A Challenge of Obedience

Please keep his word, Dr. Tony Evans talked about how the Lord uses his keys to the king to unlock doors for obedient believers say this is the alternative Dr. Tony, author, speaker and pastor of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas Texas and president of the urban alternative. A lot of people want to take what Jesus offered, but don't want to do what Jesus says Dr. Evans will take us to Revelation 37. Today, as he explains why that strategy doesn't work, let's join him a course in college what you are saying is I want information without the responsibility I want to learn whatever the course is seeking to teach, but don't give me homework and don't give me examples while in college you need to know that when you are out of the course you don't get credit for it because you didn't put in what the course required and when you will audit the Christian life by coming to hear the word to be inspired and encouraged by the word, but to not act on the word that you've heard you may have more knowledge and you may be more inspired. But you won't be changed because the transformation in the life through the word has to be activated by obedience. Without that, it becomes information with no credits. That is no transforming value when now at the sixth church that the apostle John is written the church at Philadelphia. This is the first Philadelphia, the city of brotherly love. This Philadelphia in verse seven of Revelation 3 is located some 30 miles southeast of Sardis, a great commercial city with a major trade route plagued often with earthquakes. That was the nature of this city inside the city was a small church. A small gathering of believers Philadelphia Bible Fellowship and Jesus who is the spokesperson through the shepherd of each one of these churches speaks through this leader to the saints at Philadelphia Bible Fellowship at the church in Philadelphia and notice what he says in verse seven he who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David opens and no one will shut and shuts and no one opens, says this before we get into all the idiosyncrasies of what he has to say to this church. He wants to give a another description of himself which he is done in each of these churches and he describes himself as he was holy and true holy means to be set apart as unique, special, one-of-a-kind. I describe holy often in using the difference between dishes in the sink dishes in the kitchen and dishes in the dining room. The dishes in the sink are dirty. They are dirty dishes. That's why they're in the sink. The dishes in the kitchen, and dishes you use that for all your meals but the dishes in the den. When I got it all wrong. They got their own glass case because they are special that not integrated with the comment and certainly not integrated with the profane the dirty especially come out on special occasions.

Jesus says don't put me in the world would anybody else. Don't make me another one of the people you recognize I'm not just a good person, not just a great topic. I am holy I am separate I one-of-a-kind, I am unique on the class by myself in Isaiah 40 verse 25.

The Bible says God is holy, so when Jesus declares himself to be holy declares himself to be God, to win not just talking about another name.

One of the crowd. He says I am unique and therefore must be viewed and treated uniquely. I am not only holy.

I'm also true truth has to do with ultimate reality on the real deal.

Anything that contradicts me is false and is alive and cannot be trusted. So you are to measure everything about the truth I am the way the truth and the life. So everything is to be measured by its inconsistency and compatibility to me. And if it's incompatible and inconsistent with me is wrong no matter who told to tell you how long you believe how well you know it. I am truth, I am holy and true, not only am I making set apart not only about ultimate reality, but now he gets to the nitty-gritty says I have the key of David not to appreciate what he's talking about. This is drawn from Isaiah chapter 22 verses 15 to 25. The steward of the house of David, the kingdom house of David David with the king of Israel excuses that speak of the kingdom. The key belong to the steward, but the story did not do the right job so he was fired and when he was fired a new steward replaced him.

This new story was a lie acumen and a liar. Kim was given the key to the kingdom not given RTD was given 13 Jesus says I possess the king of the kingdom of David that is.

I have the kingdom T notice. If a single key because it is the master key.

Anybody who possesses the master key to get in any door all the doors are available to him because he has a master key, so when the Bible speaks of the key. It speaks of two things access and authority. So Jesus claims access to any door and authority over every door. Let me say that again Jesus, the one with the team.

The master key has access to every door which is what a master key gives you an authority over every door, which is why he says he can open the doors. He wants to open and lock the doors. He wants to stay locked because he is in charge now everyone, I don't get that wiggle think people are in charge will think powerbrokers are in charge will think folk with money are in charge, wiggle, people would come in charge. They may have team. They don't have a master key.

They may have a key to outdoor they don't have the key to every door. Jesus says I control the kingdom because I have control all the master key as he says in Matthew 28 verse 19 he says all authority has been given to me not only in the suite Brian Bobbitt in the nasty here and now now in Matthew chapter 16 he says I will build my church and I will give my church the keys to the kingdom. What is now Jesus says I am the master key. That's one key that can lock any door, but I'm going to give to my people. The church I will give them the keys plural to the kingdom. So what is given us is multiple keys to multiple doors while he possesses the master key to every door so he has not key. We have the keys.

How does it work when you use the right key back it up with the master key, but when you use the wrong key.

The master teaching them that because the master key can only be consistent with the keys that he's given us when we put another way, if you skip God's way to get it done whatever it is you're trying to get done that no just call on God uses master key when you ignored the key gave you not want to skip the responsibilities he's given you instantly call him because he got the master key was the know your keys are consistent with his key.

