When God Stops Knocking – Sermon Handout

Re 3:20 (NKJV) — 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.

In this message, I want you to recognize that God’s invitation to salvation and a relationship with him is not endless. Drawing from John 12:36-43 and Revelation 3:20, I want you to see that while Jesus gently knocks on the door of our hearts, our continual rejection of what He requests can lead to divine silence and separation.

The people in Jesus’ day saw miracles but did not believe; as a result, He hid Himself from them. I hope this message will encourage all of us to stop procrastinating, confess Christ boldly, and resist the temptation to please the world over God.

I feel a deep sense of urgency and want to remind all of us that every day is an opportunity to respond before the knocking stops, because the time is coming when the door will be closed permanently and a chance for our repentance will be gone.

Additional scriptures referenced:
John 12:36 – “While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light… and He was hidden from them.”
Revelation 3:20 – “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…”
John 12:37–43 – They did not believe… then they could not believe.
Isaiah 6:10 (quoted in John 12:40) – “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts…”

Why You Need To Act Now!
Romans 1:21, 24 – They knew God but did not glorify Him, so God gave them up.
Amos 8:11–12 – A famine of hearing the word of the Lord.
Proverbs 29:1 – He who is often rebuked and hardens his neck will be destroyed suddenly.
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – “Do not quench the Spirit.”
Genesis 6:3 – “My Spirit shall not strive with man forever.”
Hebrews 3:15 – “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
Isaiah 55:6 – “Seek the Lord while He may be found…”

Why You Must Put Christ First!
Luke 12:16–21 – The parable of the rich fool who built bigger barns.
Matthew 16:24 – “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself…”
Luke 9:26 – “Whoever is ashamed of Me… of him the Son of Man will be ashamed.”
Matthew 10:32–33 – “Whoever confesses Me before men… I will confess before My Father…”