Open the Double Doors – 6

Subject – Close the Door to the Enemy

by Rick Welborne

Isaiah 45:1-3 (NKJV)
¹  "Thus says the LORD to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held-- To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut:
²  'I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron.
³  I will give you the treasures of darkness And hidden riches of secret places, That you may know that I, the LORD, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. 

Ephesians 4:2532 (NIV) 

25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body. 

26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 

27 and do not give the devil a foothold. 

28 He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need. 

29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. 

32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. 

–On Wed. Nights we have been discussing Opening the Double Doors, God telling us to close the doors, and tonight we will be talking about the dangers of leaving the door open or giving the devil a foothold.

–We see how Job had left an open door to the enemy because of his pride.

Job 32:12 (NKJV) 

1 So these three men ceased answering Job, because he was righteous in his own eyes. 

2 Then the wrath of Elihu, the son of Barachel the Buzite, of the family of Ram, was aroused against Job; his wrath was aroused because he justified himself rather than God. 

–We also see Peter and how Jesus let him know that Satan was after him:

Luke 22:3132 (NKJV) 

31 And the Lord said, "Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 

32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren." 

–We see how pride also caused Peter to say what he shouldn’t say and do what he said he would not do.

–In my listening to Robert Morris I have learned and perceived in my spirit that we open ourselves up to the enemy so often by leaving the door cracked a little for the him to come in.

–Tonight I want to deal with those openings that may not be what we consider the “big sins: murder, adultery, drugs” but I want you to be aware that Satan is an opportunist. 

–If he can get you doings these “little sins” he has open door into your life. He is the ultimate terrorist...he is patient and he knows sin is progressive...The little foxes spoil the vines. SS Little sins can grow.

–Let us go back to our text in Ephesians and see five ways we can close the door to the enemy of our souls:

1. We can close the door to the enemy by telling the truth to everyone.

–I had someone want me to lie to a family member of theirs to get them to come to church.  What?

Ephesians 4:2125 (NLT) 

21 Since you have heard about Jesus and have learned the truth that comes from him, 

22 throw off your old sinful nature and your former way of life, which is corrupted by lust and deception. 

23 Instead, let the Spirit renew your thoughts and attitudes. 

24 Put on your new nature, created to be like God—truly righteous and holy. 

25 So stop telling lies. Let us tell our neighbors the truth, for we are all parts of the same body. 

–We are not secular humanist...we do not believe the end justifies the means unless the means is birthed in the Word and righteousness.

–We do not live by “situational ethics” where each situation dictates its own ethics...We have a standard and it is the Word of God.

–Situational ethics always leaves out the supernatural God factor...Escaping from Germans...baby crying.

–One person several years ago got angry with me because I caught them in a lie...they were not upset for lying...they were upset that I checked on them and caught their lie.

–I am upset you didn’t trust me...what?  Stop telling lies!  Christians, stop lying to each other.

Ephesians 4:15 (NLT) 

15 Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. 

2. We can close the door to the enemy by controlling our anger.

Ephesians 4:26 (NIV) 

26 "In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, 

–We could spend several sermons on dealing with anger and how anger gives an open door into our lives for greater sins. Watch the progression in this scenario: 

–Well, I got mad at my wife and went out and did something stupid.

–Get in fight with wife and get mad.

–Get in car and speed off...pulled over for speeding and reckless driving.

–Get a ticket...smart off to the officer and push him...handcuffed and arrested.

–Spends night in jail mouthing off that he shouldn’t be there...next day before the judge.

–Would not shut up in front of the judge...contempt of court...gets 30 days.

–Wife does not have the money to bail him out...more angry...gets out and hits wife…back to jail.

–In your anger do not sin...he lost his temper but he lost more...his wife, his family, his job, his reputation...the devil laughs thru the whole journey.

–Man: My wife and I never go to bed angry...stayed up 3 months one time.

–You can control your anger by being full of Holy Spirit.

Galatians 5:2225 (NKJV) 

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 

23 gentleness, selfcontrol. Against such there is no law. 

24 And those who are Christ's have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 

25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 

3. We can close the door to the enemy by stopping our stealing.

–People who can work should work...when we don’t we steal from those who do.  Our government is turning healthy people into thieves.

–Can’t find the job I want...OK...work at the one you don’t want till you find it...don’t be lazy.

Ephesians 4:28 (NLT) 

28 If you are a thief, quit stealing. Instead, use your hands for good hard work, and then give generously to others in need. 

–I have little patience with people who are lazy and people who enable them. Help me, Lord. If you are looking for work diligently and doing what you can, there is no condemnation.

–Take care of your family...laziness is an open door...idleness brings temptation.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV) 

8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 

–Fifty people walked out of a restaurant without paying...how horrible...thieves.–100 people walked out of church after being fed and encouraged without bring their tithes (10%)...how disobedient...thieves.

--We treat restaurants more respectfully than we do church…Restaurant we pay the full bill and then give 10-20 percent…church we complain about just paying the tip or the tithe. 

Malachi 3:810 (NKJV) 

8 "Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, 'In what way have we robbed You?' In tithes and offerings. 

9 You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, Even this whole nation. 

10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.  

4. We can close the door to the enemy by closing our mouths.

Ephesians 4:29 (NKJV) 

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 

Proverbs 6:2 (NKJV) 

2 You are snared by the words of your mouth; You are taken by the words of your mouth. 

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) 

21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. 

–The devil has no problem finding an open door in people’s lives when their mouths are wide open.

Proverbs 18:67 (NKJV) 

6 A fool's lips enter into contention, And his mouth calls for blows. 

7 A fool's mouth is his destruction, And his lips are the snare of his soul. 

–Open mouth insert foot...revised...open mouth insert Satan.

1 Corinthians 14:26 (NKJV) 

26 How is it then, brethren? Whenever you come together, each of you has a psalm, has a teaching, has a tongue, has a revelation, has an interpretation. Let all things be done for edification. 

5. We can close the door to the enemy by listening to Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:30 (NKJV) 

30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 

–I believe the list of things that follow in these verses not only open the door to the devil but also grieve Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:3132 (NLT) 

31 Get rid of all bitterness, rage, anger, harsh words, and slander, as well as all types of evil behavior. 

32 Instead, be kind to each other, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God through Christ has forgiven you. 

Jude 1:2025 (NKJV) 

20 But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, 

21 keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

22 And on some have compassion, making a distinction; 

23 but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh. 

24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, 

25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever.

Amen!