By Olubunmi Adebayo
*We conclude our reflections today on how to discern between God-open doors and trap-open doors, knowing fully well that not every door that is opened before a man, is an open door from God Almighty.*
*C) Did you pray before the door opened?*
*Remember, Jesus prayed all night before choosing his 12 disciples :*
*Luke 6:1[12] “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.*
*[13]And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles”.*
*Please always note that if you didn’t pray through, you may be seeing what you want to see -*
*James 1:[15] “Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death”.*
*D) What is the motive behind the door that is opened?*
*Is the open door to glorify God or to display self- glorification? Always have this at the back of your mind -Jer 17:9 -“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?”*
*What is the real motive of your heart over that burning issue? If it is selfless or selfish, God surely knows.*
*E) Do you have confirmation(s)?*
*You must understand that God has a way of confirming His open doors with 2-3 witnesses – word, wise counsel, inner witness,etc – 2 Cor 13:1 – “This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established”*.
*F) What is the fruit on the other side of the door?*
*Always remember the word of God – you shall know them by their fruits :*
*Matt 7:[16] -“Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?”*
*You have a duty to look beyond the door ahead of you. You should ask yourself – if you enter, what fruit will it produce in 3 to 5 to 8 years?*
*G) Do mature, godly counselors agree with the open door?*
*Always remember what the word of God says about the multitude of counsels:*
*Prov 11:[14] “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety”.*
*If your pastor and godly mentors are saying “wait”, then be careful not to run through it or run ahead of God.*
*Let one critical thing keep ringing in your heart :*
*_The danger(s) of entering the wrong door. Remember_*:
*Lot opened the wrong door in choosing the well watered plains of Sodom and Gomorrah as his place of settlement.*
*Samson opened the wrong door in choosing Delilah as his choice of wife.*
*Abraham was not patient enough, and he opened the wrong door in fathering a child that gave rise to the descendants of the bondwoman.*
*Any open door without God’s approval, will only lead to setbacks and untold regrets, if not now, then be sure, in the time to come.*
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©️ Olubunmi S Adebayo.
