Don’t Open The Door!
Scriptures: Genesis 4:6-7; First Peter 5:8; Revelations 3:20
Introduction
The title of my message this morning is “Don’t Open The Door.” New Light, as we go through 2021 I want to encourage all of us to walk in the authority that God has given us through His Son Jesus Christ. There are many Christians who believe the extent of being a Christian is going to Church, praying and reading their Bibles. They read the stories of the things that Jesus and the disciples did but they do not believe that they are empowered to do the same. We ask for prayer when we are sick but oftentimes we do not believe that God can actually heal us miraculously versus being heal through the actions of a physician. They read about demonic spirits but do not believe they are active today. God had given us authority here on earth and I hope before we leave this world for the next we choose to walk in it because when we do lives change. Although the message is titled “Don’t Open The Door” it is about our authority. Please listen closely as think about how you can begin to walk in the true authority God has given you.
A couple of weeks ago Nikki and I had just gone to bed when we heard a noise out on the patio. We got out of bed, turned on the patio lights and saw an opossum on the patio rummaging through the things we had on the patio – specifically the can that I use to clean out my grill. You see, when you make good barbeque even the wildlife come out to enjoy some! When I saw the opossum, I decided that I would get my pine-sol sprayer and spray the area (and the opossum) so that it would leave as they hate that particular scent. As I went to open the door, Nikki yelled at me not to do it because the opossum could potentially run into the house. As I calmly shared with her that I would not let that happen, she quickly left my side and went across the room just in case it did happen. I could have easily listened to her and just not have opened the door, but I am a man and I do what men do – often going against the sound advice of our wives. While this situation worked out to my favor – what would have happened if the opossum had gotten into the house? Do you think I would have heard the end of it? Do you think there would have been any sleep gotten that night until that thing was found and removed from the house? Sometimes we must use wisdom and don’t open the door!
As you think about my boldness in handling that opossum, consider this: why do we feel obligated to rush and answer the door whenever someone knocks or rings the doorbell? Most of you know that there are times when we need to keep the door closed and that will be the focus of the message this morning. Is it really rude not to answer the door when the person knows you’re home?
When I was younger, I watched scary movies. It always seemed so stupid to me that when the monster, vampire or murderer was roaming through the neighborhood seeking someone to devour that people, knowing that danger was lurking around outside, would always answer the door when the danger knocked. Common sense would dictate that if a monster was at the door, you would not answer it, but that was not always the case. Even though they knew it was dangerous, they answered anyway. I would talk to the TV trying to tell the stupid person not to answer the door, but they would answer it anyway and that would be the end of them. I used to wonder what would happen if they did not answer the door – would the monster go away and they would live or would the monster break the door down. I never found out because the people, as is our nature, were drawn to the door as if they had no choice but to answer it.
But again, why do we rush to answer the door just because someone is knocking? What would happen if we did not answer the door immediately? Let’s say we were busy or in another room and had to make our way to the door. What do people do? They begin to look in the window, if you have one by the front door, to see if they can see anyone moving in the house. This is why I love frosted glass, blinds and curtains because when someone rings your door bell or knocks on the door and you don’t answer immediately so when they decide to look in your door windows to see if you’re home, they cannot see anything. We have a large window on each of our front doors and I made sure that they were frosted. When people come to the door, if we do not answer, they cannot see in the house to know if we are home or not. We also have one of those doorbells with the microphone that allows us to talk to whoever is ringing the doorbell. Now we can find out what they want, tell them to leave, and do it without ever opening the door (although we have that capability we still go to the door and open it thus proving my point.) But logic and common sense would dictate that if the person wanted to answer the door they would do so when they hear you knocking. But for some that is obviously not the case. So by looking in the window, some believe that the person, if they are home, will see them and come answer the door. It gets really bad if they know you are home or they see you walking in the house. Then they keep knocking until they drive you crazy or even call out saying they know you are home. I used to do this to my father and it drove him crazy. He had a loud doorbell and I would ring it constantly until he answered. My father sometimes just stood at the door and let me do it just to see how long I was willing to stand there and ring the bell (he usually gave in by my 4th or 5th ring).
