Title: The Blessing of the Open Door
The book of Revelation records the seven churches of Asia. Philadelphia is the 6th church. Historically speaking, Philadelphia was located in the national border. Thus, it played a role as a trade centre of different merchandises and different culture including idols and gods. Also, Philadelphia had a huge vineyard business because they had soils good for vines, which caused them to believe in the god of grapes. Acts 17:16-22 says Athens is the city full of idols. Scholars agreed that Philadelphia was another Athens because there were loads of different gods.
Jesus appeared to the church in Philadelphia as holy, true and the one who has the key of David. The Holy God signifies there is no sin in Him, thus He can break the power of evil and save His people. The True God signifies there is no falsehood or counterfeit. Jesus is not created according to man’s need. He is Jehovah – a self-existing God. Therefore, He only is true and real.
The blessing of an open door was given to the church in Philadelphia. This signifies that they received the blessing of success and blessing of going out and coming in, that is written in Deut 28:5-6.
What kind of doors should be opened to us?
- The Door of Heaven
When the door of heaven is opened, the door of 4 directions (east, west, south and north) will be open. Wherever we go, there will be God’s help and guidance when the door of heaven is open.
When Jacob was fleeing from his brother Esau, he came to Luz and had a dream that the door of heaven was open that the angles of God were ascending and descending. Then, the Lord promised to Jacob that He will be with him and bring him to this land safely (Gen 28:10-12). Also, the Bible says when Deacon Stephen was being stoned, he saw the door of heaven was open (Acts 7:55-59). This tells us that our God takes care of us until the end. Even the power of death cannot separate us from the love of God and from the hands of God. As long as we live for the glory of God, even at the time of death, God will be there to assure us Eternal life and make sure that we will enter His kingdom.
- The Door of Faith
Heb 11:6 says that it is impossible to please God without faith. Rom 14:23 says that whatever does not proceed from faith is sin. Therefore, God has to open the door of faith and gives us faith so that we may live and do everything by faith and according to faith (Acts 14:27).
- The Door of Evangelism
Col 4:2-4 2Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving; 3praying at the same time for us as well, that God will open up to us a door for the word, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I have also been imprisoned; 4that I may make it clear in the way that I ought to proclaim it.
It is not Apostle Paul or a pastor who evangelizes, but the Bible says that the door for the Word needs to be open. Therefore, when it comes to evangelism, do not trust your own ability but pray to God to open the door of evangelism for the Word of God to be preached and to be heard.
There is a famous story of Charles Surgeon. He ministered in Wales is known as a renowned preacher. One day, a certain man came to him and said, “I have been believing in Jesus for about 30 years and have not evangelized anyone to Jesus. Teach me how to evangelize people.” Surgeon asked him, “What is your occupation?”
He answered, “I am a train engineer.” Surgeon asked him, “How many colleagues do you work with daily?” He answered, “I have two assistants working with me.” Surgeon asked, “Are they Christians? Do they believe in Jesus?” He answered, “I do not know.” Then, Surgeon said, “Go and ask them whether they are Christians. When a situation that you are a boss and you have two colleagues, if you don’t ask your colleagues and if you don’t deliver the Word to your colleagues, what evangelism can be started?”
This story tells us that evangelism is not something to be done in a special place or in a special time. The place where we work, the place where we eat, the place where we live is the place for evangelism. Therefore, let’s be ready to deliver the Word of God anytime. Apostle Paul in 2 Tim 4:1-20 urged us to be ready to preach the Word of God in season and out of season.
4) The Door of Prayer
Mat 7:7-8 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened.
If we knock in prayer, the door will be reopened for us: the answer will be given to us (Mat 21:22; Jhn 15:7).
Conclusion:
Let’s keep Jesus and His Word
Rev 3:8 ‘I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name.
The reason why the church in Philadelphia received the blessing of the open door is because they kept the Word of God and had not denied Jesus (Rev 14:12).
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 