THE KNOCK OF JESUS: ANSWERING THE CALL ABOVE THE NOISE OF THE WORLD By: Major Frank Materu
Key Scripture:
“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 he with Me.” — Revelation 3:20 (KJV)
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Introduction
In every generation, God calls His people to a higher level of awareness, obedience, and intimacy with Him. Yet, in this present age, the world is filled with distractions that drown out the still small voice of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Spirit of God continues to remind the Church that Jesus stands at the door and knocks—waiting for those who will listen, respond, and open their hearts to Him. Sadly, multitudes are too preoccupied with the noises of the world, the seductions of sin, and the vanity of material pursuits to recognize His gentle knock.
This message is both a warning and an invitation. It warns of the spiritual casualties caused by neglecting the voice of Jesus, and it invites believers to rediscover the joy of fellowship with the Lord through daily communion, prayer, and obedience. God desires that His people prioritize His presence over worldly noise, for only in Him is found the light, life, and strength to overcome the darkness of these perilous times.
The purpose of this lesson is to illuminate the danger of spiritual negligence, to awaken believers from complacency, and to restore the centrality of Christ in the daily walk of faith. It calls every believer to rekindle their first love and return to the intimacy they once had with the Savior.
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Listening for the Knock of Jesus
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” — Revelation 3:20
The heart of every believer should be the dwelling place of Christ. Yet, for many, the door remains closed because the soul is crowded with other noises—the voices of pleasure, ambition, fear, and distraction. Jesus does not force His way in; He gently knocks. This knock is the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the conviction of the Word, or the quiet whisper of God in prayer. But when believers are busy chasing after worldly affairs, they fail to hear the call.
The Lord said there are multitudes who no longer listen for the knock of Jesus. They have allowed the world to occupy their spiritual hearing. Their hearts have become dull and insensitive to the movement of the Spirit. “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches.” (Revelation 3:22). When we lose the ability to hear, we lose the direction of our lives, for God leads His people by His voice.
To listen for the knock of Jesus is to live in expectation—beginning each day in prayer, worship, and surrender. Those who rise to seek Him early are those who will find Him. “I love them that love Me; and those that seek Me early shall find Me.” (Proverbs 8:17).
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The Danger of Neglecting Spiritual Discipline
Many believers today begin their days not with prayer, but with the world—social media, entertainment, business, or gossip. As a result, they step into darkness without light. The Lord warns that when we fail to put Him first, we open ourselves to confusion and defeat. “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” (Matthew 6:33).
Spiritual negligence is one of the enemy’s most successful strategies. Satan does not always destroy through overt sin; he often does it through distraction and busyness. When believers cease to pray, read the Word, and listen to the Spirit, they slowly drift away from God’s purpose. The Spirit of God said, “When people neglect Me, they are neglecting My instructions given through the Holy Spirit.” This neglect eventually produces spiritual weakness, frustration, and vulnerability to temptation.
To neglect Christ is to neglect life itself. Jesus said, “Without Me, ye can do nothing.” (John 15:5). A believer without fellowship with Christ becomes spiritually barren—full of religious form but lacking power.
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The Tragedy of Spiritual Casualties
The Lord declared that there are vast multitudes who have become casualties in the spiritual war. They began well but have been overtaken by the world’s seductions—the lust of the flesh, the deceitfulness of riches, and the pride of life. “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father, but is of the world.” (1 John 2:16).
These spiritual casualties once knew the joy of the Lord, but now their hearts are cold. They have forsaken their first love. “Nevertheless I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.” (Revelation 2:4). The tragedy of such a fall is not because God has failed, but because they chose to prioritize the world above Him. They valued temporal pleasures more than eternal treasures.
When the Spirit says that many have gone “a whoring after the lusts of the flesh,” it echoes the language of Scripture. God often described Israel’s idolatry as spiritual adultery. Likewise, when believers mix the world with their devotion to Christ, they commit spiritual adultery. “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God?” (James 4:4).
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Rejected by Choice
God takes no pleasure in rejecting anyone. However, when people deliberately choose the world over Him, they reject His purpose and grace. The Spirit of the Lord said, “They are rejected by the choices they have made to reject My purpose for their lives.” God’s rejection is never arbitrary—it is the outcome of human willful disobedience.
When people turn away from God, He allows them to walk in the consequences of their decisions. “Because I have called, and ye refused… I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh.” (Proverbs 1:24,26). This is not cruelty, but justice. God honors our free will. When we choose rebellion, we also choose separation from His presence.
