When Jesus Observes Our Vision

When opportunity knocks, it's up to us to open the door.

It's true for investment decisions, and even more true in our spiritual lives.

I have placed before you an open door, which no one can shut these are the words of Jesus to a church in ancient Asia minor, a church in a place called Philadelphia. What was this door and what does it mean to us in the 21st-century today will find out from Chicago. This is The Moody Church. Our weekly service of worship and teaching with pastor Erwin Blitzer today will hear the seventh of eight messages on what Jesus thinks of his church.

Later in our broadcast Erwin Blitzer will speak on when Jesus observes our vision, the Moody choir comes now to open today's surface. Thank you so much. As we begin our worship service today. Our hearts and our minds are turned toward the Lord you have your hymnals would you turn please to number 17. Our great Savior the moment were going to be standing to sing this marvelous him and then our Scripture reading today is by pastor Alfredo Ramos. I passed out.

Ramos is our pastor of our Hispanic ministry and he'll be reading the entire passage that is listed in your bulletin but of course we will join him on the bold print then will sing the chorus God of grace and finally amazing Grace hymn written by John Newton who at one time gave a price to anyone who would teach him some new sin. He had not yet committed but miraculously transformed by God's power. He was on a ship and the ship appeared to be going under, and he was reading Proverbs chapter 1 where it says the day will come, God says that I will laugh at your calamity, and he read that and said I know that God has a right to laugh at my sin and as a result of that he was soundly converted. Number 17 is written by Wilbur Chapman.

He lived from 1859 to 1918, and was a contemporary of DL Moody. As a matter of fact, sometimes they had crusades together and someday I'll tell you what happened in Denver when Wilbur Chapman was there in the entire city closed it noon for prayer.

God does great things, but what a wonderful treasure. We had been the him he left for us to sing Jesus. What a friend for sinners. Jesus lover of my soul. Would you join me as we pray that I invite you to stand as we sing all five stances of this hymn of praise our father, we thank you today for Jesus and we thank you that when we give Jesus praise your name is honored and so we praise Jesus to the glory of God the father and we pray in Jesus name, amen. God join me please. Letters have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Jesus Christ will go in the form of God may not be. And being found in the human form he comforted himself by becoming obedient to the point of that, even death on the cross there. I need all so the name of Jesus every knee shall have been on and that Jesus Christ is Lord Lori and I think it was John Greenleaf Whittier said that the saddest words and tongue or pen were simply these, it might we've all had our might and bends, haven't we we've all gone through those periods of time of deep regret. Maybe it was because we didn't make a financial investment later on would've turned out to be very much in our favor.

Maybe we also have some regret because about the vocation that we've chosen the place that we decided to live relational regret. Because of people we have either known or wish we had known or wish we hadn't known all of those things can trigger regret in the Bible teaches very clearly that it is Jesus who gives us opportunities but ultimately we must take advantage of those opportunities. Those open doors and walk through those doors for his glory and for the honor of his name. When Jesus dictated these letters to the seven churches in Revelation and today were in Revelation chapter 3 and the church is Philadelphia. When Jesus dictated these letters and I hope that you've been spending some time reading what really should surprise this is that he says nothing about the size of the church.

If all that we had was the text of Scripture we wouldn't know whether Sardis was a large church whether Ephesus was a large church whether Philadelphia was small we wouldn't know that because that apparently is not number one on Jesus Christ list every one of these letters that is so penetrating and so convict to the seven churches boils down to a simple question that Jesus is responding to namely, what is your relationship with me. Are you faithful or aren't you faithful are you walking through the doors of opportunity, or are you walking by.

Because of your own self interest. Now were going to look at the description of Jesus then were going to discuss some open doors that the church in Philadelphia had and that we have as well. Chapter 3 verse seven of Revelation and to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write the words of the holy one, the true one who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shot to shot and no one will open how don't you love at first of all, Jesus is described here as the holy one, which is the same phrase that is used in the Old Testament by God before himself.

This is an indication that Jesus self-consciously refers to himself as God. I am the holy one, and then he goes on to say, the true one, the true one. All of the characteristics of deity and we have to keep in mind the vision of Jesus that was seen so clearly in the first chapter. Now notice he also says I have the key of David, when I open no one will shot then when I shut her door. Nobodies can open it is that referred to you might be surprised to discover that the key of David actually is referred to in Isaiah chapter 22. You need not turn to the text, but I'll tell you the story. There was a king by the name of Hezekiah and he was trying to negotiate with the king of Assyria and there were some delicate negotiations that were going on and one of his negotiators was very evil and that could not be trusted, so he was demoted and a man by the name of Goliath, Kim, we don't know much about them almost a confusing text, but a man by the name of a liar.

