The Door
Griffith Baptist Church – 3/15/09
A.M. Service
Text: John 10:1-10
Key verse: John 10:10 – 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.
Premise: The presence of God is accessed through the door of Jesus Christ and all who go through that door will find more than they ever hoped for.
The Introduction
An Arab chief tells the story of a spy captured and sentenced to death by a general in the Persian army. This general had the strange custom of giving condemned criminals a choice between the firing squad and ’the big, black door."
The moment for execution drew near, and guards brought the spy to the Persian general, ’What will it be," asked the general, ’the firing squad or ’the big, black door?’"
The spy hesitated for a long time. Finally he chose the firing squad.
A few minutes later, hearing the shots ring out confirming the spy’s execution, the general turned to his aide and said, ’They always prefer the known to the unknown. People fear what they don’t know. Yet, we gave him a choice."
’What lies beyond the big door?" asked the aide.
’Freedom," replied the general. ’I’ve known only a few brave enough to take that door."
Don McCullough, Solana Beach, California, quoted in Leadership, Winter Quarter, 1992, p. 57
This portion of Scripture deals with Christ in two aspects as the “I AM”:
1. The Door of the Sheepfold
2. The Shepherd of the Sheep
It is the first thought that we will occupy our time with today.
The door of the sheepfold:
• In Palestine, shepherds would often take their sheep to a protective place, the sheepfold, to keep their sheep.
• There might be several flocks kept together in the same sheepfold for protection
• These sheepfolds were surrounded by stone walls, some as high as 10 feet but most were only tall enough to keep the sheep in and the predators out.
• When the shepherds would come to collect their sheep and take them to feed, the shepherd would enter and call out to his sheep.
• Only those sheep that recognized the voice of their shepherd would follow him and the rest would stay, waiting for their masters to call them.
• There was no physical door to the sheepfold, only a designated man who would place himself in the doorway and act as the door, not allowing the sheep to escape and wander off to danger and protecting the sheep from predators entering in.
Jesus Christ described Himself as the Door and in that respect we can get a picture of what that door provides for us.
Body
1. The Door of Salvation – Front Door (9)
In one of his books, A. M. Hunter, the New Testament scholar, Source unknown relates the story of a dying man who asked his Christian doctor to tell him something about the place to which he was going. As the doctor fumbled for a reply, he heard a scratching at the door, and he had his answer.
’Do you hear that?" he asked his patient. ’It’s my dog. I left him downstairs, but he has grown impatient, and has come up and hears my voice. He has no notion what is inside this door, but he knows that I am here. Isn’t it the same with you? You don’t know what lies beyond the Door, but you know that your Master is there." Christian Theology in Plain Language, p. 208
A. This is the only possible door to salvation and peace with God; He accepts no other way - John 14:6 - Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
B. This door offers access to your permanent home:
i. A place of acceptance
ii. A place of rest
iii. A place of peace
C. All it takes is to accept the invitation and come in: (verse 9)
i. It is a personal invitation – I am the door . . . (Rom. 5:1)
ii. It is an open invitation – . . . if anyone enters by me . . . (Jn 6:37; 1 Jn 2:2)
iii. It is a guaranteed invitation – . . . he will be saved . . . (Jn 3:16)
iv. It is a secure invitation – . . . will go in and out and find pasture. (1st Jn 5:13; Jn 10:28-29)
2. The Door of Safety – Living Room (1-2, 8, 10a)
Here are some tongue-in-cheek food safety “facts” from New York’s Miner Institute: Nearly all sick people have eaten carrots. Obviously, the effects are cumulative. An estimated 99.9% of all people who die from cancer and heart disease have eaten carrots. 99.9% of people involved in car crashes ate carrots within 60 days of their accidents. 93.1% of juvenile delinquents come from homes where carrots are served regularly. Among the people born in 1839 who later ate carrots, there has been a 100% mortality rate. Now while the comments on carrots are meant for humor and not true, the fact of Jesus Christ being the Door of safety is absolutely true.
