Open Doors

Colossians 4:2-4

Christ is Supreme. You are in Christ. You are to live a Christian life in this world.

We are to submit ourselves to Christ and to one another, for the Lord’s sake.

We are to fight the good fight of faith and make progress.

What do we need to do continually, earnestly, with sense of vigilance, as a lifestyle practice?

Have you ever had cell phone problems? Who do you call? Who is the right person? Have you had car problems? Who do you know that you can call? Are you having legal problems and you need help today? Who has the knowledge? Who has the connections? Who has the power? The know how?

Now it is one thing to know somebody. But does this somebody know you? Will he take your call? Will he make time for you? Will they drop what their doing to give you their attention?

They may advertise “One call, that’s all...” But will they take your call?

Spiritually… We have problems, we have issues… There are powers that be and sickness that be, that I cannot content with. I cannot save myself, keep myself saved, or cause myself to progress spiritually. I cannot tie my shoes laces, take my next breath, or cause my heart to beat...

Spiritually, I need security, peace and comfort. I need some stuff...

Well, who has all the power? Who has all of the control? Who has the wisdom, the knowledge, the understanding, the peace, the comfort, the provision, the stability?

Answer: Not me and not you.

So… we better be talking to somebody else… like King Jesus, the Supreme One… right?

We need to know Him. He needs to know us, as His people.… and… and… we need to call on Him.

We must call on Him… We must pick up the spiritual phone (prayer) and call on Him as a lifestyle.

Why?

There are giants, monsters everywhere… There are forces I cannot handle… There are people I cannot put up with… There is the sin issue… The work issue… This person needs saving… This person needs deliverance… I need deliverance… We need help 24/7!

We better be talking to somebody 24/7… Because we need somebody 24/7...

We best be talking to the Supreme One.

And he is the “One call… that’s all…” kinda Savior.

If He says He is going to do something, it is done.

He has the power. He knows what to do. And He is going to give attention to His children, to His people.

What is our responsibility?

We are to talk to God, to pray, earnestly and vigilantly… with thanksgiving.

Lets break these words down...

Earnestly (Steadfastly) - Prevail, continue on, be constant, be devoted.

1 Thessalonians 5:17 - Pray without ceasing. “Don’t stop… believing...”

Vigilantly (Watchful) - Be awake, alert, be concerned.

We are not to be slothful. We are to be attentive and alert. We are watching and praying.

Matthew 26:41 “Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Temptation is knowing at the door… problems and demons are coming… don’t sleep on the job. Do not lose focus on the mission, and keep a watch for the enemy...

(picture) Judges 7 - Gideon and his men stop by for a drink of water and God is about to reduce his men from 32,000 to a mere 300 men… So that God would receive the glory for the victory.

How does God do this?

They go from 32,000 to 10,000… and then from 10,000 to 300.

They go down into the waters to drink and the ones who brought the water up to their mouths… were chosen. The ones that put their heads down to drink were not chosen...

This 300 were alert. They kept their heads up, looking around and ready

Pray Earnestly. Pray Vigilantly.… and Pray...

With Thanksgiving - with thanks giving, with gratitude.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

Philippians 4:6 “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God… and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus...”

Always count your blessings. Always remember where the good things come from (above).

Pray and request. Ask for your needs… and do not forget to give thanks.

Thanksgiving changes attitudes. An attitude of gratitude is life giving.

Remembering everything the Lord has done, is doing and will do… This fuels our lives, fills us with joy.

This cultivates our relationship with God and strengthens our faith.

Thanksgiving shifts our focus from our problems, or ourselves, to God and His faithfulness.

This increases humility and joy and decreases negativity...

As Christians: We know who to call on. We know who can do all things. We know the One that can speak a word and bring help and blessing. We know Him and He knows us. And He will answer and He will respond according to His good will...

The only question is… Are we going to call? Are you going to call? Are we going to keep calling?

What do Christians do, what must we do as a lifestyle?

#1 - We pray earnestly, vigilantly, with Thanksgiving… about everything, and always without ceasing, until Christ comes back.

You must never be too mature to ask for help... and to give Him thanks.

#2 - We also pray for Open Doors.

Pray for us… that God would open to us a door for the word… to be able to speak the mystery of Christ… that I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak...

Keep this in mind: Paul is in chains. Paul is in prison for preaching and teaching the Gospel.

And he is still looking for opens doors of opportunity...

Pray for doors to be opened for me… for us… pray for open doors.

To do what? To share Christ. To share faith. To spread the Word.

There are those outside of the household of faith… and there is a door… connecting the outside and the inside. Sometimes it is open and sometimes it is closed.

Sometimes there is connection and opportunity… and sometimes there is not.

Someone may be hearing this and the question in your mind goes something like this:

“Now, pastor, can we or should we pray for open doors for work, for open parking spots, or whatever?”

Yes… we should Pray about all things… Pray for the Lord to open and close doors. Pray that the Lord will close opportunities that is not of God’s will. Pray for the Lord to open opportunities that are according to His will.

