Today we look at the Church of Philadelphia, the church with the open door. To us we hear “open door” and may think this is just a phrase that simply means opportunity. Without doubt, an open door is a great opportunity. When locked up in jail or prison, an open door would be a blessing as was the case with Paul and Silas in the Philippian jail. Open doors are what we pray for when we want opportunities to move forward and to grow in life. You may be praying for an open door right now in this season of your life. You may be serving where you are because God opened a door for you to get to the station you are currently in. When you walk with Jesus He opens doors for you, yet with each of these opportunities there are also challenges. The Apostle Paul said in 1 Cor 16:9, For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. Don’t be disillusioned by the excitement of an open door. Remember with every step on the trail of life come new challenges and growth obstacles.
I would also like to remind you that the Church of Philadelphia was not only told that Jesus opens, and no man can shut, but also that Jesus shuts and no man can open. There are times when I need doors shut for my protection and to force me to stay and grow instead of run and avoid. A shut door gives security from all that is outside and would enter to do you harm. We have seen what happens to a country without protected borders and so it is for a life without protective barriers around it. I often thank God for the doors that were closed in my life when I foolishly sought a way out of a situation that I needed to stay in and was forced to learn to work through. My will needs to be in alignment with God’s will, but often I look for ways out of God’s will when it makes me uncomfortable or causes pain in my life. It is in those times I need the door of escape closed like the mouths of the lions Daniel met in King Darius’s den. I am thankful that Jesus holds the key instead of me.
Pastor,
Rev. Wayne Marcus
I would also like to remind you that the Church of Philadelphia was not only told that Jesus opens, and no man can shut, but also that Jesus shuts and no man can open. There are times when I need doors shut for my protection and to force me to stay and grow instead of run and avoid. A shut door gives security from all that is outside and would enter to do you harm. We have seen what happens to a country without protected borders and so it is for a life without protective barriers around it. I often thank God for the doors that were closed in my life when I foolishly sought a way out of a situation that I needed to stay in and was forced to learn to work through. My will needs to be in alignment with God’s will, but often I look for ways out of God’s will when it makes me uncomfortable or causes pain in my life. It is in those times I need the door of escape closed like the mouths of the lions Daniel met in King Darius’s den. I am thankful that Jesus holds the key instead of me.
Pastor,
Rev. Wayne Marcus
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