The Divine Doorkeeper

"THE DIVINE DOORKEEPER"

REVELATION 3:7-8

INTRO: In this life we have many opportunities. Some of these are

worthwhile. Some are not. Some are a waste of our time. But each

opportunity we face demands us to make a choice. In this life two

important opportunities face every man. For the lost, the opportunity

of salvation is free and available to all. To the saved, the opportunity

for service is all around us and we must wholeheartedly choose to

serve our Lord! But these opportunities won't always be there. An

opportunity neglected may be lost forever, never to arise again! We

must make the most of the opportunities God has set before us!

In Revelation 3:7-8, we have a portion of the letter to the Church of

Philadelphia. Philadelphia has become known as the Church Of the

Open Door. Christ who addresses the Church is holy, having the key

of David-showing His authority, and He opens and no man can shut,

and He shuts and no man can open. He told the Church of

Philadelphia, "I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open

door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast

kept my word, and hast not denied my name." This "Open Door" can

be looked at as "A Door Of Opportunity."

Christ has set before the Church two great opportunities. One being,

The Door Of Salvation. The other, The Door of Service. It is through

the Church that God would have the world evangelized. It is through

the Church that God would have us serve Him. Let us look at these

two doors of opportunity…

(1) THE DOOR OF SALVATION

REVELATION 3:8—“Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no

man can shut it..."

A. SALVATION IS A PRESENT OPPORTUNITY. The opportunity for salvation

stands wide open for all mankind! (John 3:16; Romans 10:13). There are

but two ways available to mankind, but only one leads to salvation! In

Matthew 7:13-14the encourages all mankind—“Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat:Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.”

2 Corinthians 6:2 tells us—“… behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

B. SALVATION IS A PASSING OPPORTUNITY. The Divine Doorkeeper has

set before mankind an open door of salvation-AN URGENT OPPORTUNITY!

Our Lord said in John 10:9—“I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he

shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.” Not only is Christ

The Divine Doorkeeper; He is also “the door”. Jesus opens the way to God.

Until Jesus came men could think of God only as, at best, a stranger and

as, at worst, an enemy. But Jesus came to show men what God is like, and

to open the way to him. He is the door through whom alone entrance to God

becomes possible for men.(William Barclay. Daily Study Bible. e-Sword. Version 9.6.0. Copyright

(John 14:6). He is “the narrow way”.

To mankind the "broad way" seems right for many are going that way, but

only the "straight” and “narrow" leads to salvation! (Proverbs 14:12).

Where we spend eternity depends on the choice we make in this life.

Someone had said, "Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of

choice" (1). As in the days of Noah, when the flood came, God shut the

door, God will one day shut THE DOOR of SALVATION!

(2) THE DOOR OF SERVICE

REVELATION 3:8—“...Behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no

man can shut it..."

A. THE CONSTRAINT. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 tells us—“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” Paul is motivated - even pushed on by - the love of Christ, that is, Jesus' love towards him. Paul had to do what he did in ministry, because he had received so much love from Jesus that it compelled him to serve others. Someone said, "Service is love made visible" (2).

ILLUS: This is the greatest foundation for ministry, wanting to give something

to others because Jesus has given us everything. When we really

receive the love of Christ, it touches us and makes us want to serve

others.

Paul felt compelled by the love of Christ. If someone asked, "Why are

you doing it all? Why all the pain and all the trials?" Paul would

answer, "I have to. I have received the love of Christ. I have the love

of Christ in my heart in the sense that I love Jesus. And I have the

love of Christ in my heart for all the people Jesus loves. I am

compelled by the love of Christ!" "The apostles laboured much, but

all their labour sprang from the impulse of the love of Jesus Christ.

Just as Jacob toiled for Rachel solely out of love to her, so do true

saints serve the Lord Jesus under the omnipotent constraint of love."

Once we enter THE DOOR OF SALVATION, we should hurry out THE DOOR

OF SERVICE and "Compel them to come in!" Once the Divine Doorkeeper

has set before a Door of Service, we are surely remiss, If we don't go through

it!

B. THE CHARACTERISTICS. This door is a door of:

GREAT OPPORTUNITY. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:9a—“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me...". But it is a door that may face…
GREAT OPPOSITION. Paul said in 1 Corinthians 16:9b—“...And there are many adversaries".
GREAT OBLIGATION. Matthew 28:19-20 gives us the Great Commission. Each member of the body of Christ shows his or her love for Christ by entering in THE DOOR OF SERVICE! (John 14:15,21,23). Friends, we must also remember that doors He has opened for us; He may soon close! Someone has pointed out, "When one door closes, another opens. But we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed Door that we do not see the one which has opened for us" Alexander Graham Bell (3).

CLOSING: Have you entered THE DOOR OF SALVATION and gone out

through THE DOOR OF SERVICE? Are you serving the Lord from a

glad heart in loving devotion to Him?

1 Peter 2:5 says, "Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual

house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable

to God by Jesus Christ." Each one of you as a member of the body

of Christ is important to the success of this Church! Have you

entered THE DOOR OF SERVICE?

NOTES: 1. Albert M. Wells, Jr. Inspiring Quotations-Contemporary

Classical. P. 145.

2. IBID. Pg. 184.

3. IBID. Pg. 144.

PREPARED BY BROTHER BRYAN L. BROWNING AND PREACHED AT LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH, CORNING, ARKANSAS, JANUARY 2, 1994.