Tag Archives: open doors

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Standing Before God’s Open Door

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Charles Stanley

2 Corinthians 2:12-13

In today’s passage, Paul wrote about open doors—he used the figure of speech to signify great opportunities to preach the gospel. Those “doors” were important because physical, technological, and geographical limitations hampered his work considerably.

Just think about how different things are for evangelistic efforts today. We’re living in the most opportune time to reach the entire world for Jesus. We have the technology to penetrate every country and impact every culture.

In times like this, we should be asking where we personally fit into God’s plan. It’s inappropriate to sit back and act as if this job were intended only for preachers and missionaries. There may be all kinds of reasons why we consider ourselves unqualified, but it is time we got past our excuses. All of us can read and study the Bible and then begin to share it with others. If you have trusted in the Savior, then you’ve received eternal life from Him and are indwelt by His Spirit. So you should be able to talk about Him.

This is the time to impact the entire world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We can no longer think in terms of just “my workplace,” “my city,” or “my country”; the whole world matters. We begin at home but are not to stop until we’ve reached all people groups on earth.

Jesus died to purchase men from every tribe, tongue, and nation. Don’t discredit yourself or count yourself out. You can walk through the open doors God has placed before you and have a significant part in reaching the world with the good news of Christ.

 

Charles Stanley

Charles Stanley – Responding to Closed Doors

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Charles Stanley

Philippians 4:6-7

Disappointments can be hard to bear. One minute life seems to be on track for what we hope and dream. The next moment our way is blocked. How do we respond when facing closed doors?

If our hearts are set on a certain course of action, we may convince ourselves it is God’s will and push ahead regardless. We might send up a quick prayer asking for His help or blessing, but mostly we just move forward. By manipulating people or circumstances, we could get what we want but be outside of God’s plan.

Another response to a blocked path is to become emotionally upset. Then we face the danger of operating out of our feelings and replacing a Christ-centered perspective with a self-centered one. Strong emotions can be a temptation to blame others—including the Lord. Anger toward Him can, in turn, lead us to rebel against Him and His ways.

Godly responses, on the other hand, start with waiting and trusting. When the Lord blocks our way, we are to have faith in Him, taking time to assess the situation, and praying for guidance. By asking the Spirit to increase our sensitivity to the events around us, we will be able to notice any open doors. Even if we find none, we are to live with hope, anticipating other doors of opportunity in His perfect time. Thanking God for His work on our behalf is essential, even at times when we lack understanding. Finally, remaining faithful to what the Lord has called us to do is an important part of our wait.

Wait. Trust. Pray. Obey. This is God’s prescription for handling closed doors.

 

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Greg Laurie – An Unprecedented Open Door

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Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should. —Colossians 4:3–4

Jesus has given us, as a church, an unprecedented open door. We read in Revelation 3:7, “What he opens, no one can close; and what he closes, no one can open.”

If the key is a symbol of His authority, then the door is a symbol of opportunity. The idea of an open door is a concept that is used often in the New Testament. Paul spoke of it in 2 Corinthians 2:12: “When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.” In Acts 14:27, Paul and Barnabas spoke of a door of faith that was opened to the Gentiles.

We should pray for such doors to open in our own lives. In fact, Paul said, “Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about his mysterious plan concerning Christ. That is why I am here in chains. Pray that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.”

When a Harvest Crusade is approaching, sometimes people will ask me how they should pray for me. My answer is the same as Paul’s: First, that God would open a door to speak for Him, and second, that I will proclaim this message as clearly as I should.

We should all be looking for open doors. We should not rest on past accomplishments or victories. We need to be looking for opportunities today and in the days to come.

You see, this year, this month, may be the last opportunity to go through an open door. Just because a door is open now doesn’t mean it will remain open forever.

Will you walk through those open doors? Will you look for those opportunities? Will you do what God has called you to do?