In my time of devotion, I was reading an article by Joyce Meyer who recorded these words, “The devil wants each of us to concentrate on how far we have fallen, rather than how far we have risen. Satan wants us to focus on our pasts instead of our futures and on how far we have come. He wants us to think about how many times we fail, rather than how many times we succeed. But God wants us to focus on our strengths and not our weaknesses, our victories and not our losses, our joys and not our problems.”
Church in order for us to reach the prize of the high calling, (that is in order to get to that destined God-ordained place in our lives), we must bring a closure to some things. So briefly, I want to address the subject: “The Closure.” When we look at our text this morning, we see that even God, after a period of time, brought a closure to the status quo of the antediluvians (these are the people who lived before the flood). Look at Genesis 7:16, “And they that went in, went in male and female of all flesh, as God had commanded him: and the LORD shut him in” (KJV). I believe, God got tired of the sin that permeated His beautiful creation (say creation) so God made a decision to kill that, which was unlike Him and those that were of His image and likeness God allowed them to continue to live in His beauty. So it should be with us. Foremost, we must make a conscience decision to an obedient representation of God (afterall, disobedient is not of God). Look at the scripture, it states, “And they that went---as God had commanded him.” This word went in this context simply means ‘to obey’. So, Noah willfully went (he willfully obeyed) and his family followed suit; they made a decision to hearken to the voice of God. After they went, they choose to leave things behind. It’s in the text, the scripture says, “they that went.” Church not only did they go but they went in (into the ark under the covering of God). They decided to leave their old life, their old environment behind and to bring a closure to things. We too must leave some things behind and bring a closure to them. Now, maybe we need to leave and close:
· The company, so-called friends that we keep
· To the conversations we should or not speak
· Trying to be Mrs. Jones (impressing others)
· To meddling in others business
· To self-righteousness (thinking you’re better than others)
· To low self-esteem (not believing your precious in God’s sight)
· Kill trusting in our abilities and relying in God’s capabilities
It’s virtually impossible to do this if we continue to allow the devil to placate our minds and we consistently think about our past lifestyle and behavior. I personally know how hard it gets at times to put a closure to things. Our human tendency is to think if we do, then it’s all over. But that is far from the truth and a trick of the devil. I’m here to tell you that we must birth A Closure the past and think positive. We must press on. It’s in our pressing on that we will finally reach that destiny that God has ordained. However, in order to do that, our mindset must change.
See, quite often when we think of closure we think of an ending. But closure doesn’t necessarily constitute ending; rather closure is the means to a new beginning. Let me see if I can explain this a little better. For example, when one sets out to purchase a home, that individual has to do a closure on the property. This house closure is the transference of property ownership. The current owner relinquishes the property to the new owner. So actually, it’s not a closure (an ending) but a new beginning for both parties. Neither party would have been able to reach their goal had they decided to hold onto the past.
In our text this morning, God did exactly the same thing for Noah and his family. When God closed the door to the ark, God implemented “The Closure” and birth the pattern of procreation, a new life -- a new beginning -- a new environment.
The pattern of procreation is that something has to die, that is a closure is required, in order for new birth to come forth. One example of this process, this closure is the procreation of the butterfly. When I was in Aruba, I visited the butterfly farm. At this farm, the attendant explained the procreation of the butterfly. In order for the butterfly to come forth – metamorphosis takes place. Initially the butterfly is in the form of an egg. From that it becomes a larva (or better known as a caterpillar). Then the caterpillar is enclosed in a pupa that hangs from the tree. The pupa sheds its skin and dies. Finally out comes a beautiful butterfly. It’s the same with us. In order for something different, beautiful to come forth in us, we have to deliberately make a decision to bring a closure to some things and allow metamorphosis to occur within our soul and spirit – so we can fly like the butterfly. It may be time consuming and it may not necessarily be easy (as it wasn’t for the butterfly) but I believe with all my heart, it will be worth it.
So what are the steps to birth a closure where God is glorified and the people are edified? Afterall that was the sole purpose of God shutting the door to the ark, which didn’t open again until God decided to open the door. Realize this Church, while Noah and his family was enclosed in the ark, transformation happened, metamorphosis occurred within them. They learned the worth of God. The same is true with us today. Closure will operate within us when we make a concerted effort to develop a habit of:
· Believing in God
· Trusting in God, and
· Relying on God
When we labor to birth something without God being in the forefront our labor is futile; it’s in vain. Only when God mandates procreation, like starting Transformation Worship Center, will He intervene and no matter what the enemy’s plans are, God declares in 1 Corinthians 15:58 that “our labor is not in vain.”
Church, I’m a witness that “We can do all things through Christ…for there’s nothing too hard for God.” Let me put it this way. Last Sunday, we celebrated our first year in this place of worship. When we first came to this building, it wasn’t a place where people would want to worship; yet, it was the place that God ordained. I know this because it was God who touched the hearts of many people who volunteered their skills and time. Oh yes, on Sunday, November 5, 2006, we had a grand time in here. We were so happy to see what the Lord had done. But that was then and this is now. Throughout that year, yes God continued to bless us for we never missed a bill payment. God kept the doors open, lights on, supplied sound equipment, office equipment, furnishings, flowers, and music; yet, something was and still is missing. Church, I believe we fail short. We fail short in our obedience to Him. Now I know there are times when we all have things that we have to do but where and when do we start giving back to God for all that He has done for us? We must put a closure to our old way of honoring God and start anew.
· Start with a heart of thanksgiving!
· Start with an attitude of praise!