Kim was put in his place as an negotiator and it says of him. He has the key of David, and whatever door he opens opens and whatever one he shuts stay shot. He obviously had the authority of the King behind him and that's the imagery of the keys.

It has to do with authority. And so what we know is that Jesus is the one who has the key. I remember taking a tour in Europe and I was responsible for the tour group as was the leader. Also, the guide, but we came to a huge door in a castle supposed to see the castle but we all had to wait outside because you know you can now try to look through the keyhole. You can kick the door you can push it absolutely solid and then there comes a man with a big key walks past all of us. We don't care what his name is we don't know whether or not he had breakfast this morning but we didn't ask him all that we wanted is for him to put in the key which he did and he opened the door. It has to do with authority here at The Moody Church. We have many different keys, as many of us learned during a period of transition to the new building. We have some keys that will get you into only one room there some keys that will get you into the building, but not the office area.

There keys that will get you into the building and the office area and then there is what I have here. I looked at it this morning. It says am this is a master key, and that's why from time to time when someone can't get into a closet if I'm close by. They say pastor will your key open and usually, though not always, it does, it's a master key works. Almost all the time. Now you know there's another key here at the church. It is called the Grand Master the Grand Master. That's the key that get you into certain that technical areas, it gets you into financial offices and what have you.

It is the grand master Jesus as King of the universe doesn't just have a master key.

He has the grand master key and whatever he opens remains open and whatever he closes remains closed King of the universe God of all God's don't you love his authority. Now the question is what doors does he opened for us. What doors does he open and the answer to that question is first of all, the door of salvation, the door of salvation.

In fact, in John chapter 10 he says I am the door by me.

If any man enter any, shall be saved and shall go in and out and find pasture. The context has to do with sheep and shepherds. He is the door and there is no other way to the father except through that door is still Pastor Lutzer what about Ted Peter. Peter was given the keys to the kingdom wasn't he well Peter yes he was and what did that signify authority because the gospel was going to go into new areas where it had never been before. For example, a Peter preaches the gospel.

On the day of Pentecost to the Jews 3000 are converted and then Peter goes in the eighth chapter of acts to the Samaritans to the half breeds a work despised by the Jews and he's involved therein, sharing the gospel with them and then you get to the 10th and the 11th chapter and he is sharing the gospel with the Gentiles, so he has the keys in the sense that he's opening up doors of ministry and evangelization for the glory of God. But Jesus here has the keys back any keys that you and I were to use a does it really arrived a derived kind of authority. It is Jesus who has the keys. The keys to the kingdom and the keys that will open and will shot now that means.

Quite frankly, that there is no room in the universe where Jesus Christ is excluded, he can go anywhere there is no country where Jesus is excluded, he can go anywhere, sometimes in missions we speak about closed countries. What we mean is that missionaries can't be there, but even if missionaries are barred. Jesus can there and he is there this past weekend I was speaking at a conference on apologetics that has to do with the defense of one's faith, I met someone who would be unknown to most of you and I will not mention his name, who is devoting his entire life.

Now to work among the Muslims and the Muslim communities, not just in America but around the world. The stories that he told me were unbelievable. He told me that in various websites where they do, by the way, the discipleship a lot of it is done through the web that thousands of Muslims are turning to Christ and I heard this from someone else that is that even in their ran around, which is the country that received so much play in the news that there may be one million converts to Jesus Christ in their ran today. Isn't that good news I need to explain to you that many of these are coming to Christ.

Not all but many of them because of dreams that they have dreams about Jesus. It's amazing. But let me tell you about those dreams are so that you get some clarification. When I was teaching up at Trinity. I was teaching a course Trinity seminary, I met a young man who was a convert from Islam to Christianity. In fact, his story was so unique. I actually had it recorded.

He was living in Jerusalem and one night he had a dream about Jesus and he could not get out of bed the next morning.

In fact, he was just paralyzed. He could not.

It was as if he was pinned against the bed and he said then he prayed to Jesus and to Jesus. If you let me get out of bed. I'll find out about what with that, he was able to get out of bed and what did he do he found the someone who had a Bible and he began to read the Bible and was converted. It's interesting that these dreams do not convert anyone. They only point to the word of God. Remember that story of the Persians.

The three Wiseman, the star did not take them immediately to Bethlehem the star took them to Jerusalem and it was at Jerusalem that the scribes opened the Scriptures and it is there that they said based on Micah's prophecy. It is there that they said that the Messiah was to be born, and then the wise man they began their journey to Bethlehem and then the star reappeared.

