Doorway Maker

For many years it was unheard of that someone other than a computer scientist could utilize a computer’s power. Contrary to what our children today can even fathom, life actually existed and moved along quite apart from personal computers, tablets, video games and cell phones. Most people were very comfortable and secure with the use of hand written notes, face to face conversations, and board games. As new devices were invented, their acceptance and use were dependent on how they would bring ease and pleasure to life. Even for the most resistant, old-school holdouts, if the door to greater things could be opened by simply offering the ability to go anywhere and call anywhere with a phone, then each nifty function added to that device might be open for acceptance as well. The embrace of greater things offered by technology has led to hardware and software advances way beyond anything imaginable. This has also resulted in financial benefits to their creators that have lifted them to the top of the world’s wealthy. With the presentation of a single wonderful, elevated experience of life, a way is made into a whole realm of even greater things that must be had.

Jesus came into a world that was quite used to and accepting of the things already in place – either religious and philosophical ideologies or gratifications of the flesh. What He came to provide, though, was real life, life more abundant, life with much greater things. Everywhere He went, this is what He was about, getting those who were already ensconced in their own perceptions to accept a better way. By the Spirit He began to touch lives with wonderful and amazing miracles and declarations beyond the possibility of natural human explanation. With each person He encountered, there was a purpose way beyond a single impression, though. If He could just get them to walk through the door of belief, there was no end to what they would be able to see. Following His physical departure from the earth, the ability to touch individual lives with an opening to the impossible was given to Jesus’ disciples. With the filling of the Spirit was the gifting of abilities to proclaim and demonstrate things that were far greater than human explanation. It was with each resulting opening of a heart that much of the world was opened to even greater things than any could have thought possible. The Holy Spirit’s outpouring became the doorway maker for acceptance of the gospel and its whole new way of life.

Notes

Pentecost

Acts 2:1-21 1 When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2 Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. 4 All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. 5 Now there were staying in Jerusalem God-fearing Jews from every nation under heaven. 6 When they heard this sound, a crowd came together in bewilderment, because each one heard their own language being spoken. 7 Utterly amazed, they asked: “Aren't all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 Then how is it that each of us hears them in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes and Elamites; residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya near Cyrene; visitors from Rome 11 (both Jews and converts to Judaism); Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the wonders of God in our own tongues!” 12 Amazed and perplexed, they asked one another, "What does this mean?" 13 Some, however, made fun of them and said, “They have had too much wine.” 14 Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd: "Fellow Jews and all of you who live in Jerusalem, let me explain this to you; listen carefully to what I say. 15 These people are not drunk, as you suppose. It's only nine in the morning! 16 No, this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: 17 "‘In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams. 18 Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy. 19 I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below, blood and fire and billows of smoke. 20 The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord. 21 And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’

Jesus opens heart door with demonstration of the Spirit:

John 1:45-51
45 Philip found Nathanael and told him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law, and about whom the prophets also wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” 46 "Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?" Nathanael asked. “Come and see,” said Philip. 47 When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, "Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit." 48 “How do you know me?” Nathanael asked. Jesus answered, "I saw you while you were still under the fig tree before Philip called you." 49 Then Nathanael declared, “Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.” 50 Jesus said, "You believe because I told you I saw you under the fig tree. You will see greater things than that." 51 He then added, "Very truly I tell you, you will see ‘heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending on’ the Son of Man."

Our promise – greater things for opening of doors by the Spirit.

John 14:11-12
11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

Promise fulfilled

Acts 3:6
6 Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

It’s possible to operate in a gift of the Spirit without any validating fruit of the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Greater things opened up when edified

1 Corinthians 14:1-4
1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy. 2 For anyone who speaks in a tongue does not speak to people but to God. Indeed, no one understands them; they utter mysteries by the Spirit. 3 But the one who prophesies speaks to people for their strengthening, encouraging and comfort. 4 Anyone who speaks in a tongue edifies themselves, but the one who prophesies edifies the church.

The door to the greater things of the Spirit kept open in prayer.

Jude 1:18-21
18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit. 20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God's love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.

Walking through the Spirit’s door takes people to a whole new way of life.

Matthew 17:20 20 He replied, "Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."