Open Doors
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2 Observations on Open Doors
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1st Not every open door is the Lord’s direction for our lives so we have to hold things loosely and be flexible.
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1 Corinthians 16:5-7 ESV
I will visit you after passing through Macedonia, for I intend to pass through Macedonia, and perhaps I will stay with you or even spend the winter, so that you may help me on my journey, wherever I go. For I do not want to see you now just in passing. I hope to spend some time with you, if the Lord permits.
Acts 16:6-7 ESV
And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. And when they had come up to Mysia, they attempted to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them.
2nd Nor every open door from God is easy.
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1 Corinthians 16:8-9 ESV
But I will stay in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.
So how do we know if something is an open door?
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1. You are thinking about how you can honor God & something comes to mind.
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2. Upon exploration or inquiry the idea seems pheasible.
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3. You have a sense of peace.
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4. You sense God would be pleased.
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Acts 15:28a ESV
it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us...
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5. You seek godly counsel who agrees.
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6. You have an internal enthusiasm.
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7. You sense and see a grace on what you are wanting to do.
Grace on it = God’s presence + opportunity + resource
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1. Be prayerful
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2. Be careful
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3. Be hopeful