GOD OPENS DOORS FOR US

Proclamation:

"I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.”  Revelation 3:8 (NIV)

Explanation:
After being allowed to see in a vision things which were to come, the Apostle John was directed by The Lord God to write these words to the leader of the Church in Philadelphia, which were to be shared with the believers there.  He was going to open doors for them which no man can shut, and shut doors which no man can open. (Revelation 3:7)  The Lord God was going to place before them opportunities which no one could take advantage of but them.  They were to become pillars in God's Church. (Revelation 3:12)

Application:
Believers know that God knows all that we say, do, and think. (Proverbs 5:21)  He knew it before it happened. (1 Peter 1:2)  He has a plan for each of us, a unique opportunity for kingdom building service.  The Lord God has a special role for each of us to play within The Church, the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 and 12:27)  We should pray that what we say and do is being obedient to the will of God, and that we are not grieving The Holy Spirit with our behavior. (Ephesians 4:29-30)

GOD OPENS DOORS FOR US

Proclamation:

"I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name.”  Revelation 3:8 (NIV)

Explanation:
After being allowed to see in a vision things which were to come, the Apostle John was directed by The Lord God to write these words to the leader of the Church in Philadelphia, which were to be shared with the believers there.  God was going to open doors for them which no man can shut, and shut doors which no man can open. (Revelation 3:7)  The Lord God was going to place before them opportunities which no one could take advantage of but them.  They were to become pillars in God's Church. (Revelation 3:12)

Application:
As believers we know that God knows all that we say, do, and think. (Proverbs 5:21)  He knew it before it happened. (1 Peter 1:2)  In spite of our shortcomings, He has a plan for each of us, a unique opportunity for kingdom building service.  The Lord God has a special role for each of us to play within The Church, the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 and 12:27)  We have been uniquely created, given a unique set of skills and abilities, and prepared through a unique series of experiences to be a servant for The Lord.  God has created special opportunities for each of us and opened doors for us which no man can shut.  He has also closed doors to protect us from harmful mistakes.  God knows that we are weak and prone to sin but because of our faith in Him and our efforts to do the right thing, He has continued to bless us.  We should pray that whatever we say and do is being obedient to the will of God, and that we are not grieving The Holy Spirit with our behavior. (Ephesians 4:29-30)  Let us take advantage of the opportunities and blessings which The Lord has prepared for us.

The Power Of Prayer And Praise

"After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.  Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.  About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken.  At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody's chains came loose."  Acts 16:23-26 (NIV)

These words were recorded, under the influence and direction of The Holy Spirit of God, by Luke, the physician and travelling companion of the Apostle Paul.  Having been thrown into prison for removing the demon spirit from a slave girl, which allowed her to predict the future. (Acts 16:16)  The owners of the slave girl earned a great deal of money because of her unique ability, and they were not happy with Paul and Silas for ending their source of income.  They seized Paul and Silas, turned them over to the authorities for conducting unlawful activities. (Acts 16:19-21)

In spite of their situation and circumstances, being falsely accused, in prison, physically beaten, and locked in the stocks and chains, Paul and Silas prayed and sang praises to God.  In their darkest hour, they praised God.  Their prayers were heard, things began to shake, and their chains came loose, along with the chains of all who were in prison with them.  The jailer was so impressed that he asked them, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?"   Then he led them out of the prison to his house, and all in his household were saved. (Acts 16:30-33)  The world is watching to see how believers respond to the events of life.  They make judgments about all believers based upon our behavior.  We are representatives of The Lord God on earth, and we never know who is watching us, or what effect our behavior will have upon them.  Therefore, it behooves us to always act and speak in a Christ-like manner.  There is power in prayer and in praising God, chains can be broken and doors can be opened.  We ought to do both more often, and we ought to give God the glory for the good things which result from our prayers and praise.   

God Opens Doors For Us

"I know your deeds.  See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My  name.  Revelation 3:8 (NIV)

After being allowed to see in a vision things which were to come, the Apostle John was directed by The Lord God to write these words to the leader of the Church in Philadelphia, which were to be shared with the believers there.  He was going to open doors for them which no man can shut, and shut doors which no man can open. (Revelation 3:7)  The Lord God was going to place before them opportunities which no one could take advantage of but them.  They were to become pillars in God's Church. (Revelation 3:12)

Believers know that God knows all that we say, do, and think. (Proverbs 5:21)  He knew it before it happened. (1 Peter 1:2)  He has a plan for each of us, a unique opportunity for kingdom building service.  The Lord God has a special role for each of us to play within The Church, the body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12 and 12:27)  We should pray that what we say and do is being obedient to the will of God, and that we are not grieving The Holy Spirit  with our behavior. (Ephesians 4:29-30)

Enter The Door That God Opens

"I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut.  I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept My word and have not denied My name." Revelation 3:8 (NIV)

In a vision, the Apostle John was told to write these words to the leader of the church in Philadelphia.  God knew that they had kept His word and had not denied Him, so He was giving them an opportunity that he was not giving to anyone else.

God opens doors for His Church, and for the individuals within His Church.  An open door is an opportunity to enter into a place or an opportunity for service.  Some doors only God can open for us.  He provides us with the opportunity to use our talents in new places, to serve in new ways, to speak to people that we know in new ways, or to speak to people that we haven't spoken to before.  He gives us the chance to share The Word of God, by word or by example, in ways or places like never before.  Once God opens a door for us, no man can close that door.  However, we must walk through the door that He opens.  We are never forced to enter it, we must choose to enter it.  There are also some doors that He closes, that we were not meant to go through, and no man can open them. (Revelation 3:7)  Some things we just should avoid, and He helps us to avoid making some big mistakes.  We should thank God for the doors which He opens for us, and for the doors which He closes.