Sermon Central
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Open Up And Say Ah!
Contributed by Tony Searles on Apr 17, 2002 (message contributor)
Summary: God can & will open doors for us in ministry, but we must remember to keep our focus on Him. We cannot afford to look at those things which would deter us from God’s will.
Stand & Read - Rev. 3:7-13
"And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write:
He who is holy, who is true, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, and who shuts and no one opens, says this: [8] ’I know your deeds. Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut, because you have a little power, and have kept My word, and have not denied My name. [9] ’Behold, I will cause those of the synagogue of Satan, who say that they are Jews, and are not, but lie-- behold, I will make them to come and bow down at your feet, and to know that I have loved you. [10] ’Because you have kept the word of My perseverance, I also will keep you from the hour of testing, that hour which is about to come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell upon the earth. [11] ’I am coming quickly; hold fast what you have, in order that no one take your crown. [12] ’He who overcomes, I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the name of My God, and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new name. [13] ’He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.’”
“Open Up And Say Ah!”
INTRODUCTION:
I want to share a message of faith and future in Christ this morning with you folks…
I want to bring a glimmer of hope to you and your situation…regardless of what the physical world may say…
After all, isn’t that what God does desire to give you for your life?
He IS true to his word…
“For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ’plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.”
As we look at the church in Philadelphia we get a picture of a good, solid church…
A church, which was commended by God…NOT condemned like the many other ones…except Smyrna, which was also praised for their hard labors…
And from the picture of this church I want to turn our attention onto one phrase, which God says to them in verse 8…”Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut…”
In all of our own struggles, striving, and searching…there is a humbling fact brought to our attention here…GOD IS THE ONE WHO OPENS AND/OR CLOSES DOORS!!!
-While we may strive to be the best…
-We give our all to be assertive, and go far in what we do…
-We expend all of our resources, time and energy…AND YET!
-We find that we are just spinning our wheels in the mud…
You know what I am talking about…If you do say…”That’s Right!”
“The Lord makes poor and rich; He brings low, He also exalts.”
“So that He sets on high those who are lowly, And those who mourn are lifted to safety.”
You see, it is God that still has the whole world in His hands…
-Not us…not our financial status…not our abilities or talents…not even our charisma…
We cannot trust in these things, or others, to get us where we want to go…
-Therefore, it is in Him whom we must trust, seek and obey…then we will see that God will be faithful and meet our needs, blessing, exalting, and lifting up…
Now, don’t misunderstand me and think that we have nothing to do with where we go and what we do become…
I do believe that we are a HUGE factor in that outcome…however; it ultimately rests upon the Lord…
-Remember…Faith, without works…
-And it is God who makes those choices, not us…
“But God is the Judge; He puts down one, and exalts another.”
We must be busy about doing the Father’s work…not OUR work!!!
You see, concern yourself for God and He will concern Himself for you!!!
God told this Church in Philly…”I know your deeds.” Vs. 8
Let this sink deep within you…
HE KNOWS YOUR DEEDS…
-However insignificant you may feel they are…HE SEES THEM!
-No matter what others may say about them, OR NOT say…HE STILL NOTICES THEM!
-Even regardless of what you feel about your own efforts…GOD STILL KNOWS YOUR HEART and SEES THOSE THINGS YOU DO FOR HIM!
My friends, no matter what we feel about ourselves…we must be busy about the Lord’s business anyhow…and He will bless you for it!
While we know that IT IS only God who exalts and brings low…then why do we still strive with our own strength to make things “happen” for us???