Show em the Door
Phil Pringle inspired message, mediating on it want to share it and break it down.
Ezekiel 47:1-12
Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. 2 He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side.
3 And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. 4 Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. 5 Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. 6 He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.
7 When I returned, there, along the bank of the river, were very many trees on one side and the other. 8 Then he said to me: “This water flows toward the eastern region, goes down into the valley, and enters the sea. When it reaches the sea, its waters are healed. 9 And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes. 10 It shall be that fishermen will stand by it from En Gedi to En Eglaim; they will be places for spreading their nets. Their fish will be of the same kinds as the fish of the Great Sea, exceedingly many. 11 But its swamps and marshes will not be healed; they will be given over to salt. 12 Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.” NKJV
“He brought me back to the Door of the temple”
To come back means he must have been away. He was once at the door but for whatever reason he has left it.
Christ is the Door (or Gate in some versions)
We can be like Ezekiel -we can be away from the Door, away from Jesus.
· We know people who are away from the Door, away from Jesus.
· The door is located in the temple and from under the door flows the River.
· The River is the River of Life and when we move away from it we move away from our life source.
We use to sing this old benediction as I was growing up “Praise Him from whom all blessings flow”
Blessing flows from the Door-Jesus!
When we leave the river we leave our true life source and we start to dry out and get all wrinkly.
We don’t want to be wrinkly, prickly Christians.
The river comes out from the Door that leads to the temple.
Our path is directed to the door and we enter into the temple through the door-Jesus
The temple is where we meet with God. We commune, worship, Pray, Praise, cry, laugh and sing to God.
When Jesus died He bridged the gap for us to enter Gods presence.
The curtain that separated us from the Holy of Holy’s was torn top to bottom so we can enter.
We enter Gods presence via the Door-Jesus
Only one way to get to God-Jesus
People say there are many ways to God. Being a good person, helping the poor.
· There is only one way and that’s Jesus
· There’s not a sampler box for us to “try before we buy”
· There’s not a selection of doors for us to have a look before we enter or have to gamble on. 1, 2 or 3?
As the old bumper sticker declares its”One Way Jesus”
Acts 4:12Salvation is found in no-one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.”
His name is Jesus and He is the Door
To get to God we go through the Door, to be saved we go through the Door-that’s Jesus!!
· “No one comes to the Father except by me”
Everyone has access to the door yet so many choose to stand afar.
Jesus can be like an insurance policy-He is only needed when in a time of need or crisis.
Got me thinking about our walk with Jesus and Doors.
What sort of Door is Jesus to you and I?
1. Emergency Door Jesus-like on an aircraft. Nice to know where it is if needed and hope that there will be a lighted path to find Him if there’s smoke.
2. Shower Door Jesus-Just a place to go and clean up but head out and just get dirty all over again.
3. Taxi Door Jesus- Climb in, take me where I want to go but let out again.
4. Trap Door Jesus-Scary, Dark, unsure what’s down there
5. Pet Door Jesus-its just a little door. Just ”for small or weak people”
6. Glass Door Jesus-Happy to window shop only
7. False Door Jesus-slid in and out so no-one would know Jesus is a part of your life.
8. Revolving Door Jesus-Continually hot and cold for Jesus. Love Him but dont ask me to do anything for Him or His Kingdom.
9. Saloon Door Jesus- whoever is following is smashed by you’re bursting through the doors making it really hard to follow
10. Barn Door Jesus-Large, Open, protective, full of feed
I have 2 questions for you
1. So, what sort of Door is Jesus to you? How do you relate to Jesus?
2. What sort of Door are you showing to people? Are you encouraging or discouraging?
People are watching you and your relationship to the Door?
Our greatest calling is to bring people to and/or back to the door. Back to Jesus
Back to our first Love. People try to find Him in all the wrong places.
We sing the Song “The greatest Love ever known you are”
The greatest and most effective way to show people the Door is here at church.
Matthew 18:19 Jesus said “For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.”
· Every week Jesus turns up and His Door is open.
· Every week we expect Jesus to turn up!
We sing to Jesus, Worship Jesus, Give to Jesus, Pray to Jesus, Preach about Jesus.
Our job is to talk the “Cringe Factor” out so we don’t turn people away from the Door but showing them the Door is vital.
We are all Shepherds. Shepherds show sheep where to get feed. To get to the feed you have to go through the Gate/Door.
Shepherds help keep sheep in the fold and kick out the wolves.
You and I can show people to the Door.
Testimony-“Jesus knocks at the door of our heart”
John 10:9 “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.”
Spurgeon Lists 5 privileges to any person who chooses to enter the Door
1. Salvation-enter by Jesus and you will be saved. Immediately and forever
Romans 10:9” That if you confess with your mouth, Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”
· It’s why we have altar calls most weeks.
2. Liberty- “In and out”. Life of freedom not a jail term or probation with restrictions.
3. Access-“Shall go in” Spend time in Gods presence praying, pleading, hiding, enjoying, fellowshipping, instruction.
4. Egress-“Shall go out” reach out to others. Not inward focus its outwards focused.
5. Nourishment-“and find pasture” Spiritual food is found in Jesus.
Number one reason anyone comes to faith in Christ is because someone showed them the Door.
Do you know someone who needs to be shown the Door?
