Knock the door of heaven.

Third Sunday After Epiphany(1/26/2020)

Genesis 28:10-19

Knock the door of heaven.

 

A. The door of heaven must be opened(12).

 

MANIGONG BAGONG TAON. Happy New Year.

 

This morning I want to talk about Jacob’s dream, Genesis chapter twenty-eight story. Jacob was on his way to his uncle, Laban, to avoid facing his brother Esau. Jacob left Paddan-aram and went to Beersheba. And then he moved to Haran. He was on his way, one day, the sun has already set. So Jacob stayed overnight in the desert.

 

That night God made Jacob dream. “Jacob dreamed that there was a ladder resting on the earth and reaching up into heaven and he saw angels of God going up and coming down the ladder.” Through this dream, God showed hope to Jacob, who was anxious in despair!

 

After this experience, Jacob was afraid and said, “This place frightens me! It is surely the house of God and the door of heaven”(17). Jacob headed for Haran, but he was uneasy. He really didn't know where to go. He wasn't sure if he could live in his uncle’s house. Actually he was on the run. But God showed Jacob the door of heaven and gave him hope that if the door of heaven opened, there is hope, there is a living way.

 

B. Do not forget the covenant(13).

 

God said to Jacob by showing the door of heaven in the dream. Let’s read the verse 13, “There above it stood the Lord, and he said: “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.”

 

God introduced himself “The God of Abraham and the God of Isaac.” This reminded of the covenant of God with Abraham. “I will give the land where you are lying to you and your descendants.” God told Jacob exactly what God had said to Abraham a long time ago.

 

Jacob’s journey! That was a long and rough road to Laban. Jacob slept with a stone on his head, not just single day or two. God said to Jacob, “Remember the covenant.” Beloved members! Are there anyone who are agonizing and frustrated by difficulties and hardships? Please remember that we are the children of God. God wants to remember the promise and cheer up the children of God.

 

C. Go with God, wherever you go(15).

 

Let’s read the verse 15. “I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” God promised Jacob that God will always accompany him anywhere.

 

In the Bible, book of Joshua chapter five, God sent his man to Joshua, who was afraid in front of Jericho. So Joshua asked him who he was, he said, “I have come as the commander of the Lord’s army”(Joshua 5:14). God assured Joshua that God was with Joshua before the war.

 

God still wants to be with us today. The companion faith is going with God. If we stand by God and cling to God, God is surely with us. The companion faith is obeying the will of God and following the commands of God. This is a true living faith.

 

D. The door of heaven opened, blessing comes(14).

 

Let’s read together verse 14. “Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.” God opened the door of heaven and promised Jacob great blessings.

 

Today, from the Jacob’s story, we learn one thing. when the door of heaven opened, it opens up the doors on the land, east, west, north and south. The first thing in our lives is the opening of the door of heaven. Before finding out where we are going, east, west, north and south. knock the door of heaven first! Before asking for human help, we must seek God first and ask God first! A psalmist said, “Do not put your trust in princes or other people, who cannot save you.” But only “Blessed are those who are helped by the God of Jacob. Their hope is in the Lord their God”(Psalm 146:3, 5).

 

In the book of Revelation, the Apostle John saw the door of heaven opened. “After the vision of these things I looked, and there before me was an open door in heaven. And the same voice that spoke to me before, that sounded like a trumpet, said, Come up here, and I will show you what must happen after this”(Revelation 4:1). The door of heaven is the channel of the Grace. So we believer should knock the door of heaven everyday. Matthew 7:7, “Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find, knock and the door will be opened to you.”

 

Knock the door of heaven! If the door is opened, God bless you.

PAGPALAIN KA NG PANGINOON.

 

Holy God, who has no end of love and grace.

Thank you for starting 2020 New Year with faith and hope.

Lead our faith to further growth in the New Year.

Help us to be more confident in our hope for heaven.

Give us strength to overcome any hardship.

Above all, keep me awake so that we would not stop praying.

Grant us to live by knocking on the door of heaven every day.

Jesus our Saviour we pray. Amen.