Two Doors

We will look briefly to the churches of Philadelphia and Laodicea. Then we’re going to a verse in Philippians chapter two.

Revelation 3:7-8 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith He that is Holy, He that is True, He that hath the key of David, He that opens, and no man shuts; and shuts, and no man opens;
8 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.

The Lord has set a door of access before us that no man can shut. We are given access into the Lord, into the things of God. No one can keep us from entering this door, and no one can close it. However, we must decide what we are going to do. First of all, we need to understand that there is a door set before us, that there is an access into the things of the Lord. Then we must decide if we want to take the initiative to enter in. God doesn’t force us to do anything. He has set a great deal before us, but it is up to us to take the initiative to step into the things of God. The door is there! Access is available! Will we enter in? That’s the question.

Revelation 3:15-21 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou were cold or hot.
16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of My mouth.
17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knows not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
18 I counsel thee to buy of Me gold tried in the fire, that thou may be rich; and white raiment, that thou may be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou may see.
19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.
20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me.
21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne.

There are two doors. One is the open door that God sets before us as an access to Him. The other door is His access to us. In both cases the initiative is our responsibility. We can’t enter the open door to Him, unless we take the initiative to do it. And He can’t enter the door to us unless we open it.

What was the problem at the Laodicean Church? They were so busy being religious, so busy playing church that they were unaware of the Lord knocking on their door. He wanted to be in their midst, but they wouldn’t open the door.

We can become so busy with our religious exercises and disciplines, doing our own thing, that we are unaware of Him knocking on the door or our hearts. Think about it! God wants to make His residence in us. This is the day when the Lord is forming His Body, appearing within His people (II Thessalonians 1:10). He wants to make us the place of His habitation (Ephesians 2:22). It is a mysterious thing that God is doing. He says, “I’m not going to force Myself on you, but if you’ll open the door, I’ll come in.” He also says, “I’ve got a door open for you, so that you may partake of all that I am. But I will not force you. Here is the access, if you want it.” So we have the opportunity to choose.

Philippians 2:9-11 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name:
10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;
11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

God has so ordained that the name of Jesus Christ is to be above every other name. And while there is a door set before us to enter at our choosing, and while there is a door under our control for His access to us, the bottom line is: Every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess. What about the people who choose not to enter the open door? Well, God has an answer to that: Every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess. The day is coming when the arrogant and rebellious, regardless of who they are, will bow the knee and confess, “Yes, You are Lord!” However, for many people it will be too late. They will confess, “You are Lord! I wish I had recognized it a long time ago.”

We have an opportunity to enter into more of God. The walk we’ve had with the Lord has been good, but we know it is not enough. So the Lord has set a door before us. We can now move into something greater in Him. What are we going to do about this door?

Do you remember when you first opened your heart to the Lord? You made a decision to receive Him as your Savior and Lord. Well, we have come to a time of decision again. God has set before us a door whereby we may enter into more of Him. We can also give access to more of His presence in our lives. The time to respond is now. We’re setting our hearts! We are going to serve God! We’re going to walk with Him! The Lord is determined, too. Every knee is going to bow and every tongue is going to confess that He is Lord!

Back to Messages