Our Lord loved us so much that He died for us, would we go through a door of His making knowing that we might even . . . resisted unto blood . . . .    

·         John 15:13  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

2.      Rewards:  There are many rewards that are ready for the saint that goes through this door. 

a.     As one ancient saint said, For the rewards of heaven will be strictly in proportion to the measure of our religion here - the zeal, and faith, and love which we evince in the cause of our Master. (Albert Barnes)

b.    We think of the

·                     Crown of righteousness (2Ti_4:8;

·                     The Crown of Glory 1Pe_5:4;  

·                     The Crown of Life  Jam_1:12; Rev_2:10;

·                     The Incorruptible Crown. 1Co_9:25; 

·                     The promise of ETERNITY!!  HEAVEN AND ALL THAT IT HOLDS FOR US  

3.     There will be glorious victories in the mists of incredible opposition.

·         Paul said in 1Co 16:9  For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

·         We will be no friend of this world if we go through this door.  Joh 15:18  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.

·         But as a friend of Jesus Christ, we are promised great victories  2Co 2:14-16  Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.  (15)  For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:  (16)  To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?

D.   Who has open doors?

1. Simply it is for the whosoever wills. It is everyone that is a true believer in Christ.
2. Every second of every day the Holy Spirit opens up millions of doors for His saints to serve:  2Co 5:18  And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation
3. Just in the book of Acts, look at the examples that came behind us of their willingness to enter the door of service:

·          The Angle of the Lord spoke in Act 5:20  Go, stand and speak in the temple to the people all the words of this life.

·         Act 8:29  Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.

·         Of  Ananias Act 9:11  And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth,

·         Peter gave testimony of God’s leading in Act 11:12  And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

·         Paul’s example in Act 16:10  And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.

·         Again in Act 20:22  And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:

As Jack Wrytzen always said, It is the responsibility of each generation to reach their generation for Jesus Christ.  THIS IS OUR TIME.  Paul, Peter, Barnabas, Adoniran Judson, Hudson Taylor, etc. are dead.  They had their time and were willing to enter their daily doors of opportunities as laid out in Mat 28:18-20  And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  (19)  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  (20)  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

The great commission is not a calling – it is a command.

What is God asking you to do?  Where has He been prompting you to go?

·         There are little boys and girls that are struggling in this city.  Impoverished with dysfunctional parents.  Fears of the unknown.  Intimidated at school with no one that really cares.

·         There is a teenage girl out there in this city somewhere that is pregnant and very alone and scared.

·         There is a family struggling with insurmountable problems – the home is about to be destroyed.

·         There is a person struggling with his belief in Christ.

I know human nature and I know the program of the evil one.

There is not one person old or young that cannot be used somehow, some way tonight – tomorrow – there remainder of our days. 

We can give, we can pray, we can write, we can speak, we can GO!

They all need the Lord – They need you and me to tell them the truth!

(Invitations next page)

INVITATION:

1.     How many of you, when God knocked on your heart’s door, asked Christ into your life? 

2.     Are your Sins forgiven? 

3.     Do you know you have heaven for all eternity?

4.     Are you Glad?

5.     Are you willing to step through that open door and share that with someone else?

If your child would come to and say, “I know that God is giving me an door of service in a foreign county, would you say, No

• To Young
• Just what is in heaven – really??
• Fear for you
• How do you know it is God that is knocking?

Would we really respond this way?  Knowing full well that it is the same God that offered them salvation.

We would with great joy do everything we possibly could to encourage that to happen.

• Best Teacher, Best supporter, Best cheerleader

. . . I have set before thee . . . Folks, WE ARE TRUSTING HIM WITH HEAVEN, WE CAN TRUST HIM WITH SERVICE IN THIS LIFE:  Psa 56:13  For thou hast delivered my soul from death: wilt not thou deliver my feet from falling, that I may walk before God in the light of the living?

To Teens:  How many of you would, if God made you aware of a door of opportunity, would go through it?

1.     Called you to the mission field?

2.     Called you, now, to go on a short-term mission field?

3.     To witness to anyone the Holy Spirit would prompt you to?

If so, would you get up from where you are right now, come forward, and say to this church, “pray for me?”

To Parents, grandparents, officers of this church:  If you see your child or grandchild standing here, would you come and stand with them.  By doing this, you are saying:

I will be your best cheerleader

I will support 100%

I will be your greatest teacher

I will be your greatest ENCOURAGER!

Deacon, officer of church, if there is a young person here who’s parent is not here, would you come and stand by them?