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.

I realize that many things I might say here might not be agreed with by some. However, that’s the responsibility of God’s Spirit to teach beyond what I might say, to reveal truth to those that truly seek it.

( I believe ) that the beginning of the next chapter ( chapter four ) is where the rapture takes place. Jesus Christ himself is charging his Church in these verses that preceed his return. He actually goes through the complete Church age, from the beginning in ( Acts 2 ) right up to the point of his return. He mentions seven Churches here. If we desire to; we can find a discription of the Church we attend in one of these seven Churches.

We often here this verse used in salvation messages. Saying that Jesus is knocking on the heart’s door and only that individual can open unto him that he might come in. While this verse can be used in that way; in reality. he’s speaking to the Church. If you read through the seven Churches you will notice he often says ( he has somewhat against them ).

In the last Church, just before he makes the statement we are discussing, ( Laodicea ) He says they are neither cold nor hot. He says: ( I would thou wert cold or hot ). meaning ( I wish you were something ) but you are nothing. This needs to be seen in a spiritual sense. I can see how this represents the Church in our time.

Now, look at what he says about these people. ( verse 17 ) Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing. That’s how the ( worldly Church ) sees itseff today, in the time we live in. They, the members think they are doing fine but, never even consider how God the Father might see them.

Speaking of this; let’s look at another verse found in ( Revelation 22:18-19 ) For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book: ( 19 ) And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

Exactly what does all this mean? With this question in mind; let’s now go back to ( Revelation 3 ) and finish ( verse 18 ). This is how God sees the average Church today. ( and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

If I say to you ( only you can decide what kind of Church you attend ) then, does that not in itself create a problem?

If we go back to the verses in ( Revelation 22 ). Let’s analyze what we see. Let’s start with scripture. I understand that somewhere around the 1880’s men decided to remove some books from the Bible. Even back that far men began to try and write new versions of the Bible. At that time it was not well received but, it slowly caught hold and now many use differet translations of scripture.

Personally, while I tend to stick with the ( King James Bible ) I actually don’t see that as the real root of the problem. The real problem is in our lack of willingness to ( teach and preach ) the word of scripture; no matter how it’s worded. We can argue all day about the translating of scripture but, if a man is not willing to teach and preach what the Holy Spirit tell him to say then the rest is a mute point.

In reality, Jesus Christ is what makes any Church powerful, beautiful and rich in God the Father’s eyes. When we shut him outside our Churches and refuse to let him in then that’s when we become wretcthed,miserable, poor, blind and naked.

It takes a pastor or teacher that is willing to help you see just how wretched,miserable, poor, blind and naked you are. The average pastor, teacher needs to, on a given Sunday, walk to the door of the room or building and make this statement. ( When he opens the door ) He needs to say ( Come on in Jesus ) starting today wea are going to let you preach and teach.

You might say, can’t I just read the Bible without the help of a preacher or teacher? Again, we can make that argument however, look at these verses: ( Romans 10:13-15 ) For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. ( 14 ) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shal they hear without a preacher? ( 15 ) And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things.

I often say that God, by his spirit is the father of salvatio. The Church is the mother. We need preachers to inject that power into the Church building. That is the way that God designed his will to be seen in this world. The stirring of God’s spirit within a building and, then the power of preaching his word with that same spirit is what draws conviction unto salvation and, conviction unto transformation of the believer, causing them to be more like Christ after each message.

The power of God is, in the word of God which is; Jesus Christ. He is here in the form of the Holy Spirit and, that Spirit moves when men preach with power unto salvation. We live in a time when we only allow Jesus to show up ( in name only ). We don’t mind having his name mentioned in our Churches as long as there is no power that comes with that name.

The power right outside of every Church has the power to bring real salvation. It has the power to transform those that are within into a vessel ( fit for the master’s use ). A vessel that, once it leaves that building will shed the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every person that comes in contact with that single believer.

If you are a person that has to admit that your whole ( Christian identity ) starts and stops at the door of a Church building then; I’d check to make sure my salvation is real. Consider this; a lot of people that say they are christians don’t even memtion the name of Christ inside the Church so, you know he’s not talked about outside that building.

HE STANDS AT THE DOOR AND KNOCKS ( WILL YOU LET HIM IN ) ?

Marshall Clayton

2 Timothy 1:7