BY MY SPIRIT

Part 3: Open Doors

August 16, 2026

---

 

Zechariah 4:6 (NIV) “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,” says the Lord Almighty.

 

Acts 16:16–26 (NIV) Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.” She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, “In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!” At that moment the spirit left her. When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities…the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God… Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

 

• Being led by the Spirit doesn’t .

 

2 Corinthians 4:8–9 (NIV) We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.

• No one can take your without your .

 

Isaiah 26:3 (GNT) You, Lord, give perfect peace to those who keep their purpose firm and put their trust in you.

 

• Your don’t have to determine your .

 

Psalm 34:1 (NLT) I will praise the Lord at all times. I will constantly speak his praises.

• Praise isn’t just a response to ; It’s an act of .

 

Habakkuk 3:17–18 (AMP) Though the fig tree does not blossom…Yet I will choose to rejoice in the Lord; I will choose to shout in exultation in the victorious God of my salvation!

 

• The prison that was meant to can become a for God to .

Acts 16:25-26 (NIV) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them…all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.

 

How Do I Position Myself for Breakthrough?

 

1. instead of .

 

Philippians 4:6–7 (NIV) Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition… present your requests to God.

2. before I see the .

 

2 Kings 3:14-15 (NLT) Elisha replied, “As surely as the Lord Almighty lives, whom I serve, I wouldn’t even bother with you except for my respect for King Jehoshaphat of Judah. Now bring me someone who can play the harp.” While the harp was being played, the power of the Lord came upon Elisha

3. what God said over .

 

2 Corinthians 4:13 (NIV) Since we have that same spirit of faith, we also believe and therefore speak.

4. Take off the and walk through the .

 

Revelation 3:7–8 (NIV) What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open…See, I have placed before you an open door.