An Open Door

Trevor S. Ferguson
August 11, 2010

Revelation 3:7-10 (KJV)
7 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; 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. 10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth.

John 10:1-10 (KJV)
1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. 2 But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the porter openeth; and the sheep hear his voice: and he calleth his own sheep by name, and leadeth them out. 4 And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice. 5 And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. 6 This parable spake Jesus unto them: but they understood not what things they were which he spake unto them. 7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. 8 All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them. 9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture. 10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.


INTRODUCTION
The word door in its literal sense refers to a swinging or sliding barrier by which an entry to a building, room or cupboard etc is opened or closed; indicating the means by which access is granted or access is denied. The New Testament scriptures has several figurative references to the DOOR. The chief reference is to Jesus Christ as the door to the kingdom of God – the means by which man can obtain salvation. Another reference is to the door of opportunity, as illustrated in the passage from Revelation. A third, and important reference, is to the closed door as seen in St. Matthew 25:10.
Today I want us to reflect on Jesus’ teaching on the door from St. John 10 and also from Revelation 3. I will focus on three aspects:
(1) The Door of Opportunity / Door to Abundance
(2) The Door of Salvation
(3) The Door to Eternity

EXPOSITION
(1)The Door of Opportunity
The word to the church of Philadelphia was that Christ had set before them an opened door (read vs. 8). Note however the reason for the open door – they had kept His word and had not denied His name. There is great benefit to keeping the word of God and acknowledging His name. Deuteronomy 28: 1-4 tells us about the blessings of obedience:

1 And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: 2 And all these blessings shall come on thee, and overtake thee, if thou shalt hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God. 3 Blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field. 4 Blessed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy ground, and the fruit of thy cattle, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.

Note also the consequences of disobedience vs. 15:

But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee: Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.

St. John 10:10 tells us that Jesus came that we might have abundant life – he came to give us a door of opportunity. The lot of the Christian is not one of suffering and shame but a lifestyle of abundance, adequacy and opportunity. We acknowledge some will suffer, some will have lack, but God is reminding us today that Jesus came to give us opportunities. He has set before us an open door. No man can shut it!

What do you do when you see an open door? – Walk right through it!!

Sometimes we see open doors but fail to take up the opportunity because of fear. Let us walk by faith. If we walk in God’s will he will not lead us into a dangerous path. Make sure you are living by His word. Walk through the open door!!

(2)The Door of Salvation

St. John 14:6 - I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
St. John 10:9 – I am the door by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved

The discourse in St John 10 also highlights the importance of Jesus as the door to salvation. Jesus uses the imagery of the sheepfold and the caring shepherd.

The sheep fold in bible times was a stone or mud-brick structure with only one entrance. After allowing the sheep to enter one by one the shepherd would lie down at the door of the sheepfold. No one ( animal or beast) could enter the sheepfold without the knowledge of the shepherd.

No one can come to God but through Jesus Christ – He is the only way to salvation. If one tries to access salvation though some other way, Jesus likens them to a thief or robber. The bible standard for salvation is through repentance, water baptism and the infilling of the Holy Ghost. Today God has set an open door to salvation for someone. You may have tried some other ways and came upon closed doors or false entrances, but God has set an open door before you today. Walk through that door and receive Jesus as Lord and Saviour. Repent, ask for baptism in Jesus name, believe on Him to receive the Holy Ghost

(3)The Door to Eternity
This life is only a temporary phase of existence. We all must live forever somewhere. Eternity has just two doors – a door to heaven and a door to hell. A door to joy and peace with Christ our Saviour, or a door of separation and suffering with the devil and his angels. The door to heaven requires first that we accept salvation as described above, but it also requires that we live a life of holiness until he comes. Let us be careful, because heaven requires more than just a conversion experience but also a continuing life of holiness. Failure to walk in holiness leads to a closed door

CONCLUSION
God has set before you an open door. Walk through the door of salvation, walk through the door opportunity and make sure you are prepared for the door of eternity!

When God opens doors for you, no man can shut it!!

Shalom.