I heard these words from the Lord recently:
"Tell My people I have given them the key to walk through open doors in the coming months. The doors that I have opened, no one can shut; and the doors that I have shut, no one can open. Humble yourselves therefore, and watch how I will turn things around for you!"
Indeed, people of God, the (good) doors that God has opened for you, no one can shut; and the (bad) doors that God has shut for you, no one can open! Many times, we sulk when things don't happen according to our own plans or ideals. We blame those who pray for us, and even blame God for not granting our own plans or ideals!
But little do we know that God has always been actively preventing evil from happening to us! Even right now, He is in the midst of shutting the (bad) doors for you - the doors that could have 'crushed' you, if you walk through them! He sees farther than us, and His ways are always higher than ours! (Isaiah 55:8-9) Your part is to humble yourselves, and let God be God!
For some of you who are going through a difficult time at the moment, take heart knowing that your God is not dead, but He is still very much alive in your situation. He knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10), and He can turn things around for you! The psalmist David wrote, 'I sought the Lord, and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces were not ashamed. This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles' (Psalm 34:4-6).
Let's go to the book of Isaiah now. In the days of King Hezekiah, there were two 'contrasting' personalities - Eliakim, a 'picture' of humility and fear of the Lord; and Shebna, a 'picture' of pride and self-glorifying. Shebna was initially the king's chief steward, having a high and honorable position. But he used it to glorify himself, and for selfish ambitions. Due to this, the Lord pulled down Shebna, and lifted Eliakim instead. Not only that, Eliakim was also given the key of the house of David, and he became the one to decide who could enter the king's chamber, and for whom the king's treasury was to be opened!
Isaiah 22:20-22 (NKJV) says, 'Then it shall be in that day, that I will call My servant Eliakim the son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your (Shebna's) robe and strengthen him with your (Shebna's) belt. I will commit your (Shebna's) responsibility into his hand. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. The key of the house of David I will lay on his shoulder; So he shall open, and no one shall shut; and he shall shut, and no one shall open'.
You may ask, "Why was the key laid on Eliakim's shoulder?" Those days, key was worn on the shoulder of those who possess official authority and power. And 'shoulder' speaks of one's position and responsibility. As cross-reference for 'shoulder', Isaiah 9:6 says, 'For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder...'
The name 'Eliakim' ('Elya-qiym' in Hebrew) is a very interesting name. This name consists of two words - 'El' meaning 'God'; and 'Quwm' meaning 'to rise up, to lift up'. As Eliakim continued to be submitted and yielded to the Lord, serving humbly before the Lord, and having the fear of the Lord, the time eventually came when the Lord opened the door for him, and turned things around for him!
People of God, the Lord is the same yesterday, today, and forever; and He is still in the midst of lifting up and raising up the 'Eliakims' of today! He is looking high and low for those who are willing to acknowledge His lordship in their lives! Not just some areas of their lives, but all areas of their lives!
You can see the same pattern during Jesus' days on earth! Matthew 16:13-17 says, 'When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" So they said, "Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered and said, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus answered and said to him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven."
In Matthew 16:18-19, Jesus then said to Simon Peter, "And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock (i.e. 'on this revelation and confession that Jesus is the Lord'), I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. 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."
In other words, Peter was given the keys, i.e. the access (or opening) to operate in the kingdom of heaven; and whatever he 'locks' in the earthly realm will be 'locked' in the spiritual realm, and whatever he 'unlocks' in the earthly realm will be 'unlocked' in the spiritual realm! Such was the authority given to Peter!
You see, it all started when Peter began to acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Son of the living God! Peter was blessed, because he gave Jesus the full say in his life, and the lordship over all areas of his life! And you know what? All that the Lord had spoken into his life eventually came to pass! Hallelujah!
