The word “door”
1. I once read about a ruler who was known for imprisoning people.
2. He was also known for something else.
3. After a person had been in jail for a while, he offered them a choice.
4. He brought them into a huge courtyard with giant walls and made them face a gigantic set of doors.
5. Prisoners were told they could do one of two things:
6. The first option was a swift, clean execution.
7. The second choice was to accept whatever was behind the doors.
8. According to the account, every prisoner who was asked to make a choice asked for death.
9. The doors were so large and overwhelming people feared something terrible must be behind them.
10. The doors which were avoided led to freedom.
WE MAY NOT PAY A
A. Several years ago I was once accidentally locked in a jail cell block for a Bible study.
B. The door was shut and there was a definite barrier between myself and the outside world.
C. If we have ever locked ourselves out of our house or car, the door was a significant obstacle.
D. God’s word has a lot to say about doors.
2. In the Old Testament we read about doors.
3. God used one for the ark (Gen. 6:16).
4.
5. The Hebrew people became a mighty nation and learned how important a door can be.
A. When the death angel passed through the land blood was applied to the doorposts.
B. Doorways that had been properly marked protected families from a terrible tragedy.
6. In the New Testament the word door is even more significant.
7. Jesus associated it with prayer in Mt. 6:6.
8. There are some things which are best done in private; certain acts are not for public display.
9. In the case of prayer, Jesus used the image of a door to show that pretentious prayers are wrong.
10. In Mt. 25:10 Jesus again used the image of a door to describe the final judgment.
A. When the Day of Judgment is over, the “door will be shut” (Mt. 25:10).
B. Heaven will be like a place is completely closed and padlocked.
C. The image of a door is used to describe an eternal barrier between the saved and the lost.
D. In fact, this point is more fully explained in Lk. 13:25.
E. Jesus pictures the unsaved as beating on the door of heaven, and trying to enter.
F. This verse is too important to not read – READ.
G. What Jesus described makes me wonder about of Noah’s day.
H. A door was put into the ark.
I. When the water came there may have been people who beat on the door, wanting to be let inside.
J. Perhaps the Hebrew people had a similar experience.
K. When Egyptians started dying, perhaps Egyptians started pounding on the Hebrew’s doors.
L. In life there are times when doors will not be opened.
M. Sometimes begging and pleading on our part will cause someone to open a locked door.
N. The kind of door described by the Lord will be closed and sealed.
O. It will be shut for eternity.
11. The image of a door is so fitting Jesus used it to describe Christian living.
12. In Lk.
A. Several
years ago Teresa, Beth and I were in
B. We went through a tourist attraction which featured the fat man squeeze.
C. Using this passage way was okay but alternative routes were easier.
D. Jesus used this analogy to say that there are two ways to live:
E. We can go through the wide door or the narrow door, but only one of these doors leads to life.
13. God really wants us to find and use the narrow door.
14. Listen to what is said of Jesus in Rev. 3:20 – READ.
A. God has created a door.
B. John pictured Jesus as being stationed at this door.
C. In fact, when we think about Jn. 10, He is called a door.
D. Jesus is “knocking” (in a figurative sense) on a door and inviting all people to enter.
E. We sometimes speak about the universality of salvation.
F. The availability of salvation is certainly described by “whosoever” in Jn. 3:16.
G. The word “door” makes the same point.
H. Salvation is available to all, but we must come through the right door.
I. There are multiple doors in the world and many of them look attractive.
J. Most are not naturally inclined to go through the most difficult door.
K. We generally look for the easiest way to do something or the easiest way to go.
L. There are dozens of entry ways, but only one door leads to heaven.
15. If you have your Bible open to Rev. 3:20, look to see if the word “door” is preceded by a “the.”
16. In the original text the word “door” is used twice, and the word “the” is used twice.
17. Jesus said He is “the” door. This suggests there is only one right door.
18. If we use any door besides the one He is at, we will not be saved.
WE HAVE LOOKED AT SOME PLACES WHERE THE WORD “DOOR” IS ASSOCIATED WITH JUDGMENT.
