Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.”

Revelation of Jesus– Things are Not as They Seem - Look! An Open Door!

PhiladelphiaPhiladelphia

Today we continue series entitled:

“Things are not as they seem.”

The Revelation of Jesus is more about the present than it is about the future. How do we live today in light of the

future that is coming?

This series takes much of its inspiration from Darrell Johnson’s book, Discipleship on the Edge.



Scripture Reading

Revelation 3:7-13



It feels a little like we have been taken out to the woodshed in

these last messages from Jesus.

Jesus, in the middle of the churches, knows their deeds.

Jesus loves his churches so much that he calls them back to full

communion with him.



Each message ends with:“He who has an ear, let him hear

what the Spirit says to the churches.”

Look at your neighbour. Touch the side of your head.

Do you have an ear?

“Hear what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”



Jesus is not only speaking to the specific churches of John’s day.

Jesus is speaking to us today

If the shoe fits . . .



Where is Jesus calling you and me back to a full relationship

with him?

What do Jesus’ messages to the 7 churches have to say to us

[OCRC] about God’s vision and mission for us?



Jesus’ message to the church in Philadelphia.

No mention of any issues:

-They had not lost their first love

-They had persevered under pressure

-They had not allowed false teaching in their congregation.

-They were not accommodating to the rich society they were part of.



Revelation 3:7-8“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts

no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can

shut.”



This morning we will focus on this door that Jesus opens.

2 interpretations of the open door

I believe that both are meant here.



Open Door to God

Do you ever feel like you can’t get to God?

Never good enough, …

It is true. You can’t get to God in your own strength/goodness.



Sin separates us from God.We can’t overcome sin.

But thanks be to God!

Jesus did what we were unable to do.

Jesus overcame sin and brought us back to God.



At the time of Jesus’ death, the curtain to the Holy of Holies

in the Temple, that kept people from God’s presence

was torn in two.

Lord’s Supper is a celebration of that renewed communion with

God.



“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an

open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:7-8

Situation in Philadelphia

Because these Christians confessed that Jesus was “holy and true” =

God, the Jews kicked them out of the

synagogue/excommunicated.



“These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an

open door that no one can shut.” Revelation 3:7-8

Jesus is saying:The Jews may have slammed a door

shut to you,but I hold the keys to the Kingdom of

David and I open the door to the Kingdom of God.



Jesus by his life and death opens that door back to God.

If you haven’t already done so,Jesus invites you to walk through

that open door,to accept him as your Saviour and

Lord and be part of his eternal kingdom.



Second meaning to this door that Jesus opens.

It is the door of opportunity.



I Corinthians 16:8-9:

“But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great

door for effective work has opened to me, and there are

many who oppose me.”



Colossians 4:3:

“And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may

proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.”



Jesus opens the door of opportunity to share the gospel.

This does not mean that there are no obstacles.

Paul wrote in I Cor. 16:9, “because a great door for effective work has

opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.”



Philadelphia was founded in 140 B.C. to be a launching base from

which Hellenize the world. To share everything Greek.

It was set up to be a missionary city with the message:

“If you ain’t Greek, you’re a geek.”



Jesus tells this church in the missionary city,

I am calling you to walk through the door of opportunity that I am

opening for you.



Jesus knows our tendency to huddle.

In the face of opposition from the outside, it is easier to hide

inside of the church.But Jesus is opening a door!



Max Lucado tells of a time when his dad took him and a friend

fishing.It rained and snowed so much that they spent the week in a

camper truck, bickering and griping.



“When those who are called to fish don’t fish, they fight.”

- Max Lucado, In the Eye of the Storm, p. 57-58



Where is God opening a door of opportunity for you to share your

faith?

Some of you have told me of some of the open doors you have

been given.



One of you, while talking on a jobsite over lunch, were talking

about girlfriends.

When asked when you would be moving in together, they were

surprised that you were going to wait until after marriage.

You had an open door and you spoke about living your faith.



Another of you has shown concern for a neighbour,

and now they are coming to you for advice.

Jesus is giving you an open door, and you are going through it.



Where is Jesus opening doors in your life?

Doors of opportunity to share your faith with people right

around you?Do you see them?

Jesus is still opening doors.



There is a tendency to shrink back from open doors of

opportunity,when we think that we are too

small, too …To share our faith.



Jesus give this missionary task to the church in Philadelphia

knowing that they were small.

“See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength,

yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.” Rev. 3:8



Jesus opens a door of opportunity for this small church that is bigger

than they could do in their own strength.

As we saw last week, we need to have Jesus and his power in our lives to live the Christian life,

which includes walking through these doors of opportunity.



With respect to God’s Vision and Mission for us as OCRC,

I believe that God will give us a God-sized mission that goes

beyond our own strength, and can only be done through his

power within.



Philadelphia was a small church called to a task bigger that they

were.Called to a task that they could not do in their strength alone

Called to a task they could only do with the Holy Spirit’s power

and equiping



You don’t need to go off to Africa to find open doors.

[maybe God is calling some of you to go overseas to find open

doors]God is opening doors for us all to

be his witnesses, his missionaries, here in our own

circles.



We are going to pass out cards now that will help you to begin to

live out this message.

On this card are some prayer prompts.

Fill it out and stick it in your Bible that you use for your daily

devotions.



Father, may I today experience the joy and peace and power of having walked through the door of salvation opened for me by

Jesus.



Lord, I am praying that you may open doors in the following

people’s lives to experience your love and grace through me.

[List 10 people that you are committed to pray for, for the long haul.]



God, please open my eyes to see the doors of opportunity you are opening for me to share my faith.



Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit so that I may have the courage and the words to say when you give me open doors.



Jesus:

“See, I have placed before you an open door

that no one can shut.”

Documents

Today we continue series entitled: “Things are not as they seem.”