The Closed Door - Gateway to Spiritual Fullness
It has been touted that the church in Philadelphia in the book of
Revelation has an “open door” (Rev. 3:8). It is a tribute to the saints
there for having a little power, having kept His Word, and having not
denied His name. It may also be a testimony of their openness and love
for all God’s people. Any church with some enlightenment about the
Lord’s purpose and desire would covet having such an open door for
sure.
A closed door, on the other hand, conjures up images of medieval close-
mindedness, exclusivity and stagnant lifelessness. It is not something
God’s people would desire, but the likelihood of falling into this trap is all
too real nonetheless. All it takes is a little spiritual attainment and
legacy. The church in Laodicea prided herself for being rich and in need
of nothing, the next thing you know, Christ is outside of this church
knocking on the once opened but now closed door.
Many mighty moves of the Holy Spirit in Church History that ushered in
great revivals have ended behind stagnant and lifeless closed doors.
Many churches today are unwittingly slipping into this condition. It is
happening more than we’d like to admit.
Alarmed by this situation, men and women with burden and zeal are
crying out everywhere for revivals and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
One thing, however, seems to fall through the cracks – empty vessels –
which brings us to consider an altogether different kind of door, “the
closed door.”
Let’s look at the story in II Kings 4:1-7. Here we find a poor widow who
is about to lose her two children to the creditor. Upon hearing that she
has nothing in the house except a jar of oil, the prophet advised her to
borrow “empty vessels” from her neighbors. “Do not get a few,” said
Elisha, “and you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons,
and pour out into these vessels; and you shall set aside what is full.”
Almost everyone knows that this is a depiction of revival by the Spirit
that leads to the fullness of Christ. There is not a God-fearing soul who
does not long for revival and fullness of Christ. In fact, many churches
and ministries have gone so far as to re-capture the feeling and
ambience of revival by artificial means. Mood-producing music, band,
lighting and décor are but a few of the examples.
A multitude of words and sermons have thundered from the pulpits, but
very little Christ has been released, and little evidence of “empty
vessels” produced.
Small wonder that oil is not flowing, let alone over-flowing.
Ministers and ministered alike are too enamored and distracted by
reproducing the fluffy feelings to pay attention to empty vessels. And all
the while doors are left wide open.
By His grace, some have started to realize the need for empty vessels.
They come back to fixing their gaze on Christ again and discover how far
they have strayed from Him. In lowliness and tears, they allow the Holy
Spirit to strip, lay bare, hollow and humble these vessels.
We will never know our real conditions unless we are brought low,
hollowed out and humbled by the Holy Spirit. We will never be filled with
the Holy Spirit resulting in the fullness of Christ unless we are brought
low, laid bare and emptied first.
Calvary always precedes Pentecost. Emptying always precedes in-
filling. Never fails.
Bogged down by stagnation in many churches, some saints are burdened
for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit to remedy the situation. But instead of
going behind “closed doors” and asking the Lord to make them “empty
vessels,” they either fast and pray for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and
power, or broadcast what powerful experiences they have had.
Allow me to submit, true emptying by the hand of the Holy Spirit will
always result in fullness of the Spirit. Guaranteed! And, without being
emptied first, whatever experiences of “in-filling” would be questionable
at best.
The “closed door” goes hand-in-hand with the emptying of the Holy
Spirit. It is done in secret, out of the world’s view, for His eyes only.
There is always a great temptation to win sympathy for our suffering by
telling others what we are going through. Some times even a slight hint
of our plight swings the door wide open, and all the “oil” leaks out the
door! Then there is another temptation for those who, through
afflictions, have accumulated some spiritual riches to want to show off.
Let’s give a seminar, preach a sermon, write a book…on how spiritual
riches are attained.
Every time we succumb to such temptations, life and power slowly but
surely leak out.
Hezekiah was a great king who has had many wonderful experiences of
the Lord, death-defying one notwithstanding. The one thing that brought
displeasure to the Lord was his opening the door of the treasury of the
palace to show off to the envoy of Babylon. Little did he know, the land
of Israel, the people of God, was going to hear the rumbles of the march
of a great army in a distance to plunder every article of treasure both in
his house and in the house of God.
Any time we show off our spiritual riches, our “door” swings open, and
our spiritual riches get carted off to a land far away!
Indeed, Christians and churches alike these days are busy promoting
themselves. Nothing since the tower of Babel has mankind been so
supercharged with the insatiable lust to promote themselves as the
present electronic age. Just consider the digital revolution that has so
conveniently boosted man’s ego by giving him a perfect platform to
express himself and showcase his accomplishments.
