Apr. 24, 2022

TRUSTING GOD TO OPEN DOORS

I will make the Valley of Trouble a door of hope.  Hosea 2:15b

“God, by his mighty power at work within us, is able to do FAR MORE than we would ever dare to ASK or even DREAM - infinitely beyond our HIGHEST PRAYERS, DESIRES, THOUGHTS, or HOPES.”  Ephesians 3:20 (LB) 

Jesus: “I know all the things you have done (for my church). So now, I have placed before you AN OPEN DOOR that no one can shut!”  Revelation 3:8  

Paul: “There is a WIDE-OPEN DOOR for a great work here, and MANY people are responding!” 1 Corinthians 16:9

D ETERMINE TO LOVE FIRST!

Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God.  But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.  God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him.  This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.  Dear friends, since God loved us that much, we surely ought to love each other.  No one has ever seen God. But if we love each other, God lives in us, and his love is brought to full expression in us. 1 John 4:8-12

O BEY CHRIST’S COMMISSION!

Jesus’ Great Commission: “I have been given complete authority in heaven and on earth. So, GO and make disciples of ALL the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. And teach these new disciples TO DO everything I’ve commanded you. And be sure of this: that  I am with you always, until this age is finished!”   Matthew 28:19-20

John: “And in heaven I saw a huge crowd, too huge to count! People from everywhere were there – from every nation, EVERY TRIBE, every race, and every language! And they were standing there thanking God in front of the throne

Jesus: “This Gospel WILL be preached in the WHOLE world as a witness to ALL nations, and then the end will come.” Matthew 24:14                                              

O UTSHINE THE DARKNESS!

“Don’t let evil defeat you; instead overcome evil by doing good!”  Romans 12:21

“Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then no one can accuse or blame you. Live as God's children without fault, like a breath of fresh air in a polluted and perverted culture. You are to shine like bright stars in a dark world, as you offer the Word that gives Life...until Christ comes back.”   Philippians 2:14-16

Jesus: “You are the Salt of the earth! Be careful not to lose your saltiness!  And you are also the Light of the world! So don’t hide your light! ...Instead shine out brightly so that people may see the good things you do and end up praising your Father!”                      Matthew 5:13-16         

R EFRESH EVERYTHING!

Jesus: “Much is required from those to whom much has been given, and EVEN MORE is required from those to whom EVEN MORE has been given!”  Luke 12:48

Jesus: “I WILL build my church, and the gates of Hell will not overcome it!”   Matt 16:18  

“We are joined together in Christ’s Body. By connecting all of the joints and ligaments in his Body, God causes it TO GROW as He WANTS it to GROW!”    Colossians 2:19    

S ERVE PEOPLE IN PAIN

“When Jesus looked at the massive crowds, his heart broke. He was moved with DEEP COMPASSION because their pain and problems were so great, and they didn’t know what to do or where to go for help. They were HOPELESS AND HELPLESS, like sheep without a shepherd.”  Matthew 9:36    

“If you say to a person in pain, ‘God be with you! I hope you stay warm and get plenty to eat,’ but you do not give that person whatever they need, your words are worth nothing!”  James 2:16 (NCV)  

“God comforts us anytime we suffer any kind of trouble. Then, when other people suffer some kind of trouble, we can be there and able to serve them, using the same comfort that we received from God when we were in pain.”     2 Corinthians 1:4 (GW)

GOD: “This is what I’m going to do in the last days: I’ll pour out my Spirit on EVERYONE: your SONS & DAUGHTERS will proclaim my message; Your YOUNG men will see visions, and your OLD men will dream new dreams. Yes, even on ALL my servants, both MEN and WOMEN, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will proclaim my message!”   Acts 2:17-18 (TEV)