LET’S MAKE A DEAL? FINDING THE OPEN DOOR…
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
THE LATCH STRING…
My Grandfather Hughes was born in 1878 in Lee County, Kentucky. The house was known as THE SUSAN HUGHES HOUSE. It was built in the early 1850’s. It was a log cabin. When I was young, mid-1950’s, I noticed there was no door knob on the entrance door. There was a hole through the door. Then there was a long leather string that would hang through the hole. When you wanted to go in the house, you pulled the leather string which was attached to a piece of wood. As you pulled the string it would lift the wood plank out of the “holster” in which it would rest, thus unlocking the door and granting you access. At night my grandparents would pull the piece of leather inside and the door could not be opened.
Thus they had an expression that they would share with friends. THE LATCH STRING WILL ALWAYS BE OUT FOR YOU!
Do we allow the LATCH STRING TO OUR HEARTS TO HANG out for JESUS?
BEHOLD I STAND AT THE DOOR AND I KNOCK… CAN WE HEAR HIS VOICE?
THERE IS A FAMOUS PICTURE OF CHRIST JESUS STANDING AT THE DOOR KNOCKING… When this famous piece of art was placed on public display many art critics found great fault with the picture. The critics pointed out THERE IS NO DOOR KNOB ON THE DOOR. The artist replied to the crowd. There is a verse in the Bible that explains this picture.
Revelation 3:20 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.
Jesus is a gentleman, HE WOULD NEVER FORCE OPEN YOUR DOOR. IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE AND RECOGNIZE IT YOU WILL OPEN THE DOOR AND JESUS WILL GLADLY COME TO DWELL WITH YOU. JESUS NEEDS THE INVITATION TO COME…
UNDERSTAND A SHEEPCOTE --- JESUS IS OUR DOOR…
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
A sheepcote is a method of tending animals. The sheepcote is a type of pen for confining animals. There could be a great danger of your sheep being stolen or a big bad wolf might be lurking to kill. Often the simple enclosures had thorny brushwood growing on top of the low wall to be a safe guard. The GOOD SHEPHERD would sleep across the entrance. Sheepcotes are mentioned and referred to several times in the Bible.
THUS WE GET JESUS IS THE DOOR GUARDING HIS SHEEP…
THERE IS ONLY ONE DOOR, ONE WAY… ANOTHER NOTE ABOUT THE BIBLICAL DOOR…
We live in a day of tolerance and acceptance, TV teaches there are many ways to God. NOT SO MY FRIEND!
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Linda and I were walking near where JESUS WAS BORN. Mickey, our guide, explained about the houses in New Testament times. Normally the lower part of the house was where the animals were kept. The upper deck was the living quarters of the family. (Remember the story of the lady that kept knocking on the door, desiring bread. The owner did not want to awaken his children, if she continued knocking she would wake up the chickens and cows and then the kids.)
THE NEW TESTAMENT DOOR was a big door often left open in the day. When the family and the animals were gathered in the big door was closed. Within the big door was a small door, that would be opened and closed to allow people entrance at night.
The small door was great protection to the family. As a person entered the small door they had to step high and they also had to duck low. If an enemy meaning to bring harm tried to gain entrance at night, it was easy to defend the entrance. A simple stick could stop entrance to the home.
GREAT PEOPLE OF THE BIBLE MADE DEALS AND FOUND OPEN DOORS AND THEY CLIMBED THROUGH TO FIND GOD’S PLAN.
Have you ever searched for an open door to a safe place where we can stretch our faith to a new levels… We must learn to walk by faith and not by emotions, moods or sight.
My friend there are two kinds of doors:
1. Open doors…
2. Closed doors… DO WE UNDERSTAND WHY WE MUST IDENTIFY THE DIFFERENCE IN OPEN OR CLOSED DOORS.
GOD SAW A MAN IN AVERY DANGEROUS POSITION. ALL AROUND ABRAHAM WAS FACING PAGAN IDOLATRY… TO FIND GOD’S OPEN DOOR ABRAM HAD TO SELL OUT AND LEAVE…
Idolatry and false gods would CLOSE THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY… GET OUT…
Genesis 12:1 Now the LORD had said unto Abram, Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from
thy father's house, unto a land that I will shew thee: ABRAHAM HAS AN APPOINTMENT, LEAVE HERE.