I will give you the keys to the kingdom. Well, what is that it's authority I'm going to share my authority with you when you are consistent me was the problem. He says in verse eight I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door, which no one can shut, because you have little power, and have kept my word and have not denied my name or watch it in order for his key work for you for me and for this church.

He says you must have kept my word obeyed me and not denied my name. So one of the reasons many believers are not seeing God come through is because they do not keep his word. Click on the church. But they do not keep his word and all they deny his name. They don't want to be publicly associated with them. You have little pop. I mean this is a small church that doesn't have big names that have notoriety people that have highly educated folk don't have a bunch of rich saying sit in the sanctuary. He says you have little problem people don't know you, they don't appreciate what he wants. They don't respect to new off you what people view as substantive significance and worth applauding. But he says I have set before you an open door. Even though folk say you are not nobody, I have set before you an open door, and when I opened this bad boy. Hopefully you will follow with the name with the money what the problem will not be able to shut it the way I will open door and the rear is that I will open the door for you, like your world and your ministry is because you have obeyed and have not denied my name. But one God to open doors while they are ashamed to bear his name. Notice you can't deny his name… All you want… There's a God that does not his name. His name is the Lord Jesus Christ. The second person of the Trinity is a generic God. God is but God has delegated everything to his son. It is that the name of Jesus every day, bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord, to the glory of the father. So if folk don't know your relationship to Jesus you have denied his name even though you may be told now. God bless you all day long. You have denied my name.

Jesus says when you denied me, I will deny you before my father was in evidence when you confess to me I will compress you before my father was in heaven. So if you are ashamed of Jesus Christ and don't want to be publicly associated with him again. Open doors you can open your own door so is okay and we are blessed just will become elite will become pigheaded thank you all, that no 00 yesterday when we been blessed the best you a sinner saved by grace, simply say hi Greg all the best to forget that because of that people who don't have your education, your money, your job, your career, your house, you look down on anybody. You may be looking down somebody who has access to master key, but I opened up a door opened up a door for two reasons your baby and you don't deny me says in verse nine. You have kept the word of my perseverance and I will also keep you from the hour of testing, the works that is about to come upon the whole world.

It delivers not behold love because those in the synagogue of Satan's say they are Jews and are not the life I will make them come and bow down at your feet and make them know that I have loved you what you said almost falls folk out there synagogue of Satan make they go to church, synagogue, but the devil just as you and church, synagogue, doesn't mean you love the Lord is a synagogue of Satan. RI religious talk don't mean a thing. He says, let them know that I have loved you a little power, no you got more power than you look like you have.

Dr. Evans will come back with a great illustration about just a moment. First though, we are just about to wrap up 20 series. The Jesus challenge. Look at what the Lord had to say in the first three chapters of Revelation to the seven churches and to us.

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That's 1-800-800-3222. Dr. Evans will come back right after this. It was my first time meeting Jesus died on Wednesday after studying bibliology Tony Evans training center taught by renowned theologian Dr. Tony Evans. These online courses feature compelling and exclusive video and audio teaching class and interactive scripture based curriculum you can access online or through the mobile app sign up now Tony is chaining.org questions Dr. Evans and exploring the kingdom anytime, anywhere. Tony happens to finally remember the story about a big dog and little puppy German Shepherd in the pool German Shepherd and the poodle was standing at the door and big dog Shepherd looked at the poodle is that you will pop you can do much.

Look how small he walks look on short you are a big job site a look at this door when I will take you to get open his door cannot open his door knocking over so quickly, big and Rich Knox.

You can them reach them out that this of a contest to see who can open the door.

The quickest little publisher.

Okay, you go first big dog dog you go first German Shepherd jumped up on the door got his mouth around the knob is mobile now started twisting at the knob and after about 2 1/2 minutes of work in the Nazi got the door open should be sent big company is big dog and show you can even reach the no guilt or little puppy came up to the door, gave a small box scratch the door man on the inside came and opened the sleep when you know who's on the inside. Let it bother you with your little puppy all the big dogs can help you do has not since considering the test will walk you through the test reverse pieces. I will make your footstool. Nothing makes God real than when he reverses the universe nothing makes God more real than when he flips something to look unflappable. Nothing make God's will you when that was not well knew what it would look like he was running the home shall but you may say bouncing doing anything you want with the next verse he says he will be dispensing on the key people dissolve, but I am coming quickly. Hold fast what you have, so that no one will take your crown on love this word I am coming quickly. That means suddenly that means unexpectedly. That means that out of nowhere say when God is silent that the meeting still see them doing anything unknown looks like you just waiting for nothing, but God likes the common side likes to break in when you didn't expect that we didn't think that was any way that this thing could Abbott get that this child could Abbott not to do. Suddenly why you like to do things quickly suddenly and so that when it happens that I have no call to take place came out of nowhere quickly becomes inextricably clear that this was in dating. He wants to blow you is becomes through suddenly says and I will come quickly, so don't worry about it.

