“Who At The Door Is Standing?”

1. Jesus stands at this door every day.

1) Jesus is merciful: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a living hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).

2) Jesus is patient: “And the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patience of Christ.” (2 Thess. 3:5).

3) Jesus is loving: “and walk in love, even as Christ also loved you, and gave himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for an odor of a sweet smell” (Eph. 5:2).

2. Jesus knocks on this door, he doesn’t barge in.

1) Jesus invites: Matt. 11:28-30 “Come unto me….”

2) Jesus reasons: “but sanctify in your hearts Christ as Lord: being ready always to give answer to every man that asketh you a reason concerning the hope that is in you, yet with meekness and fear:” (1 Peter 3:15).

3) Jesus persuades: “Knowing therefore the fear of the Lord, we persuade men” (2 Cor. 5:11).

4) But Jesus does not force. In the end, it is our choice as to whether to open the door or not.

3. Jesus is waiting for your response.

1) You may open the door.

2) You may leave it closed.

1. The world is standing at this door every day.

1) They are in need of salvation. “For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” (John 3:17).

2) Only Jesus can satisfy their spiritual needs. John 14:6 “I am the way….”

3) Jesus uses his people to knock on these doors. Matt. 28:18-20

2. We, as Jesus’ people, Christians, have an opportunity to knock on behalf of Jesus.

1) Jesus gives us opportunity. “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.” (Rev. 3:8)

2) We are expected to respond to those opportunities. “Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds:” (Col. 4:3)

3) Are we knocking or are we standing idly by?

3. They are waiting for us to present Jesus’ words to them.

1) We must live in harmony with that word. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17 “All scripture is inspired of God….”

2) We must teach others that word.

1. Individually, each of us is standing on the other side of this door.

1) The sinner. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” (Luke 5:32)

2) The unfaithful Christian. “As many as I love, I reprove and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.” (Rev. 3:19).

3) The faithful Christian. “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.” (Rev. 2:10).

2. We hear the knocks of Jesus as God’s word is presented to us.

1) We hear the knocks of those who are living the word around us. “Even so let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5:16)

2) We hear the knocks of the one who is teaching Jesus’ word. “And as he reasoned of righteousness, and self-control, and the judgment to come, Felix was terrified, and answered, Go thy way for this time; and when I have a convenient season, I will call thee unto me.” (Acts 24:25)

3) We hear the knocks of the word in our own private study and devotion. “But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach:” (Rom. 10:8)

3. How will we respond to those knocks?

1) Will we open the door and accept Jesus into our lives?

2) Will we leave the door closed?

3) Will we tell Jesus to go away?