WE SOMETIMES HAVE TO HAVE A CLOSED DOOR TO OPEN ANOTHER DOOR.
Can you imagine having a yard sale. l and selling most of your possessions? Can you imagine telling your wife to pack “THE STUFF.” We are leaving here! Where? I don’t know. Can you imagine Abe going to the local U-Haul to rent a truck? God closes some doors before he opens other doors.
Later Sarah opens the door of her tent to laughter and doubt and then denies God’s promise? Years later SARAH does not understand the difference in a CLOSED DOOR and she OPENS THE DOOR (Hagar) that makes a big mess, yet there is still an OPEN DOOR TO A MIRACLE. SARAH WALKS THROUGH THE DOOR INTO THE DELIVERY ROOM, 20 YEARS LATER.
Genesis 18:14 Is any thing too hard for the LORD? At the time appointed I will return unto thee, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.
WALKING THROUGH THE RIGHT OPEN DOOR HAS GREAT DIVIDENDS.
Genesis 12:3 And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.
LOT PICK A DOOR AND MADE A DEAL… TALK ABOUT OPENING A DOOR TO DANGER? ---ABRAHAM TALKED TO LOT… THIS STRIFE AND DIVISION CAN OPEN THE RIGHT DOOR OR THE WRONG DOOR?
Abraham was the uncle, he was the elder. LOT SHOULD HAVE DEFERRED THE ANSWER TO ABRAHAM? There is no record ever of Lot building an altar? Lot got in trouble several times and almost cost him dearly? LOT HAD HIS MIND MADE UP --- LOT LOVED THE EASY PLAIN AND THE BRIGHT LIGHTS OF SIN.
LOT’S LIFE STYLE AND THOUGHT PATTERNS --- LET’S MAKE A DEAL? Lot saw the open door? RIGHT OR LEFT? Going through the wrong door becomes very costly to Lot and his wife and 2 daughters.
Genesis 13:9 Is not the whole land before thee? separate thyself, I pray thee, from me: if thou wilt take the left hand, then I will go to the right; or if thou depart to the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes, and beheld all the plain of Jordan, that it was well watered every where, before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah, even as the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, as thou comest unto Zoar.
SOMETIMES YOU CAN’T CLOSE THE DOOR YOU OPENED? LOT TRIES TO SHUT THE DOOR HE HAD LEFT OPEN… THE MEN OF THE CITY CAME TO LOT’S HOUSE… THEY DEMANDED THE MEN TO COME OUT… IN THE SICKNESS OF THE MOMENT LOT OFFERS HIS DAUGHTERS?
Genesis 19:6 And Lot went out at the door unto them, and shut the door after him,
THE ANGELS VISITING LOT BLINDED THE MEN --- SEEMS LOT COULD NOT SEE, HIS DEAL, THIS DOOR…
Genesis 19:9 And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door. 10 But the men put forth their hand, and pulled Lot into the house to them, and shut to the door.
LOT’S LET’S MAKE A DEAL AND PICK THE DOOR REALLY IS EXPENSIVE… Which way will we PITCH OUR TENT? WHICH DOOR WILL WE OPEN?
Genesis 13:12 Abram dwelled in the land of Canaan, and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain, and pitched his tent toward Sodom.
LOT COMES TO ANOTHER OPEN DOOR… LET’S MAKE A DEAL?
