The Key That Opens The Gates of God

Sunday, April 11, 2021

When you come into a service at our congregation, The Jerusalem Center/Beth Israel, you pass under a Scripture which reads, "Enter His gates with thanksgiving ... and His courts with praise." Most believers take this as a command. In other words, if you are going to enter His courts, enter with thanksgiving. The truth of these words goes deeper than that. It's not only a commandment but a secret, "a key." You see, to enter the gates, you need the key of the Lord. And the key to unlock the gates in order to enter is the key of thanksgiving. You could read the Scripture this way: "The only way you will ever truly enter the gates of the Lord is with thanksgiving." It doesn't matter what's blocking you; if you give thanks to God, you can enter. So when you give thanks, it's impossible to be gloomy, or to worry, or to dwell in condemnation. When you give thanks, you enter His joy and His peace. When you give thanks, it's hard not to worship. You want to enter the gates of the Lord, start right now. You have the key. Enter his gates with thanksgiving.

From Message #270 - The Power of Giving Thanks