You know what God says is I'm never going to convert anyone by bypassing my word. The dreams awaken you to Jesus, but it is my word that does the convert Bible says that we are born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, by the word of God which lives and abides forever, but I could tell you stories. Other stories about how Muslims are coming to Christ in so to speak.

Closed countries.

Why because Jesus has the key of David.

Jesus is the one and there is no country and there is no square inch of planet Earth where Jesus Christ cannot come if he wills to do it. King of Kings and Lord of lords is the man with the keys. Don't you love them. The man with the keys first key is that of salvation. The second key is that of service as soon as you go through the door of salvation. There's another door and Jesus is saying now that you know me, it's time to be discipled and to serve me remember the apostle Paul in writing to the people at Corinth said in chapter 10 actually chapter 16 of first Corinthians 1st Corinthians chapter 16 the apostle Paul said to the people. He says there is a door that is opened on to me. But there are many adversaries know God opens the doors of walking through them is difficult and just because the doors open. It doesn't mean that you and I will walk through and there are many stories of failure in the Christian church throughout history were open doors were not taken advantage of people did not walk through them because their vision was too small and they did not want to be involved in something that might risk their personal affluence and their personal comfort. So Paul says there are many adversaries but he says that there is a door that is opened up to me. Now let's look at the Philadelphia church.

You'll notice that Jesus says in verse eight, chapter 3 of Revelation.

I know your works, behold, I've 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. Behold, I will take those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews and aren't butterfly. Behold, I will make them come and bow before you, that they may learn that I love you because you have kept my word about patient endurance. I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world to try those who dwell on the earth.

I am coming soon. Hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown.

While why was the church in Philadelphia, a church that had little power were not sure, but to we can speculate it was a small congregation. Possibly maybe it was a congregation of lower-class people who had no clout in the community. Maybe it was because of the opposition. These people who claim to be Jews, but weren't. It may well be that there were Christians even who claim to be Jewish because the Jews suffered less persecution in those days than the Christians maybe also it was the Jews who were simply upset with the Christians and and Jesus says, by the way, even though you have little power, even though you have little power to make them come and bow before you and acknowledge that God loves you. Now that bowing is not the bowing of worship by any means. In fact, in the Old Testament actually says to the Jews, I will cause the Gentiles to bow before you. Now it is reversed. Either way, the power of God to overcome her city and the adversaries of the open door, not wonderful. I will cause them to ballot your feet and don't let their persecutions stop you in what you have been called to do. And then Jesus is also, he says I will keep you from the hour of trial that will come upon the earth.

What is that hour of trial. You know could be local persecution. Yes, but notice the text it says I will keep you from the hour of trial that is coming on the whole world. I used to be skeptical of those who sought in this reference to the great tribulation, when you stop to think of it, no persecution in the early church ever came upon the whole world. This seems as if it's the time of Jacob's trouble. It may be a reference to the to the coming tribulation, which still hasn't happened because notice notice it's connected with the coming of Jesus.

Why does Jesus just throw that in to try those who dwell upon the earth. I'm coming soon. Well it is his coming the rapture that would keep the church from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole earth. And isn't it interesting he does not say I will keep you through the hour of trial, but rather I will keep you out of. That's what the text says I will keep you out of the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole earth. There is of course a disagreement as to whether or not we will go through the tribulation, or whether or not we will be rapture to head of time and we don't know all the details until it happened. But wouldn't it be wonderful if when we were going up in the sky we could look at all of those post strippers and say with a smile. I told you it was so not be wonderful to be able to now. The bottom line is this, though for us. Why is it then Jesus said even though you're a church with little power. Why did he say your church with little power, and yet they fold. I have put before you an open door, which no man can shut. Is it because they were strong, no obviously Jesus said you are of little power is because they were faithful. He says this in the text. This is because you have kept my word about patient endurance. They were a faithful small church and Jesus said that I have put for you and open door, which no man can shut my dear friend today. What do you think that open door was what you think it was.

I think it was because of the geographical location of Philadelphia Philadelphia which of course today is in modern Turkey.

As you know is all of these churches are it was situated in those days, along a very important trade route and I think that what God was saying was this you know your small church and all in your week. You know I am going to help you. In fact, I'll even take your persecutors and make them bow before you acknowledge that I love you but 10 you have an open door. Why, because if you evangelize and if you spread the gospel in your community you live in an area that can touch other communities and other countries because of your strategic position. I think that's what the open and now my dear friend, let us suppose that we are having tea together. I was at a luncheon yesterday and the waiter said to me to want tea and I said yes, in memory of Canada.

