When God Shuts a Door!

INTRODUCTION

A few months ago, I was reading through Revelation 3, and a particular phrase in Revelation 3: 7 caught my attention. Let me read the verse for us: 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. (Rev. 3:7)

As I paused and pondered on the expression – “What He Shuts No One Can Open” I began to study instances of closed doors in the Bible. I realized that God’s closed doors are a blessing in disguise.

• Closed doors tests faith, and builds perseverance. Waiting for the Lord is sometimes hard, but it could be a means by which we learn patience and trust.
• Closed doors may prevent mistakes. Sometimes we might not have all the information we need, to make a wise decision, so God blocks the way.
• Closed doors may result in better fruit, more satisfaction and greater glory to God.

Most of us have prayed asking God to open doors for us. We all have testimonies of how God miraculously and super-naturally opened doors in our lives. While, we are grateful to God for these prayer answers and testimonies; this morning, I would like to focus on doors that God sovereignly shuts, in order to fulfil His purposes in our lives. I have entitled this sermon as, “When God Shuts a Door!” (Revelation 3:7)

I would like to draw your attention to three separate passages in the Scripture, where “God Shut a Door” – in one case He did it literally, in the other two figuratively – and yet how these shut doors proved to be a great blessing!

1. DIVINE PRESERVATION (Genesis 7:16)

16 The animals going in were male and female of every living thing, as God had commanded Noah. Then the Lord shut him in. (Genesis 7:16)

Let me draw our attention to the first passage:

In the story of Noah, building the Ark, we read a rather strange expression. After Noah does everything that God commanded him to do, we read in Genesis 7:16 that “the Lord shut the door of the ark!” I would like to look at this closed door as Divine Preservation.

When we read the story of Noah, we see

• that Noah obeyed God
• He built the ark exactly as God commanded him
• He preached and warned his generation about the imminent judgement
• He and his family bore the ridicule and ignominy of the people, who treated his message with contempt.
• As diligent as he was, there was one thing he did not do. The text reminds us that it was the Lord that shut them in!

What is that protected Noah and his family?

• It was not the Gopher wood
• It was not the size of the ark
• It was not the craftsmanship

I read these lines somewhere, “Amateurs built Ark – Professionals built the Titanic!” That is food for thought!

What preserved Noah and his family?

The fact that the Lord shut the door of the ark! It is important to recognize that sometimes shut doors are ways through which we are protected by the Lord from impending danger.

Let me draw your attention to another story of divine preservation in the Old Testament –

When the final plague came upon Egypt, where the Egyptians would lose their first-borns….look at the promise given to the Israelites. We read in Exodus 11:7 (NIV) – “But among the Israelites not a dog will bark at any person or animal.‘ Then you will know that the LORD makes a distinction between Egypt and Israel.”

What is that kept Israel safe as they sojourned in the wilderness?

It was the Pillar of cloud by day and the Pillar of fire by night (Exodus 13:21) – Both of these pillars represented God’s sovereign presence…

When we read through the book of Job, in Satan’s dialogue with God, Satan points out that there was a hedge of protection around, Job, his family and his possessions. (Job 1:10.) – A hedge of protection – a protective covering over Job’s life, his family and possession! We read a similar promise by God to His people during the exile – Zechariah 2:5 – And I myself will be a wall of fire around it,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will be its glory within.’ – A Wall of Fire (Talk about protection).

Consider this:

What has protected our lives over the years? I believe that each one of us have been protected through divine preservation! Some of us have experienced near death experiences… I can personally recall two specific instances

• Falling into a pit in a pond in Kancharapara (1992) – a group from church had gone for an outing / we were walking around in a pond / when all of a sudden, I fell into a pit / At that time, I did not know how to swim / Someone saw me disappear and pulled me out of that pit….right in time!
• Nearly Falling under an electric train (1998) in the outskirts of Kolkata – I was returning after a time of ministry. A lapse of concentration, I nearly came under an electric train. I was crossing the railway track, and missed coming under a speeding train.

I have personally experienced divine preservation. I am sure, you too may have similar testimonies.

Thank God for Divine Preservation!

I would like to look at another example of a closed door: Let me draw our attention to the second passage:

2. DIVINE PREPARATION (Acts 16:6-10)

This story is taken from the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey – I would like to highlight two verses in Acts 16 vs 6 & 7.

⁶ Paul and his companions travelled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. ⁷ When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. ⁸ So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. ⁹ During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” ¹⁰ After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

Acts 16:6-10 (NIV)

Normally, when we read of obstacles, barriers, problems, delays in the ministry…we often ascribe it to forces of darkness resisting or coming against the work of God! In this passage, we see something unique – it is the Holy Spirit that prevents Paul from going to Asia and later to Bithynia.

