He is the One who opens the door, not man. This applies in your business, in your career, or in your spiritual ministry.
He moves people to favor you and choose you (out of many others).
He moves the right customers to choose you (your products/services).
He moves the right employer to employ you.
He moves the right people to be open to receive your spiritual ministry.
And when He opens the door, no man can shut it. This is the time to ask, and you will receive!
How to know if an open door is from God?
1. The door opens for you supernaturally
Revelation 3:8 (NKJV) says, 'I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name'.
You can sense the peace of God there. You can also sense and watch the hand of God and the favor of God there.
2. The door makes you fully dependent on Him
John 15:4-5 (NKJV) says, 'Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing'.
If you are not depending on God to open a door, then you are depending on your own self, or your own flesh. There will be a lot of striving. It is like you trying to prise open a door and force it to open, instead of walking through a door with someone opening it for you.
3. There will be confirmation from God or from wise counsel
Proverbs 11:14 (NKJV) says, 'Where there is no counsel, the people fall; But in the multitude of counselors there is safety'.
Confirmation can come in any way that God can speak to you, e.g. dreams from God (to go ahead or warning not to go ahead).
But confirmation can also come by asking someone whom you trust, who has been walking with God, and whom you know can give you wise counsel to pray together or to confirm. Ask God to show you who that person is (or who that two or three persons are). As a matter of fact, not everyone fits into this category of 'wise counsel'.
4. The door doesn’t contradict the Scripture
1 John 2:3-4 (GNT) says, 'If we obey God's commands, then we are sure that we know Him. If we say that we know Him, but do not obey His commands, we are liars and there is no truth in us'.
If the door makes you do something illegal (i.e. against the law of your land), doing things 'under the table', involves dishonesty or unscrupulous means, involves you giving bribes, or involves you committing a sin (eg lying, cheating, adultery, etc), then you know the door isn't God's will for you. God cannot contradict His Word.
5. The door gives God all the glory
1 Samuel 16:7 (NKJV) says, 'But the Lord said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart."'
One example is David in the Bible. The Lord was asking Samuel to go to Jesse's house and anoint one of his sons to be king. Out of all the sons of Jesse, Samuel found the right person in David.
There are times when God blesses you with an 'open door' or wants to bring you to the next level, you haven't even seen it coming. Just like David, though he never asked to be king, the Lord saw him as the right person. Your obedience, faithfulness and humble spirit simply open doors that you never expect. All glory to God!
6. The door brings blessing and peace to you
Proverbs 10:22 (NKJV) says, 'The blessing of the Lord makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it'.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NKJV) says, 'For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope'.
An open door from the Lord is a blessing, and it adds no sorrow with it (i.e. not causing sorrow to you). An open door from the Lord also brings peace, future and hope to you.
Proverbs 11:25 (Expanded) says, 'Whoever gives to others will get richer [or blesses others will be refreshed]; those who help [satisfy] others will themselves be helped [satisfied]'.
Proverbs 11:25 (Amplified) says, 'The generous man [is a source of blessing and] shall be prosperous and enriched, and he who waters will himself be watered [reaping the generosity he has sown]'.
You are called to be a blessing to others. If your open door brings blessing to many around you, it may be from the Lord.
Find a need and meet it. Ask God to show you what are the needs of the people (or your community, city, or nation) that have not been met. That's how you can bring blessing to others!
Of course, this Point No.7 needs to be confirmed by other earlier points shown to you. Because not every 'good idea' is a 'God idea' for you, even if the idea brings blessing to others.
What's your part now?
Your part is to position yourself for the open doors. You can make yourself available. You can market yourself (ask God for wisdom how to do it). You can send out your resumes, if you are seeking a job. You can inform others who you are and what you can do (what products or services you offer). You can do all these in the natural. But the rest, leave it to Him and look to Him to open the doors for you. Watch His hand and His favor working for you!
Prayer for God to open doors for you:
"O LORD God, in the current pandemic and economic challenges the world is facing, we look to You and put all our trust in You. You are the One who opens the right door that no man can shut. You are the One who makes a way where there seems to be no way. We ask that You will open the doors for each of us supernaturally, be it in business, career, or ministry. With man, it may be impossible; but with You, nothing is impossible. We believe and receive all that we have prayed here by faith. In Jesus' precious name. Amen."
Click here to watch the full teaching in TiC YouTube Channel
