Church of the Open Door, Message February 22, 2009

Scripture Passage: Revelation 3:7-13

The Bible teaches us to love God and love one another, the brethren, but the Bible also teaches us to love the unbelieving world that needs to know Christ. The church in Philadelphia had a vision to reach their world with the Gospel of Christ. God had set before them an open door.

The imagery behind this statement is found in Isaiah 22:15-25. In that passage we discover that Assyria had invaded Judah (as Isaiah had warned), but the Jewish leaders were trusting Egypt, not God, to deliver the nation. One of the treacherous leaders was a man named Shebna who had used his office, not for the good of his people, but for his own private gain. God saw to it that Shebna was removed from office and that a faithful man, Eliakim, was put in his place and given the keys of authority. Eliakim was a picture of Jesus Christ, a dependable administrator of the affairs of God’s people. It is said of Christ that He “has the keys of David” (v.7). Jesus brings us into the presence of God.

In the NT an “Open Door” speaks of opportunity for ministry (Acts 14:27; 1 Cor. 16:9; 2 Cor. 2:12; Col. 4:3). The Lord is the one who opens door for the church to minister. When He does, no one is able to shut. The fact that “no one opens” shows that human initiative alone cannot open doors, only God is able, but when He opens we must enter.

I believe very strongly that the same thing could be said of HBC. We have a God-opened door to reach our community with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
HBC – An Open Door
I say that we have an open door for at least three reasons:
(1) First, because of Our Past Heritage. We have a strong history of reaching people for Christ in our community. Since 1837, this church has stood strong with the light of Christ, we’ve been a city on a hill, a lighthouse of hope pointing men and women to Jesus Christ. Thousands of people have been touched and saved through Hebron, new church starts have begun and been sustained, missionaries have been sent out all over the world from Hebron. God has blessed us by opening doors and by the faithfulness of God’s people to go through those doors of opportunity.

(2) I also know that God has opened a door for us because of Our Life-Changing Message. We have the life-changing truth that our community needs to hear and believe. Philadelphia was known as the “Little Athens” because of its many temples. Wherever you find many pagan temples, you find much hopelessness because false gods cannot satisfy the longing and hunger of the human heart for God. We may not be “Little Athens,” but I can tell you there are many idols in the land and there is much emptiness and hopelessness. People are stressed and turning to anything to find relief but it’s not satisfying. People are seeking relief in wells where there is no water. We have the “Good News”! We have the cure, the Balm of Gilead, the healing ointment.

(3) I also know that God has opened a door of opportunity to us because of Our Growing Community. We are situated in the middle of a tremendous mission field. In the realm of business, you constantly hear of the I-10 and I-12 business corridor and rightly so. This is the place to be in Louisiana for business. And our Parish is also one of the premier places to live for three reasons: (1) our close proximity to business, (2) our schools, and (3) the quality of life that we enjoy. This will continue in the foreseeable future.

What this means for us is that our ministry field, south of I-12 is ripe for the harvest. God wants to use us in our strategic position, this major thoroughfare of humanity to reach people with the hope of Christ. The city of Philadephia was located on the main route from Rome to the East. They had a strategic location. They were called “The Gateway to the East” We too are in a strategic location. All you have to do is count the number of cars that drive up and down Hwy 16 on any weekday morning or evening and you will be amazed. A needy world has come to us and we, while we have time, must go through the open door that God has opened.

Open Door Obstacles
But even though we have an open door of opportunity, there are still obstacles to fulfilling our mission here just as there were in the church in Philadelphia. There were two obstacles that the church in Philadelphia had to overcome if they were to continue seizing the opportunities that God had opened for them.

1. Internal: A Lack of Strength
Their own lack of strength was an obstacle. Jesus said to them, “for you have a little strength” (3:8). This was not a large church or a particularly strong church; however, it was a faithful church. Jesus said that they had (1) kept His word, and (2) they had not denied His name (v.8). Even thought there strength was not great, these believers were faithful and endured testing and persecution.

