The Key of David
‘I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David; what he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.’ (Isaiah 22:22)
On whom will God place the key to the house of David?
‘“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.”‘ (Revelation 3:7)
It’s Jesus who holds the key of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open
‘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.’ (Revelation 3:8)
For the Church in Philadelphia, Jesus had placed before them an open door that no one can shut…
But what does it mean to have an open door placed before you by Jesus?
An Open Door to the Gentiles
‘On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles.’ (Acts 14:27)
Paul and Barnabas were set apart for the special work the Holy Spirit had called them to. After more fasting and prayer, the men laid hands on them and sent them on their way (Acts 13:1-3). As a result they spread the good news, made many disciples, formed churches and appointed elders across towns throughout Galatia. (see more on this pattern HERE!)
When they returned from their First Missionary Journey they reported back how God had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles…
A Great Door for Effective Work
On Paul’s Third Missionary Journey he spent considerable time in Ephesus where he saw considerable results;
‘But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.’ (1 Corinthians 16:9)
The key was that God had opened a great door for effective work even in the midst of opposition!
A Closed Door
As it says in Revelation 3:7; ‘”What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.”‘
Not only does Jesus open doors, he also closes them…
‘Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas
That night Paul had a vision: a man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there‘ (Acts 16:6-10)
An Open Door in Troas
Moving on from Ephesus, Paul went to Troas and again found an open door;
‘Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for me’ (2 Corinthians 2:12)
An Open Door to Rome and the World
The apostle Paul wrote to the Colossians during his imprisonment in Rome. He asks them to pray for them that God may open a door for their message
‘And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains.’ (Colossians 4:3)
We can petition God through our prayers to open doors for the message to spread more effectively…
Are you and your team praying for Open Doors in the places and amongst the people groups that you’ve been sent to?
Related Articles
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-How Jesus Impacted an Entire Region
-Spirit-Guided Breakthroughs that Lead to Movements
