Open The Doors and Windows
5-26-19 Sermon Notes "Open The Doors and Windows"
In Today's sermon, in addition to celebrating Memorial Day, we will finish the series, Spring Cleaning. I will be using a passage from John 14.
23 Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.
25 "I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I am coming to you.' If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. (John 14: 23-29 NRSV)
We will talk about what it means to live life with "open doors" and "open windows." In the church where I grew up, there was a big picture in the sanctuary of Jesus standing at a door knocking. (You can see the same picture in the Martin Fellowship Classroom - right above the piano) This picture reminds us of the letter to the Church at Laodicea in Revelation 3: 20 -
20 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (Rev. 3: 20 NKJV)
What if we gave the Lord an "open door" into our lives at all times? In John 14: 23 Jesus promised to come in and make his home in us if we do so.
And open windows... Don't you enjoy having a cool breeze blow in through your windows in the spring and the fall? It reminds me of Jesus' promise to send the Holy Spirit in John 14: 26. The word for "spirit" in Hebrew is the same word as "wind" and "breath." The word is ruach. On the Day of Pentecost, when Jesus' promise was fulfilled, the rush of a violent wind filled the room where they were praying, and they were filled with the Holy Spirit. (Acts 2: 1-4)
What if we lived with the "windows" to our souls opened up to the Holy Spirit at all times?
Sometimes I think our spiritual lives are like a musty old house that has been shut up all winter long... Let's throw open the doors and windows and do some spring cleaning!
See you Sunday,
Pastor Sam