It is not the size or strength of a church that determines its ministry, but faithfulness in carrying out its mission under Christ. The same is true for you. Individually, you might feel powerless to make a difference. You might think, “Lord, how can I make a difference in the world when I am so week and cannot even overcome myself?” But there is incredible power in the confession of our humble powerlessness. When we confess that we are not strong, God is able to empower us. Paul said, “when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Cor. 12:10). It is in the realization of our human weakness that our lives are opened to the incredible and all-sufficient grace of God! So even though a lack of strength could be a reason to give up, it can also be an opportunity for God to do His best work. When you are at your weakest, God can be at His strongest.

2. External: Opposition
A second obstacle that they faced was the opposition of the Jews in the city (3:9). The “Synagogue of Satan” was a way of referencing the religious Jews in the city who were actively opposing the believers. They were trying to slam the door shut, and John says that they were doing the Devil’s work. They were working against God and the Lord would one day show them their error. God would take care of the church’s enemies (3:9).

We too face obstacles in our day that would seek to slam shut the door of opportunity that God has placed before us. The obstacles we face are mostly preventible. What obstacles do we face? I want to name two deadly obstacles to being obedient to God’s mission that He has given to us. IMPORTANT: When I order my life (i.e., what I do or not do) based on my feelings and present circumstances, I seldom do what God wants me to do because I’m not operating by faith.

So what are some obstacles that may be sidetracking us from walking through the open doors that God opens?
(1) The Obstacle of Complacency
Some Christians are insulated, comfortable, and complacent and this complacency and apathy has caused you to be disobedient to your mission. Spiritually you just don’t give a rip, but you should. Because your complacency is allowing you to stay in a continual state of denial and disobedience. God’s people have always had to fight the obstacle and the temptation of complacency. God told His people in Amos 6:1, “Woe to you who are at ease in Zion, and trust in Mount Samaria.” They were “not grieved for the affliction of Joseph” (6:6). In other words, they were so apathetic and self-centered that they did not care that others around them were lost and dying.

Complacency is keeping a lot of Christians out of the game but it is also keeping a lot of people out of the kingdom because our complacency is keeping people from Jesus. Not only do we need to care, we must care! Don’t let complacency rob you of the blessing of going through the open door that Jesus has provided.

(2) The Obstacle of Fear
This may be the largest obstacle that we face as a church today. People are listening and ordering their lives on the words of the three networks instead of the three-in-one Godhead! Some people are living in complete fear and that fear is causing paralysis in the body of Christ. It was fear that condemned the Israelites to wander for 40 years in the wilderness when they could have been enjoying the blessings of God. All they saw were the giants in the land instead of seeing that God wanted them to be giant killers. Fear never leads us through open doors.

Overcoming Open Door Phobia
So how do we overcome the obstacles in our day?
A Matter of Trust and Obedience

1. Trust in the Faithfulness of God
God is the one who is opening and closing doors, trust Him! The Lord is the one who will “keep” us. Going through the open doors that God opens is the safest decision you can make. We need to trust in God’s faithfulness. Will He let us down? Will He fail? Does He know what He’s doing? If we find that we cannot trust in His faithfulness, it’s because we need to know Him more. Intimacy with God brings a deeper level of trust.

2. Move Forward with Bold Faith
Even though this church was not particularly strong and they were facing opposition, God didn’t tell them to retreat. He said “Hold fast.” This is not a time for us to retreat, it’s time for us to advance!

Verse 12 is a picture of a beautiful and secure future. One day all of what we know will pass. And although heaven will be wonderful, it will signal the end of all that can be accomplished on earth. What we do to impact people for eternity must be done now while the door of opportunity is open. When Christ comes heaven’s door will be shut forever. In heaven we “shall go out no more” (v.12). It’s sobering to think about, but the future of many people is dependent upon our faithfulness to move forward with bold faith. Now is our time! If we do not go, who will?

For His Glory!
Pastor Joe