Walking Through the Right Door
Notes
Transcript
Handout
Intro
Idea of the series is to get back on track for what God has for our lives. If you are like most people, we will find that we got a little off track from what God wants in your life.
7 “Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the one who is holy and true, the one who has the key of David. What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open: 8 “I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, yet you obeyed my word and did not deny me.
What God opens no one can shut. You may think that you have gone past the point of no return, but you can’t do that, because God opens doors that no one can close. You can’t go too far. God can always get you back from where you are to where you need to be.
On the other hand, God can close. If you will allow God into your life, he can shut the door on things that we need to stay away from.
Then, he says… I know your deeds. He loves you anyway. He still has a plan for you.
Last week we talked about how to know what God’s door looks like.
Finding the Right Door
Finding the Right Door
There are two borders or door frames that God’s will for your life is bordered by.
God’s Moral will
God’s Moral will
What God already said in His Word
What God already said in His Word
You have to get into his word and find out what his moral will is.
God’s sovereign will.
God’s sovereign will.
What God is doing on the earth.
What God is doing on the earth.
He is going to do this … no matter what. Too many people think that God is a heavenly Santa Clause and he needs to be at our beck and call… NO
Our purpose is to align ourselves with his plans and purposes for our lives. When you get yourself in the moral and sovereign will of God, you can find his will for you.
Walking Through the Right Door
Walking Through the Right Door
There are a lot of doors that will open… opportunities and we want to walk through the right doors.
We need a genuine move of God in our lives, our church, and our nation.
Focus on one thing… one person that needs the Lord in their life. That’s what the Lord focuses on.
We have course corrected and gotten ourself back on track morally. Now we haver to look at the sovereign will of God.
Look at this in Acts. Paul is getting ready to leave this church in Ephesus. This is his farewell speech.
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me, 23 except that the Holy Spirit tells me in city after city that jail and suffering lie ahead. 24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
This passage gives us the four stages of walking through the door.
1. The prompting of the Holy Spirit
1. The prompting of the Holy Spirit
He knew he was supposed to go… don’t know why, he just knew it.
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me,
ILL of good smelling food drawing you to eat it. Cinabon...
That’s how the HS draws us. Why do we help others? We are bound to do it…
18 For I am full of pent-up words, and the spirit within me urges me on. 19 I am like a cask of wine without a vent, like a new wineskin ready to burst!
If you don’t feel compelled to do what God wants, you have never been spiritually connected with God by being born again. If there is no inspiration from the HS, then we may no be spiritually born.
Others have been connected but you are cold. You like to come and hear, but you haven’t been stirred up to do something.
ILL - coke… if you open it, it will fizz… if you shake it up, it will explode.
Stir yourself up. You don’t want God to have to stir you back.
Where is God stirring you?
Where is God stirring you?
outreach… greeters… children… youth…
2. Certain uncertainty
2. Certain uncertainty
I am certain that the next step is uncertain. Whatever it is that God calls you to do… he never gives you all the information. He will make you take a step of faith.
22 “And now I am bound by the Spirit to go to Jerusalem. I don’t know what awaits me,
Paul didn’t know what was going to happen. If you are uncomfortable with not having all the information, you will not really enjoy serving the Lord nor be who God intended you to be. If you get comfortable being a person that lives by faith, you will enjoy serving the Lord… a lot.
Why does he do it that way? If you knew everything, you would try to bypass the journey where he gets you ready. Also, if you knew everything, you would run from it.
5 I am coming to visit you after I have been to Macedonia, for I am planning to travel through Macedonia. 6 Perhaps I will stay awhile with you, possibly all winter, and then you can send me on my way to my next destination. 7 This time I don’t want to make just a short visit and then go right on. I want to come and stay awhile, if the Lord will let me. 8 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. 9 There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me.
Paul had an opportunity. What faith step do you need to take? Do you need to step out and say, I will be a small group leader? Childrens’ worker?
You know you are called but you are miserable and you will be until you do wha tGod wats you to do.
7 We live by faith, not by sight.
Where do you need to take a step of faith?
Where do you need to take a step of faith?
3. Predictable resistance
3. Predictable resistance
When you make the decision, all HELL will break lose. The devil doesn’t want you to serve the Lord much less do something great for the Lord.
23 I only know that in every city the Holy Spirit warns me that prison and hardships are facing me.
Paul knew people were going to come against him. You said yes… get ready… all hell is going to break loose.
Resistance might be compliments…
18 We wanted very much to come to you, and I, Paul, tried again and again, but Satan prevented us.
Satan will cause you to take a detour. We need to prevent that and stay the course.
Where is the enemy attacking my life?
Where is the enemy attacking my life?
4. Focused determination
4. Focused determination
You will need both of these. You must focus. It’s easy to become distracted so we have to focus on God’s door. Put aside all distractions and walk through with determination.
24 But my life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God.
Where should my focus be?
Where should my focus be?
When vision increases, options decrease, making it easier to walk through the right door
When vision increases, options decrease, making it easier to walk through the right door
Prayer time
Take the opportunity to connect with God today. Jesus made that possible. Lead a commitment prayer…