Open The Gates Within You

Of course, our theme this year has been; “Open The Gates.”  I believe that there are gates that have been shut up or closed within us that God wants to open.  You may have dreams, visions, or aspirations for your ministry or your family that have been locked up for years and you’re trying to figure out, how in the world is this going to happen?  Be encouraged my friend… God’s word says; “Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.”  Philippians 1:6.  If you’re still breathing, those dreams, visions, and aspirations are still alive!

Gates hold things back… lock things out.  But our God has given us some keys to open those gates.  Jesus said to Peter; “And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  Matthew 16:19.  He also said; “For indeed, the Kingdom of God is within you.” Luke 17:21.  It’s the presence of the Holy Spirit within you that gives you the assurance of… “Hey, maybe I can do what He’s calling me to do!”  Faith requires two things; obedience and action.  We are the ones, working in concert with God, who turn the key to Open The Gates!

We all have limitations, in fact Dirty Harry once said; “A man’s got to know his limitations.”  But sometimes we cause our own limitations by allowing past sins, unfulfilled expectations, disappointments from people who have let us down, etc.  Now is the time to turn the key!

What gate have you allowed to be locked in your life?  I want to leave you with - 3 Keys to Opening Your Gates:

1. Believe what God has said about you - God says: “You are the head, not the tail: above only and not beneath.”  Deuteronomy 28:13.  “He is for you and not against you.” Romans 8:31.

2. Speak what God says about you - “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.  

3. Step into what God has shown you - “For we walk be faith and not by sight.”  II Corinthians 5:7.  This key in particular, is just as important as the first two.  In fact, I have found in my own life that if I don’t do what I am capable of doing (walking things out), then God can’t do what He has promised.  “Faith without works is dead.” James 2:17.

Turn the key and open your gates!