Entering by the Correct Door

John 10:1-2 KJVR Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door
into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber.
(2) But he that entereth in by the door is the shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:7-9 KJVR Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I
am the door of the sheep. (8) All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers:
but the sheep did not hear them. (9) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he
shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

There in an importance to responding to the masters call, but is also important to

understand where the door is. To enter or to exit by the wrong door makes you a thief and a
robber. I am going to show you today, both a blessing and a cursing.

1 Corinthians 7:20-24 KJVR Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was
called. (21) Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be
made free, use it rather. (22) For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the
Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant. (23) Ye
are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men. (24) Brethren, let every man,
wherein he is called, therein abide with God.

1 Corinthians 7:20-24 MSG Stay where you were when God called your name. (21)
Were you a slave? Slavery is no roadblock to obeying and believing. I don't mean
you're stuck and can't leave. If you have a chance at freedom, go ahead and take it.
(22) I'm simply trying to point out that under your new Master you're going to
experience a marvelous freedom you would never have dreamed of. On the other
hand, if you were free when Christ called you, you'll experience a delightful
"enslavement to God" you would never have dreamed of. (23) All of you, slave and
free both, were once held hostage in a sinful society. Then a huge sum was paid out
for your ransom. So please don't, out of old habit, slip back into being or doing what
everyone else tells you. (24) Friends, stay where you were called to be. God is there.
Hold the high ground with him at your side.

There is a certain power that comes from being where God has called us to be.

Ephesians 1:16-19 GNB I have not stopped giving thanks to God for you. I remember you in
my prayers (17) and ask the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, to give you
the Spirit, who will make you wise and reveal God to you, so that you will know
him. (18) I ask that your minds may be opened to see his light, so that you will know what
is the hope to which he has called you, how rich are the wonderful blessings he
promises his people, (19) and how very great is his power at work in us who
believe. This power working in us is the same as the mighty strength

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 Ephesians 4:4-12 KJVR There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in
one hope of your calling; (5) One Lord, one faith, one baptism, (6) One God and
Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. (7) But unto every one
of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (8) Wherefore he
saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto
men. (9) (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the
lower parts of the earth? (10) He that descended is the same also that ascended up
far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) (11) And he gave some, apostles;
and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; (12)
For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the
edifying of the body of Christ:

1 Corinthians 12:24-31 KJVR For our comely parts have no need: but God hath
tempered the body together, having given more abundant honor to that part which
lacked: (25) That there should be no schism in the body; but that the
members should have the same care one for another. (26) And whether one
member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored,
all the members rejoice with it. (27) Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in
particular. (28) And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily
prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps,
governments, diversities of tongues. (29) Are all apostles? are all prophets? are all
teachers? are all workers of miracles? (30) Have all the gifts of healing? do all speak
with tongues? do all interpret? (31) But covet earnestly the best gifts: and yet show I
unto you a more excellent way.

1 Corinthians 12:27 MSG You are Christ's body--that's who you are! You
must never forget this. Only as you accept your part of that body does
your "part" mean anything.

How does Jesus look at us when we say yes and then don’t go.

Matthew 21:28-31 KJVR But what think ye? A certain man had two sons; and he
came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my vineyard. (29) He answered
and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and went. (30) And he came to the
second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I go, sir: and went not. (31)
Whether of them twain did the will of his father? They say unto him, The first. Jesus
saith unto them, Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots go into the
kingdom of God before you.

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 Luke 9:57-62 KJVR And it came to pass, that, as they went in the way, a certain man
said unto him, Lord, I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. (58) And Jesus
said unto him, Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the
Son of man hath not where to lay his head. (59) And he said unto another,
Follow me. But he said, Lord, suffer me first to go and bury my father. (60) Jesus
said unto him, Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou and preach the
kingdom of God. (61) And another also said, Lord, I will follow thee; but let me
first go bid them farewell, which are at home at my house. (62) And Jesus said unto
him, No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for
the kingdom of God.

For those who chose to walk in the position of what they are called to be, God looks on them
differently.

Romans 8:28-30 KJVR And we know that all things work together for good to them
that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. (29) For whom
he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son,
that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (30) Moreover whom he did
predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and
whom he justified, them he also glorified.

Look at “the called”.

There are two words

(I) In the gospels, there is a distinction between the klētoí, the called ones, and the
eklektoí, the chosen ones, relative to both service (Mat_20:16) and salvation (Mat_22:14).

This is the parable of the farmer who hired people through the day to go work in the fields.

Walk down through the workers, Matt 20.1 and notice that the first worker is under
contract. The others are not.

Some of those who are chosen to work, complained about the work and got released from
their contract. (go thy way)

Go thy way is one word: hupágō; fut. hupáxō, from hupó (G5259), denoting secrecy, and
ágō (G71), to go. In the NT and later it was used intrans. or with heautón (G1438) meaning
to go away, particularly under cover, out of sight, with stealth. See ágō (G71), III. A worker
who complains about his burden is asked to leave the presence of the lord.

Matthew 20:16 KJVR So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called,
but few chosen.

If the Lord comes to you and asks you to accept a burden, and you agree, to neglect that
burden is a serious offense in the eyes of the Lord.

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Which leads us back to the door – Jesus stands at the door and calls, anybody who hears
the voice of God comes. To some, he singles them out and says, come up a little higher. We
have the option of refusing his request. At that point, we are one of those who he has called
without a response. If we respond that we will, then we are under contact “for a penny”. To
neglect that calling is to ignore the voice at the door and seek another door or window to
escape the calling.

Proverbs 27:8 KJVR As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that
wandereth from his place.

Proverbs 21:16 KJVR The man that wandereth out of the way of understanding shall
remain in the congregation of the dead.

Psalms 88:10-12 KJVR Wilt thou show wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise
and praise thee? Selah. (11) Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or
thy faithfulness in destruction? (12) Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and
thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness?

Psalms 125:4-5 KJVR Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that
are upright in their hearts. (5) As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the
LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon
Israel.

Matthew 7:22-23 KJVR Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not
prophesied in thy name and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done
many wonderful works? (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you:
depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We are called to be sheep, following after the master, entering and exiting from the door of
his choosing. When we choose to use another door, we not only hurt ourselves, but the
entire family.

Romans 12:4-5 GNB We have many parts in the one body, and all these parts have
different functions. (5) In the same way, though we are many, we are one body in
union with Christ, and we are all joined to each other as different parts of one body.

Ephesians 4:15-16 MSG God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it
in love--like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of
everything we do. (16) He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and
blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust
in love.

We become the sheep that God has designed us to be, each filling our part and filling the
body as it was designed to do.