The danger of living apart from God is spiritual uselessness. The Spirit said, “They have become virtually useless for My Kingdom.” Jesus warned of this when He said, “Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away.” (John 15:2). To remain fruitful, we must remain connected to the Vine.
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The Remnant Who Remain Faithful
Despite the widespread compromise of this generation, God has a remnant—a people who refuse to bow to the world. These are they who have not defiled their garments, who continue to walk in obedience no matter the cost. “These are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.” (Revelation 14:4).
The Lord says of them, “They are counted worthy and blessed by Me because it is My Kingdom that they are the citizens of.” Such believers identify with Christ as their Commander in Chief, standing firm amid pressure and persecution. They are not swayed by the seducing sounds of the world, for their ears are tuned to the voice of the Shepherd. “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” (John 10:27).
The remnant are not many, but they are powerful. They are the light of the world in a dark generation. Through their steadfast faith, the purposes of God continue. “Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32).
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The Reward of Obedience and Fellowship
In obedience is found abundance of life. The Spirit said, “In obedience to My commands as given through the Holy Spirit is found the abundance of life and strength.” True strength does not come from human willpower but from abiding in Christ. “If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land.” (Isaiah 1:19).
When we open the door to Jesus each day, He fills us with His presence, peace, and revelation. The “love feast” He brings is the daily communion of the Spirit—a banquet of grace, wisdom, and joy. Obedience keeps us under divine protection, while disobedience exposes us to spiritual defeat.
The Spirit calls us not to live in fear or compromise but in the abundance of divine life. “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10). God wants His children to thrive spiritually—to be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.
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Standing Firm in a Compromised Generation
We live in times where evil is normalized, and compromise is celebrated. Yet God calls His people to stand firm. “Be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 15:58). Those who stand will shine as lights in the darkness. The Spirit said, “Keep on standing, declaring, and partaking of all that I have for you.”
To stand firm means to resist conformity to the world’s systems and values. “Be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.” (Romans 12:2). When we choose faithfulness, God empowers us to overcome every pressure of compromise.
The promise is clear: those who remain faithful to the end will inherit the Kingdom. “He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.” (Revelation 21:7).
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Summary
This lesson reveals the urgent call of God for believers to listen and respond to the knock of Jesus. It exposes the danger of distraction, negligence, and compromise that have drawn many away from their first love. The world’s noise has silenced the voice of God in many hearts, yet the Spirit still speaks to those who are willing to listen.
God desires a people who will value the true riches of His presence above worldly gain, who will start their days with prayer and walk in obedience. Though multitudes have fallen as casualties of compromise, a faithful remnant remains—those who love the Lord above all. Their reward is the abundance of life, the joy of fellowship, and the eternal inheritance of the Kingdom.
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Conclusion
The knock of Jesus is not a one-time event; it is a daily invitation to fellowship. Every morning He stands at the door of your heart, desiring to dine with you, to strengthen you, and to lead you in righteousness. To ignore that knock is to choose darkness over light.
Let every believer rekindle the fire of devotion. Let the Church once again become sensitive to the whisper of the Holy Spirit. The time is short, and the world grows darker—but those who walk with Christ will shine brighter.
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Call to Action
Today, make a deliberate choice to answer the knock of Jesus. Begin each day with prayer, listening, and surrender. Refuse the noise of the world, and seek the stillness of His presence. Let obedience become your lifestyle and His Word your guide. Stand firm in truth and refuse compromise.
Open your heart fully, and let the King of Glory come in. “Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.” (Psalm 24:7).
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Final Word of Encouragement
Beloved, you are not called to be a casualty of this age but a conqueror. You are chosen, redeemed, and empowered to walk in the light. Jesus still knocks—answer Him daily. Let your life echo His voice in this dark world. Remember, those who walk with Christ walk in victory, for “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” (1 John 4:4).
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Salvation Prayer
If you have never opened your heart to Jesus, or if you have drifted away and desire to return, pray this prayer sincerely:
“Lord Jesus, I thank You for knocking at the door of my heart. I confess that I have been distracted by the world and have sinned against You. Please forgive me and cleanse me with Your precious blood. I open my heart to You today—come in and be my Lord and Savior. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit, guide me in Your truth, and help me to live in obedience every day. Thank You for saving me and giving me eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
