An Open Door, But Only A Little Strength Series

An Open Door, But Only a Little Strength

Last week we began our series on open doors with the message entitled: "the door your grandpa opened." We talked about how God said he would judge some sins to the third and fourth generation, and we looked at several people where that happened: David, and Gehazi. The doors you open affect everyone in the house. Then we showed how that is true both of evil and good. If you open the door to good generations after you would be blessed. We took a good amount of time to explain Romans 8:2 the law of the spirit of life has made me free from the law of sin and death, and applied it specifically to generational curses. What Jesus did has more impact and power over your life, if you are a believer, than anything your grandpa did. Some people want to live their life under the curse their grandfather or father brought, rather than under the grace Jesus brought.

Ga 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed [is] every one that hangeth on a tree:

Ro 15:3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: "The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me." {Psalm 69:9} (NIV)

Ro 15:3 That's exactly what Jesus did. He didn't make it easy for himself by avoiding people's troubles, but waded right in and helped out. "I took on the troubles of the troubled," is the way Scripture puts it. (MSG)

Today's message is going to be about open doors, and how we often need courage to go through them.

Title: An Open Door, But Only a Little Strength

There are three main truths I want you to grasp about open doors:

1. They always have a certain amount of Uncertainty

2. They can provoke feelings of Insecurity

3. They often require a level of Bravery

We will look several portions of scripture.

First a text in the book of Revelation:

Re 3:8 'I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (NAS)

Re 3:8 "I see what you've done. Now see what [I've] done. I've opened a door before you that no one can slam shut. You don't have much strength, I know that; you used what you had to keep my Word. You didn't deny me when times were rough. (MSG)

There are several things I want to pull from this passage, the first is that the open door of opportunity appears to be based on previous faithfulness.

I know your deeds, you kept my word and didn't deny me.

A while back I preached a message entitled, "hell in the hallways," - when God closes one door, He opens another, but it can be hell in the hallways. A very important part of that message is that it is what you do in the hallways of life goes a long way in determining what future doors God will open to you. The example of that message was Joseph who walked in integrity and character when no one else around him did. God opened an incredible door for him that:

1. Put him in charge of pharoah's goods. (Ps 105:21)

2. Enabled him to bind his princes (chief rulers!) (Ps105:22)

3. Gave him the power (street credability) to teach Pharoah's counsellors wisdom. (Ps 105:22)

We see something similar here in the book of Revelation. A church that served God in the most adverse of circumstances had a wonderful door opened to them by God. Do you want God to open a door for you? God knows your deeds, He knows what your obstacles are, and the hatred some have shown you:

Re 3:9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars—I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

(That literally happened for Joseph!) What we do and how we act plays a role in determining the doors of opportunity that God opens for us.

2ndly God said He placed and uncloseable door in front of them. A door that Divine sovreignty opened and no one or no devil in hell could close. I don't think they could have had any more assurance given them than what God said.

Re 3:7 "And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: