EXODUS 12:1-13 etc.

DOORS

 

Doors - I've been through thousands of them in my lifetime.  I remember the big, heavy wooden church doors of my childhood and the screen doors of a favorite cabin in the woods.  I recall revolving doors in stores and hospitals, and doors to closets and cupboards.

 

And then there are the doors to all those various cars I've owned down through the years.  I also remember when my sons decided to play "Dukes of Hazard", getting in and out of the car without opening the doors.  To say the least I was not impressed.

 

Of course we use the term "door" figuratively as well as literally. Here are some quotes about those "figurative" doors.

 

Give me your tired, your poor,

   Your huddled masses, yearning to breathe free,

   The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.

   Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me,

   I lift my lamp beside the golden door!

   -Inscription on Statue of Liberty, New York Harbor

      Emma Lazarus (1849-1887) -Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entries 7985

 

If only, when one heard

   That Old Age was coming

   One could bolt the door,

   Answer "Not at home"

   And refuse to meet him! Kokinshu -Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 8136

 

When one door closes, another opens; but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us. Alexander Graham Bell  - Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entry 8229

 

I've shut the door on yesterday

   And thrown the key away-

   Tomorrow holds no fears for me,

   Since I have found today.

      Vivian Yeiser Laramore (1891- )

 

   -Edythe Draper, Draper's Book of Quotations for the Christian World (Wheaton: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 1992). Entries 11367-11369.

 

In its own inimitable way, the Bible has something to teach us about doors.  With that in mind, we want to look at four of the many doors that are mentioned in the Bible.

 

THE DOOR OF OFFERING - Exodus 12:1-13

THE DOOR OF OBEDIENCE - John 10:9

THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY - 1 Corinthians 16:9

THE DOOR OF ONENESS - Revelation 3:20

 

THE DOOR OF OFFERING - Exodus 12:1-13

 

The place is Egypt.

The situation is that the nation of Israel is in bondage to the Egyptians. Their God-given leaders, Moses and Aaron, have been crying out to Pharaoh, "Let my people go!"

 

God had hardened Pharaoh's heart, and Pharaoh had also hardened his own heart and steadfastly refused to let Israel leave.  God had sent nine terrible plagues among the Egyptians, and He had one more plague planned. God planned to send his Angel of Death upon Egypt.

 

Read Exodus 12:1-7, 12-13

 

God told Israel to select lambs for each household.

These lambs were to be perfect, with no blemish.

They were even to be tested.

 

At the appointed evening, the lambs were to be slain, roasted and eaten.

The blood of the lambs was to be applied with a plant called hyssop to the top and sides of the door.

When the death angel saw the blood, he would "pass over" that house.

Hence we have the name for the feast that God told the Jews to celebrate yearly, Passover.

 

Passover is a picture of the work the Lord Jesus Christ did in order to give us eternal life.

 

The Angel of Death that came over Egypt was the angel of judgment.  According to verse 17 this judgment was over the false God's of Israel.

 

Our God is a righteous God, and our God hates and judges sin.

 

Isaiah 59:2 - But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

 

Isaiah 64:6 - But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

 

Ezekiel 18:4 - Behold, all souls are mine; as the soul of the father, so also the soul of the son is mine: the soul that sinneth, it shall die.

 

Israel was told what to do to avoid the same judgment of that would come upon Egypt.  A spotless lamb was killed.  The lamb was perfect and the lamb was innocent.  The Passover lamb was a perfect offering that would allow Israel to avoid the same judgment that came upon Egypt.   

 

John the Baptist introduced the Lord Jesus in this way,

…Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. (John 1:29)

 

Jesus was the perfect, sinless, Son of God who was offered upon the cross of Calvary as payment for the sins of the world. He is the "Lamb of God."

   

Isaiah 53:5-6 - But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. [6] All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

 

1 Corinthians 5:7 - …For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

 

When an Israelite killed his lamb, the job was not done.  He had to apply the blood to the door of his house.  When the Angel saw the blood, He knew that an offering had already been made for that household and he passed over.

 

 My friend, knowing that Jesus has died as a perfect sacrifice for your sins is not enough.  There must be a Door of Offering in your life. The blood of Jesus must be applied to the door of your heart.  You must believe that Jesus died for you, was buried and rose again.  You must believe that is the blood of Jesus Christ that gives you forgiveness of sin and eternal life.  When you do, there will be no judgment of eternal death of you.  Instead there will be eternal life!   

 

Romans 10:13 - For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

 

Christ our Redeemer died on the cross,
Died for the sinner, paid all his due.
All who receive Him need never fear,
Yes, He will pass, will pass over you.

 

Chiefest of sinners, Jesus will save;
As He has promised, so He will do;
Oh, sinner, hear Him, trust in His Word,
Then He will pass, will pass over you.

 

Judgment is coming, all will be there.
Who have rejected, who have refused?
Oh, sinner, hasten, let Jesus in,
Oh, He will pass, will pass over you.

 

O great compassion! O boundless love!
Jesus hath power, Jesus is true;
All who believe are safe from the storm,
Oh, He will pass, will pass over you.

 

When I see the blood, when I see the blood,
When I see the blood, I will pass, I will pass over you.

John G. Foote

 

The blood was sprinkled on the door, and the door became a Door of Offering.  Sprinkle the blood of Christ on your own heart's door by faith, and you have your Door of Offering.

 

THE DOOR OF OFFERING - Exodus 12:1-13

THE DOOR OF OBEDIENCE - John 10:9

John 10:9 - I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 

According to James Montgomery Boice, when sheep were grazing in the countryside of Palestine the shepherds would build rough sheepfolds.  They would take stones and build a place to keep their sheep during the night, to help protect them from predators.

