What doors have closed in your life?
The door to a friendship?
The door to forgiveness with a family member because of
death?
The door to a job?
We all have had doors closed to us whether by silence, by
being shut out or maybe a door being slammed in our face both literally and
figuratively. Maybe you were the one
that closed the door and made the decision to move on. However we are only stuck when we stare at a
closed door and do nothing about it.
This is where we need the greatest discernment to know whether
that door is closed for good or whether it is time to seek out a new door, a
new opportunity, a new venture, a new challenge.
It’s been said, “When one door closes, another opens, but we
often look so long and so regretfully upon the closed door that we do not see
the one opened for us”. Alexander
Graham Bell
The Word of God gives us a lot of insight into understanding
doors.
Matthew 7:7 "Keep on asking, and you will receive
what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the
door will be opened to you. NLT
There is something to be said about persistence and
perseverance. Sometimes we need to learn
what it means to overcome and not take ‘no’ as the final answer. So, we learn to regroup, refocus, make the
necessary changes and pursue the door in front of us.
John Grisham is a great example of this. He was first a lawyer who loved to write. His first book
took three years to write. The book was rejected 28 times until he got one yes
for a 5,000 copy print. He’s sold over 250 million total copies of his books!!
My dream was to be a youth pastor. I believed it was a calling on my life and I
pursued it with all my heart and strength.
I took every volunteer position, was a resident assistant for a boarding
HS, completed my bachelor and master’s degree in ministry and yet when I put my
resume out for various positions, nothing.
So, I pursued being a teacher, believing that the door to youth ministry
was closed. I was serving and doing
young adult ministry in my local church when a position was posted for a youth
pastor. I didn’t apply because I was on
another track… teaching. Well, the
pastor of the church, Don Howard, took me out for lunch and presented me with
the position of ‘youth pastor’. The door
opened even when I had given up on the dream.
It was a lesson that God opens the door in His perfect timing as well.
Revelation 3:20
"Look! I stand at the door and knock. If you hear my voice and open the
door, I will come in, and we will share a meal together as friends. NLT
It is a door to the most amazing relationship. To share a meal in ancient near East culture
was the most intimate display of relationship.
Here’s the truth, Jesus is knocking on the door of a church to let Him
in. There is a picture painted of this
famous verse and there is only one door
handle and it is on the inside. He won’t
force His way in. Let Him wash over you
with His amazing love, truth and His Holy Spirit.
John 10: “I tell you
the truth, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who came before me were thieves
and robbers. But the true sheep did not listen to them. 9 Yes, I am the gate.
Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and
will find good pastures. 10 The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy.
My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.
He will never enter any other way. It is an invitation to listen to His voice,
it doesn’t condemn, it doesn’t steal away confidence, hope, love.
Psalm 24: Open up, ancient gates! Open up, ancient doors,and let the King of
glory enter. 8 Who is the King of glory?
The Lord, strong and mighty. There is no
shame here. Lift up your heads and open
the door!!
People who have come to Church at the Manor have opened the
door by just showing up!
Here are some of the lies that we have been tearing down at
the Manor:
1.
You are
garbage, you aren’t worth anything. We
have replaced that with the realization of the revelation of His love. His love is relentless! Jeremiah 31:3
2.
Jesus will destroy all your fun and freedom. We have replaced that with the understanding
that a relationship with Jesus is the true pathway to freedom! He didn’t call us to religion, He called us
to Himself!
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