Sermon Central
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The God Who Opens Doors And The God Who Shuts Doors
Contributed by Dr. Stanley Vasu on Apr 19, 2005 (message contributor)
Summary: THIS SERMON IS ABOUT THE GOD WHO OPENS DOORS SO THAT NO MAN CAN SHUT IT AND THE GOD WHO SHUTS DOORS SO THAT NO MAN CAN OPEN IT AND HOW HE WORKS IN OUR LIVES.
"Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not. "Acts 16:6-7
"For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD . "As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways nd my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55 :8-9
"There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death." Proverbas 16:25
"All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits." Proverbs 16:2
"A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the LORD directeth his steps. " Proverbs 16:9
"There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. " Proverbs 14:12
The God we serve is a God who closes doors. And when He closes doors , no one can open them. When Daniel was thrown into the lions den, the Lord sent an angel and shut the mouth of the lions . The Lord shuts the doors through which the enemy tries to destroy us . He will also close doors and paths which are harmful to us. We should have discernment to recognise when the Lord has shut a door in our lives . We should not struggle to open a door which the Lord has closed for us . His thoughts and ways are higher than our ways and thoughts . Sometimes we may not realise the dangers awaiting us in a certain path and we try to enter it. But the Lord prevents us and closes that path in order to protect us . We should recognise that and submit to the way of the Lord . We should not rebel and struggle to enter a path which the Lord has closed for us.
Sometimes the Lord closes a door because it is not according to His will and purpose . When the apostles attempted to preach the Gospel in Asia and Bithynia they were forbidden by the Holy Ghost to go there. It was not the plan of God for them to go there at that time . Therefore we should be willing to accept the will and the purpose of God when He closes a door in our lives . We should not become disappointed and bitter against God when He closes a door that we wanted Him to open for us. We should trust that the Lord works everything for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. We should earnestly seek God for His revelation so that we can realise it when the Lord has closed a door for us and submit to His will.
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