“These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth: and shutteth, and no man openeth.” Revelation 3:7
Dear Ones:
What is the essential element to consider when we look at doors that God opens, and those that He closes? We might first say that it concerns primarily the will of God. This is true, for God reveals His glory in opening doors only according to His design and purpose. Along side this issue of the will and purpose of God is the fundamental reason for which God, in His sovereignty, can create an opportunity for the Gospel, or for service, in a context of unbelief and even resistance. It is the element, and bedrock, of His authority. That authority is not just His power to overcome all resistance to it, in order to accomplish His work. There is also the right, and choice, that is His to declare that He will certainly accomplish it. An example of this is seen in the Lord Jesus’ words, when He was speaking of laying down His life. He said, “No man taketh it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of My Father.” (Jn. 10:18) The Father, according to His good and perfect will, gave the Lord Jesus a commandment to lay down His life. There was with that commandment, the authority and power of God given to the Son in order to accomplish it. With respect to opening doors of opportunity, or closing them, the authority and power of God are operative always, and in accordance with the revealed will of God.
In the book of Isaiah, we find mentioned the name of a king who was to come upon the stage of history, to play a unique role in the rebuilding of the temple, and city of Jerusalem. His name was Cyrus. In light of the opposition, both physical and spiritual, in his day, the Lord would give him a knowledge of God’s declared relationship with him. God called him His servant, whom He would take by the right hand. His purpose was to subdue nations, and “loose the loins of kings.” (Is. 45:1) What does this mean? We might find a parallel in what Jesus said when He spoke of “binding the strong man” in order to enter his house. It is essential that there be an overcoming of the power of the enemy, in order that there can be the breaking through the “gates of hell,” or those points of resistance by the enemy. For Cyrus, God’s promise to him was that HIS authority would be operative to overcome all the powers of darkness, in order to give to Cyrus victory over his enemies. It is in the overcoming of his enemies, that God would, “…open before him (Cyrus) the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut.” (v.2) The God who opened up the door of opportunity to conquer, is also the Guardian who keeps that opportunity in place.
In the book of Revelation, in the Lord’s letter to the believers in Philadelphia, the same authority promised to overcome the enemy, and was operative in their behalf, is declared by the words: “I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it.” (3:8) Later on in the letter God will reveal the nature of this authority when He declares that He will make them of the synagogue of Satan…to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee. (v.9) Herein is the sovereign, and supreme, power and authority of God revealed, over all the power of the enemy.
The manifestation of God’s intervention in our lives, to open and close doors, for which we are trusting Him, is one way by which we come to know Him. The question then becomes, are we earnestly, specifically trusting the Sovereign God for His purposes to be revealed in opening His doors?
Dear Father, Open to us “doors of utterance” (Col. 4:3), to speak of Christ.” In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Love, Dad