Sunday Words of Encouragement February 8, 2015

We had a good morning, moving into our Sunday School study of Romans. Our Pastor had a week off so another preacher from our church gave the sermon before we celebrated communion.
The sermon was titled: Knock, Knock Who's There?
I have tried to summarize the message but it is still fairly lengthy.

The first book of the Bible tells us that God created the earth, formed man and planted a garden. The garden of Eden was the first home of man -- a beautiful place, a paradise. The DNA of God is in man and they have a parent-child relationship. God walks with man in the garden and wants -- even seeks-- man out to have a relationship with him.

God tells man to enjoy everything in the garden, including the tree of life, but not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil. The woman is lured by the snake, the man is lured by the woman and they disobey the one rule they were given. There are consequences to all three who disobeyed. Genesis 3:14-24. God drives man out of the garden and closes the access to fellowship with God.

The law is given so man can be holy but it is not effective to restore the relationship because of man’s weakness of the flesh. Man cannot restore the relationship through his own acts or efforts.  There had to be a means of restoration. There had to be a perfect sacrifice.

The death of Christ on the cross is the sacrifice that reopens access to God. Access to provider, healer, comforter, friend and more. Jesus now stands at the door of man’s heart and knocks. When we hear His voice we can open the door to allow Him to come in to sup with us - to have that personal relationship. It is not enough to hear Him in the streets and eat in His presence. Proximity is not the same as a personal relationship.

There is coming a time when God will once again close the door of access. Those who do not have a personal relationship are thrust out of His presence just like sin caused man to be pushed out of the garden. Luke 13:22-30 and Revelation 22:14-15.  What we do with Jesus knocking is crucial to our salvation. We can accept Him and receive a renewed relationship with God or we can refuse to open the door.

I found this song video to go with the message.

You might also find this sand animation of Jesus life fascinating as I did: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=73a5IE4_ZcU

A Verse for Today:
Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.

I give thanks for the sacrifice of Christ and for the faith I have to believe. I am grateful for my personal relationship with God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit. I am thankful for all the many, merciful and gracious blessings He bestows. I pray for all of my family and friends that they might hear the knock and voice of Jesus and open the door of their hearts to Him.