Sheryl Brady - Discerning Doors

I want to go right into the Word this morning; just remain standing for a moment as we read. I want to take you to Revelation chapter 3. I’m going to read from the New Living Translation. I want to read a couple of verses from the book of Revelation chapter 3, and we’re going to begin reading. God is speaking to His churches in this book, and I want to talk to you today as He does. I want to read where He spoke to the Church of Philadelphia. While you’re finding that, or while they’re getting ready to put it up on the screen, I want to thank all of you who have brought school supplies and blessed our house so that we could be a blessing to children. I also want to especially thank Mini’s Food Pantry because yesterday they filled my daughter’s car with more backpacks, and all of them were loaded with school supplies. I mean, the trunk, the back seat, the front seat—everywhere you looked there were backpacks. I’m grateful! I love to partner with people who partner back with us, and that’s what they did. Let’s thank God for Mini’s Food Pantry. Cheryl said, «I just want to be a blessing to my church.» She would say, «I want to be a blessing to my church.» As we have them today, I want you to feel free to take them if you need them because I believe that we’re going to send our kids off in the right direction this year. I don’t want them lacking anything. I don’t know why I keep going there; I just don’t want them to lack anything—no financial lack, no intellectual lack—nothing lacking, nothing missing, nothing broken. Hallelujah! Thank you, Jesus! I thank God for people like you, all of you who have helped us do what we do here in the Potter’s House North. Let’s begin reading today at the seventh verse. The Bible says, «Write this letter to the angel of the church in Philadelphia. This is the message from the One who is holy and true, the One who has the key of David. What He opens, no one can close, and what He closes, no one can open.» He goes on to say, «I know all the things that you do, and I have opened a door for you that no one can close. You have little strength, and yet you have obeyed My word and you did not deny Me.» He said, «I know you. I know all about you; I know you inside out. I know you don’t have a lot of strength, but I also know that you obeyed what I told you to do and did not deny Me.» He said, «I know all the things you do, and I have opened a door.» Somebody shout, «A door!» that no one can close! When I tell you I feel like it’s going to be a year of acceleration for your kids, I believe it’s going to be a year of acceleration for us. You may say, «Well, this sounds like New Year’s.» It can be a new year if you want it to be, and it’s just like God saved the best for last. I said He could save the best for last, and I believe that because of what God is getting ready to do in our lives, we now need to have a spirit of discernment more than ever. So today, I want to talk about a simple subject: discerning doors. Discerning doors, because God can open up so many, so fast, that you absolutely have to know what the mind of God is because you can’t go in every direction. I said you can’t go in every direction, but I believe He’s going to enable us to discern the doors that He is opening in our lives. Spirit of God, I thank you for the spirit of expectation that is in this room. I thank you because you promised us that our latter house would be greater than the former, and I thank you that no matter what it might look like today in this place or in our lives, your plan will prevail, and your purpose will prevail. We understand that we are buffeted from time to time on the left and on the right, but it is in those moments that we choose to declare that you are God, you are holy, you are worthy, and you are still on your throne. Now today, Father, I don’t know every need in this room, but you do, so speak, Lord, so that every man, woman, boy, and girl will know that they’ve heard your voice. Use me, if you can use me any way that you want to, and I’ll give you the glory. In Jesus’ name, somebody say Amen! On your way down, hit somebody and tell them, «Discerning the doors! Discerning the doors!» I also want to make a quick announcement while I’m thinking about it: we have determined that this is our year of great growth, and we are growing in our church, we’re growing in our lives, we’re growing on the left and on the right. Some of you are growing families, and I am just grateful for all the great growth. I am excited to announce to you that next Saturday at 11 a.m. (I was not necessarily going to open this; I’m sorry, what did I say, p.m.? Did I say p.m.? Do not come out here at 11 p.m.—you will be so sorry if you do!) But at 11 a.m., we are going to have a meeting.