Sunday Service (2)

Sunday Service: An Open Door

(07-16-2022) Ptr. Lynard Molo

=An Open Door=

*Revelation 3:7-13
"7 "To the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: These are the words of him who is holy and true, who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.

•Philadelphia
-which means "brotherly love";
-it was backed by volcanic cliffs and though the land was rich and fertile from the volcanic residue, it was a dangerous place to live due to the many earthquakes experienced by the region.
-As a result, many of its inhabitants chose to live in huts outside the city in the open country.

+He is Set Apart, Perfect and Pure.
+He cannot lie, keeps His Word, fully trustworthy, at all times and in every way.
+Keys, locks and doors are signs of power and authority.
+He is Sovereign over all, all powerful and able to open and shut.

8 I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.

+Door of Opportunities

Are you disappointed because a door has closed in your life?

"A closed door doesn't mean that it's over for you."

•Remember, God doesn't close one door without getting ready to open another with BIGGER and GREATER things.

"An open door symbolizes the TRANSITION and passageway from one place to another."

What do you when you do when God opens a door?
1. Do not dwell on what you have.

*1 Corinthians 16:6-9
"6 Perhaps I will stay with you awhile, or even spend the winter, so that you can help me on my journey, wherever I go.
7 I do not want to see you now and make only a passing visit; I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
8 But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost,
9 because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.

+They were few, they have no power.

2. Keep His Word and remain faithful to Him.

9 I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars--I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you.

+Philadelphian church is small but powerful.

10 Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.

3. Hold on firmly to what you have.

"It is tempting to give up at the first, second or even the third closed door. But God expects us to persevere until the right open door is made known to us."

"Do not throw away your confidence, it will be richly rewarded."

11 I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.

"The closer we get to Jesus, the harder we must push to get there to finish our race."

12 Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of my God and the name of the city of my God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of heaven from my God; and I will also write on him my new name.

+Stability
+Strength

"It is the same for you who overcome. You will be made into a pillar in the temple of God. No matter what life sends you, what trials and temptations you have to face, you will never lose your faith. You will be able to bear anything."

+You will live inside the city permanently safe.
+Seal of ownership.

4. Be sensitive to what the Holy Spirit says.

13 He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches.