Doors and Keys

To the Spirit filled the observer the recent changes we have seen in geopolitical organizations, in world economic events, and in the earth realm signal at time of great change.

When we see doors opening in the spirit realm, it speaks of a time of change, transition or opportunity for the believer. Many people have heard the saying “God will not close the door unless He opens a window”.

 Many of us have experienced a change or a transition in our personal lives, our business affairs, or our level of spirituality since the beginning of the year.  We have heard from numerous prophetic sources that we are passing through a narrow place, and just recently Apostle Patricia mentioned that we are either being stretched, pressed, squeezed or sifted in regards to our walk with God, and in order to move us through from the place where we currently are into the new place that God would have us realize. 

Genesis 4 verse 7 says:  If you do well shall you not be accepted?  And if you do not do well sin is crouching at the door.  Its desire is for you but you must rule over it.

Since the fall of man in the garden, sin has been crouching at the door.  Keeping our wicks trimmed and our armor battle ready will help to prevent sin from taking root, or gaining a foot hold in our lives. 

It is equally important that all known that sins should be repented of, rebuked, dismissed and that we plead the blood of Jesus to cover them. This will ensure that we are ready for that which God has in store since by keeping a clean slate, we are given all authority to rule over sin, and we must exercise that authority.  Authority left unexercised becomes complacency and complacency will inevitably allow sin to creep in.

John chapter 10 verse 7 says, so Jesus again said to them “truly, truly I say to you I am the door of the sheep”

Since Jesus is our good shepherd, it is important that two things be realized in every believer’s life.  The first is that we are the sheep.

  If we don’t recognize ourselves as the sheep of the flock of God we will continue to be unruly and undisciplined.  A sheep may have a tendency to wander or be inattentive, but our shepherd will place a guard around us. 

The second thing that we must keep in mind is that Jesus is our shepherd.  This means that anything which we can think, conceive or dream of, which we know will not measure up to of His standard is outside the boundaries of allowance. 

We must be mindful of the shepherd’s crook and the shepherd’s rod.  The crook is for rescue, and direction but the rod is ever waiting for those who will not accept direction and instead insist on correction. 

All of us, who have felt the rod of correction in chastisement, have learned that obedience is better than sacrifice particularly when that sacrifice involves another trip to the woodshed.

Revelation 3 verse 8 says, “I know your works.  Behold I’ve set before you an open door which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power and yet you have kept my word and not denied my name”

This verse speaks of the open door which Christ has set before us within the Spirit. All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial.  The Spirit dwelling in us will give us the discernment to understand that which is beneficial and that which is toxic for us.

 Jesus says he knows that we have but little power. We cannot go in our own power or in our own strength. We require the strength and the power of the Holy Spirit to guide our every move.

  I can remember what it was like before pre-salvation when I tried to accomplish all things within my power. Everything had to be measured in either the win or the loss column. I can assure you my losses vastly outweighed my victories.

It is so much easier with Jesus as I can now measure everything by the leading of the Holy Spirit and in accordance with the wishes of God.  The Spirit within is quick to convict when I get it wrong.

Jesus goes on to say “yet you have kept my word and not denied my name”. This is an assurance to us that that keeping of the word of God is evidence of our alignment with him, and of our authority which comes from being a blood bought member of the family.  We all know those who have denied the name of God in spite of our best efforts.  We know how they have given themselves over to the control of the evil one.  There is no middle ground.

 Isaiah 22 verse 2 talks about the keys when it says, and I will place on his shoulder the key of the house of David he shall open and none shall shut; and he shall shut and none shall open.

  This key also is in our possession. The key of David speaks of our authority in Christ over the earth realm. Just as Jesus was given authority in all heavenly places, so too we have authority over the earth realm to command the specified will of God in situations.

  The verse refers to Jesus as opening and none shall shut, as He makes the hearts of men visible to us. He opens their hearts so that we can see the motives of others to determine whether they are Godly or carnal.

He opens the way for us to travel without concern for our own well-being or safety, yet expects us to take prudent steps to ensure that we do not travel in areas where He does not want us to go.

 When the verse refers to the fact that he shut and none shall open, He himself is declaring protection over us giving us the shield of faith with which we can quench all the fiery darts of the enemy. Jesus has shut the power of the evil one against us to do us harm that would take us outside the boundaries of His love. God’s provision in Christ has and will shut the mouths of detractors who seek to speak against him by speaking against us. No earthly power can open that which he has closed.

Revelation 3 verse 7 says “and to the angel of the church of Philadelphia write the words of the holy one, the True One who has the key of David Who opens and no one will shut Who shuts and no one will open.

The angel the church of Philadelphia speaks of heavenly scribes or heralds who declare the word and will of the Lord. It refers to Jesus’ words and stamps God’s authenticity upon them.

 First it refers to the “words of the holy one” since realistically the holy one is the only one who can produce words which cannot be denied.  Referring to the true one, by His life, death and resurrection Jesus proved himself to be the true one the only one who truly ever followed His Father’s wishes to death and resurrection.

It also gives us a true picture of that which awaits us. We can live our lives to glorify our Heavenly Father, and death which has lost its sting claims us but for an instant, then we’re reborn in a glorious and heavenly body and welcomed into the company of the saints.

The doors which speak of change and transition are opening even now upon our better selves, upon our future selves and upon the selves which we are to become.  We cannot live in the future we can only live in the now, in obedience to the will of God. 

As we seek the will of God in prayer, through prophetic utterance by those around us who speak God’s truth with men’s voices and in the words of scripture we will move us forward into that place which God has already prepared for us. 

The exercise of faith is that which makes it joyfully possible to move forward according to God’s speed neither running ahead of your lagging behind His purpose.

It is equally important to remember that when the door opens and we’re sure that it is God, it’s important to step through it. God will not force us to move ahead, but He cannot bless us with the new if we are willing to lag back in the old. If it is a family circumstance which is seemingly preventing us from moving forward, it’s important to take that step through The Gate of Faith regardless, because it’s by stepping forward that God can begin to bless us.

We have been given the keys of faith, belief and prayer, exercising our spirit towards God, and using the key of praise to joyfully praise that which is to come. Unlocking our future it’s equally important to remember that the keys have already been given to us as they were given unto Christ at his resurrection.

The keys to the whole shooting match belong to us. We show ourselves to be steadfast, spirit filled believers who are ready to use the keys to move us forward.

I heard a story of a man who retired early at 62 years of age. When meeting with friends for a celebratory dinner he announced his intention to go back to school and get a degree. His friend said “don’t you realize you’ll be 66 by the time you graduate?”  He replied with a smile “I’ll turn 66 anyway”, at least this way I’ll get the degree I want!

What matters is that we use the time that we have been given. It is of no use to God or us if we fritter it away.

We need to use the keys that we have been given, to exercise our authority. We have been commanded to walk in the Kingdom and expand God’s plan. We must step through the doors which God places in front of us with the assistance of the Holy Spirit and in the power of the shed blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.