Prayer and Divine Response — Revelation 3:7-9

we see Jesus describing Himself as "he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth". In contemporary English, the word, "openeth" becomes "opens"; and the word, "shutteth" becomes "shuts". These two words are in the present continuous tense.

The implication is that at all times, Jesus closes and opens doors. When used in a symbolic sense scripturally, a door represents an opportunity as can be seen below: Colossians 4:3 (3) Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: In the above verse, a "door of utterance" is described, which presents an opportunity to "speak the mystery of Christ". Relating this to our focal scripture, we see that at all points and in all situations, Jesus keeps creating and closing opportunities for different people on earth and this is irrespective of whether they are saved or not.

The power of Jesus as long as opening and closing opportunities are concerned does not only affect believers but does affect everyone irrespective of class and status. This is because all power in heaven and on earth has been given to Him. However, there's a very slight difference between what Jesus said to the Philadelphian church and the prayer request made by Paul towards the Colossians.

While Jesus said, "I have set before thee an open door", Paul said, "Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance". So, Jesus was talking about opening a door before setting it for the Philadelphians whereas Paul was praying for a door to be opened. This brings us to two steps towards operating in an open door and they are: 1.

The door gets opened by prayer. 2. The door gets set by appropriating high supernatural power.

The most guaranteed way as far as getting God to open a door is concerned is prayer. And this prayer would not be made once. Let's examine something below: Colossians 4:3 (3) Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: Notice the phrase, "Withal praying".

"Praying" is in the present continuous form and attests to the fact that days, weeks, months, or even years of prayer might be required for a door to be opened. Also, by asking the Colossians to pray for an open door, Paul demonstrated the fact that corporate prayers might be required to open a positive door. The second thing that happens after getting a door opened is what Jesus described with the word, "set".

A door might be opened, but if not "set", the opportunity accompanying it would never be appropriated. The word "set" is used when an entity perfectly fits into another. Like, we can set squared pegs to squared holes or circular pegs to circular holes.

You would never be able to set a circular peg to a circular hole. So, when Jesus used the word, "set" to describe the open door, He showed that the door was well primed for the Philadelphian church. An example of a set door could be someone who needs a songwriter walking up straight to you who has mastered the art of songwriting for years.

The problem most people have on earth is that opportunities keep coming their way but these opportunities never look like anything they can take up. This is a classic case of a door NOT SET. We earlier saw that doors get opened through prayers, but how would setting the door take place?

Look at the scripture below: Revelation 3:8 (8) I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. Jesus gave reasons for setting the open door and that reason is, "for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name". There are three reasons and they are: 1.

You have a little strength. 2. You have kept my word.

3. You have not denied my name. God never gives opportunities to people who consider themselves strong.

You must maintain a "little" state before God. This "little" state is humility. Look at the scripture below: James 4:6 (6) But he giveth more grace.

Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Humility attracts a grace that makes you fit into every opportunity that comes your way. So many of you lost opportunities in the past because the people that would have given you those opportunities never felt humility coming out from you.

The second thing that primes you to fit into opportunities is a commitment to keeping God's word. God would never take blessing you seriously if you do not take obeying His word seriously. And finally, your faith in God must be unflinching even when things don't go your way.

The third requirement which reads thus, "you have not denied my name". Shows that before a divine opportunity comes, counterfeit and tempting opportunities would come and attempt to lure you away from the real opportunity coming your way. Without the above conditions, an individual discovers an unending circle of opportunities that would never be appropriated.

So, we see that while prayer might open a door, the power of God will never prime you to be set for that door without some physical qualities being present in your life. We can then say, A DOOR OPENS SPIRITUALLY, BUT CAN ONLY BE HARNESSED PHYSICALLY.