The Church of The Closed Doors
Preaching Portion: Revelation 3:7-8
Subject: The Church at Philadelphia
Theme: Open Doors Becoming Closed
INTRO: “Some Christians are not going to wake up until they
go to church and discover that the door is locked and a sign has been placed on
it reads; ‘This Church Is Officially Closed,’”[1]
·
There is another type of transformation that
people in Europe are witnessing and perhaps in America very soon. Churches may
remain open, but transformed into Mosques
·
In 2012 the Gatestone Institute reported; “The
proliferation of mosques in former churches reflects the rise of Islam as the
fastest growing religion in post-Christian Europe…The latest churches destined
to become mosques are located in Germany, where the Roman Catholic Church has
announced plans to close up to six churches in Duisburg, an industrial city in
the northwestern part of the country, due to failing attendance…The Muslim
population in Germany has jumped from 50,000 in the 1980’s to more than 4
million today.[2]
·
What so many people do not realize is the extent
to which this has happened in centuries past. Much of what we call Islamic
world was once Christian. In many cases these churches were not able to cope
with pressures placed upon them from hostile regimes that were mainly Muslim.
·
AWARENESS is our main challenge in the church.
Intellectual laziness has put people to sleep. We have quit asking questions
that are important for our learning.
·
Muslims argue their dominance in these once
Christian communities show the superiority of Muhammad over Christ.
Explanation
·
The church that Jesus declared that He had set
an open door before this church that no man could shut is nothing more than a
memory. The ruins that remain are in the shadow of the Muslim minaret next
door[See Pic]
·
The walls have long since collapsed and this
church is nothing more than a historical attraction of what once was.
·
The church of the open door is now the church of
the door slammed shut. Christianity has not had a viable witness in this region
in some 800 years. The population of this region is 73 million and only .2% is
Christian, Jew, or some others. 99.8% are Muslim in a country that its
constitution allows the freedom of religion.
·
The “open door/closed door” motif is one that
symbolizes authority. In historical/scriptural context we see a tension between
the Jews and accessing the Temple on the one hand. On the other we see Christ
followers who were being denied access to the Temple.
o Note
the rhetoric in v.9 where the synagogue of Satan is referenced.
·
Take note of the commendation of this
congregation – little power but not compromising the truth; patient endurance
for the long haul journey; the one who conquers will be made a pillar in the
temple of God.
·
History records for us this church of the open
door opportunity has been slammed shut. There are a variety of circumstances,
anything from oppressive regimes to earthquakes that devastated this region. A
closer review will show that Muslims dominate this region in a belief that
because they have conquered Christianity in this region they are the more
superior.
PROP: A global shift in religious freedom is taking place.
T.S: Are we prepared from this shift in religious freedom by
ramping up our Great Commission purposes? Revelation 3:7-8
1.
Jesus and The Church – Revelation 2-3
a.
The book of Revelation was written around AD 95
on the island of Patmos. This is where the apostle John was exiled to this
island as part of the ongoing persecution of Christians.
i. This
is a beautiful island to visit today
ii. The
dominant feature is the “Cave of the Apocalypse” where it is believed that John
wrote this famous book of the Bible.
b.
We see Jesus walking amid the seven candlesticks
along with the seven angels of the churches. This imagery underscores the
presence of Jesus among the church even today.
i. Jesus
is with us as we face the conflicts and struggles of life. Jesus is present in
our worship services, bible studies – imagine Him walking among us even right
this moment.
c.
Instead of realizing that Jesus walks among us,
we now pay high priced consultants to access and evaluate the health and
vitality of the church. Only Jesus can see into the hearts of the worshippers
and attendees.
i. For
example Jesus walks among the church at Sardis – a church with high energy and
vitality – full of life. Yet when Jesus applied the stethoscope he could not
find a heart beat. “You have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead”
d.
My hope is that we will take the pulse of the
church from Christ’s perspective. The seven churches of Asia can teach us much
in terms of what Jesus values and cherishes.
2.
There Is A Changing Wind
a.
While it is true that Osama bin Laden is dead we
must face a different kind of invasion. I want to be clear that when I refer to
Islamists
that I am referring to extremists only. There is an extremist agenda against
all that we have held near and dear.
b.
According to the “Center For Security Policy”
directed by Frank Gaffney, states there are presently 29 front groups within
our nation that is actively pursuing an agenda of “Civil Jihad” from within
that has as a goal of complete dominance.
c.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s creed states: “Allah is
our objective, The Prophet [Mohammad] is our Leader, The Qur’an is our Law,
Jihad is our way, Dying in the way of Allah is our highest hope!”[3]
i. The
Muslim Brotherhood wrote in 1991 in America; “A civilization – jihadist
process…a kind of grand jihad in eliminating and destroying the Western
civilization from within, sabotaging its miserable house with their [America’s]
hands and the hands of believers so that it is eliminated and God’s Religion is
made victorious over all other religions.”[4]
d.
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation [OIC] is
the largest inter-governmental body of the world overseeing 57 Muslim member
countries. This is the 2nd largest national group outside of the UN.
3.
Jesus At Philadelphia – Revelation 3:7-13
a.
What does the “open door” mean?
i. There
are a variety of interpretations.
1.
Some have suggested this door as a means to
either missionary work, evangelistic work, a door of suffering.
2.
Most interpret this to mean a “door into the
Kingdom of God”
ii. The
truth of the matter this congregation had been excommunicated from the Temple
form of worship. There was still a rejection that Jesus was the Messiah.
iii. Jesus
was making it clear that the plans had changed and the door He opens no man can
shut and keep you out.
b.
Their works are evaluated within the context of
the open door idea. In other words though some had rejected them from the
religious community Christ states “…that I know you have little power but you
have not denied my name.”
i. The
same point is said positively and negatively: little power – did not deny my
name.
ii. In
other words you have been faithful!
c.
The reward is expressed in four thoughts
i. Vindication
– Those who shut you out will come and bow
ii. Protection
– I am going to keep you from the coming trials just ahead upon the whole
world. We know that Nero would destroy the nation and cause dispersion. We also
know that the middle eastern nations under the direction of the Muslim
Brotherhood and Al Qaida are aligning themselves to utterly destroy Israel.
iii. Perseverance
– Do not allow anyone to take your crown. Stand your ground in the name and
through the blood of Jesus. Do not cave into the base things of this life.
iv. Name
and Status – He will give a new name and new status in the city of God.
[1]
Frank Wright during a message given on September 23, 2009 at the National
Religious Broadcasters convention in Washington DC.
[2]
Soren Kern. “Muslims Converting Empty European Churches Into Mosques (January
16, 2012) www.gatestoneinstitute.org/2761/converting-churches-into-mosques
Accessed 13 May 2012
[3] http://www.centerforsecuritypolicy.org/the-muslim-brotherhood-in-america/Accessed
19, September, 2013.
[4] IBID.
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