The Door To Abundant Life.

First Church of God in Harvey

Sunday Morning October 23rd, 2011

Let us pray

Welcome...

This is the day which the Lord hath made, we will rejoice and be glad in it. Are you glad to be in the house of God one more time? Are you glad that you are still alive despite what you might have gone through or is going through? Are you glad that Jesus still loves you, and loves you just the way you are?........

Last Sunday we used as our topic, more than the crumbs for the brokenhearted. I wonder if anyone here today received some extraordinary blessings from the Lord during the course of last week. Blessings that would cause you to shout, and really praise God for. Blessings that were tailor made for you and for you alone. Blessings that would cause you to say Lord I really thank you, and so I just have to take the time to give you some praise. Has God been good to you? ..............

Today I want to encourage everyone here, if you are, to continue trusting in the Lord. In Proverbs 3 verses 5 and 6. we read, "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart: and lean not unto thine own understanding....In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." That word trust means to rely on; to have faith; to confide in. How much do we rely on God? How much faith do we have in God? How much confidence do we have in the Lord? Some trust in horses and chariots, some trust in the lottery; some trust in their cars; some trust in their checking accounts and savings account; some trust in wall street; but I want to encourage everyone to put their trust in the Lord. wall street will fail; your car will fail; your checking and savings account will run out, but in Psalm 125 verse 1 we read, They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever. Saints do not allow anything to move you, but just trust in the Lord. Sometimes it might appear that God has forgotten you, but do not stop trusting in the Lord. Sometimes your close friends might forsake you, but do not stop trusting in the Lord.......

Our scripture reading for today will be taken from, St. John 10 verses 7 through 10. .

Today we will be using as our to-pic, The Door To Abundant Life. Number 1…Jesus is the only door of the sheep. Number 2…Jesus is the only door that leads to salvation. Number 3..Jesus is the only door that leads to abundant life.

Last Wednesday while I was here in my office, someone came by and informed that Muammar Gaddafi was killed. For over 42 years this man reigned as a terrorist. He lived in luxury, while his people were starving. He lived a life of abundance while there was poverty all around him. Libya considered to be a rich country because of all its oil, but all around was poverty…....

As we consider our topic for today, The door to abundant life; Christ is the door to abundant life. That word abundant means, in plentiful supply; ample; abounding with; to overflow. Let's look at verses 7 and 8 of our text (read) In our text for today Jesus says, I am the door of the sheep. Noticed he did not say the pope is the door; he did not say the bishop is the door, but he did say I am the door of the sheep. Jesus is the only door of the sheep. It is said that when the sheep were kept out in the hill country overnight, they were kept in ra-vines surrounded by several rocky walls. Naturally, the opening into those ravines had no door at all. The shepherd himself literally became the door, for during the night he would simply lie across the opening. The sheep could get out only by going over him, and the enemies of the sheep could get in to the sheep only by going through him. Access in or out was only through the shepherd. Jesus, our Lord and our Master is the only door to the sheep. When Jesus says door he means He is the way or entrance into the sheepfold. If a man desires to enter where God is, he must enter the Door of Christ, which is the only door into God's presence.

It is said that, when man sinned, the door of heaven was closed to him; and when he looked up thither, there was no open door there. But Christ opened it and established communication between heaven and earth; and as man gazed up, he saw a door opened in heaven. When Christ left heaven for earth he left the door ajar, and opened a new and living way for man to enter. Thank God, that through Christ the door is now opened. In John14 verse 6 Jesus says, I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.