Do we by faith realize IF GOD SAYS DO IT --- WE CAN DO IT… LOT YOU COULD HAVE CLIMBED THE MOUNTAIN…
Genesis 19:17 And it came to pass, when they had brought them forth abroad, that he said, Escape for thy life; look not behind thee, neither stay thou in all the plain; escape to the mountain, lest thou be consumed. 18 And Lot said unto them, Oh, not so, my Lord:
ONCE AGAIN THE DOOR IS BEFORE LOT. YOU CAN MAKE IT LOT? Let’s make a deal God… LET US GO TO ZOAR…
LOT LIVES IN GREAT FEAR IN ZOAR AND IS NOT SATISFIED ---
THERE IS A SAD HISTORY IN THE LINAGE OF LOT. LOT HAS TWO SONS, THEY CALL HIM GRANDFATHER. WHY? LOT COULD NOT SEE THE OPPORTUNITY OR DANGERS BEHIND THE DOORS HE CHOSE.
THERE WAS ONE DOOR ON THE ARK… NOAH WAS 500 YEARS OLD… NOAH’S NAME MEANS REST… NOAH BUILT ONE DOOR ON THE ARK. ONE DOOR GOD CONTROLLED… HE LIVED TO BE 950, HE LIVED 350 YEARS AFTER THE FLOOD…
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.
God called all the animals to BOARD THE SHIP. They all boarded and the word says God waited 7 days? WHY?
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.
There was the old promise, the rain is coming… There was only one door in the side of the ark to load and unload everything. The Lord waited a while, it is taught there was 7 days before the door closed?
One thing we know Noah built one door because he believed God.
JOSEPH WAS ONE OF 12 SONS. JOSPEH HAD SOME BIG DOORS BEFORE HIM… 17 YEARS OF DOORS THAT SEEMED TO LEAD TO BAD STUFF…
Genesis 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. 5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
JOSEPH DREAMED OF SHEAVES IN THE FIELD… they all bowed to him, the 11 sheaves… not in Israel?
Another dream? The sun, moon, 11 stars: all bow? NEVER? Will these doors ever open?
Joseph had some bad attitudes BUT HE HAD DIVINE DOORS BEFORE HIM.
1 appointment WITH THE OPEN DOOR was with a WELL!
2 OPEN DOOR appointment was: THERE JUST HAPPENED TO BE SOME CAMELS AND PEOPLE DRIVING BY?
3 OPEN DOOR was at a SLAVE MARKET, BUT GOD WHAT ABOUT MY DREAM?
4 Appointment at the OPEN DOOR of a slave market where they were selling, just happens to have POTIPHAR that day looking for a good slave. Is this an open door?
CAN THE OPEN DOOR GET ANY WORSE? WHERE IS THE GOOD DOOR? WHERE IS THE DREAM NOW?
5 The open door was a trap, the DOOR is in a bedroom, JOSEPH knew that was not God and he ran out the door.
6 CAN YOU HEAR THE DOOR SLAM SHUT? YES, IT CAN GET WORSE… PRISON…
7 Well shut the door, there was the door to be locked up in a cell with the BUTCHER AND THE BAKER.
8 Seems like all the DOORS HAVE SLAMMED SHUT, this door was promised to open but the promised was soon forgotten while Joseph is laying in a prison.
9 One day Pharaoh has a dream, finally Joseph has a door open to be remembered.
10 Open door is with a shower and a shave. He is to clean up and GO MEET PHAROAH…
17 Years later the PROMISED DOOR OPENS 10 brothers come knocking on JOSEPH’S door.
17 long years FOR THE RIGHT DOOR to open.
GOD’S DOOR IS NOT ALWAYS INSTANT PUDDING, GOD TAKES HIS TIME.
MOSES MESSED UP HIS LIFE KILLING AN EGYPTIAN. BOY, DID MOSES CLOSE THE DOOR? MOSES SPENDS 40 YEARS IN THE BACK SIDE OF THE DESERT. MOSES, GOD HAS A DOOR, TRUST HIM. TODAY’S DOOR CAN FOREVER CHANGE YOU AND HISTORY…
Moses gets up like every other morning. He eats breakfast and Sister Moses packs his brown bag lunch for the day. Moses kisses his wife and walks out the screen door…For 40 years Moses walked out the same door. This day Moses’ door has promise. HE WILL NOT WALK THROUGH THE TENT DOOR THE SAME WAY HE LEFT.