First Peter 5:8 says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” I want you to see the truth held within this verse. Peter said that we must be sober and vigilant because our adversary, like a roaring lion, lurks about seeking someone to devour. The fact that the devil has to seek someone to devour means that his attacks on us are focused – especially on those who have a door open for him to gain access. The word vigilant in this verse comes from a Greek word that means “to be on guard, to be watchful, or to be attentive.” The word primarily denotes the watchful attitude of one who is on the lookout to make certain no enemy or aggressor can successfully gain entry into his life or place of residence. This verse tells us that we must be on high alert against an enemy who is seeking to gain access to our lives. In other words, when the enemy comes knocking on the door or ringing your doorbell, you know not to answer because you have been expecting the enemy to attack. Remember what James wrote? He said, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) When we submit ourselves to God, we are empowered to resist the devil – not opening the door to him. When we stand in our God-given authority we know there are some doors that will remain closed in our lives. When the devil cannot get in, he will leave to find someone else. I want you to know first and foremost that we have an enemy that is seeking to devour us and we must resist him. We must not open the door that allows him to get a foothold into any area of our lives.
This morning I want to speak to your spirits about the doors that we might have open that need to be closed and how we need to exercise wisdom so that we won’t open them or other doors in the future. As I have said many times before, we have an adversary whose only goal is to destroy our relationship with God – if we have one, or to keep us from having one if we do not already. While he does this by any means necessary, we have to open the door to allow him in if he is going to be successful. His normal route is through the use of blatant sin, but he will also use our fear, hate, anger, greed or anything else at his disposal. Because he is not God, he is not omnipresent. He cannot be in more than one place at a time. So Satan cannot be trying to hinder you and me at the same time. Therefore he has his servants doing the work against us. Remember, Satan is big time, he knows his game and what his plan is. Many of us are too busy living this life the way he desires to be a hindrance to him, so we have to deal with his demonic spirits sent on assignment to hinder us. Also, Satan is not omnipotent, he is not all-powerful and that is why we can resist him and he will flee from someone who will put up resistance. In Matthew 28:18 Jesus said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” Jesus said all authority and the power to execute that authority was given to Him. New Light, Jesus has given to each one of us that same authority to defeat evil! I am going to say that one more time: Jesus has given to each one of us the same authority and the power that goes with that authority to defeat evil. New Light, let that be your confession each day this year. Don’t let a day pass in 2021 that you don’t confess what Jesus has given to you. It is very important that we realize this because Satan is an opportunist. His demons will seek out our weakness and try to use it against us. Remember the story of Cain and Abel?
In the fourth chapter of Genesis, we find the story of Cain and Abel. Cain was the elder brother and Abel the younger. One day Cain and Abel brought an offering to God. God accepted Abel’s offering but rejected Cain. Cain became very angry and his anger was focused on his brother. Let’s read what God told him when he became angry. Genesis 4:6-7 says, “The Lord said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” God told Cain that sin was crouching at the door, desiring to have him – but he must “master” it. God warned Cain that his anger would open the door to sin which was crouching at the door. Cain had the chance to address his anger and keep the door to sin closed but that is not the choice he made. He allowed the enemy in. Cain opened the doors to sin and sin eventually got him to the point where he murdered his brother. Remember how Peter warns us to be on the lookout, to be alert. Why? Because our adversary the devil is out there looking for someone to hinder, someone to destroy. While we are minding our own business, Satan is actively looking to find a way to stop us. God tried to get Cain to release his anger and focus on doing what was right. He tried to get Cain not to open the door because sin was crouching at it waiting for an opening. Cain, like so many of us, did not listen. New Light, there are times when we do not need to answer the door. If sin was waiting for Cain, trust me, it’s waiting for us too. The last point I want to make from this story is what God told Cain in verse seven. God told him that sin crouched at the door and desired to have him but he had to master it – to rule over it. Ephesians 4:26-27says, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and do not give the devil an opportunity.” Paul wrote that when we are angry we should not sin – anger opens a door as it gives the devil an opportunity just like we saw with Cain. Look at Psalm 91:1, 9-10.
Psalms 91:1, 9-10 says “He that dwells in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty….Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the most High, your habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall you, neither shall any plague come near your dwelling.” We are children of God and we should be dwelling within His shadow, but not all of us are. I am not going to belabor this point but – when a person is willing to allow society to determine his or her values, then that person is not dwelling in that secret place. When we dwell in His secret place we have constant protection no matter where we go – As Long As We Do Not Open The Door!!!! Remember the scary movies I watch when I was younger and how people would answer the door when the monsters came and then get devoured? This is the situation that we find ourselves in today except the monster is Satan and his demonic spirits whose whole intention is to try and hinder our walk with God. The monster is out there searching for someone to devour. Peter told us that Satan is out there searching and David told us that when we dwell in the shadow of the Almighty there is protection. Satan can try to hinder us, but we have the authority and the power that goes with that authority to resist him. James said to resist him and he will flee! It’s ours now!