 

A narrow opening was made in this sheepfold so the sheep could get in and out, but there was no door.  That is, there was no door until the shepherd himself laid down in the doorway and became the door.  No predator could get in without getting past the shepherd and no sheep could get out without getting past the shepherd. The sheep were secure.  James Montgomery Boice, The Gospel of John, An Expositional Commentary, Volume 3, © 1988, 1999 by James Montgomery Boice, Baker Books, Grand Rapids, page 742

 

Jesus says that He is the door.  That implies that he is the only door.  In fact He actually says that in John 14:6 - …I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

 

There is a door of obedience whereby we are saved from sin and given eternal life.  The door of Obedience is to place your faith and trust in Christ as your door to Heaven.  You enter in by faith.    

 

Acts 16:31 - And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

 

Actually, the Door of Offering and the Door of Obedience are conveying the same idea.  You come to Christ and trust Him by faith that He has died for your sins.   

 

And there are benefits to taking the door of obedience.

James Montgomery Boice says that when we enter in by faith we are saved, safe (going in and out), and satisfied (we have pasture). Ibid. Page 745

 

Have you taken the door of obedience, and trusted Jesus as your savior?

 

THE DOOR OF OFFERING - Exodus 12:1-13

THE DOOR OF OBEDIENCE - John 10:9

THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY - 1 Corinthians 16:9

 

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

 

The Apostle Paul was in Ephesus when he wrote to the Corinthians.  He was explaining his travel plans to the Corinthians and why he would not be seeing them right away.

 

Paul had an open door for ministry! Opportunity was knocking and Paul was answering.  

Sometimes we think that the only ones who ever had open doors for ministry are great nationally known preachers and the Apostles.  We are not surprised if Paul had an open door for ministry, after all, He was the great Paul the Apostle!

 

God opens doors of opportunity for us as well.

 

Galatians 6:9-10 - And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. [10] As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

 

God wants us to look for opportunities to do good to others, especially to fellow believers.  This makes sense when we consider the purpose for which God saved us.  That purpose is to do good works.

 

Ephesians 2:10 - For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

 

What opportunities might there be among believers here to do good works?   

  

§        You can ask someone how they are doing with an illness or other problem that you know they have and listen carefully to the answer.

§        You can check to see if one of our senior saints needs help with a project at home or in their yard.

§        You can ask J.D. if the young people need your assistance in any way.

§        You can gather materials and save money to help with Operation Christmas Child.

§        You can find a project that needs doing around the church and volunteer to the council to do it.

§        You can pray for your brothers and sisters in Christ on a regular basis.

§        You can see Dottie or Sandy and volunteer to present special music.  After they recover from their fainting spell, they'll sign you up.

§        You can say an encouraging word to someone you know is hurting.

§        And on and on we could go!

 

God not only provides open doors of opportunity for good works.  He also provides opportunities for us to speak for Him.

 

1 Peter 3:15 - But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:

 

As we sanctify or prepare our hearts to love and serve God, He will give us opportunities to share our faith.  We must be ready to open our mouths when people give us an opening.   

 

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.

 

Warning! With opportunities come opposition.

There will be times because you are doing good and being effective for the Lord that you will run into opposition!

We should take to heart the advice the Lord gave Paul while he was in Corinth.

 

Acts 18:9-10 - Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: [10] For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city.

 

When we take advantage of the opportunities to speak for Him, the Lord will protect us.

 

THE DOOR OF OFFERING - Exodus 12:1-13

THE DOOR OF OBEDIENCE - John 10:9

THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY - 1 Corinthians 16:9

THE DOOR OF ONENESS - Revelation 3:20

  

Revelation 3:20 - 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.

 

You might have seen that classic picture of the Lord Jesus knocking on a door.  There is no handle on the outside of the door, meaning that the one on the inside had to let him in.

 

I have used this verse as an illustration that each one of us must open the door of our hearts by faith to receive Christ as Savior. It is our decision.

But I believe that this verse is an invitation primarily for believers.  

 

The Lord Jesus is inside our hearts because we have trusted Him as Savior.  But there are rooms that remain shut to Him.  He knocks and says, "Won't you let me in?  Won't you spend time with me? Won't you get to know me better?"

 

There is nothing sadder than two people sharing a house and not communicating with each other, not even eating together.

Christian, you share a life with the Lord Jesus.

When was the last time you spent a significant amount of time with Him?

 

When we spend time with friends, we sup, or share a meal together.  Jesus suggests that if we open the door to Him, He will have the same intimate fellowship with us that we have with friends and loved ones at mealtime.

 

And the more we spend time with the Lord Jesus, in mediation, in prayer, and in learning His word, the more we will become like Him.  The more we abide in Him, the more we will be like Him!

That's oneness with Christ!

 

1 John 2:6 - He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

We have time for our friends.

We have time for hobbies, like hunting and fishing and yard sailing.

We have time for television.

We have time for our jobs.

We have time for our families.

We have time to work on our yards.

We have time to eat, time to sleep, time to play.

We have time for computers.

Do we have time to become more like Jesus by spending time with Him?

 

Jesus is knocking on the door.

Let's open it and spend time with Him.

 

THE DOOR OF OFFERING - Exodus 12:1-13

THE DOOR OF OBEDIENCE - John 10:9

THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY - 1 Corinthians 16:9

THE DOOR OF ONENESS - Revelation 3:20