I want tea please and I was in the South yesterday and I thought I was going to get hot tea and then I remembered audio file. It's this Ice-T yellowcake sure I'll have iced but let's suppose that were having tea together.

Let's look at Moody Church for a moment what an open door. I was just thinking to myself, even if we just took the vocations that are here at Moody Church because every vocation.

The best way to spread the gospel is really through vocations and friendship. Every single study proves it. So the Bible proves that it is so is not necessarily in the large crowds and today the crowds don't come because people think that the gospel has been marginalized and they see no relevance and no great and so what God does is here at The Moody Church. We have representatives of business Chicago we can touch the business community medical Chicago. We got doctors and nurses and on various levels of work and involvement in medicine, educational Chicago we have people here who teach in the public schools not only teach what are administrators in the public school peptide lunch recently with a man who may be here actually has responsibility for whole area within the public school system so we have educational Chicago.

We have industrial Chicago we could add we have young Chicago. We have Latino Chicago we have racial Chicago we have the colleges and the universities and what God is saying to us here is this that strategically here in the middle of the city of Chicago. I have set before you an open door, which no man can shut and God may be saying to us.

Are we willing to work through that open door and walk through it.

Even at great personal cost. By the way my list was made up hurriedly and I didn't mean in any sense to list all of the different vocations and the way in which we can touch the city with the gospel of Jesus Christ.

God has given us and a new Christian life center, and you know because of that we have financial challenges. In fact, we've added 12% to the budget this year, primarily just to continue on an even keel, and that and to be able to think of the added expenses of the CLC as well as inflation and in other matters because because it's all connected connected you say will We do it without money. Of course we could do it without money, but the money is used to facilitate what God can do here so that our impact in the city and around the world is much greater.

For example, I like to mention that we wish that we had a full-time pastor whose only responsibility was the universities and the colleges in our immediate area here in the great city of Chicago some 50 I think. I mean, the need is so great what those students are going through what they have to endure, but you can see here that sometimes our vision is greater than our resources but God says I have put before you an open door, which no man can shut. Is it possible for us though to fail. Walking through those opportunities absolutely. We all confess that we've failed and walking through opportunities that God gives us whether it's a personal witness. I remember talking to a Christian who said he was in a barber's chair and the man began to ask him questions about what he believed and he said my tongue just got tied and I could hardly say anything because the man wasn't trained to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was an open door God says here's an open door but you know it is possible that an open door not walk through it. Do you see today are opportunities we actually could if God were to send a great wave of his blessing upon this church and other churches in the city that preach the gospel because there are many we could become the church that could change the city.

The city that could change the world. God says I've set before you an open door when a place to be strategically located in the middle of the nation and a sense, the Midwest, the city of Chicago. So Jesus says to that little church you know you have little power, but I'm on your side because your faithful what an open door. He gave now there's another door that he's able to open and that is the door of paradise the door of paradise.

And here we get to the end of the text where it speaks about tab and by the way when it says I'm coming soon. It primarily means I come when you least expected. In other words I'm coming unexpected late and as I mentioned that's connected with the previous verse hold fast what you have, so that no one may seize your crown. Are we going to give an account for the way in which we live. Yes indeed it is sobering. Every Christian standing individually in the presence of Jesus in explaining to Jesus why he did what he did on earth.

That's what the Bible teaches, the one who conquers, whose faithful. I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God. Never shall he go out of it, and I will write on him the name of my God, in the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven parenthesis. You know that this book has to be inspired of God. We do know that no man could ever write these things and that did you know that that the people who died today and we can all think of friends of ours relatives who died in there in heaven is not their permanent home permanent home is the new Jerusalem, which is going to come down from God out of heaven, as described in Revelation chapter 21, and what a home.

It's going to be and that's where the text now refers to that, it says I will write on him the one who conquers I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God.

Never shall he go out of it all right on him the name of my God. The name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down from my God out of heaven, and my own new name. He who has an ear, let him hear. Are you listening today are you listening. He was an ear, let him hear you. In those days they would take a pillar to honor someone in on that pillar, they would inscribe the name of someone that they wanted to honor that's the imagery that's going on here, but in the new Jerusalem. There are pillars like we think of temples today because there's no material pillars to hold something up.

The pillars are the people and so Jesus said that if you are faithful all right on you actually say is right on again it all right on you three names the name of my father in heaven. The name of the new Jerusalem, which is going to come down from God out of heaven to the earth.

The name of the new Jerusalem and my own new name. Remember the intimacy that we learned about here.