Exodus 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I.
THE DOOR TO THE PALACE AND PLEASURE… MOSES SPENT 40 YEARS THINKING HE WAS SOMETHING SPECIAL IN THE PALACE…
THE DOOR TO THE BACK SIDE OF THE DESERT… MOSES SPENT 40 YEARS ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DESERT AND FELT LIKE HE WAS A NOBODY.
THE DOOR OPENED WAS MADE BECAUSE MOSES LEARNED IN HIS LAST 40 YEARS THAT GOD WAS EVERYTHING.
There was a divine DOOR, when Moses meet God and his life was forever changed.
LOOK WHAT THE RIGHT OPEN DOOR DOES FOR MOSES…
Exodus 4:4 And the LORD said unto Moses, Put forth thine hand, and take it by the tail. And he put forth his hand, and caught it, and it became a rod in his hand:
When God opens a door there is a change: YOU CAN SEE THE RESULTS OF THE OPEN DOOR.
Exodus 4:20 And Moses took his wife and his sons, and set them upon an ass, and he returned to the land of Egypt: and Moses took the rod of God in his hand.
LET’S MAKE A DEAL, MOSES’ ROD CHANGES FROM “A ROD” TO “THE ROD OF GOD!”
WHEN IT SEEMS THE DOOR IS CLOSED, MIGHT BE GOD DOING HIS STUFF. OFTEN IN OUR DAILY MENIAL PROBLEMS WE FIND THE DOOR OF DIVINE DESTINY AND DIVINE PURPOSE AS THE CLOSED DOOR OPENS A NEW DOOR WIDELY.…
1 Samuel 9:3 And the donkeys of Kish Saul's father were lost. And Kish said to Saul his son, Take now one of the servants with thee, and arise, go seek the donkeys.
THERE WAS AN APPOINTMENT MADE FOR A REAL TALL YOUNG MAN… SAUL WENT OFF ON A WILD GOOSE CHASE.
SAUL SAID: LET’S TURN AROUND AND GO HOME AFTER DAYS SEARCHING FOR STUPID DONKEYS.
THE SERVANT SAID: WE NEED TO GO TO THE DOOR OF THE PREACHER’S HOUSE. THERE IS A MAN OF GOD, LET US FIND THE DOOR. JUST BY ACCIDENT THE PREACHER SAMUEL WAS HOME? GOD HAD A DOOR TO OPEN.
1 Samuel 9:6 ( And he said unto him, Behold now, there is in this city a man of God, and he is an honourable man; all that he saith cometh surely to pass: now let us go thither; peradventure he can shew us our way that we should go.
GOD IS WORKING ON BOTH SIDES… EVERY DOOR HAS TWO SIDES.
1 Samuel 9:15-16 Now the LORD had told Samuel in his ear a day before Saul came, saying, 16 To morrow about this time I will send thee a man out of the land of Benjamin, and thou shalt anoint him to be captain over my people Israel, that he may save my people out of the hand of the Philistines: for I have looked upon my people, because their cry is come unto me.
THE DOOR OPENED AND NO ONE CAN DENY THAT. SAUL CAME CHASING DONKEY’S BUTHE WALKED OUT THE DOOR AS THE ANOINTED FIRST KING OF ISREAL?
BOY, YOU HAVE A DOOR EVEN WHILE OUT IN THE SHEEPCOTE. DON’T WORRY, EVERYONE SEES A SHEPHERD BOY, BE FAITHFUL IN THE LITTLE THINGS… DAVID WALKED OUT THE DOOR OF THE HOUSE THAT MORNING TO CARE FOR THE SHEEP. HE WAS LEFT OUT OF THE PARTY WHEN THE PREACHER CAME… THE PREACHER THOUGHT THE DOOR WAS FOR THE GOOD LOOKING MAN, ELIAB MUST BE THE ONE? BUT THE DOOR OPENED TO DAVID…
1 Samuel 16:11 And Samuel said unto Jesse, Are here all thy children? And he said, There remaineth yet the youngest, and, behold, he keepeth the sheep. And Samuel said unto Jesse, Send and fetch him: for we will not sit down till he come hither.
