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YOUR THOUGHTS
The KNOCK Key
Submitting Your Mind To Jesus Through Love
Luke 6:38 (NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” A powerful, intimate relationship with God is awesome! As you grow in your relationship with Him, your MIND and your heart are blessed with all kinds of information, understanding, wisdom, and emotions. But, the greatest blessing comes your way when you share all this with others. You get blessed when Jesus meets your needs; and, you get blessed when Jesus uses you to bless others. This flow of the wonderful things of God makes the Christian life the most exciting way to live. But, as you go around sharing, not everyone will want what you have to share.
You Have To KNOCK
KNOCKING is an important part of ASKING and SEEKING. The more Jesus blesses you, the more you want to tell someone about it. So, before you learn the principle of KNOCKING, you may run out into the world and start sharing it with anyone and everyone. Acts 9:22-23 (NIV) Yet Saul grew more and more powerful and baffled the Jews living in Damascus by proving that Jesus is the Christ. After many days had gone by, the Jews conspired to kill him,
If you KNOCK, you will be at the right place, at the right time, doing and saying the right things, to the right people. KNOCKING opens doors of opportunity for you to FIND those people who WANT what you are offering. You don’t want to go around sharing and never get any results. Without KNOCKING, you will be using the trial-and-error process. YOU will be the one deciding who to share your breakthroughs with.
But When You KNOCK....
Mat 5:11-12 (NIV) Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you. Being at the right place, at the right time, doing and saying the right things, to the right people doesn’t mean you won’t get persecuted. KNOCKING won’t keep you from running into resistance. Acts 5:17-18 (NIV) Then the high priest and all his associates, who were members of the party of the Sadducees, were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in the public jail.
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KNOCKING Puts You In The Right Place
Trust Jesus To Put You There
Paul and Silas were Roman citizens; it was illegal to put Roman citizens in chains or beat them. But, Jesus has them allow themselves to be bound with chains, flogged, and imprisoned without letting the authorities know they were Roman citizens. Acts 16:23 (NIV) After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Why? Acts 16:26-28 (NIV) Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”
Trust Jesus To Guide You
KNOCKING can put you in places that are difficult and painful. It may not seem like you are at the right place, at the right time, doing and saying the right things, to the right people; but, you are. Acts 16:29-32 (NIV) The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved--you and your household.” Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
Trust Jesus To Prepare Hearts
Acts 16:33 (NIV) At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God--he and his whole family. Without you KNOCKING, you may find yourself making sure you are always protected from inconvience, trouble, pain, or persecution. But, the jailer and his family's eternal destiny were at stake. KNOCKING does make sure you are able to be where you need to be; and, it makes sure certain people’s hearts are prepared in advance for your message and influence.
Trust Jesus For Power
Gal 6:9 (NIV) Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. KNOCKING may bring such challenges to you that you may want to stop KNOCKING. But, KNOCKING empowers you to in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets (Mat 7:12). It keeps your eyes on the fact that there very few people who will tell these desperate, hurting, and needy people the truth. KNOCKING does as much to your heart as it does to those who are waiting for you. Jesus uses it to prepare your heart and their heart at the same time.
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