There'll be things that you and Jesus know about in your fellowship with him that not even your wife or closest friends in heaven know about. That's how intimate and he says all right on him. Also, my new name. You talk about you talk about a reward for being faithful and Jesus says I'm going to do all of this for you if your faithful behold I've set before you an open door, which no one can shut nobody can shut it.

Jesus is saying you walk through it.

This is your reward. Obviously he over pays because he gives such generous such generous rewards to those of us who are such sinners and it's all by grace. What's the bottom line will the bottom line is simply this, that Jesus opens and closes doors, you know, he said. Elsewhere in this imagery is found throughout the Bible. He says in Revelation chapter 1 where to look at it is as I have the keys of death and of Hades is the keeper of the keys here me carefully you personally. Your eternal destiny will be determined. It will be determined by Jesus is the keys of death when it's time for you to die, you will die. And while it is true that something that you do may cause and hasten your death at the end of the day, even if that didn't happen, you would die within God's providential time there is a time. He is the keys of death.

He also has the keys of Hades.

Hades is that underworld where people used to go and I think still go because Hades has not yet been cast into hell fire as it is at the end of Revelation is so Jesus says I got the key. I want you to visualize a castle. Everybody comes in and there is the key to paradise. And there's the key to Hades and and Jesus is making all of these decisions and once you're there you can never change course or switch doors at decision is made here in this life this life is preparation for eternity.

So I need to ask you a question today given the doors that Jesus is able to open and has opened is your life today you know Jesus, so that as I mentioned earlier remade that wonderful state. I am the door by me. If any man enter and he shall be saved, shall go in and out and find pasture. Apart from him he can't get to the father get can't get to paradise without going through that open door. But here's the here's the real thing that you have to listen to. The time is come in the doors going to be closed. Matthew chapter 25 Jesus is telling the story of 10 young women, five of them have the oil in their lamps. The other five don't and the five but don't they come later on in the Bible says the door is shut and they shouted and said open up onto us but he said the day of opportunity is over.

It's gone. Same story in Luke 13 they will shout and and and can't you imagine Lord I was a member of the church. You should let me end. Lord I was a good person.

Lord, my parents had me baptized, he will say to them. I never knew you. I never knew you the door is closed, the man who opens the door, and no one can shut it is the same one closes the door and when it's closed. No one no one can open. But that's it. You're ready to pray. Let's pray father I want to thank you that we serve the sovereign Lord, thank you that Jesus is the keeper of all keys. Thank you that there is no place on this planet or any planet where he is excluded.

Thank you that he walks through closed doors of countries. He walks through closed doors in our homes walks even into closed hearts and as he wills opens them yesterday for all those who never trusted him as Savior. We pray for ourselves.

We pray that we might be able to walk through the open door is a church and see the city changed by the power of the gospel. Now before I close this prayer. I do have a question for you my friend. Do you have the assurance that someday Jesus will open the door for you to paradise. That's the question. Remember that assurance comes when we believe that Jesus did all that ever will be necessary for us to stand in his presence, and we respond to that and embrace it and put our faith in him are you there if not, even where you are, you can say Lord Jesus right now.

You saved me want to go through that open door that you've provided that I might be safe.

You tell got that right now.

Wherever you are.

You may be listening on the Internet, you may be listening on the radio may be listening right here at The Moody Church but you talk to God father hear the cry of every heart hear the cry of the broken hearts hear the cry of those who doubt hear the cry of those who know you but find it so hard to trust. Here is Lord Jesus we pray today your blessed name. Amen. I think it is appropriate if we sing a hymn that isn't sung too often, but known to many of us within the church. It's 480 480 only trust him. I I chose this hymn because some of you need to trust him as Savior. Some of you need to trust him.

In other areas of your life and the whatever it is that were going through. We need to trust him 480 as Tim comes to on today's church.

Our pastor looks or spoke on when Jesus observes our vision taken from Revelation chapter 3 another message on what Jesus thinks of his church next week will learn about Christ's message to the church at Laodicea as we hear Dr. Luther preach on when Jesus observes our hearts what Jesus thinks of his church can be yours on CD for a gift of any amount to The Moody Church. Our call 1-800-215-5001. Let us know you'd like to support Moody Church's ministry are. Thank you to you is a CD album with eight powerful messages. You can hear and then pass on to others. Call 1-800-215-5001 or you can write to us at Moody Church media 1635 N. LaSalle Boulevard Chicago, IL 60614 online go to Moody offeror.com that's Moody offeror.com. Join us next time for another Moody Church. Our with pastor Erwin lutes are the congregation of historic Moody Church in Chicago. This broadcast is a ministry of The Moody Church