A. The door (entryway to heaven) will be shut and sealed after the final judgment.
B. The unsaved are pictured as knocking but not being allowed to enter.
C.
Jesus used a similar analogy when describing the
destruction of
D. In Mt. 24:33 the Lord said a time would come when He would be “nigh at the doors.”
E.
Heaven used the Roman army to knock down the doors to
F. This prophecy by the Lord brings us to another thoughtful point.
G. People can try to erect barriers against God and His will.
H. The Jews tried to hold off the Romans. They failed.
I. God determined the city needed to be ravaged and He willed for the Romans to carry out the mission.
J. The Jews tried to create a barrier (resist), but it was wasted effort.
2. Heaven has never been bound by any type of human door.
3. Listen to and consider with me Jn. 20:19 – READ.
A. The construction of this verse means the doors were shut up tightly.
B. Wherever this was, the disciples made themselves as secure as possible.
C. It was like the had a dealt bolt on the door, had a bar across it, and shoved a desk against it.
D. They had formed a virtual barricade.
E. They intended to keep people out, but what does the text say?
F. Jesus was not hindered by the door.
G. This ancient story contains a marvelous point for us.
H. Our God is not bound by doors.
I. This is even seen in the resurrection of Jesus.
J. The Lord was buried and the tomb was sealed. This didn’t matter.
K. Peter commented on this in Acts 2.
L. He said Jesus died and was buried.
M. He also said this in verse 24 of Acts 2 – READ
N. Death has a door but the door was not strong enough to hold the Christ.
O. Whether they are literal or figurative, doors pose no barrier for God.
P. We heard from Acts 5:19 how an angel opened prison doors.
Q. Verse 23 adds that guards were present but this additional security posed no problem for God.
R.
In another passage (Acts
THE
BIBLE USES THIS WORD TO COMMUNICATE SEVERAL IMPORTANT POINTS, NOT THE LEAST OF
WHICH IS THAT GOD IS NOT RESTRICTED BY BARRIERS. THIS TERM IS USED IN OTHER WAYS WHICH WE CAN
APPLY TO OUR CHRISTIAN LIVES.
A. Luke used it to describe opportunities in Acts 14:27.
B. He said a “door of faith” was opened to the Gentiles.
C. God provided a way for others to hear about the saving message of Christ.
D. God is still a God who can open doors, both in the physical and spiritual realms.
E. When we pray, think, or serve God, we must remember that He is the God of all doors.
F. In addition to Acts 14:27 this idea is found in 1 Cor. 16:9.
1) Here Paul said he had adversaries.
2) He said there were “many adversaries.”
3) People opposed him but it didn’t matter.
4) The reason he was not overly concerned is found in the text – READ 1 Cor. 16:9.
5) Paul believed God could and did open doors for him.
6) Not only did God open a door, it was an “open door” that was especially useful.
2. The apostle spoke of another door in 2 Cor. 2:12.
3. When he wrote to the Colossians he asked Christians to pray for him.
4. He specifically asked them to pray about a door.
5. He wanted another open door to present the gospel.
6. I like God’s doors. The reason I like them is found in Rev. 3:8.
7. Jesus says He can open a door in such a way where no one can shut it.
8. Knowing our God is a God of doors can help us get to heaven.
A. At times people ask how we can determine God’s will.
B. The word doors helps answer this question.
C. We can pray about things just like Paul did.
D. We can then start moving forward. If doors open, move ahead some more.
E. If doors begin to close, begin looking in other ways.
9. We can serve a God who knows which doors are right, and who can help us find them.
10. This should build our faith, encourage us, and stimulate us to love God with all our soul, strength, mind.
11. Are we living a life which is consistent with the narrow door described in Lk. 13?