Wide Open Doors – 1

Wide Open Doors – 1

Subject – How to Walk Through Those Doors

By Rick Welborne

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT2) ⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 

Psalm 34:1 (NKJV)
¹  I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

Ephesians 6:10-12 (NLT2)
¹⁰  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
¹¹  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
¹²  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. 

--Everyone say “Challenges.” We all have them and we all (I hope) have doors that we want to walk thru and do great things for the Lord.

--Paul was saying there is a great opportunity that has presented itself to me but along with the opportunity is great opposition. 

--We, who are Pentecostals have a tendency to blame everything on the devil, and make no mistake, he is always trying to disrupt our lives.

--But sometimes, it is just life and sometimes we just make terrible choices.

James 1:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed.

–With life we have seen many who lost loved ones (funerals or memorial services) and hearts were broken...I know because I lost dear friends and church family.  

–Many were confronted with cancer and other serious physical needs and challenged with all the questions that go with it.

–Some have had incredible difficulty in their families, with their marriages and children. Some have lost jobs and been faced with losing their houses and all they own.

–Our encouragement to ourselves and to the flock of God has been to say: I will bless the LORD at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 

--Is that easy? Of course not but it is the only way that we will make it through the wide-open door God has for us. We can sit on the porch and cry or we can get up and go through the door.

1. Getting Through the Wide-open Door Means Dealing with Stuff.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 (NLT2)
⁴  In everything we do, we show that we are true ministers of God. We patiently endure troubles and hardships and calamities of every kind.
⁵  We have been beaten, been put in prison, faced angry mobs, worked to exhaustion, endured sleepless nights, and gone without food.
⁶  We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love.
⁷  We faithfully preach the truth. God’s power is working in us. We use the weapons of righteousness in the right hand for attack and the left hand for defense.
⁸  We serve God whether people honor us or despise us, whether they slander us or praise us. We are honest, but they call us impostors.
⁹  We are ignored, even though we are well known. We live close to death, but we are still alive. We have been beaten, but we have not been killed.
¹⁰  Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything.

–All this stuff is only commending us to be faithful ministers of God: blessing the Lord at all times! We put on the armor of God everyday...we must do it to be ready for the battles ahead of us.

–Some of you think that you got beat up pretty bad last year but just imagine with me the casualties we would have had without God’s armor. Sister Browne.

1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT2) ⁹ There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. 

Adam Clark Commentary and Critical Notes. A wide-open door is opened to me; that is, God has made a grand opening to me in those parts, which I perceive will require much labor; and besides, I shall have many adversaries to oppose me. Door often signifies occasion or opportunity; but here, the apostle may allude to the throwing open of the great doors of the Circus Maximus before the chariot races began; and the many adversaries may refer to the numerous competitors in those races. God gave him a grand opportunity to preach the Gospel; but he was not to expect that either Satan or wicked men would leave him unmolested.   

2. Getting Through the Wide-open Door Requires Expecting It to Happen.

–I believe that the Circus Maximus is about to open up for everyone who is pursuing God, those who are worshiping no matter what, those who are putting on the armor of God every day. 

Luke 11:9-13 (NLT2) ⁹ “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.
¹⁰  For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.
¹¹  “You fathers—if your children ask for a fish, do you give them a snake instead?
¹²  Or if they ask for an egg, do you give them a scorpion? Of course not!
¹³  So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.” 

Barnes Notes - That such a work of grace, the opening of Wide-open doors, is often the occasion of increased opposition to the gospel. Why do we get so surprised when we have opposition to our efforts of serving Christ with all our heart.

 

–Paul chose to stay in Ephesus even in the midst of great opposition...why should we hang in there?

A. The opposition was regarded by Paul as an evidence that the Holy Spirit was there.

B. It was proof that the enemies of God were alarmed, and that the kingdom of Christ was advancing. 

C. His presence also would be needed there, to encourage and strengthen the young converts who would be attacked and opposed; and he deemed it his duty to remain. 

D. A Christian should regard it as his duty to remain faithful thru trials when there is such opposition.  

E. His presence is needed to comfort and encourage the church; and when the minds of men are challenged, it is often the best time to present truth, and to defend the great doctrines of the Bible. 

Matthew Henry - True courage is whetted by opposition; and it is no wonder that the Christian courage of the apostle Paul should be emboldened by the zeal of his adversaries. They were bent to ruin him, and prevent the effect of his ministry at Ephesus; and should he at this time desert his station, and disgrace his character and doctrine? No, the opposition of adversaries only awakened his zeal. He was in nothing daunted by his adversaries; but the more they raged and opposed the more he exerted himself. Should such a man as he flees?

--Adversaries and opposition do not break the spirits of faithful and successful Christians, but only enkindle their zeal, and inspire them with fresh courage.

3. Getting Through the Wide-open Door Requires the Armor of God.

Ephesians 6:10-18 (NLT2)
¹⁰  A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.
¹¹  Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.
¹²  For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.
¹³  Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm.
¹⁴  Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness.
¹⁵  For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.
¹⁶  In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.
¹⁷  Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
¹⁸  Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere. 

–It is time that we lay hold of the promises of God...is there opposition...yes...put on the armor...will there be challenges...bless the Lord at all times...are there people who need to be set free? Fight!

–Again I reiterate to you there are wide-open doors in your future and probably even now. Remember God is for you!

Romans 8:31 32 (NKJV) 

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 

32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things? 

–This is our year church...pursue Him, trust Him, worship Him, love Him, and fight for Him. This will be a year to remember at Life Church Assembly of God...get ready!

–What if the enemy continues to attack? I can guarantee it but hear your Pastor:

Romans 8:37 39 (NKJV) 

37 Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. 

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 

39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. 

–Put on the armor of God every day, pray in the spirit, worship no matter what is going on, fast, pray, and fight with us, and believe with us that this will be the year of victory!