Heaven’s King

at the door “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20)

“I Stand at the Door and Knock” The Door –only opens from the inside –represents the heart –cannot be opened apart from man’s consent “THE SHULAMITE I sleep, but my heart is awake; it is the voice of my beloved! He knocks, saying, Open for me, my sister, my love, my dove, my perfect one; for my head is covered with dew, my locks with the drops of the night." 3 I have taken off my robe; how can I put it on again? I have washed my feet; how can I defile them? 4 My beloved put his hand by the latch of the door, and my heart yearned for him. 5 I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with liquid myrrh, on the handles of the lock. 6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had turned away and was gone. My heart leaped up when he spoke. I sought him, but I could not find him; I called him, but he gave me no answer.” –Song of Solomon 5:2-6

The Church Revelation 3:14-22 Why would a church not open her door to the Christ? –lukewarm (v.16) –inflated view of themselves (v.17) –naked (v.18) –too blind to find the door (v.18) –not interested in repenting (v.19) “I Stand at the Door and Knock”

The Church Revelation 3:14-20 Christ had been in that church! –Had been in their hearts; now stands at the door knocking (cf. Eph. 3:17) –Had fellowship with brethren in Colossae (Col. 4:15,16) Time can test and cause our faith to erode. Pride can drive out Christ. “I Stand at the Door and Knock”

The Church Revelation 3:14-20 “ have need of nothing” (v.17) –“For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns––broken cisterns that can hold no water.” (Jer. 2:13) –“For if anyone thinks himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself.” (Gal.6:3) “I Stand at the Door and Knock”

Perceive Our Smallness “So Samuel said, ‘When you were little in your own eyes, were you not head of the tribes of Israel? And did not the LORD anoint you king over Israel?’” (1 Sam.15:17)

The Church Revelation 3:14-20 Why would Jesus knock at the door? –He wanted to dine. Would great men honor you in this way? “I Stand at the Door and Knock”

The Church –Revelation 3:14-20 Why would Jesus knock at the door? –He wants to preserve you (3:18). It is for your own good He does not need us; we need Him. Attempt at reconciliation began with the Savior (Lk. 19:10; 1 Jn. 4:19; Rom. 5:8) –He loves you (v. 19). “I Stand at the Door and Knock”

The Church Revelation 3:14-20 How does Jesus entreat? –k–knocking and talking desires admittance recognizes the rights of others—FREE WILL! –n–not kicking, not pounding, not keying –h–he doesn’t obtrude upon anyone –h–he calls through the gospel (2 Thess. 2:14) “To which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” “I Stand at the Door and Knock”

No “Faith Only” in Revelation 3:20 “...If anyone hears My voice AND opens the door...” He doesn’t open the door. He doesn’t own the key to the door. He doesn’t make you hear His word

The Danger of Leaving the Door Closed Sodom didn’t open the door to God (Gen. 19) –destroyed Felix and Drusilla didn’t open the door to God (Acts 24:24-25) –destroyed Agrippa didn’t open the door to God (Acts 26:28) –destroyed

What About You? Jesus is knocking on the door of your heart. How will you respond? – Rejection – Wait for another time – Open the door Someday He will stop knocking!!!