Let me give you a natural example to share a spiritual truth. Our home is our shelter as it provides protection. If someone came knocking on the door and their intention was to harm us, the only way they could get in would be if we let them in – if we were home protecting the house. Picture this scenario. My doorbell rings and I go to the door. I ask who it is and the person says, “I am here to hurt you.” Now if I do not open the door, I am fine. However, if I was like those people in those scary movies, I would be stupid and open the door and say, “come on in, I am ready to be hurt.” This is what we do spiritually. When sin comes knocking at the door, we answer it. We invite it in and once it gets in our home – in us as the temples of God – it is very hard to get it out. It might not look like sin at first, but it turns into that after it gets its hooks into us. Sin is always standing at the doors of our lives, looking in the windows to see if we will let it in. Sin is like that thief that tries to get in through the open basement window or the unlocked back door. Whatever he can do, he will do it.
Here are a few examples of when we open the door to let sin in followed by the accusations the devil levels at us after the sin caused havoc in our lives:
• Overspending and then using credit card to go further into debt.
• Going to a company function and not remembering that you are married after having a few drinks to be social.
• Watching adult content on TV because you consider yourself to be part of the “MA” rating group (Mature Audience).
• Social drinking to excess.
• Borrowing something and never returning it.
• Extra, unqualified tax deductions
These are just a few examples of how Christians open the door to sin allowing a gateway for the devil to enter into portions of our lives. And once that door is open and sin has its way, then we live with the accusations from the devil. Remember what Peter said about Satan being our adversary? That word adversary in the Greek carries the meaning of a lawyer who tries to bring us down by prosecuting us with the facts of our past sins and mistakes. So when we open the door to sin and once it has created havoc in our lives, our enemy begins to taunt us with sayings like: “You’re in this mess because of your own dumb mistakes!” “You’re reaping what you sowed – there is no way out for you now!” “Karma – you are paying for your past!” “What goes around, comes around.” Do you see what I am saying. Our enemy wants us to open the door so that he can come in and create havoc in our lives and then hold it over our heads in an attempt to keep us from ever moving past our mistakes. But praise God we have a Savior Who does not want us to live in the past of mistakes. Even though what Satan might be saying is true, we must never forget what David told us in Psalm 103:4. He said, “Who redeems your life from destruction; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies.” Satan wants us focused on our past. Jesus wants us focused on our present and our future. Remember hope – believing that what is today will not be tomorrow. As long as we have tomorrows, we have days of change. God is a good God!!! He is a restoring, delivering, redeeming God! He wants to snatch us out of the power darkness and get us over into His realm of life and light where past sins won’t continue to exert its influence upon us.
So what is the Spirit of God telling us? Sin is always knocking at our doors, but we must not answer it. We must resist it. We must master it. James said to submit to God and then resist the devil. Some people have this totally backwards. They submit to the devil and then resist God. When we are opening doors that should not be open, we are submitting to the devil and resisting God Who is telling us to keep the doors closed. When you submit to God, you become able to resist the devil, to resist sin. When you do that, it flees from you. New Light, there is no resisting the devil and not being in complete submission to God. When we are submitted to God, we are dwelling in His secret place. God gave us His word so that we would know – we have the authority and the power that comes with that authority – and that authority is in God’s Word. When the devil (or his representative) comes before us, rebuke it in the name of Jesus. You have the authority. The book of Jude records an account between Michael, the archangel, and Satan. Satan was trying to take possession of Moses body after Moses died. Instead of Michael pronouncing a judgement against him, he only said “The Lord rebuke you.” (Jude 9) The power is within us via the Holy Spirit because we are children of God through Christ Jesus. We have the power not to open the door because of the Spirit of God living within us – we have submitted ourselves to God. In our home sometimes we have someone else go to the door to see who it is. Well we can do that spiritually also. Someone else can open the door and then bring the sin to you – do not accept it! If you will not open that door to sin do not let someone else open it for you! I opened with what was captured in First Peter 5:8. It says, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour.” If Satan is seeking someone to devour, is your door open? Can he walk into your home? Is he on your job waiting for you to clock in for the day? I do not know about your situation, but I do know this: we can unlock and open the door or we can keep it locked and closed. The decision is ours to make!
I will close with advice on when to answer the door. Revelations 3:20 says “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.” When Jesus knocks on your door please open the door. Know the difference between the Lord’s knock and that of the devil. If we open the door to the devil, we’re asking for trouble. When we open the door to Christ, we’ll receive peace, love and joy. Opening the door to Christ happens more often than when we just get saved, that is the first time. After that, we continue to open the door to Him in our everyday situations. Allowing Christ to rule in our lives in every situation, from the smallest to the largest, is opening the door to Him. Someone is knocking at the door – do you know whether you should open it or not? Know when to open the door.
Until next time, “The Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make His face shine on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift up His countenance on you and give you peace.” (Numbers 6:24-26)
