Encountering doors is a certainty in all of our lives, and it happens daily. Be it at home, when we get into our cars, go to the grocer, stop by the bank, and many other instances. When we face a door, the natural instinct is to open it. Opening a door allows you to move from one space to another. When we peruse through the pages of scripture, there are no less than 400 mentions of doors within it, whether literal or symbolic. Let’s for a moment look at the significance of spiritual doors in our lives. What does it do for us? What does it signify?
Doors help you move forward in life and ministry as well as step into the unknown. It can change the course of your life and allow you to access new things or experiences. Doors also create a barrier and prevent you from entering into a space that can be of danger to you. Revelations 3:7 reveals to us that Jesus is our doorkeeper. As our Saviour and Lord, He ultimately decides which doors are open and which are closed. And once He decides, no one can alter it!
We will look at 2 types of doors in this article today i.e. Open Doors & Closed Doors. When doors are opened in our spiritual life, very often it results in new experiences, new pathways, and also new ministries being born. It is an opportunity for us to experience and step into our breakthroughs. This is also where the enemy, our adversary the devil will try to prevent us from accessing it.
1 Cor. 16:9 – for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (ESV)
2 Cor. 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. (NLT)
When we read in Acts 16:25-26, the Bible says, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.” In a seemingly impossible situation to get out of, God used something supernatural to cause a ‘suddenly‘ to happen. An earthquake caused a series of events to unfold, one of which was to open the prison doors!
Our God is a God of ‘suddenlies‘. He works in ways we can’t imagine to fulfill His divine purposes, which in this case was for Paul and Silas to preach to the jailer, his household, and also Lydia’s household. When we are in ministry and have embraced our call, it opens the door for the supernatural to happen. The Word of God needs to go forth and He alone will make a way where there seems to be no way.
Are you in a situation where it seems you are stuck and unable to move because there are shackles that are tying you down? The same God who acted for Paul & Silas will do the same for you. Just worship Him and see your breakthrough coming. There are also times when God closes a door because He is Omniscient. This means He knows everything about the past, present, and future. Nothing takes Him by surprise! When God closes a door, it’s because He knows something that you don’t! Trust Him, rely on Him. There are times when the Holy Spirit will close doors in our lives to change our perspective and bring us out of our comfort zones.
We see this happen in Acts 16:6-10: 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. So, passing by Mysia, they went down to Troas. And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.
At that point in time, Paul and his companions were enjoying fruitful ministry in Asia Minor. Churches were being established and people were coming to the Lord. God caused the door of ministry to be closed here (for a season) in order to open up new opportunities to Paul for ministry – to bring him out of his comfort zone. Macedonia was the gateway to Europe at the time and the gospel had not reached its shores yet. It was an unreached area. Paul perceived this in the spirit and immediately recognised that ministry was needed there. The Bible uses the term ‘immediately we sought to go‘; there was a sense of urgency!
As we continue to read on, we see the tremendous things that happened there. One by one, people were being saved. The power of the gospel was so evident there. It was only 5 years later that Paul returned to Asia Minor (Acts 19) to continue ministry there. As you look at these instances, are there doors in your life that are being closed by the Holy Spirit? Maybe you have been too long in an area or field where it has become routine for you. Perhaps that closed door is to direct you into a new door that will be rich in opportunities and experiences.
Is God wanting you to act in the same urgency as Paul – immediately seize the opportunity – and follow the leading of the Holy Spirit. There will be new souls waiting to receive the anointing that you carry to set them free from the shackles that hold them down. God will take you to them so that you find your purpose and are able to use that anointing for His glory. Let us not take the doors in our lives for granted and let us learn to perceive it in the spiritual realm because God is doing something new in this season we are in!
About the Ryans: Ps. Justin Ryan & his wife Ps. Jacquie are the founders of One Voice Ministries, established in 2008. It is a missions and training ministry focused on reaching the 10/40 Window. To date they have ministered in 9 nations, teaching and training pastors and leaders as well as evangelising many of the unreached peoples groups. Here in Malaysia, One Voice has an established work with the Orang Asli.
In 2013, the Lord has led them to found Issachar Academy where they provide training specifically for missions in a hospitable environment. Through the academy, the Ryans also help Christians recognise and move in their seasons with God.For more details please visit them at www.onevm.net
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