Do You Want to Be a Conqueror?
The Hope Herald
This year, we implemented a new idea at Hope CDA – The Theme Year. Each year we will take a passage from the Bible and make it the center of our focus for the year. In 2025, we have chosen Revelation 3:20 as our Theme Passage for the year.
In this passage, Jesus is speaking to the church in Laodicea when He says,
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me (ESV).”
Most often, you will hear this verse described as Jesus’ call to the unbeliever, but that is not the case at all. One must consider that Jesus is speaking to the church in Laodicea. He is speaking to a church that was neither on fire for Jesus or that was cold and dispassionate in their faith. Instead, Jesus describes them as “lukewarm (Rev. 3:15-16).” This church had been greatly blessed by Jesus, but they simply did not really care. They fit Jesus into their lives when it suited them, probably went to church faithfully each week, but did not live their lives for Jesus, and they really only cried out to Him when they were struggling. In many ways, they had become Christians in name only.
In verse 19, Jesus explained that those He loves He will reprove and discipline. His call is for us to be zealous for His mission and repentant of our fleshly ways. This, then, leads us to verse 20.
Setting the Stage
To understand this passage, one must grasp the who setting. Jesus is on the outside of your heart. He is knocking at the door because He wants to come in and have dinner with you.
This may seem like just a small detail, but the fact that He wants to have “dinner” with each of us is a big deal. Lunch and breakfast are kind of short, task-oriented meals. You eat something quickly before you get out of the house each morning, maybe giving yourself 15-20 minutes before you need to leave for work or school. Lunch is a time when you are just getting some food before you return to work. It is also a short duration meal.
However, dinner is quite different. There is no rush with dinner. It is a time when you can have lengthy, intimate conversations. It is an opportunity to have prolonged conversations, learning a great many details about the person sitting across from you. It is a far more intimate meal, one where you will have deep conversations. This is the kind of time Jesus wants to spend with you.
How Well Do You Want to Know Jesus?
This year, we want our men to recognize that Jesus is knocking at the door of their hearts. He is not just knocking at theirs, however. He is knocking at the door of our staff, our volunteers, our coaches, and all who come in contact with Hope CDA. He wants to have “dinner” with each one of us.
This setting also includes one other important detail. He is not just knocking, but is speaking at the door as well. He is calling out, “Hey, it’s Me, Jesus. I am right here. Please let Me in.” This detail tells us that if we hear His voice and open the door, then He will come in.
It is important for us to know the voice of our King. Why were the Laodiceans lukewarm? They were not hearing Jesus’ voice, they were not listening for the knock, and they were not opening the door. Our Lord is calling out to let Him in, and it is time that all of us do that now.
To do that, you must answer one essential question – how well do I want to know Jesus? The Laodiceans did not want to know Him all that well. They were comfortable with their lukewarm relationship and with all the possessions they had. That was all they wanted from God. Maybe that is all you want as well.
However, if you want something more, keep in mind verse 21: “The one who conquers, I will grant him to sit with me on my throne, as I also conquered and sat down with my Father on his throne.”
Jesus is the One who conquers, and He is calling us who conquer as well. Those who invite Jesus into their hearts, who hear His voice and open the door, will not only have a very deep relationship with Jesus, but they will also sit with Him on His throne as conquerors. You could be a conqueror with Jesus!
Conquerors will be sitting on the throne with Jesus. That should be an amazing thought for all of us. However, here is one other important thing to consider. Romans 8:37-39 reads:
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
A conqueror is never separated from the love of God. All kinds of trials, persecutions, and temptations could come his or her way, but that person is never separated from the God’s love. Never!
Do you want to be a conqueror for Jesus? Do you want to beat Satan? Do you want to overcome your sins? Do you want to have a peace that goes beyond understanding and to walk in the fruit of the Spirit? Do you want to have intimate conversations with Jesus? If so, then all you have to do is hear His voice and open the door.
By Dr. Robert Pannier
Read Last Week’s Newsletter
We Need You!
There are many great things going on at Hope CDA and we want you to be a part of all that. We are looking for facilitators to assist with our Monday and Tuesday morning classes, as well as with our Friday morning lessons.
These classes afford you an incredible opportunity to teach about God, helping these men to grow in their own faith. These classes also give you the opportunity to get to know these men more personally.
At the end of last year, we asked all our facilitators to provide us with an evaluation of the classes. One of the questions that was asked was what the most enjoyable part of facilitating was. Almost every instructor said that it was their ability to talk with and get to know the men better.
If you would like to have that same kind of experience, please contact Dr. Robert Pannier (Rob.P@HopeCDAcr.org or 952-905-1930). You can make a big difference!
Tuesday Night with Good News Baptist Church
Looking for another great way to get engaged with the men and also hear an encouraging message? This Tuesday (January 14), Pastor Mike Jones from Good News Baptist Church (https://www.gnbc.church/) will be at Hope to deliver the message on Encouragement Night. The church will also provide the meal.
If you want to hear a great message, come out at 6 PM and join us for this encouraging night. We hope we see you!
