By Olubunmi Adebayo
*We shall continue with our reflections today on the fact that not every door that is opened before a man, is indeed an open door from God.*
*Taking a critical look at the story of Mr Lot as discussed yesterday, our flesh can open doors, so is Satan, so can people around us too.*
*Some open doors are traps with good decorations attached to them.*
*We can broadly establish the following sources of open doors :*
*A) DOORS OPENED BY GOD : this will come with peace, and not pressure. It will also align with the words of God.*
*2 Tim 1:[7] “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind”.*
*You will need to exercise your faith though, as God leads you forward :*
*Heb 11: [6] *But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him”.*
*B) DOORS OPENED BY THE DEVIL : this will look deceptively attractive, but will come with compromised demands on your part.*
*Remember the story of Balaam when God said “Don’t go” in :*
*Numbers 22:[7] “And the elders of Moab and the elders of Midian departed with the rewards of divination in their hand; and they came unto Balaam, and spake unto him the words of Balak.*
*[9]And God came unto Balaam, and said, What men are these with thee?*
*[10]And Balaam said unto God, Balak the son of Zippor, king of Moab, hath sent unto me, saying.*
*[11]Behold, there is a people come out of Egypt, which covereth the face of the earth: come now, curse me them; peradventure I shall be able to overcome them, and drive them out.*
*[12]And God said unto Balaam, Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people: for they are blessed”.*
*But because King Balak opened the door with money and promotion. Balaam forced it open and this nearly got him killed, but for the donkey that saved him.*
*Numbers 22:[15] “And Balak sent yet again princes, more, and more honourable than they.*
*[16]And they came to Balaam, and said to him, Thus saith Balak the son of Zippor, Let nothing, I pray thee, hinder thee from coming unto me:*
*[17]For I will promote thee unto very great honour, and I will do whatsoever thou sayest unto me: come therefore, I pray thee, curse me this people”.*
*C) DOORS OPENED BY OUR FLESH.*
*These are doors opened by our impatience. Take for instance, the case of Abraham becoming impatient with the promise of God, and submitting to pressure to father a child through the family slave- Hagar.*
*God promised Isaac, but Sarah’s womb was not responding, so Abraham opened his own door through Hagar -Gen 16.*
*The result was that Ishmael was born,and conflict unending was born – think about that.*
*D) DOORS OPENED BY FELLOW MEN :*
*There are times that people push you through a door that God never opened for a man:*
*Take for instance, the crowd wanted to make Jesus Christ king by force after He fed them with bread – John 6:15. It was an open door to popularity and power, but Jesus withdrew into the mountain:*
*John 6:[13] “Therefore they gathered them together, and filled twelve baskets with the fragments of the five barley loaves, which remained over and above unto them that had eaten.*
*[14]Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.*
*[15]When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone”.*
*Jesus knew who men are : Hossan today, crucify him tomorrow.*
*HOW DO WE DISCERN A GOD-DOOR FROM A TRAP-DOOR?*
*Please pay attention to the following biblical filters before you walk through an open door :*
*A) Does it agree with the words of God?*
*God will never open a door that violates His Words. No open door to adultery, lying, fraud, or idolatry is from God – Ps 119:105 :*
*”Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”.*
*B) Does it produce peace or pressure within you?*
*John 14:[1]”Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”*
*God’s open doors bring peace even in faith. Devil’s door brings anxiety, rush, and “do it now or lose it” dimension.*
*Always remember – our God is not the author of confusion, but of peace.- 1 Cor 14:33:*
*”For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”*
*To be concluded tomorrow, God willing.*
Top of the day to you 👍
©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
