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Entering into 2018 - The Year of the Open Door


1 Corinthians 16:9 – “For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

At the beginning of each year I pray and ask the Lord for prophetic direction for the coming year.  Why do we need direction? it is important to pray and listen to what the Spirit is saying to the church for this year. In 1 Kings 22:7, King Jehoshaphat was in very tough place with two other kings.  The King made this statement, “Is there not still a prophet of the Lord here, that we may inquire of Him?” Like King Jehoshaphat and these two kings we are in a very difficult place.  We need to hear the word of the Lord. The Prophet Amos writes in Amos 3:7, “Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.”

            This is the year of the open door. The Lord is calling us to move through or beyond the door.  We must secure our door for the future.  This is a door of hope and will be a year of light.  We are entering into a new season.  Joshua 3:4 says, “You have not been this way before.”

            Doors are places of entrance and opportunity.  When God desires to bless you, He opens windows.  Windows represent blessings.  Malachi 3:10 refers to the windows of heaven being opened and blessings flowing to those who are obedient to God’s Word.  When God desires to promote you, He opens a door.  I believe we are entering into a year of open doors.  I encourage you to join me in praying for open doors to share the Gospel, and open doors to expand the influence and ministry of the Kingdom of God.

            We must examine the doors that were closed in the past, perhaps you had a promise, but the door did not open. I believe God has great effective doors to open for you and your ministry this year.  Over the past few weeks I have been hearing the following four things concerning the new year we are entering.  Please examine these and pray with me for greater insight.

1.    A Year of Reassignment/Realignment - Anna Werner writes, “Reassignment. Not new assignment, but rather ‘Re- assignment.’ I heard the Lord specifically speak on encouraging believers to ‘resign up’ for the assignments He has already given you. It's not time to quit in defeat, but rather gain new insight, momentum and focus.”[1] Realignment is defined as “the action of changing or restoring something to a different or former position or state.”[2] We must allow the Lord to realign our priorities, and our relationships.

2.    A Year of Revival/Visitation - We are entering into a time of visitation and revival. We must allow the Holy Spirit to get us into the right position and begin to align our speech with the Word of God.  Jesus said in John 5:19, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.”  We must not limit God in the coming days by what we have seen him do in the past. God is going to bring many of you into surprise encounters with the Holy Spirit.

3.    A Year of Return/Restoration - What has been stolen from you? I believe this will be a time we are going to see both spiritual and physical inheritances restored. We must stand in faith for complete restoration.
·      I am believing for the restoration of relationships that have been lost.
·      I am believing for restoration of families.
·      I am believing to see prodigals come home.
·      I am believing for the restoration of the joy of the Lord.
It is time for a release from discouragement, disillusionment, and depression.

4.    A Year of Covenant Relationship - Our God is a covenant God. Everything He does is on the basis of covenant. The Bible is a covenant book. Our relationship with God is a covenant relationship. God calls us to walk in covenant with each other. He calls us to be covenant people, and He wants us to understand covenant this year.

[1] http://elijahlist.com/words/display_word.html?ID=19424
[2] dictionary.com

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