Secure Door

Revelation 3:7-8 “To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open. 8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”
 
IN John’s gospel, the apostle records Jesus defining one aspect of his character as the “gate” or “door”. What does Jesus, the Door, do? John 10:7 “I tell you the truth, I am the door for the sheep. 8 All who ever came before me were thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. He will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
   A shepherd became a door for his sheep at night. He would lie in the opening of the opening of a sheep pen to keep predators and thieves out, while holding the sheep in their protective pen. The Door protects. He locks in his sheep to keep them safely in his church. In turn, the Door locks out the thief who comes to steal away the church’s faith and security in the Lord God. Jesus promises he will be the Door for his faithful church in Philadelphia.
   First, he confirms he holds the key of David. This illustrates he alone is the prophesied Messiah, who opens the door for believers to enter his Kingdom. His key also locks away the intruders. The power of God is at the ready to defend his own.
   One essential theme of Revelation is to confirm what Peter preached in Acts 4:12 “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under Heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” This is the apostolic mission, the purpose of the church. Close your church’s doors to unbelief. Open your doors to faithful believers. Protect them in the truth.
   When he said, “I know that you have little strength.” Jesus acknowledged they are a small church in number. And he is pleased they have strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. We’ll see in our next lesson the reward Jesus has for his small, faithful church. He has put them in a strategic place to open more doors to the gospel of God.
 
Prayer: Protect the true churches of our land, Jesus, to be open doors of your salvation. In your name I pray, amen.