TEXT:1 CORINTHIANS 16:9-22
INTRODUCTION: Have you ever had a door slammed in your face? Have you ever gone to see someone who didn’t want to see you or welcome you? Most of us have had that experience. We have all had doors opened to us, too. Those are happier, inviting, welcoming, and pleasant doors. Paul spoke of an open door in our text today. He was speaking of the door of opportunity; the door of evangelism; the door of missions. Paul knew that the door was open no matter who opposed Him! So today God has given His church an open door! Doors are open abroad and here at home!” Doors of opportunity,
” doors of service,
” doors of responsibility.
The story of two young men illustrates what we ought to do with such open doors. The sign in the window of Mr. Peters’ store read: “BOY WANTED.” John Simmons, though he was lazy, saw his opportunity and applied. He was hired and the pace was leisurely so he enjoyed the job. An open door had been provided for John. What would he do with it after stepping through? What will we do with those doors set before us? And we must face that issue because:
1.THE OPPPORTUNITY OF OPEN DOORS
For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. When Paul and Barnabas had arrived in Antioch they gathered the church together and began to report all things that God had done with them and how He had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. Acts 14:27.
John records Jesus’ words in Revelation 3:8 ” I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door,
A. THE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY TO WIN THE LOST
” Surrounding us are doors that God stands ready to open if we stand ready to enter.
” People enslaved to alcohol and drugs and sexual immorality can be freed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
” People deceived by the new age, secular humanism and other humanistic philosophies can be won by the truth of God’s Word.
” Folk who are caught up in materialism, temporalities and the world can find fulfillment and meaning in Jesus Christ.
” Men and women mistakenly thinking that their goodness or sincerity or works will save them can be saved by Grace through faith.
” Folk bowed down by depression, fear, anxiety, guilt, and despair can be raised up by the uplifting good news! God spoke to the Persian king Cyrus saying,
B. THE OPEN DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY TO WARN THE LAST NOAH AND SITUATION
God opens the doors, but what we do with them is up to us! The door of employment was open when John read the “BOY WANTED” sign and he stepped through to get the job. The problem was that he didn’t do much with it after that. Toward the middle of the first afternoon he was sent up to the attic - a dingy place full of cobwebs and infested with mice. Mr. Peters told him, “You will find a long, deep box there. Please sort out the contents and see what should be saved.” John was disappointed. It was a large container, and there seemed to be nothing in it but old junk. After a few minutes he went back to the ground floor. Asked by his employer if he had completed his work, he replied, “No, sir, it was dark and cold up there and I didn’t think it was worth doing.” When You Came Through The Door You Committed To The Job!
1.THE OPPPORTUNITY OF OPEN DOORS:
2.THE OPPOSITION OF OPEN DOORS
and there are many adversaries.Paul mentions going through Macedonia. When he got there he found people willing to step through a door to render real service.
In
(2 Cor 8:1 KJV) Moreover, brethren, we do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia;
(2 Cor 8:2 KJV) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
(2 Cor 8:3 KJV) For to their power, I bear record, yea, and beyond their power they were willing of themselves;
(2 Cor 8:4 KJV) Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
(2 Cor 8:5 KJV) And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.
A. INSPITE OF THE OPPOSITION THEY GAVE
(2 Cor 8:2 KJV) How that in a great trial of affliction the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality.
” They saw a need among their brethren in Judea.
” They begged for the favor of giving to help with the need though they were poverty stricken themselves.
” They first gave themselves to God and to the church.
B. INSPITE OF THE OPPOSITION THEY GAINED
(2Cor 8:4 KJV) Praying us with much entreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.
” The Macedonian Christians were diligent and bountiful in service!
” They did according to their ability and beyond their ability!
” They model for us genuine, diligent service. God sets open doors before those who are willing to step through to service!
Moses was so faithful a servant that God gave him this testimony, (Heb 3:5 KJV) And
Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after;
1.THE OPPPORTUNITY OF OPEN DOORS
2.THE OPPOSITION OF OPEN DOORS
3.THE OPTION OF OPEN DOORS GOD PROVIDES OPEN DOORS THAT ARE PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITIES: V9: Note that Paul said, “a door is opened to me.” Not to Timothy or Apollos or Barnabas, but “to me!”
A.IT IS A PERSONAL OPTION Sometimes people see something needing fixing or changing or some task that needs doing and say, “Why don’t they do something about that?” or
“Somebody ought to do something about that!” But remember, we are all some of “they” and each of us is one of the “somebodies!” God help us develop an attitude of responsibility! The Israelites, fresh back in Canaan after the Babylonian captivity, said to Ezra
(Ezra 10:12 KJV) Then all the congregation answered and said with a loud voice, As thou hast said, so must we do.
They possessed a sense of personal responsibility.
President Harry Truman used to have a desk plaque that read, “The Buck Stops Here!” implying that in the final analysis he assumed ultimate responsibility.
Paul wrote to the Galatians, (Gal 6:5 KJV) For every man shall bear his own burden.
Charlie Brown’s little friend, Peppermint Patty, demonstrates the failure to take personal responsibility. She is talking to Charlie Brown. “Guess what, Chuck. The first day of school, and I got sent to the principal’s office. It was your fault,
Chuck.” Charlie said, “My fault? How could it be my fault?” Patty said, “You’re my friend, aren’t you Chuck? You should have been a better influence on me!” You don’t have to be a brain surgeon to know who failed in their responsibility!
B.IT IS A POWERFUL OPTION
He wrote to the Romans, (Rom 14:12 KJV) So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.
ILL.Remember the sign in the window boy wanted another boy came in with the sign and took the job he was told go up to the attic - a dingy place full of cobwebs and infested with mice. Mr. Peters told him, “You will find a long, deep box there. Please sort out the contents and see what should be saved.” Crawford Hill fulfilled his responsibility in cleaning out the attic. As he completed his task, he came running down the stairs to Mr. Peters, saying, “At the very bottom of the box I found this!” And he held up a 20-dollar bill. At last the store owner had discovered a conscientious boy to whom he could entrust his business when he retired. Years later Mr. Peters said, “This young man, who is now my successor, found his fortune in a junk box!” crawford hill he added, ‘He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much!’” So, when it comes to being faithful in stepping through God’s open door, What are YOU doing on earth for Heaven’s sake? God sets before all of us open doors and urges us to step through in faith.
If not you, then who?
If not here then where?
God has a door open for you to go through!
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