· Start with a heart of service?
We can’t continue in the mode or the direction in which we are going. I’m so thankful to God for supplying us with all these tangible things but the church isn’t about material things. The church is about saving souls and edifying the Body of Christ. We must keep affront our church mission (can you say it with me), “transforming brokenness into wholeness through the impartation and the application of God’s Word, thus birthing a divine healing in the people of God.” Church, our mission is our hurting people who are looking for a closure to the hurt and pain in their lives. Now, I want to take this moment here to say none of us are perfect (there was only one perfect person and His name is Jesus). But if there’s anything that I have said or done to any of you, I ask you to please forgive me. We need to bring a closure to unforgiveness.
When we look at Philippians 3:13-14, Paul did exactly that. Paul concertedly decided to put a closure to things. Paul wrote these words, “13But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Paul decided if he didn’t do anything else, he was going to do one thing. That one thing was to not allow past circumstances and situations to stop him fulfilling his purpose in procreation. Paul realized that his future was ahead of him. Paul declared in Philippians 1:6, “Being confident of this very thing, that He which have begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” Church, Paul believed God; he trusted in God, and Paul relied on God. Paul realized God was in control. Even in Paul’s pain, God was still in control. Paul’s confidence wasn’t in man but God. That’s why Paul said in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose.” The good purposes of God are God’s sovereign will for our lives. The will of God is for His children to live an abundant life while here on this earth. So, we must be as adamant as Paul was and say to ourselves, no matter what I’m going through this one thing I’m going to do is right now with the Lord’s help, I’m bring a closure to this mess. It’s finished! I’m forgetting what’s behind and I’m pressing forward. While I’m pressing, I know there may be some pain involved but praise God anyhow. See, I’m confident that God knows all about it thus, everything is going to be all right. Does anybody know what I’m talking about? We all have some things in our lives that need a closure. See there’s one thing that I’ve learned. Whenever we get to a dead end in our lives, (just like we do while driving a car), life isn’t over. We just have to make a change and go in another direction. Hallelujah Church! Thank God for a new direction, there’s always a detour; there’s always a means of escape. God always put a detour sign in front of us to follow. God will always give us some warning signs. Unfortunately, because we are not in tune with Him as we should be, we don’t recognize the detour sign. The detour sign is just like the closed door to the ark that Noah and his family were enclosed in. God specifically knows when to bring a closure and who to bring it to. He brought it to Noah and His family.
Paul didn’t allow anything or anyone to hinder him from finishing the course. Paul said, “I finished the course.” Closure comes when we are obedient to God command. What things is God telling you to put a closure to? Maybe God is telling you to:
· Close your mind to negativity (when doubt comes immediately feed your doubt with God’s Word)
ü “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”
ü I choose to speak life for “Life and death is in my tongue”
ü “Take captive of your thoughts and make them obedient to God’s Word”
ü “Remember all of God’s promises are yes and amen.” If God said it, than that’s it.
Maybe God is telling you to:
· Close your heart to oppression
ü “I’ve never seen the righteous forsaken or his seed begging bread.”
ü “Christ came to set me free”
Maybe God is telling you to:
· Close your days to loneliness
ü “God promised to never leave or forsake me.”
ü “Be still and hear the voice of the Lord”
ü “The Lord is a very present help in the time of trouble.”
Maybe God is telling you to:
· Close your time to laziness and commit your time Him.
ü “Redeem the time today because the days are evil”
ü “He rewards those who diligently seek Him”
ü Push until a change comes (in other words, pray until something happens) seek Him in your prayer time; seek Him without ceasing
Maybe God is telling you to:
· Close your emotions to defeat and anxiety
ü “Be anxious for nothing and cast all your cares upon the Lord”
ü “I am more than a conqueror in Jesus Christ”
ü “No weapon formed against me shall prosper”
ü “God’s got my back and He’ll back me up every inch of the way.”
Oh yeah! We’re talking about birthing a closure to the past. Church, Paul chose one thing, which was to bring a closure to his old way of life. Paul chose to close the door to the past. Paul chose to pursue the future. Paul chose to press towards the mark of the high calling of God. He set his mind to finish the race. We must do the same. We must forget what was and look ahead and pursue the future, go after it. God has so much to give us if we would only birth a closure to:
· The past
· The what ifs
· The would haves
· The should haves
· The could haves
Let the past go. Be like Paul and finish your course; your race; your assignment. There’s a saying that says, “Let dead dogs lie.” They are dead so let them stay dead. In other words, don’t go back and pick up dead weight.
Church, in Noah’s time, God shut the door to the past. Unfortunately, even with that, sin continued to through the ungodly acts of man. So God in his infinite wisdom decided to mankind another chance to procreation, another chance to get things right. God saw a need for a closure so He put a detour sign right in the middle of time. He brought Jesus here to this earth and while here, Christ endured. Yet, Christ never lost focus of His purpose even though He took a detour by coming here to earth. At the completion of Jesus’ assignment, He took a detour from the things of this world and Christ brought a closure when he said on the cross, “It is finished.” Christ birth the final closure. He said in John 17:4, “I have glorified Thee on the earth: I have finished the work which Thou gavest me to do.”
It’s possible to start anew but only when we want to. See, the Paul wanted one thing and that was a closure to his past way of living. God is saying to us today Church, He has one thing that he wants us to do. He wants us to put a closure to our old way of living and worship him. Are you ready for the closure? Are you ready to make a change in your life? If so, stand up and give the Lord some praise for the closure that He’s about to do within each and every one of us.