If we study this passage carefully, we realize that the Time was not Right – verse 6 (Province of Asia) – When we study the background of this text, we realize that Paul had wanted to go to Asia in about 50 AD. It would be close to two years later that God would open this door by taking him to Ephesus! A CLEAR INSTANCE OF DIVINE PREPARATION!

Acts 19:8-10 (Ephesus) – ⁸ Paul entered the synagogue and spoke boldly there for three months, arguing persuasively about the kingdom of God. ⁹ But some of them became obstinate; they refused to believe and publicly maligned the Way. So, Paul left them. He took the disciples with him and had discussions daily in the lecture hall of Tyrannus. ¹⁰This went on for two years, so that all the Jews and Greeks who lived in the province of Asia heard the word of the Lord.

The Holy Spirit knows the entire road map for our life, so we should always follow His prompting. Closed doors could redirect our walk, God will not leave a willing servant with nothing to do!  As Paul and his companions were sensitive to the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we see them entering Europe with the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Second place that Paul wanted to visit was Bithynia (vs 7). Many years later we see, the Apostle Peter writing to the saints in Bithynia.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,

1 Peter 1:1

We don’t know who took the gospel there – but the fact that there were saints in Bithynia, brings home an important truth: Sometimes the task that we want to complete, maybe a God-given assignment for someone else. It is better to trust in God’s sovereign purpose for each of our lives!

Have you encountered a shut door recently? Maybe God is preparing you for that assignment. He will open that door at the appointed time – His Kairos moment or the opportune time……. Because He is the God, who knows the end from the beginning! Amen.

Thank God for Divine Preparation!

3. DIVINE PROMOTION (Genesis 40:23)

Let me draw our attention to the third illustration of a closed door: I would like to look at an instance in the life of Joseph in the Old Testament. We read how Joseph experienced several twists and turns in his life, before he finally embraced his divine destiny. A verse that stands out for me, in the story of Joseph is Genesis 40:23. This is what it reads – The chief cupbearer, however, did not remember Joseph; he forgot him.

Those two years spent in Potiphar’s prison must have been the darkest days of Joseph’s life. These years are passed over by the author of Genesis in complete silence. If Joseph were ever down in the dumps, it could have been now. Joseph’s rising hopes were dashed upon the rocks of reality for the last time.

As he gained power and position in the house of Potiphar, Joseph might have hoped that he could appeal to his master so that at some point he could be freed to return to his father’s house. His purity in the matter of Potiphar’s wife instead of helping him brought him to the dungeon. Then that glimmer of hope, when Joseph interpreted the dream of the cupbearer. Perhaps at first the cupbearer intended to keep his promise, but never found the right moment to mention the injustice meted out to Joseph.  Two years of silence from the palace might have eroded away what little hope that remained.

As I pondered on Genesis 40:23, it struck me that if the cupbearer had spoken on behalf of Joseph to Pharaoh, at the most Joseph would have been released. Where would Joseph be?

The story would have been a lot different. He would have been released, but in a foreign land, after spending the prime of his youth in prison, with nothing concrete to look forward to! Instead, when God opened that door two years later – it would result in the fulfilment of a divine promise! An example of DIVINE PROMOTION!

Have you encountered a closed door lately? Closed doors buy us time – we are not always as prepared for the new assignment, as we like to think we are – we may not be always ready! God in His wisdom may temporarily hold back an opportunity for service until we are ready for it.

Let me conclude

CONCLUSION

In a world of fast-food meals, high-speed Internet and quick solutions, waiting is tough. Sometimes, if we do not get a quick answer to our problems—wanting a child, a spouse, a new job, a house – we feel discouraged. Where is God? Has he forgotten us? No, God has not forgotten us! We may be caught in a “divine delay,” a time of waiting which holds a purpose and is an opportunity to learn enduring lessons.

A closed door could be a useful tool for spiritual growth. Remember, God’s ultimate goal for us as believers, is not our comfort but our character. God wants to mould those of us who are His children into His image and He can use anything, including not granting what we desire, in order to do so!

Sometimes God looks at us and through that closed door says, “My child, my time is not yet come!” It is important to recognize that Divine Delays are not Denials! Remember, God makes everything beautiful in His time (Ecclesiastes 3:11). It is not your time or my time, but His time – in the fullness of time!

When God Shuts a Door –

• It could be for DIVINE PRESERVATION
• It could be for DIVINE PREPARATION
• It could be for DIVINE PROMOTION

Remember, the doors which God shuts in our lives, is always for our good and for His glory!  Thank God for Shut Doors. May God continue to teach us through His Word and His Spirit! Amen.