A. As the door keeper kept the sheep safe from intruder, so our shepherd keeps us safe.
i. He watches the walls and the windows for signs of someone breaking in
ii. He protects the sheep from those that would steal, kill and destroy.
iii. Matthew 7:15 – Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
B. This door leads to the place much like the living room of our home:
i. It is well inside – away from the dangers of the outside
ii. It is a place of activity – where peace of mind helps us relax
iii. It is a place of security – where we find our family and the protection they provide (strength in numbers and the safety of father and mother)
C. There is safety because:
i. Our shepherd is on guard constantly (Ps. 121:4)
ii. His voice is familiar to His sheep and they answer to no one else (Jn 10:27)
iii. When His voice is heard and His presence known, there is no need for fear - Psalms 4:8 – I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.
iv. It is only for His sheep so there is no room for counterfeit children or shepherds - Proverbs 18:10 - The name of the LORD is a strong tower: the righteous runneth into it, and is safe.
3. The Door of Relationship – Family Room/Study – (3-5)
There is a relationship which makes life complete. Without that relationship, there is a void, a vacuum in life. Many people, even those who are well-known, can attest to that void.
For example, H. G. Wells, famous historian and philosopher, said at age 61: ’I have no peace. All life is at the end of the tether." The poet Byron said, ’My days are in yellow leaf, the flowers and fruits of life are gone, the worm and the canker, and the grief are mine alone." The literary genius Thoreau said, ’Most men live lives of quiet desperation."
Ralph Barton, one of the top cartoonists of the nations, left this note pinned to his pillow before taking his own life: ’I have had few difficulties, many friends, great successes; I have gone from wife to wife, from house to house, visited great countries of the world, but I am fed up with inventing devices to fill up twenty-four hours of the day." Morning Glory, May 29, 1993
A. Behind is the door is a room of warmth and closeness
i. This is where the family gathers and interacts
ii. In the presence of the family is the Father, or our Shepherd.
iii. When He speaks, everyone listens.
B. This relationship is deepened:
i. As the Father spends time with us – God’s Word (2nd Tim. 3:16-17)
a. The more we hear His voice, the more we are comforted
b. The more we hear His voice, the closer we become to Him
ii. As we spend time with the Father – prayer - Psalms 55:17 - Evening, and morning, and at noon, will I pray, and cry aloud: and he shall hear my voice. (1st Thes. 5:17)
iii. As we win the favor of the Father – obedience
4. The Door of Provision – Kitchen/Dining Room – (9-10)
A. Behind this door is the promise of fulfillment:
i. When you are hungry, it is a place of nourishment
ii. When you are thirsty, it is a place to satisfy your thirst
iii. It is place where the divine chef knows exactly what we need for a balanced diet.
B. The Shepherd goes with us to ensure:
i. The best place – not to find desert, but pasture (9)
ii. The best life – abundantly (10) – the Holy Spirit (Jn. 7:37-39), supreme spiritual living and blessing
iii. To understand all that the shepherd has to offer from His kitchen, we go to Psalms 23 - 1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. 5Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. 6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.
a. He satisfies – I shall not want (1)
• He is all we need, therefore
• He gives us all we need
b. He makes – He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: (2)
• Not deserts, not poisonous place, but green pastures
• To lie down is the position of extreme security (there is no need to run)
• We feed on the best and most nutritious food because He cares that much
c. He leads - he leadeth me beside the still waters (2) and he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake (3)
• Still, quiet pure waters to replenish and cleanse
• Paths that are already walked by Him and guided by Him
d. He restores - He restoreth my soul (3)
• The soul gets weary, but he builds me back up
• As the shepherd, He fixes what is wounded and feeds me what will heal me best.
e. He protects - for thou art with me (4)
• From the enemies
• From the elements
f. He comforts - thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. (4)
• His presence soothes my whole being
• There is peace no matter what is taking place
g. He prepares - Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies (5)
• The feast is present and the food always prepared
• Even the enemy cannot take away what our Shepherd provides
h. He promises - I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever (6)
• We will always have a home with Him
• That home is prepared with us in mind (I go to prepare a place for you (Jn. 14:2)
Conclusion:
If you have never trusted Christ for salvation, are you trying to make it the best way you know how?
Christian, have you wandered away from your Shepherd?