The airwaves, the cyber space, the electronic media, the billboards, the
best-seller’s list…anything that can be used to promote ourselves and
our churches have been employed. Church attendance is on the up-
swing, programs are well-funded, and bigger buildings are planned. But
the tragedy is, all we’ve got left is an open door with very little inside!
You see, a closed door in the context of II Kings 4:1-7 intimates to us a
very personal dealing with the Lord. It is through personal dealings with
the Lord we come to know the Lord first-hand. Any other knowledge
about the Lord is second-hand knowledge. It is the first-hand
knowledge of the Lord that equips us for war against a crafty and
ancient Foe.
Many Christians live from Sunday to Sunday, or meeting to meeting.
They have no closed doors. A soul without a closed door is spiritually
bankrupt. And why not? All the spiritual riches have leaked out.
A closed door shuts us in with the Lord and brings us right to His
presence where real dealings, corrections, maturing, enlightenment, and
formation of love take place. Nothing matures us and equips us for
ministry more than having closed-door experiences. The Lord never
empties a vessel without filling him also. Likewise, the Lord never shuts
in a man without also equipping him for ministry. Our real ministry is
produced from our closed door experiences. The more “closed door”
experiences we have, the more Christ we’ll have to share with others,
and the more real "open doors" He will facilitate for us in His time.
In Song of Songs, the king praises his bride saying, “A garden locked is
my sister, my bride, a rock garden locked, a spring sealed up” (S.S. 4:
12). Before the “north wind” and the “south wind” can make the king’s
garden “breath out fragrance” and “let its spices be wafted abroad” (S.S.
4:16), it has to have a period of enclosure first. Before we can have the
“spices” and the “fragrances” to minister to others, we desperately need
the experiences of “closed doors” where real spiritual maturity and
equipping take place.
There are many Christians who do love the Lord and are zealous for
service. The one and most important “ministry” they need and lack,
however, is to be shut in behind closed doors.
Too many Christians minister through their talent and zeal alone. Beyond
their gifts, they have no “spices” or “fragrances” to offer.
The Lord wants to fill our empty vessels to overflowing, and He is only
doing it behind “closed doors.” It’s time we start considering the closed
doors.
God bless,
Oliver Peng
11/30/06
It has been touted that the church in Philadelphia in the book of
Revelation has an “open door” (Rev. 3:8). It is a tribute to the saints
there for having a little power, having kept His Word, and having not
denied His name. It may also be a testimony of their openness and love
for all God’s people. Any church with some enlightenment about the
Lord’s purpose and desire would covet having such an open door for
sure.
A closed door, on the other hand, conjures up images of medieval close-
mindedness, exclusivity and stagnant lifelessness. It is not something
God’s people would desire, but the likelihood of falling into this trap is all
too real nonetheless. All it takes is a little spiritual attainment and
legacy. The church in Laodicea prided herself for being rich and in need
of nothing, the next thing you know, Christ is outside of this church
knocking on the once opened but now closed door.
Many mighty moves of the Holy Spirit in Church History that ushered in
great revivals have ended behind stagnant and lifeless closed doors.
Many churches today are unwittingly slipping into this condition. It is
happening more than we’d like to admit.
Alarmed by this situation, men and women with burden and zeal are
crying out everywhere for revivals and empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
One thing, however, seems to fall through the cracks – empty vessels –
which brings us to consider an altogether different kind of door, “the
closed door.”
Let’s look at the story in II Kings 4:1-7. Here we find a poor widow who
is about to lose her two children to the creditor. Upon hearing that she
has nothing in the house except a jar of oil, the prophet advised her to
borrow “empty vessels” from her neighbors. “Do not get a few,” said
Elisha, “and you shall go in and shut the door behind you and your sons,
and pour out into these vessels; and you shall set aside what is full.”
Almost everyone knows that this is a depiction of revival by the Spirit
that leads to the fullness of Christ. There is not a God-fearing soul who
does not long for revival and fullness of Christ. In fact, many churches
and ministries have gone so far as to re-capture the feeling and
ambience of revival by artificial means. Mood-producing music, band,
lighting and décor are but a few of the examples.
A multitude of words and sermons have thundered from the pulpits, but
very little Christ has been released, and little evidence of “empty
vessels” produced.
Small wonder that oil is not flowing, let alone over-flowing.
Ministers and ministered alike are too enamored and distracted by
reproducing the fluffy feelings to pay attention to empty vessels. And all
the while doors are left wide open.
By His grace, some have started to realize the need for empty vessels.
