Do We Know The Doorkeeper?
Good Morning Friends,
Pope Francis gave a homily last week on the opening and closing of doors in the lives of Peter and Paul and it prompted me to think about this idea of spiritual doors in our lives and the reality that next year will be the 500 year anniversary of the Reformation. You see, we have all had the experience of open and closed doors. So I want of look into this matter today, because I believe that what the Bible reveals about the doors of life can help us all in our walk with God. So today we consider what we are to do when we are confronted with an open door, and how to handle a closed door as well. But even more important we will consider who controls the doors. Then we will ask the most important question of all. Do We Know The Doorkeeper?
Scripture: And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens: I know your works. Look, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.
Revelation 3:7-8 (NRSV)
For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than live in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 84:10 (NRSV)
While Peter was kept in prison, the church prayed fervently to God for him. The very night before Herod was going to bring him out, Peter, bound with two chains, was sleeping between two soldiers, while guards in front of the door were keeping watch over the prison. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He tapped Peter on the side and woke him, saying, “Get up quickly.” And the chains fell off his wrists. The angel said to him, “Fasten your belt and put on your sandals.” He did so. Then he said to him, “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me.” Peter went out and followed him; he did not realize that what was happening with the angel’s help was real; he thought he was seeing a vision. After they had passed the first and the second guard, they came before the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went outside and walked along a lane, when suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, “Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hands of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting.” As soon as he realized this, he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many had gathered and were praying. When he knocked at the outer gate, a maid named Rhoda came to answer. On recognizing Peter’s voice, she was so overjoyed that, instead of opening the gate, she ran in and announced that Peter was standing at the gate. They said to her, “You are out of your mind!” But she insisted that it was so. They said, “It is his angel.” Meanwhile Peter continued knocking; and when they opened the gate, they saw him and were amazed. He motioned to them with his hand to be silent, and described for them how the Lord had brought him out of the prison. And he added, “Tell this to James and to the believers.” Then he left and went to another place.
Acts 12:5-17 (NRSV)
They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they had come opposite Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them; so, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision: there stood a man of Macedonia pleading with him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we immediately tried to cross over to Macedonia, being convinced that God had called us to proclaim the good news to them.
Acts 16:6-10 (NRSV)
Message: I have had occasions in my life where I was confronted with closed doors. Maybe you have locked yourself out of your house or car. Well something similar can be experienced in the spiritual realm as well. And that goes for open doors as well. The word “door” appears more than 250 times in the Bible and sometimes speaks of a literal door but there are many places where the word is used symbolically. Sometimes an open door means opportunity. When Jesus called Himself “the Door” I think he was communicating that he was and is the access to salvation…the very Word made flesh. In Revelation it speaks of Jesus standing at the door and knocking and later a “door” being opened in the heavens. And though it is a bit of a mystery it is nevertheless clear in this regard that the opening and shutting of doors in our lives have the ability to change the course of our lives. An open door is a good thing and we should rejoice when the door of opportunity is opened to us. And when God opens a door, we should also step through that door, by faith, without hesitation, because God is doing something special in our lives. On the other hand, a closed door usually fills us with feelings of disappointment. We want to do what we want to do and we do not want to hear God say, “No.” But friends, the closed doors of life are just as precious as the open doors. For we are here today having had the experience of more closed doors than open doors. When God closes a door we are to walk away from it and not force it. When God opens a door we are to walk through it with faith because it is Jesus who is the door keeper. He is the Master of the doors of life. He opens the doors and He closes the doors as it pleases Him. He holds the keys and He determines which doors are opened and which remain closed through His very Spirit. So too we until His return, as the Body of Believers and as a pregnant Bride of Christ have a role to play and to pray. We are to humbly serve at the door loving others as we have been loved. We are, as Sam Shoemaker put it, to stand at the door through which men walk when they find God. Here we learn about Jesus because he is there too.
Pray we experience the opportunity of doors and choose wisely. Pray
when we face closed doors we pray. Pray that when we are having trouble finding our keys we just knock. Pray our prayers open a door of blessings. Pray the door of fellowship be a time for us to welcome the Lord into our homes. Pray the doorposts of redemption remind us of God saving us. Pray the lips of our mouth be a door of self-control that honors God. Pray we realize that the door of our service can open the experience of grace in the lives of others. Pray the door of the church and the door of the community serve together in a mission of unity to give birth to a little of heaven on earth. Pray we have the power and authority of a good steward in our ministry. Pray the keys of knowledge, affirmation and action unlock doors of opportunities in our lives and in the lives of others. Pray we look for small openings for heaven to come to earth. Pray we not have to face the closed door of judgement and rejection but if so confronted rejoice anyway believing God will find a way for love to rule our hearts and open the most important door in the world so others might believe.
Blessings,
John Lawson
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