The Door

3/21/04 THE DOOR

JOHN 10: 7--11

INTRODUCTION:

REV. 3:21>> JESUS SAID BEHOLD, I STAND AT THE DOOR AND KNOCK, AND IF ANY MAN HEAR MY VOICE, AND OPEN THE DOOR** AND ALLOW ME TO COME IN, WE WILL FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER.

IN OUR TEXT TODAY, JESUS SAYS “I AM THE DOOR”.

HE GAVE US THE MOST SIMPLE ILLUSTRATION HE COULD USE, A DOOR.*****

I. A DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY.

(A) IN THE EASTERN HOMES** WHEN GUEST ASSEMBLED FOR A FEAST OR A GATHERING, THE DOOR WAS CLOSED WHEN IT WAS TIME TO BEGIN.

1. THE OPPORTUNITY TO ENTER THE HOME, ENJOY THE FEAST AND FELLOWSHIP WAS PAST IF THE GUEST WAS TOO LATE.

2. AFTER THE DOOR WAS CLOSED, NO ONE WAS ADMITTED IN REGARDLESS OF WHO THEY WERE.

in the scripture we have an example of a closed door of opportunity: (5 wise/5 foolish)

MATHEW 25: 10--12; and while they went to buy more oil for their lamps, the bridegroom came; and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut. afterwards came also the other virgins, saying lord, lord, open to us. but he answered and said, verily i say unto you, i know you not.

3. THE DOOR WAS OPEN FOR A SEASON OF TIME. (OPPORTUNITY WAS THERE)

1. LIKE THE DAYS OF NOAH. WHERE HE PREACHED AND WARNED FOR 120 YEARS, THEN LOADED UP HIS FAMILY INTO THE ARK AND CLOSED THE DOOR. (ONLY ONE DOOR)

2. WHEN GOD OPENS A DOOR, NO MAN CAN CLOSE IT.

3. WHEN GOD CLOSES A DOOR, NO MAN CAN OPEN IT.

4. 2 CORINTHIANS 2:6: (FOR HE HAS SAID) I HAVE HEARD THEE IN AN ACCEPTED TIME, AND IN THE DAY OF SALVATION, (OPPORTUNITY) I HAVE SCOURED THEE, BEHOLD! NOW IS THE ACCEPTED TIME, NOW IS THE DAY OF SALVATION. WHILE THE DOOR IS OPEN.

(B) SIN IS WHAT CLOSES THE DOOR. JOHN 3:18: HE THAT BELIEVETH UPON HIM IS NOT CONDEMNED, BUT HE THAT BELIEVETH NOT IS CONDEMNED ALREADY, BECAUSE HE HAS NOT BELIEVED UPON THE NAME OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN SON OF GOD.

1. IN CHRIST, WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE SAVED AND SERVE GOD. AND TO MAKE OUR LIVES COUNT IN THIS WORLD AS WELL AS ETERNITY.

2. WHEN THE DOOR CLOSES ALL OPPORTUNITY IS LOST.

II. A DOOR OF SALVATION (TEXT)

(A) THE DOOR OF SALVATION IS STRAIGHT AND NARROW.

1. THIS IS WHY SO MANY REFUSE TO GO THROUGH IT.

2. MANKIND WANTS TO DO HIS THING,*** HIS WAY,* ON HIS TIME.

(B) SIN SEPARATES US FROM FELLOWSHIP WITH GOD.

1. OUR OWN UNRIGHTEOUSNESS WILL SEPARATE US FROM GOD.

ISAIAH 59:2: YOUR INIQUITIES** HAVE SEPARATED BETWEEN YOU AND GOD, AND YOUR SINS HAVE HIDDEN HIS FACE FROM YOU, THAT HE WILL NOT HEAR.

(C) SIN SCATTERS US FROM THE WILL OF GOD.******ISAIAH 64:7: ALL OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS ARE AS FILTHY RAGS. AND WE ALL FADE

AS A LEAF. OUR INIQUITIES, LIKE THE WIND, HAVE TAKEN US AWAY.

(D) SIN CAUSES DELAY. JER. 8:20: THE HARVEST IS PAST. SUMMER HAS ENDED, WE ARE NOT SAVED.**** BEST TIME TO BE SAVED, IS WHEN THE OPPORTUNITY IS GIVEN THROUGH GOD’S OPEN DOOR OF SALVATION.

ACTS 24:25: FELIX TREMBLED *** AND ANSWERED, GO THY WAY, FOR NOW. FOR THIS TIME, WHEN I HAVE A CONVENIENT TIME, I WILL CALL FOR YOU.

ILLUSTRATION: SOMEONE WANTS TO GIVE YOU A MILLION DOLLARS ***

ANSWER: I’LL CALL YOU LATER WHEN I GET TIME.

III. A DOOR OF INVITATION

(A) THE DOORS OF EASTERN HOMES OPENED INWARDLY WITH AN INVITING MANNER.

1. CHRIST, THE DOOR OF SALVATION, IS AN INVITATION TO BE SAVED.

2. AN INVITATION TO REST. MT. 11:28: COME UNTO ME, ALL YE THAT HEAVY LABOR AND ARE HEAVY LADEN, I WILL GIVE YOU REST.

3. AN INVITATION FOR CLEANSING. .ISAIAH1 1:18: COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER, THOUGH YOUR SINS BE AS SCARLET THEY SHALL BE WHITE AS SNOW.

4. CHRIST IS THE WAY OF SALVATION, THE WAY OF CLEANSING THE WAY OF REST

(B) DOOR OF SHELTER. (23rd PSALM)

1. SHEPHERDS BUILT PENS OUT OF ROCKS AND THORNY BUSHES TO SHELTER THE SHEEP AT NIGHT.

2. SEVERAL FLOCKS COULD BE SHELTERED AT ONE TIME IN THESE PENS.

3. THERE WAS ONE SMALL OPENING AND THE SHEPHERDED LITERALLY BECAME THE DOOR OF THE SHEEP.

4. IN THIS WAY HE PROTECTED THE SHEEP FROM WOLVES, AS WELL AS FROM THE SHEEP STRAYING AWAY.

5. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL PICTURE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

(C) CHRIST IS THE ONLY DOOR TO THE SHEEPFOLD OF HEAVEN.

1. JOHN 14:6: JESUS SAID I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH AND THE LIFE: NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER BUT BY ME.

(NOT GOOD WORKS, GOOD DEEDS OR GOOD DOCTRINE, BUT BY AND THROUGH JESUS)

2. IT’S NOT ABOUT BEING A “GOOD PERSON” IT IS ABOUT BEING A CHANGED PERSON. (NICHODEMUS EXAMPLE)