How Do You Know If GOD Closed the Door? John Giftah | Biblical Teaching

0:01 Speaker 1: Do you ever look around and think, wow, the world is a crazy place, and it just seems to get crazier and crazier? Ease your mind and take a break. This is Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We're a hub for inspirational Christian sermons, practical keys for Christian living and Christian discussions and interviews. You'll be inspired to live the life that you were created for. Your host is a top ranking podcaster, bestselling author, world record holder, aerospace engineer, life coach, evangelist and founder of John Gifta International.

0:41 Speaker 1: Welcome to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta.

0:46 Speaker 2: Hello everyone, welcome to this edition of the Fuel for the Soul with John Gifter podcast. It's such a joy for me to join you guys today. As you would have checked out that this week we are doing a series where we are looking at various lessons that we can take away from the incident recorded in Acts chapter 12. Okay, we are just looking at the first five verses and there is so much to unpack and so much to learn. Here is the thing I want you to understand to give you context of what the situation is about.

1:09 Speaker 2: Is that King Herod has just arrested Peter. Alright, he has just arrested Apostle Peter. And he wants to kill the Apostle Peter just like he just killed Apostle James. And here's the thing I want you to understand. Verse 5 says, The church prayed very earnestly for Peter. The church prayed very earnestly for Peter. Now, here's the thing I want you to understand, right? The church did not pray for James' resurrection. But they prayed for Peter's release. Have you ever thought about this? Because resurrection was still part of the Acts.

1:44 Speaker 2: Because it still happens even today, guys. In case you are not aware, not just in the charismatic circles, but resurrection of the dead happens even today. But here's the thing. Resurrection was still part of the book of Acts, right? Even the apostle Paul was able to resurrect a dead boy. So resurrection is still part of this. And here's the thing I want you to understand. The church did not pray for resurrection. James' resurrection, but they pray for Peter's release. Have you ever thought about why?

2:14 Speaker 2: Here's the thing. This is a very important lesson for us to learn, right? The lesson is how to differentiate between a contented door and a closed door. Because if you do not know this, you will always struggle. You will not know which one to fight for, which one to move on knowing it's a closed door. Because if you do not know that, you will always struggle. And that is what you need to understand. How did the church know that the Apostle James was a closed door? How did the church know that the Apostle Peter was a contented door that they need to pray for earnestly and not think that it's also a closed door?

2:51 Speaker 2: very simple when you look at the gospel according to john chapter 21 when you look at verses 18 to 19 that's a moment when jesus is talking to the apostle peter and this is what jesus is telling him all right he says truly i tell you when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted but when you are old you would stretch out your hands And someone else will dress you and lead you to where you do not want to go. And verse 19 says this. Okay, powerful. Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God.

3:25 Speaker 2: Now listen to this carefully. I want you to highlight the word where Jesus spoke to Peter and said, When you are old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will dress you and lead you to places you don't want to go. So Jesus was saying to Peter, you will be dying as an old man. So there was a divine word, a word of promise, a word from the Lord saying that Peter would not die now, but he would die as an old man. See, I want you to understand the key to differentiate between a closed door and a contented door is to get to that place where you're so intimate in your walk with the Lord, when you are so close to the Lord, when you can hear the voice of God, when you are able to discern divine counsel, then you will know that this was a closed door.

4:14 Speaker 2: James is a closed door. I don't know who needs to hear this. Some of you are still trying to fight for doors which God has closed. Stop expecting your James to raise back to life. James is a closed door. At the same time, some of you I've given up on those that God wants you to fight for. Oh, Peter, he's also gone in the same direction as James. No, God is asking you today to understand that this is not a closed door. This is a contented door that you need to fight for by prayer, by taking authority.

4:48 Speaker 2: So today my challenge is the same way the church operated from a place where they knew the difference between a closed door and a contented door because they were in sync with what the Lord was doing, what the Lord had spoken and what the Lord was showing. Today I pray in every area of your life, the Lord will show you.

5:05 Speaker 1: You know what?

5:05 Speaker 2: This relationship is a closed door. Move on from it. This particular opportunity is a contented door. Fight for it. The Lord is reminding you. So when you operate in sync with that, that's when you will see the hand of God leading you to the best part for your life. I really challenge you to leave a comment if you're checking this out on YouTube. And I want you to share this with someone so that you will be able to encourage them and bless them in their walk as well. Amen. See you next time. God bless you.

5:35 Speaker 1: You've been listening to Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. We hope you were blessed and inspired to live the life that God has for you. Make sure to subscribe to the John Gifta YouTube channel for regular uploads of sermons, skits, interviews, and more. Follow John Gifta on Instagram for regular inspirational posts. And don't forget to check out the best-selling books written by John Gifta, Who Am I?, which will help you understand your identity. And the latest number one bestseller, Unveil Your Purpose, helping you discover your purpose and to start walking in it.

6:09 Speaker 1: Make sure to leave a rating and review and be sure to share it with your friends and loved ones. If you'd like to donate, you can find the PayPal link in the description. And if you'd like to invite John Gifta to speak at your event or to get more details, go to the website at www.johngifta.com. See you on the next episode of The Fuel for the Soul with John Gifta. God bless you.