(25)
By Abraham Eli
This study was first taught on November 10, 2019
Topic: The Assessment of the Churches (23.1): The Church in Philadelphia (To Whom Shall the Lord Open a Door? (1))
(use the audio to study)
Background
As we began to look at the assessment of the church in Philadelphia, we focused on the matter of "An Open Door". We looked at who is opening the door, what an open door signifies, why does the Lord open doors, and what do all these mean for the church today.
We established the truth that only the Lord can open a door and it stays open; anyone else opening a door cannot guarantee that it will stay open. We also noted that a door either restricts or grants access into a place—whilst a closed door restricts access, an open door allows access. But access into what? We saw that an open door by the Lord represents access to power, to resources, to escape, into the kingdom of God, to salvation, and to faith. It also signifies deliverance, revclation/vision, and utterance to declare the gospel of Christ as it ought to be spoken.
We noted that God does nothing without a reason, and not knowing the reason for an open door will make people abuse, misuse, and even act wantonly, when a door is open on to them by the Lord. Thus, we saw that the Lord opens doors to fulfill a promise He made, to give provision, to protect His own, to petrify the enemy, in response to prayer, and for the preaching of the gospel, among others.
In application for the church today, we noted that an open door should not be a slogan for programmes, or for our selfish purposes; rather, it is meant for accomplishing kingdom purposes. Therefore, the church today must abandon its self-aggrandizing and self-adulating ways, and engage with the Lord to accomplish kingdom purposes, lest the open door is shut!
Scripture Text(s)
Revelation 3:7-8
In <strong><em>v.8</em></strong>, we see essentially, the basis for the Lord opening this particular door unto the church in Philadelphia. This will be our study today. May the Holy Spirit show us what we must possess so that doors can also be open unto us, in Jesus’ name, Amen!
Having seen where doors opened by the Lord can lead us to, we now want to see who He will open doors to, using the criteria laid out in <strong><em>v.8</em></strong> of our scripture text. We shall also look at two additional instances or criteria for the Lord opening doors. This study shall be in two parts, with the first looking at what having a little strength and keeping the word of God means as a criteria for having Him open doors on to us. And in the next meeting, we shall look at the third criterion of not denying the name of the Lord, as well as the two additional criteria.
Isaiah 41:10-20; John 5:2-9; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 2 Corinthians 12:7-10; 1 Timothy 6:17; Matthew 5:3; Romans 12:3, 10, 16; James 4:6-10; John 9:39-41; 2 Chronicles 16:7-9; Hebrews 11:7; Isaiah 66:1-2; James 1:22-25; John 8:31; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:1-3; John 14:15, 21; 15:4-7, 10; Isaiah 59:1-2.
Conclusion
To be of little strength means one who is lacking in physical strength, numerical strength, socio-economic ability and political ability. But more than these, being of little strength is an attitude of humility before God. It is recognizing that we are helpless, weak, small, and utterly unable to do anything without God's help. Thus, even though we may have resources or political connections, we recognize God as our source. It is this humility before God that makes Him open doors unto us!
To keep the word of God means that we tremble at His word, are obedient to the word of God out of love for God, and that we live out His word daily and under every circumstance. This simply means that we are living right or holy before God, which makes Him open doors unto us; for He does not open doors unto sinners and the obstinate, except to bring them to repentance and salvation!
Therefore, we conclude that the Lord will open doors to those who are humble and holy in every conversation. (<strong>1 Peter 5:5-6; Hebrews 12:14</strong>)
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