Is that all you need to do? No...

Read the Scriptures, Pray… and get into a fellowship with others that do the same... and get godly counsel from the people of god.

Yes, do this. Pray about all things...

“Lord, I am praying for an opportunity at work, or between different job opportunities… I can glorify you at both, provide for my family at both… neither job will keep me away from my family too long, or keep me away from a church family too long...

Lord… please help me… open and close the doors.”

“There is this opportunity and or that opportunity to go and to do… Lord, do you want me to go here or there… do this of that...? Lord please help me... open and close the doors.”

I do not see a problem, praying like this, praying according to God’s will...

But this text is focusing on ministry and serving Christ in this specific way...

Paul is desiring for people to pray for more opportunities... to spread the Gospel...

Let me ask you a question:

When was the last time we prayed for an open door to share faith? How often do we pray for open doors to share our faith?

Now: I do not believe for a moment that this text is isolating Paul and his companions and is teaching us that only the Apostles… or the preachers… or the pastors… or the deacons… or just those certain people should have those opportunities…

All disciples are to obey the Great Commission and to teach others their faith...

I believe that we should pray, and we should be praying, as a lifestyle... for open doors , for opportunities for me and you to share our faith.

What would happened if we as individuals, or if our church... and all churches began to live out this prayer life and mission? In the home, workplace, and wherever else?

What would happen when each of us lived on mission like this?

(Story) There was a pastor that was preaching a message... on who God will use for revival.

And he began to unfold the ministry of the Apostle Paul… and this is what we see:

We see... A man who is willing to go anywhere, and at anytime... to spread the Word of God.

Paul stayed on mission as a lifestyle...

Throughout the week, read the book of Acts… if just Acts 16-17 and see for yourselves.

Paul would go from city to city, from country to country… from region to region. He would go from house to house. He would go into Jewish synagogues and debate/reason with the Jewish people… if there was an open door.

Paul would go into different churches, or church houses. He would stand before groups of people, out in the public places, and make a case for Jesus being the Son of God.

1 Corinthians 16:8–9 “But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.”

And if we will read Acts 16… the Lord is answering prayers… opening and closing doors here.

Acts 16:6-10 - It is clear that the Holy Spirit opened and closed doors for Paul throughout his journey…

Paul goes in one direstion… the Holy Spirit closes the door...

Paul goes into another direction… The Holy Spirit closes that door...

And then God calls Paul to Macedonia...

Even in prison… jailors and their families got saved. Philippians 4:22 reveals that there were those of Caesar’s household that got saved while Paul was there as a prisoner...

Paul was not limited...

Wherever Paul was… He was praying and looking for open doors.

(Someone might be saying right now… I am where I am… and I do not have much opportunity)

Often times, in ministry… as a pastor… You are surrounded by church people most of the time. You are surrounded by professing Christians and spend a lot of time with these folks… and we lose contact with those outside the household of faith.

Often time, many church folks experience the same thing… We surround ourselves with other Christians and we quit praying for and looking for open doors to the outsiders...

Some folks will retire… and spend much time at home and only with certain family members...

They will lose connection with outsiders...

And we do not meet lost people...

Wherever you are… Wherever we are… there is a door for opportunities.

There are opportunities and people all around...

Are you looking for them? Do you want to look for them?

You may have to call people.

You may have to join the gym, a club, or something… to get you out there...

You may even have to take a trip to Wal-Mart…

But if we have that desire and willingness… and if we are available and willing to pray:

“Lord, open the door. Show me the door… show me the open door… show me the opportunities… and I will go and obey...”

A door is going to open up to share faith, to give a word, to share Jesus, to testify and witness...

Christian: What are we going to do?

WE are going to pray and watch… I am going to watch and pray… I am going to watch, pray, and obey...

I am going to connect with someone...

And share the truth of God with someone…

Share the love of God… the need for forgiveness and faith, repentance and faith… with someone...

With someone who needs it… With someone who is lost and is heading to destruction and hell...

I have this one life to live, I want to make it count. People are living and dying everyday. Some are going to heaven and others are going to hell. There is an urgency and a passion in our souls...

And there is a door. There are opportunities, that will open and close...

There is an opportunity to connect or not...

Wherever you are right now… right now...

I am in the school… I am in the workplace...

I am in the store… I am in the public...

“Lord… I am where I am… Show me a door. Please open the door to step in and make much of you.”

We are praying for ourselves and we are praying for others... as a lifestyle.

We are praying vigilantly, earnestly, and with thanksgiving.

We are praying for open doors... to share our faith...

When we as individual Christians do this… we are going to see something happen...

And when our church does this together… We are going to see something happen.

When our churches in this area do this… we are going to see something happen.

We are going to experience personal revival… and we could experience a large scale revival.

Will you pray?

Will you pray earnestly, vigilantly, with thanksgiving?

Will you pray for open doors?

God is going to move.

Close.