Thank you for taking the time to read the Weekend Sermon today. I am happy to be able to post the sermons each week. I hope that everyone has had a very good week.
I just wanted to update everyone on the prayer request from earlier this week. We did have quite a bit of freezing rain and sleet. I am thankful to the Lord that just before another heavy round of rain came in, the temperature went up to one degree above freezing. We didn't have too much problem. Thank you all for your prayers in this matter.
I've been having a good time watching the Olympics. I've been able to watch all of my favorite events, and there have been quite a few upsets in the competition. Let's continue to pray for the athletes that all will be safe.
Please continue to pray for those who were injured in the school shooting incident in Florida. Pray that those who are injured will quickly recover. Please pray that officials will do what is necessary to keep these incidents from occurring.
Let's continue to pray for those in Puerto Rico affected by the hurricanes. Let's also pray for those who are in the refugee camps in Bangladesh. Pray that they will receive the aid and the help that they need.
Continue to pray for peace in the troubled areas of the world. Pray for peace in Syria, Afghanistan, Libya, South Sudan and Yemen.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let's pray for Ivory Coast and Nepal. Pray that many will hear the message of the love of Jesus.
Last week, we finished our series of messages on the book of Malachi. Starting with today's message, we will be beginning a new series on verses that are taken out of context in the Bible. Many times, you will hear people quoting verses, but they are taken out of context and they are given meanings not intended by the text. Over the next few weeks, we will look at passages such as, "the poor will be with you always", "Behold, I stand at the door and knock", "If you don't work you shall not eat", and others along this line.
Today we begin by looking at a familiar passage of Scripture from Revelation 3:20 which states, "Look! Here I stand at the door and knock. If you hear me calling and open the door, I will come in, and we will share a meal as friends."
I can't tell you how many times that I've heard this verse used in an evangelistic context. The message will go something like this. Jesus is standing at the door of your heart right now. He wants you to realize that you need to accept Him as Savior. It's up to you to decide to accept Jesus as your Savior. Open the door of your heart and let Jesus come into your life."
Now, there is much truth in that. Jesus is waiting for people to realize their need for Him. Anyone can come to Jesus in repentance and faith. Whoever comes to Him, He will not cast them out. Each person has to decide if he or she wants the forgiveness that Jesus offers and if he or she will accept Jesus as Lord of all.
However, this verse is not speaking to unbelievers. This verse about opening the door and letting Jesus in is written to believers. Jesus is asking to be let in the door of the life of believers and of the church.
In the first part of the book of Revelation, Jesus speaks messages to seven churches located in Asia Minor. One of the churches that received a message from Jesus was the church at Laodecia. Jesus begins His message to this church by telling them that they are neither hot nor cold. They are lukewarm, and since they are lukewarm, Jesus says that He will spit them out of His mouth.
The people in the church of Laodecia thought that they were wealthy and had need of nothing. While they had much in the way of material goods, spiritually, they were miserable, poor, blind and naked.
Jesus wanted the people in this church to realize that they need Him. He asks them to turn away from their indifference to Him. Jesus wants them to open up their hearts to Him so that they can have fellowship with Him just as two friends who sit down to a meal together.
I find this to be a striking image. Jesus is on the outside of the church looking in. He is knocking hoping that someone will let Him into the church.
Sadly, I think that this image that Jesus applied to the church of Laodecia is applicable to many churches and Christians today. Many Christians and churches go their own way, and yet they are not doing what the Lord has commanded.
I believe that Jesus would not be welcomed in many churches if He was walking on earth today. Jesus preached about offering love and forgiveness to everyone. He preached a message of non-violence. He preached about the power of love overcoming the power of hate and evil. Jesus preached a message of inclusion and not exclusion. Jesus taught that we should help the poor and the oppressed.
Jesus' message wasn't very popular with the religious authorities of His day. Just like them, so many today have as the Word says, "A form of godliness, but they deny the power thereof."
This passage also has application to individual believers. So many times, we get into a place where we are going along in life, but we aren't following the Lord the way that we should. We've become lukewarm. We follow the path of the this world at the same time we are trying to follow the teachings of Jesus.
That will never work. Jesus said that you cannot serve God and mammon. You can't serve two masters.
Jesus wants each of us to place Him at the center of our lives. He wants us to have fellowship with Him. He wants to be our friend. But, we must remember, Jesus said that to be His friend means that we follow His commandments and teachings.
Jesus wants us all to be on fire for Him. He wants us to live lives of holiness and obedience. He calls us to share the good news of His love with others. He asks us to care about the poor and oppressed. Jesus calls each of us to shine a light in the dark place and make a positive difference to make this world a better place.
If you are a believer, and Jesus is standing and knocking on the door of your heart, I pray that you will let Him in.
Next week, I will post the sermon on Friday as usual, Lord willing. On Monday, I will post the verses. On Wednesday, I am going to post either a book review, a poem or both. May God bless you all. Amen.
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