1 Samuel 16:12 And he sent, and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, and withal of a beautiful countenance, and goodly to look to. And the LORD said, Arise, anoint him: for this is he.
EVERYONE THOUGHT THE DOOR WAS FOR ELIAB? THE FATHER AND BROTHERS, THEY ALL SAW DAVID AS THE SHEPHERD BOY, GOD SAW THE LAD IN THE FIELD AND GOD SAW BEYOND TODAY… Young man you almost missed your door, but GOD SEES THE KING AFTER HIS OWN HEART.
THERE IS A DOOR IN SYCHAR… THE GOOD OLD BOYS ARE WALKING WITH JESUS. JESUS TAKES A DIRECTIONAL CHANGE. WE ARE GOING TO SAMARIA? WHY? JESUS YOU KNOW BETTER? JESUS HAD A DOOR TO OPEN WITH AN FAILURE IN LIFE… THERE WAS A LITTLE WOMAN… JESUS HAD A DOOR OF RESCUE FOR HER.
John 4:4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
Jesus came because there was a woman in Sychar, Samaria. The lady was scum to most people. Jesus OPENED THE DOOR and invited her to OPEN THE DOOR AND RECEIVE THE LIVING WATERS..
John 4:29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ?
GOD HAS A DOOR SET FOR YOU… THE DOOR MAY BE ONE OF TWO WAYS. THE DEATH ANGEL CAN OPEN THE DOOR AND ESCORT YOU INTO ETERNITY? OR MAY BE WE WILL BE LEAVING IN THE RAPTURE OF THE CHURCH.
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
The last enemy is death. Know this death is but a doorway that to heaven.
1 Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
THE MAN JUST FINISHED A WHOLE BATTERY OF MEDICAL TEST. The doctor came into the room and was very sober. He explained to the man he had days, maybe hours to live. The man said doctor I am afraid to die! The doctor said, WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT DOOR? The man had no idea? Are you afraid to open that door? The doctor said: Do you trust me? There is nothing beyond that door to harm you. NOW, OPEN THE DOOR. With great confidence the man stood and opened the door. There was the doctor’s personal office. There was art work on the walls, a fancy desk, many books, leather furniture. THE DOCTOR SAID, MY DEAR FRIEND, DEATH TO THE BELIEVER IS THE DOOR TO A CHANGING CLOSET WHERE WE SHALL SHINE IN GREAT VICTORY.
THERE IS ANOTHER DOOR OF CHANGE. TAKE COMFORT, DON’T BE IGNORANT, WE SHALL BE CHANGED…THERE IS ANOTHER DOOR TO ETERNITY, WE CALL IT THE RAPTURE… YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE AFRAID OF THE SECOND COMING…
John 14:1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. 2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
CONCLUSION: IN THE VALLEY WE CAN FIND HOPE. YOU CAN OPEN DOORS OF HOPE AND HELP PEOPLE ESCAPE HELL.
Hosea 2:15 And I will give her her vineyards from thence, and the valley of Achor for a door of hope: and she shall sing there, as in the days of her youth, and as in the day when she came up out of the land of Egypt.
WALK DOWN THE STREETS, LOOK INTO THE EYES OF THE LOST AND DYING. THEY NEED A DOOR OF HOPE. LORD STAMP ETERNITY ON MY EYE LIDS, HELP ME FEEL A SERMON I COULD NEVER PREACH… MAY I SEE THE HURTING AND THE LOST, THE DYING--- RACING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED TOWARD THE DOOR OF ETERNITY…
Zechariah 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;
ARE YOU LEADING OTHERS TO THE DOOR OF HOPE?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
