THE POWER OF A SHUT DOOR

In Revelation 3:7, God alludes to the power of the shut door. It is significant to understand that the shut door is just as much a move of God as the open one. It is the same mighty hand, and it is the same loving heart. It is an action predetermined by the wisdom of a Father who knows what is best. He does emphatically shut doors. We have not taught enough about the shut door. The mention of the "key of David" in this verse implies that the door is not just shut, but also locked. This is amplified when we se also that no one can open it. There is no purpose in trying to pray open, work open, or pry open what God has shut.

We know we're up against a shut door when it will not open. We know this seems obvious, because we often have to pray to get a door open when the enemy is trying to discourage us. Here's a simple way to tell the difference: If the door is just closed by the enemy, and he is trying to get us to give up on our dream, prayer and praise will unlock it. But if the door is closed by a sovereign decision of an all-wise God, and prayer and praise do not open it, then we must accept His decision.

That doesn't mean the door cannot be opened. It just means that no human can open it. If God doesn't open the door, it cannot be opened. If He doesn't do it, we don't want it to be done. By now we should know that He doess what is best for us. There is a difference between a door satan has jammed and a door God has locked.

The closed door is a blessing. Many people rejoice about the opening of doors. I guess that is a blessing, especially if we needed the door open and only God can do it. I understand why the heart sings when the hand of God moves obstacle out of the way. The eye can see the way made, and the feet begin to dance toward a brighter future.

But I want to challenge you to go a step further into understanding the deeper sovereign truth of a closed door. We can readily accept His authority when it is used to perform what we know to be a favor. The real challenge of submission is to submit when our human will wants to choose another way. This is the graduation exercise of faith and the commencement service of a trust for those whose dependency and reliance is upon the manifold wisdom of God. Never underestimate the power of a shut door!