This Scripture today is the basis for the painting that many have seen where Christ is standing at the door knocking and if you look at this picture, there is no door latch or knob on the outside of the door. If we would take time to look around us, it would amaze us how many doors we deal with on a daily basis. We have entry doors to our homes, back doors, garage doors, refrigerator doors, pantry doors, bedroom doors, closet doors, cabinet doors, Store doors, church doors, shed doors, on and on we could list them.

We don't stop and think how many times we open and close these doors in a day, much less a lifetime. Today, I wish to share with you about 3 important doors .

1. The Door of Prayer: What an awesome door this is!
Did you ever stop to think bout where this door leads? I believe if I am correct, the first prayer is noted in the scriptures in Gen. 4:26. If we look down the path of time to when Jesus came to earth, we see that He believed in prayer and practiced it on a regular basis. In Mark 1:35, this was one of if not, Jesus first recorded prayer. He prayed in the early morning, He prayed in the evening Mark 6:46, when He was physically tired, he prayed in Luke 5:15-16, He prayed all night in Luke 6:12 , in John 17, we see the true "Lord's Prayer" and in Luke 22:44, we see His agonizing prayer.

People have asked me many times in my 34 years in the ministry, what is the proper posture of prayer. As far as I can see, there is no "perfect posture" for prayer. In Gen. 24:6 they bowed, in Luke 22:41, they were kneeling, in 2nd Chronicles, a prayer was offered by a man with his face to the ground, and in Mark 11:25 and Luke 18:11 they were standing. If we really stop and think, we can't be saved without prayer. Prayer changes things, prayer changes people and prayer changes history.

2. Door 2 is the Door of Forgiveness:
Often times we get this door a bit wedged. When we think of forgiveness, we think of praying to God to forgive us for our sins and shortcomings that we do and when we fail Him. Here are some questions for each of us to consider concerning forgiveness.
A. Does God seem a bit distant from me?
B. Do your requests for forgiveness seem unreal or hindered?
C. Does Church/worship seem ineffectual to me?
Maybe we need to do some soul searching and ask ourselves this questions as well. Am I holding any old grudges or new grudges against anyone? Am I holding resentments against anyone? Do I have enemies past and present, that I have not forgiven? Look what Jesus had to say about this in Luke 11:4. Notice what Paul wrote in Ephesians 4: 32. "and be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God, for Christ's sake, hath forgiven you".
You cannot have a strong effectual prayer life if you retain anger, grudges and unforgiveness in your own heart against someone. If you carry this bitterness inside, it will show up sooner or later in the physical. Why? Because Jesus said it would. Luke 6:44-45. "For every tree is known he of his own fruit. For of thorns do not men gather figs nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. A good man out if the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil. Now watch this FOR OUT OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART, HIS MOUTH SPEAKETH" Sooner or later friend, your mouth will betray your actions. You may try to look good, act spiritual, holy or whatever tern you wish to use but, your true self will come out by what you say to others.

3. The Door of Neglected Opportunity: This is the door that opens to the presence of Jesus, whose will is our salvation. 2nd Peter 3:9 says that God is not willing that any should perish. You see folks, these 3 doors all lead to one direction--towards Christ. You can't pass Door 1 without Christ. You can't pass door 2 without Christ because He is the one who forgives. A preacher can't forgive you, a Sunday School can forgive you, friends can't forgive you and the President can't forgive you of the sins committed against God. You can't pass through door 3 without Christ either. You can't be saved without Jesus. Being good, doing good and acting good will not save you. Jesus said in John 14:6. I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Now comes this important Question. "Have you had these doors closed/locked too long? Jesus said "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 him with me".

Do you hear Jesus knocking? Do you hear his voice? Notice Jesus said 2 main things we must "hear" and we must "open". If you haven't done this, will you open the door and let Him in?

May God Bless those who read this message.

Oldbiker.