Please hold the door! – gospel sharing                                            

Acts 14:21-28 – ²¹ And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, ²² strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” ²³ So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. ²⁴ And after they had passed through Pisidia, they came to  Pamphylia. ²⁵ Now when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. ²⁶ From there they sailed to Antioch, where they had been commended to the grace of God for the work which they had completed. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 So they stayed there a long time with the disciples.

Paul and Barnabas have had it rough the last couple of Wednesdays

• Last week, Paul is stoned in Lystra and dragged out as dead, dude rises up and left for Derbe to preach where many are saved
• The week before that, he was in Iconium where they were being plotted to be stoned
• The Wednesday before that, they were in Antioch where they were ran off

But this did not deter them from preaching the word of God, and lives been changed everywhere they went

And now they are back, to the same place they were stoned and threatened

They have a calling and are willing to risk it all to accomplish it.

Vs. 22 strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 

• Help them by encouraging them
• We have to enter the kingdom of God, there is no option – AMP- its through many tribulations and hardships that we must enter the Kingdom of God

Vs.23 So when they had appointed elders in every church, and prayed with fasting, they commended them to the Lord in whom they had believed. 

• They helped them to get things in place
• They showed by example- Praying and fasting

Vs.27. Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 

• Praise God for what He had done
• God had opened the door and they made sure that they held the door open
• Are you holding the door?

God opened the door and He still has it opened. Jesus came and died and took the Key from hell and set the captives free

John 10: 9-10 I am the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. 10 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.

And God is always looking for someone to hold the door

Are you holding the door for anyone?

I see the Paul and Barnabas, risking their lives to open the door for these guys in Antioch, Lystra and Iconium

Is there anyone holding the door in Auburn, Federal Way, Tacoma…name it?

If I ask you, who are you pouring into…

Luke 12 ….  For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more

We have been given much, …Paul was given a second chance in life….

Have you been given a second chance (Jesus died on the Cross) and what are you doing with that life?

Are you holding the door for your family?

• Charity begins at home?
•  We can either bring blessing or curse to our families

Deuteronomy 7:7-9 The Lord did not set His love on you nor choose you because you were more in number than any other people, for you were the least of all peoples; 8 but because the Lord loves you, and because He would keep the oath which He swore to your fathers, the Lord has brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you from the house of [a]bondage, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. 9 “Therefore know that the Lord your God, He is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and mercy for a thousand generations with those who love Him and keep His commandments;

• This was Abrahams promise, because he was obedient

2 Samulel 7: 8- 13 “Now then, tell my servant David, ‘This is what the Lord Almighty says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, and appointed you ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have cut off all your enemies from before you. Now I will make your name great, like the names of the greatest men on earth. 10 And I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning 11 and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders[a] over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies. “‘The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: 12 When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever.

Are you holding the door for the people around you?

• Neighbor, work place, where you are planted?

Paul and Barnabas had a great love to see people’s lives transformed, they were not afraid to go back

• This was the same place they had been run off – How far are we willing to go
• We are quick to get away from where God has put us – The first sign of trouble we are gone

Eva and I story of the first days in Washington

God has opened the door, …. Are you willing to stay and keep holding the door?

• Are you joyfully holding the door?

Philippians 2:14-16 Do all things without [a]complaining and disputing,[b] 15 that you may become blameless and [c]harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

If anyone had a right to complain, it would have been Paul

Yet, vs 22- strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” 

How is my attitude when I am holding the door for others?

When is the last time I told myself that I was too tired, too busy to meet and pray with a brother?

Colossians 3:23- And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men

Are you holding the door so that you can be seen by others that you are holding it?

Is it a check in the box- I did a great thing today?

We have to focus on the greater reward – You may open the door for one person and that person can change the world

My story with Josiah

Vs. 27 Now when they had come and gathered the church together, they reported all that God had done with them, and that He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. He had opened the door of Faith

• And Paul and Barnabas – had kept the door open

Who held the door for you? – imagine if they didn’t have a good attitude

• There is a joy in being a doorman

A doorman or doorkeeper stands at a building’s front door as a form of security and a symbol of status…….

 It is an elegant career for an honest person.

Doormen are the first impression that someone gets of a building. They need to be appropriately groomed, well mannered, and have an overall clean appearance. This often means wearing a uniform and being abundantly welcoming. A good sense of humor, attention to detail, good service, and proper etiquette are important.

They are masters of customer service and communication. They perform their job at all hours with a smile on their face. Their main job is to act as a primary security system for the building… They learn the area and are able to give tips or directions to stores or restaurants.

As they learn the tenants, they also develop a professional relationship with them. An outgoing personality, good character, respect, and discretion help a doorman be a hit.

Ephesians 2:8-10 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

It’s easy to appreciate the position of the doorman when we just go it.

But over time, we switch positions and now we want someone else to hold the door for us

We need people in our lives, that say “Bro, are you too busy with work that you are sacrificing relationship – the very thing you have been called 

I need someone to remind me that no matter how long I am the doorman, there is someone considering to enter and I need to be ready to welcome them

Paul understood that this life was not his- It was a bonus

He had been lost, destined for death, BUT GOD

Now he holds the door for others- to share the hope that he has

We can be driven by our own desires, and those will only go so far…. but when God is our driving force ,

We then go back for those that were left in Antioch, Auburn, Federal Way, Tacoma, Puyallup

Who are you holding the door for today?

I needed this message more that you know!!!

gospel sharing

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