A. INTRODUCTION
1. What word do you say most often? ___________________
2. What is wife’s/husband’s favorite word? ________________
3. The most powerful thing about yesterday _______________, tomorrow ________________, now _______________.
4. Most powerful word is now: today is the tomorrow you planned yesterday.
5. Yesterday foundation for action, tomorrow power of dream, today action.
6. Synonym for open door – opportunity, now, beginning, let’s go, enter, inviting. Synonym for closed door – no trespassing, do not enter, keep out. No!
7. “A great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9, NKJV). “There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me” (1 Corinthians 16:9, NLT).
8. “I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture” (John 10:9, NKJV).
9. “I have opened a door for you” (Revelation 3:8, NLT).
B. OUR PAST SHAPES US
1. Jesus met four fishermen knowing their past and would build on it. “Follow Me … I will show you how to fish for people” (Mark 1:17, NLT).
2. Jesus didn’t ignore their talents.
3. They wouldn’t use nets, they left nets to follow (v. 20). Methods are many, principles are few, methods may change, but principles never do.
4. He was interested in their future. “I will make you” (v. 17). You build on the past, plan to be better than the past.
Thank God for all you have learned.
Get strength from all victories.
Learn from all mistakes and failures.
Victories and failures are your compass.
5. If you don’t learn from mistakes of past, you will repeat them … a second time.
6. Past is foundation for today, future is energy that guides today.
C. FUTURE GIVES US ENERGY
1. Abraham was effective because he saw the future. “Abraham obeyed … without knowing where he was going … looking for a city … designed and built by God” (Hebrews 11:8, 10).
2. Abraham is your example of faith–planning your life by vision.
3. What was known about Abraham’s vision?
a. From God the source of the city of God.
b. Didn’t know where he was going.
c. His most important strength – obeyed.
d. He was motived by the future.
4. Abraham did not know he would battle enemies, be tempted in Egypt, have a disloyal family member (Lot), take the rest of his life, and have both failures and successes.
D. TAKING ADVANTAGE ON AN OPEN WORK: JOSHUA 5:1-15
1. God promised land. “Wherever you set foot, you will be on land I have given you” (Joshua 1:3, NLT). God promised victory. “No one will be able to stand against you” (v. 5). God promised His presence. “I will be with you” (v. 5).
2. But they would have to fight for it. You must work for God’s promise.
3. Jesus met Joshua. First things first – worship. “Take off your sandals” (5:15).
4. You can enter an open door if you first worship.
E. PRESENT IS POWERFUL, POTENTIAL AND MAKES US OR BREAK US
1. Ever heard the expression, “save the best for last?” God does not always save the best for last, God lives in the present tense, and God “now” does His (a) present work, (b) powerful work, (c) potential work.
2. Today is your best opportunity to get God’s best work, not the past, He is already done it. Not the future, you are not there yet.
3. Jesus Christ the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8).
4. Jesus’ first miracle at the wedding in Galilee – John 2:1-11
a. Jesus and His six disciples were not expected, did not plan for them.
b. The wine ran out.
c. Jesus gives instruction, then disappears.
d. “Kept the good wine till now” (John 2:10).
5. Jesus used the “now” and “His disciples believed in Him” (2:11).
6. When Jesus went to the funeral of Lazarus, sisters Mary and Martha were still in yesterday. “Lord if you had been here … brother would not have died” (John 11:21, 32). They had faith in past.
7. The sisters needed present tense. “I am the resurrection and the life” (John 11:25).
8. What does the word now mean spelled backwards? Won.
F. IN THE HALLWAY BETWEEN THE DOORS
1. Keep walking. “So, let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up” (Galatians 6:9, NLT).
2. Rejoice. “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4, NLT).
3. Pray. “Never stop praying” (1 Thessalonians 5:17, NLT).
4. “Be thankful in all circumstances” (1 Timothy 5:18, NLT).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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