House of Hope Online

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Did you know that Jesus said what is before us is an open door and that He put it there?  When John was in exile on the Island of Patmos, here is what Jesus said to him in the Spirit.  It was a message for the angel in the church of ancient Philadelphia (present day Turkey).  Keep in mind this was a small church without great influence, but it was according to Jesus, faithful to the word of God.

While Jesus’ message was to the church, this word has tremendous implications for our individual lives.

Revelation 3:

 7 ¶ “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.

Jesus Is Our Doorman

Verse 7 explains that Jesus is doing the talking here.  He is holy and true, and He is the One who opens doors no one will shut, and shuts doors no one will open.  So, Jesus is the One who is in charge of the doors in your life.  If you are looking for a man, woman, or mentor in your life to open doors, you are looking in the wrong places.  Look to the One who is in charge of your doors!

Jesus Knows Our Deeds

Verse 8 is super loaded with power.  Jesus knows our deeds.  Let that sink in…He knows all our deeds.  He knows all our bad deeds, yet He still loves us and, when we humbly repent, He forgives us for all our sin.  But He also knows our good deeds.  We know our good deeds do not earn our salvation, but Jesus is saying He is aware of our deeds.  He is aware of the moments we showed compassion and forgiveness toward others, when we gave generously to others, when we chose life and not death, when we spoke into our children, when we gave others grace.  And He knows when we loved and chose mercy over judgment.  He knows all our deeds, and none of them are in vain.

Jesus Has Put before Us an Open Door

Jesus says in verse 8 that what is before us is an open door: “Behold, I have put before you an open door which no one can shut…”  This means even if it looks like a closed door, it is actually an open door.  If you have ever lost something in your life, such as a job you really want and need, you might be thinking how is that an open door?”  It is an open door because Jesus said it’s open.  But we must understand a few things about why Jesus puts an open door there for us.

Reasons for the Open Door

Verse 8 gives us three reasons Jesus has put before us an open door. 

The first reason you have an open door is “…because you have a little power…”  In the original Greek, the phrase “little power” means “little strength” or “little ability.”  Remember the church of Philadelphia was small and not very influential.  The scripture is referring to the humble spirit in the church, meaning it was Christ-centered and Christ-dependent for all things.  This is the attitude we must have as well if we hope to have Jesus place before us an open door.  If we are depending on ourselves or our own strength, or on others, there is no guarantee the door before us will be open.  This is especially true in our work lives.  We must fully and humbly trust Him as provider.

The Apostle Paul emphasized that there is power in our weakness when we humbly submit to Jesus:

2^nd Corinthians 12:

 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.

When we acknowledge we need Jesus because we have “little power,” then His power dwells in us, and He sets before us an open door.

The second reason given for the open door is “…because you…have kept My word…”  The church of Philadelphia, while small, was faithful to the word of God, and that is a big deal with Jesus because He is the Word!  Jesus will open doors for us if we are faithful to His word, if we do not compromise His word to get along in this life.  There is pressure today to compromise biblical principles and the doctrines of God, and this can be especially true in work situations.  If we keep His word, He will make sure the door in front of us is open even if it appears closed.

The third reason for the open door before you is “…because you…have not denied My name…”  This means you have not denied that you are a Christian in social situations, or work-related circumstances, or even before certain family members.  To be saved, you must “confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord.  Jesus is saying to us that our willingness to confess Him as Lord and Savior gives us a right to an open door, not a closed door.

And so, if we are humbly dependent on Jesus for all things, and if we stand steadfast in the word of God, and if we do not deny Him as Lord before others, He promises the door set before us will be an open door!  Glory to Jesus!

Significance of the Open Door

There is great significance to Jesus’ promise of an open door, and frankly, it goes way beyond financial provision.  Let’s revisit a passage we had last month from John 10 where Jesus told us He is the door before us:

John 10:

 9 “I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

 10 “The thief comes only to steal, and kill, and destroy; I came that they might have life, and might have [it] abundantly.

If we humbly enter into Jesus, if we commit to full reliance on Him, He promises our salvation, our freedom to go in and out, and pasture.  We said that pasture means a place to rest and eat.  That means provision of our basic needs, but verse 10 goes on to promise abundance in the face of the devil’s attempts to steal from us by causing closed doors.  Remember Jesus said He has placed before us an open door – it turns out He is that open door to an abundant life, which is more than financial prosperity.  It also includes true joy in our lives, and as we will see next, wisdom in the Spirit realm.

Revelation 4:

 1 ¶ After these things I looked, and behold, a door [standing] open in heaven, and the first voice which I had heard, like [the sound] of a trumpet speaking with me, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after these things.”

 2 Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne was standing in heaven, and One sitting on the throne.

In Revelation 4, John is telling us the door Jesus is talking about is a door standing open in Heaven, where the Spirit of God is inviting us to come in and see what will take place after these things.  Now the Holy Spirit was inviting John in to see the Book of Revelation, but the promise for us is that the door Jesus sets before us is a door though which we will see what is to come not only in terms of wisdom for job provision, etc. but also for a view of the events unfolding today in relation to end time prophecy.  This is especially relevant today with the new and emerging crisis in Israel.

And finally, in light of the recent attack on Israel and the progressing war, keep in mind also from Revelation 3, that in addition to the open door, Jesus promised to keep us from the hour of testing that is about to come upon the whole world.

Revelation 3:

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.

And the Spirit and the Bride say “Come!” (Rev 22:17)

Personal Testimony

I just want to close with a testimony from my family’s own experience.  When I separated from my first professional employer, it looked and felt like a tremendous door and provision had closed in my life.  As I look back today, I realize it was really an open door that Jesus placed before us.  It was a door not only to His provision, but also a door into His presence to see and grow into the Spirit realm. 

At the time my employment ended, I was a young father of four, and Nancy and I were responsible for raising and feeding those four.  I suffered from a poverty spirit and an orphan spirit of lack.  The devil tried to steal, kill, and destroy us with fear.  But Jesus knew our deeds – that we had had an abortion, and often were not faithful to Him, but He also knew that we accepted Him as Lord, and confessed and repented of our sin, and He forgave us.  He knew our good deeds as well, that we tried to raise our children in the Lord and tried to remain true to His word in all things. 

Jesus told us at that time He was the door to peace, rest, and provision, and an abundantly joyful life.  We chose to enter the door that Jesus placed before us.  Not only has He faithfully fulfilled His promises to provide all those things, but He has also invited us to “come up here” into the Spirit. 

We know today that any door that looks closed is not.  Jesus said He has placed before us an open door that no one can shut.  We simply need to enter that door and walk as He directs.  I hope these words are an encouragement to you.

Let us pray.

Father, thank You for Jesus’ promise that the door He has placed before us is open.  As the devil tries to show us closed doors, lead us by Your Spirit to enter in and rely solely on our Lord and Savior for all things, and to trust that He will open doors to provision and abundance that no one can close.  Draw us by the Holy Spirit to see the way we should go in our lives and to see what is to come in these end days.  In Jesus’ name, we pray.  Amen.