They come back to fixing their gaze on Christ again and discover how far
they have strayed from Him. In lowliness and tears, they allow the Holy
Spirit to strip, lay bare, hollow and humble these vessels.
We will never know our real conditions unless we are brought low,
hollowed out and humbled by the Holy Spirit. We will never be filled with
the Holy Spirit resulting in the fullness of Christ unless we are brought
low, laid bare and emptied first.
Calvary always precedes Pentecost. Emptying always precedes in-
filling. Never fails.
Bogged down by stagnation in many churches, some saints are burdened
for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit to remedy the situation. But instead of
going behind “closed doors” and asking the Lord to make them “empty
vessels,” they either fast and pray for the in-filling of the Holy Spirit and
power, or broadcast what powerful experiences they have had.
Allow me to submit, true emptying by the hand of the Holy Spirit will
always result in fullness of the Spirit. Guaranteed! And, without being
emptied first, whatever experiences of “in-filling” would be questionable
at best.
The “closed door” goes hand-in-hand with the emptying of the Holy
Spirit. It is done in secret, out of the world’s view, for His eyes only.
There is always a great temptation to win sympathy for our suffering by
telling others what we are going through. Some times even a slight hint
of our plight swings the door wide open, and all the “oil” leaks out the
door! Then there is another temptation for those who, through
afflictions, have accumulated some spiritual riches to want to show off.
Let’s give a seminar, preach a sermon, write a book…on how spiritual
riches are attained.
Every time we succumb to such temptations, life and power slowly but
surely leak out.
Hezekiah was a great king who has had many wonderful experiences of
the Lord, death-defying one notwithstanding. The one thing that brought
displeasure to the Lord was his opening the door of the treasury of the
palace to show off to the envoy of Babylon. Little did he know, the land
of Israel, the people of God, was going to hear the rumbles of the march
of a great army in a distance to plunder every article of treasure both in
his house and in the house of God.
Any time we show off our spiritual riches, our “door” swings open, and
our spiritual riches get carted off to a land far away!
Indeed, Christians and churches alike these days are busy promoting
themselves. Nothing since the tower of Babel has mankind been so
supercharged with the insatiable lust to promote themselves as the
present electronic age. Just consider the digital revolution that has so
conveniently boosted man’s ego by giving him a perfect platform to
express himself and showcase his accomplishments.
The airwaves, the cyber space, the electronic media, the billboards, the
best-seller’s list…anything that can be used to promote ourselves and
our churches have been employed. Church attendance is on the up-
swing, programs are well-funded, and bigger buildings are planned. But
the tragedy is, all we’ve got left is an open door with very little inside!
You see, a closed door in the context of II Kings 4:1-7 intimates to us a
very personal dealing with the Lord. It is through personal dealings with
the Lord we come to know the Lord first-hand. Any other knowledge
about the Lord is second-hand knowledge. It is the first-hand
knowledge of the Lord that equips us for war against a crafty and
ancient Foe.
Many Christians live from Sunday to Sunday, or meeting to meeting.
They have no closed doors. A soul without a closed door is spiritually
bankrupt. And why not? All the spiritual riches have leaked out.
A closed door shuts us in with the Lord and brings us right to His
presence where real dealings, corrections, maturing, enlightenment, and
formation of love take place. Nothing matures us and equips us for
ministry more than having closed-door experiences. The Lord never
empties a vessel without filling him also. Likewise, the Lord never shuts
in a man without also equipping him for ministry. Our real ministry is
produced from our closed door experiences. The more “closed door”
experiences we have, the more Christ we’ll have to share with others,
and the more real "open doors" He will facilitate for us in His time.
In Song of Songs, the king praises his bride saying, “A garden locked is
my sister, my bride, a rock garden locked, a spring sealed up” (S.S. 4:
12). Before the “north wind” and the “south wind” can make the king’s
garden “breath out fragrance” and “let its spices be wafted abroad” (S.S.
4:16), it has to have a period of enclosure first. Before we can have the
“spices” and the “fragrances” to minister to others, we desperately need
the experiences of “closed doors” where real spiritual maturity and
equipping take place.
There are many Christians who do love the Lord and are zealous for
service. The one and most important “ministry” they need and lack,
however, is to be shut in behind closed doors.
Too many Christians minister through their talent and zeal alone. Beyond
their gifts, they have no “spices” or “fragrances” to offer.
The Lord wants to fill our empty vessels to overflowing, and He is only
doing it behind “closed doors.” It’s time we start considering the closed
doors.
God bless,
Oliver Peng
11/30/06
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The Closed Door
Gateway to Spiritual Fullness
Gateway to Spiritual Fullness
