“Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice. Yet they will by no means follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the voice of strangers.” Jesus used this illustration, but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them. Then Jesus said to them again, “Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came before Me[a] are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not hear them. I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. (John 10:1-10)”
We as Christians profess that the Lord Jesus, Himself is our all in all. But yet, all to often, we wonder too much about the “WHY’s” of life. I have always been told when God allows one door to be closed He is actually opening another door for us. It has always been my experience that God will always make a way for us when there seems to be no way, because when He opens that door He will also give us strength to go through it. Our problem at times is mustering enough faith to trust Him and not to force His hand.
We have bought into the prosperity message that we can force the hand of God to do whatever we want Him to do, making Him nothing more in our lives than a cosmic butler. But the fact of the matter is that He has plan and a purpose for everything that happens in our life. We just need to learn to trust Him, and refuse to do things our way. The Lord clearly tells us in His Word, “Call to Me, and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things, which you do not know…Jeremiah 33:3)” and “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you…(Jeremiah 29:11-12)”
In the Word is where we ought to be looking because, “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man, the things which God has prepared for those who love Him. (I Corinthians 2:9)” We just need to fully rely and trust in Him without demanding our way like a spoiled child. He knows what is ahead and is trying to give us His best, if we’ll receive it. He never gives us more than we can bear, because He truly knows what is best for us…
I truly believe that there are 7 Doors of Provision promised to us.
#1 The Door of Freedom:
“And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed…(Acts 16:26)” Through our Savior and Lord we have been freed from the prison of Sin, Temptation, Sickness, and have been given his Eternal Provision “I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers (III John 2)” “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus…(Philippians 4:19)”
Door #2 The Door for Effectual Work for God:
“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries…(I Corinthians 16:9)” Wherever God guides, He provides. He will not lead until He first precedes. This ought to give us the boldness whereby we can share through our walk with the Lord how great He truly is. But we must want to share, not feel that we have to witness. There will come a time, and I truly feel that we are at the time, when we must be willing to give go and do more for the Lord, “…faith without works…is DEAD…(James 2)”
Door # 3 & 4 The Open Door of Preaching & Witnessing:
God wants not only to direct the preachers but all His children to be bold and open doors of witness for Him through them. BUT we must be willing to walk thru them, the Great Commission was given to the whole church to witness not just the Preachers, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, “He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens”. “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name. (Revelation 3:6-8)”
Door #5 The Door of Opportunity (and none can shut it…):We often pass on an opportunity because we feel that we are ill-equipped for the task at hand. But we must hold onto the Word of God, “I can do all things through (In & only through) Christ which strengthens me…(Philippians 1:13)” “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)”
We are commanded in the Word to daily, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…(Ephesians 5:19)” “For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. (Romans 8:14)” If we had a “Praise & Prayer Life” instead of a whining & complaining time with God, we would be surprised with what God would do for us…
This Door never gives up on us, nor closes, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me…(Revelation 3:20)” This is the Final Door and He is Jesus Christ. We have been invited to have a daily intimate relationship with the Lord. “Not mine but thine, not me but thee, not what I am but what you’re making me to be…” is what I have to pray on a daily basis in order to crucify my flesh and keep it close to the Lord. But we often lose our way because, “We lose our focus due to the fact that when one door closes, another one opens, but we often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see the one that has opened for us.
Step into Jesus Christ & let God step in you!!!
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