Knock - Knock, Whose There?

Our Web Site: cbcbedford.com

---------------------------------

KNOCK - KNOCK, WHOSE THERE?

Rev. 3:20-22

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and will dine with him and he with Me.

Rev 3:21 To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame and have sat down with My Father in His throne.

PERHAPS YOU ARE LIKE CHARLEY BROWN:

In a peanuts comic strip showed a conversation between Lucy and Charlie Brown. Lucy said that life is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going; some place it so they can see where they have been; and some place it so they can see where they are at present. Charlie Brown’s reply: “I can’t even get mine unfolded.”

Sometimes, life is like that. It seems that we can’t even get it unfolded but today’s message from the Word of God should make up for all the time in life when things don’t seems to go right.

INTRODUCTION:

I love to get an invitation. I love to invite people to come over. It is a 2 way street. The Bible is filled with invitation.

Isa 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

THEN YOU HAVE INVITATIONS WITH CONDITIONS:

Matt 11:28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

John 7:37 On the last and greatest day of the Feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. 38 Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from deep within him.”

These are some wonderful invitations but the one that I want to share with you is found in the book of Revelation.

T/S I see 8 different aspects to this invitation:

I. IT IS A PRESISTENT INVITATION. (Behold, I am continually knocking)

I was told a story once about a guy went visiting and took a fellow with him, and the guy knocked and knocked. The fellow said they must not be at home, the guy said there in there, I know they are. He kept knocking and after about 10-15 minutes they came to the door. He told them about Christ and that was it.

Would you stand at a persons door for that long? If you knew they were inside would you stand there and keep knocking?

Are you not glad that Jesus did not quit knocking? Maybe you are here and you have not answered the door yet? WHY NOT?

II. IT IS A CONDITIONAL INVITATION. (if . .)

He will knock but He will not enter without you opening the door. It is called free will. Lot of things about what we don’t have a decision but we do have a decision as to whether we will open the door or not to our Lord’s invitation.

III. IT IS AN INDIVIDUAL INVITATION. (if any man)

Here again we have an invitation with conditions: Today, your only inability to come to God and know Him is your unwillingness to open the door.

This passage is probably used as much as any verse I know to show a lost sinner the way to know Jesus.

A. It is a universal plea. The word man is "anthropos". Any human being. It is to you.

B. Most of you has seen the artist rendition of this passage. There is no handle on the outside of the door.

WHY DON’T PEOPLE ANSWER ?

1. THEY DON’T HEAR.

2. THEY ARE TOO FAR WAYS.

3. THEY ARE NOT PAYING ATTENTION.

4. JUST DON’T WANT TO SEE YOU.

IV. IT IS A SELECTIVE INVITATION (saith to the churches)

A. I know that the message here can be used to lead an individual person to a saving knowledge of Christ but the message is actually to the church. You are not operating in the full blessing of God grace if you are not a part of a New Testament Church.

It is an invitation about your individual responsibility in the body of Christ. You may hear someone say, "I am not getting much out of the fellowship of this church". Well, you fellowship is to be with Jesus. If no one else in the church invites Jesus in - you can.