If you have all the degrees of you have all the money all the prestige about the policy on you when you walk into the roof just begged him not his name, wait for the Lord say because it comes suddenly and once you have this perspective you free because you know people don't have the last thing they have a say they look like they one of the show until God's will soon and changes that will change the model changes you will change the circumstances to what to do in verse 11. Hold fast fast you want to give up if you want to quit. I know you're tired he says hold fast. Make sure you obey and not deny getting past no denial and at this time. Suddenly now he gives us his final statement he who overcomes, overcomes what the tendency to give up. He overcomes the tendencies to stop obeying them. Now you hear will overcomes look at this. I will make him a pillar in the temple my God, he will not go out from it anymore. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from my God and my new name is Edward Edward name name name name name will make you a pillar in my temple temple is God's house. Galatians 297 Peter James and John with a pillar of the church.

They were holding up the church. In other words he speaks of these people overcome the propensity to give up as being in close proximity to God. You have a 40 W bulb a 60 W bulb a 75 W bulb in your house hundred watt bulb in the house for the web open house know about all of them will likely capacity but everybody's capacity didn't say a 40 want to give you 100 W because it's not established to be able to produce like that. Well, all Christians are Christians, but they know how to say what and so they don't exude the same experience because they don't have the same relationship. Jesus said St. John chapter 2 verses 23 to 25 it says really believed on him, many believed on him, but he would not commit himself to them because he knew what was in that God say that they had not yet got committed. They were on their way to heaven, but he couldn't usable. They were forgiven for their sins, but they didn't want to know if they were Christians. They went to church but they would not obey the word so that him but he would make no commitment.

Children a lot of Christians. Jesus is just not deeply committed to.

In a practical way because they want to be on a wide Christians expecting 100 W blessings. That way he wants to know that you live that you are a full-time president, not a part-time say he wants to know that you will not deny you that you will obey what he has commanded and he says that one I will give them a name when you people go to the cowboy game that folks was sitting in the stands.

We don't know the name the location but we don't know their name when it comes to the plans we know their names, so because if I would ask you to name the name of the right God. Many of you couldn't do that if I ask you the name the name of the products.

Many of you could do that. But now we upgrade this talk about why the sea was a quarterback and that you know those names was named Achieve a greater name and publicity because of the role they play on the team but then not only do you have broken the crown and the folks on the team some more nameless than some of the main ring in the ring on those of maiden name.

You see the players come and go but the folks in the ring of stated because all the time they held fast all the time.

They played the game all the time. They didn't click when they were injured over time, they stay committed to the tasks that name is not only in the ring on that name was in Canton, Ohio blast in the Hall of Fame so that generation and generations will know who that name was Donna has a lot of Christians in the stands that show up to watch the game.

All they want to see what the quiet thing is what the preachers preach and then I just can't do so but then at some God who don't want to just stay in the stands. They want to get on the field in ministry may help other people may get to the advancement of the cause of the law and got some soup. Those are the ring upon the people noted name is no, but you can count on you depend on because now that will not bring the Lord serving the site give it to the Lord's giving glory to bear witness for the Lord. The challenge of the day if you want God to put you in the ring about 120 is you and sees you say well done my good service you want to call you out of the crown and know you're one of the choices service challenge of the leg to stand on the field I want Italian true black a little bit on the freedom to get a little bit on the way a Super Bowl ring will say the Lord, the Lord say, Dr. Tony Evans wrapping up the message he calls the challenge of obedience part of his current series, the Jesus challenge. As I mentioned earlier, we are offering all eight messages in this collection both in CDs and instantly downloadable MP3s along with the personal or group study guide and DVD. The go with them as a thank you gift when you come alongside our ministry and make a donation to receive this entire Jesus challenge study package. Visit us right away@tonyevans.org because this special triple offer runs out tomorrow. That's 20 heaven's.org or call her 24 hour resource Center at 1-800-800-3222 let one of our team members assist you with your request. Again, 1-800-800-3222. We all know the coronavirus is highly contagious but sore. The anxiety and uncertainty that are spread along with it next week. Dr. Evans will point out the great news in this bad situation as he begins a brand-new series called clarity in a crisis right now though he's back briefly with this important word you can read Bible lesson like the one we just brought you and go on with your day like nothing happened, or you can take an honest look into your heart and ask what does God want me to do with this. If you're already a Christian when you got the word of God the Holy Spirit inside to help you find the answer. But if you're not the first step before anything else is to take the Lord up on his offer to forgive every mistake in your past, no matter how many or how bad and to make you knew from the inside out. That can happen for you today when you admit you can't be perfect on your own and asked Jesus Christ to become Lord of your life. I put together a video that explains how it works.

To see it. Just go to my website Tony Evans.org and click on the Jesus like I picked out some free follow-up resources for you as well. I hope you check them out today. The alternative with Dr. Tony have brought to you by the urban alternate is made possible by the generous contribution of listeners