Standing Before God's Open Door

In Touch, the teaching ministry of Dr. Charles Stanley. Next on In Touch, Standing Before God's Open Door. This is the most exciting time in human history to be alive and serving the Lord. When I think about the awesome, unparalleled door of opportunity that stands before us to make an impact on the entire world for the gospel of Jesus Christ, I cannot be more excited. When I look back at the last century and the last millennium and see the accomplishments of man and where the church has gone and where it has grown, and then I look to see where we are today and what God has before us, every single believer should be excited about the possibilities of becoming involved in the most important thing in all the world. That's what I want to talk about in this message, Standing Before God's Open Door. What do we find? What do we see? What do we feel? Standing Before God's Open Door. First Corinthians chapter sixteen. Let me give you a little background of what's happening. Paul has just finished describing the resurrection of Jesus Christ and its impact. And not only that, but also what will happen to us and our bodies when we die, when we are resurrected. Then in this sixteenth chapter, he begins with telling us some of his plans. He comes down to verse eight and he says, speaking of where he has been writing this epistle from, he says,

But I will remain in Ephesus until Pentecost, for a wide door for effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. A wide door of effective service has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. Now, Paul uses this whole idea of door as a figure of speech for opportunity. For example, he says something similar to that in second Corinthians chapter two and verse twelve, he talks about how the Lord has opened a door for him in Troas and then in Colossians, that fourth chapter, a few verses there, he talks about asking the Colossians to pray for him for an open door for the truth. And so, when we think about that and think about the fact that that's what an opportunity is, it's an open door. An opportunity is a favorable time in your life and mine to either participate in something or to accomplish and achieve something. And you and I know that opportunities are not static, they don't just stay there, they come and they go. In fact, every single day of our life, you and I wake up every morning to new opportunities. Opportunities in our spiritual growth, opportunities in our vocation, opportunities in our relationship, every day is filled with opportunities. Now, whether we take advantage of them or not, it's up to us. If we're wise enough to identify a good opportunity when it comes our way or a difficult opportunity when it comes our way, if we're wise enough to be able to acknowledge it,

see it, realize its potential and step through that door, oftentimes we'll be blessed. In fact, most of the time we will. So, when I think about what is implied in the very idea of an opportunity, certainly when I think about it from God's view point, what is implied is the fact that God has a plan. That is, if God has provided an opportunity, that means that God has planned something. The second thing that's implied is this, that God has already gone on before because He is the one who opens the doors of opportunity for us. The third thing it says to me, the implication is, that God is interested in accomplishing something in our life or through our life. And the fourth thing is this, that whatever door of opportunity He opens, it means that He's already committed to accomplishing whatever God has in mind. Now, also to think about some of the requirements. For example, when I think about the open doors that God has for us individually and as a church and as a nation, for example, and think about the fact of what's required, certainly the realization of being able to identify an opportunity that may be therein. Thirdly, the faith to do so. Fourth, the courage to do so. And fifth, certainly the confidence that we can achieve and accomplish whatever is on the other side of that door, whatever opportunity that may be. Now, all that leads me to think in terms of what the Apostle Paul said here and the awesome opportunity that stands before

us. Because if you'll notice what he said, he said, there is a wide door for effective service that is open to many adversaries. So I want us to think about this whole idea. And it'll be rather easy for you to listen to this message and say, well, that's out yonder. That applies to someone else. So that's just talking about church. No, every single one of us has a responsibility because God doors for each of us individually, then each one of us has a responsibility, because you see, God has a plan, a personal plan for every individual. That plan involves opportunities for us to grow spiritually, opportunities for our families, our friends, our vocation, our finances, whatever it might be. There are always opportunities there. God is at work in your life and my life. And so, when I think about this whole issue of opportunities, I'd like for us to think about it this way. And that is the open door that stands before us, the open door that stands before us today, the most awesome door in the history of humanity, the most awesome door in the history of the church. Now, why would I say that? Simply this, because the most important thing going on in the history of humanity today, the most important thing in the mind of God, the most important thing that He intends for us to be on our mind is God's redemptive plan. That's the most important thing in the mind of God. It is the most important thing going on on the globe, in space, whatever. There's nothing more important in the mind of God than the redemption of mankind. It is the most important thing. And therefore, because it's the most important thing, certainly, He intends for every single

one of us to be involved in it. Now, I want you to turn, if you will, to 1 Timothy for a moment, because you'll see exactly what that plan is involved in and what is involved. And so, how we would be involved in that. 1 Timothy, if you'll notice, in chapter 2, he makes it very clear when somebody says, well, what is redemption? Well, redemption speaks of the salvation of mankind. And so, he says, for example, in chapter 2, beginning in verse 1, he says, first of all, he says, then I urge the entreaties of prayer and petition and thanksgiving be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. What is God's redemptive plan? His redemptive plan is this. His redemptive plan is that all persons be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth. That is God's simple plan. So when somebody says, well, what is the most important thing going on today? I can tell you the most important thing today, tomorrow, last week, last year, last century, last millennium, the most important thing going on in the world today and until Jesus Christ comes and takes us home to heaven is God's redemptive plan. That is God's work among men to save men from their sins, transform their life, grow us up in the Christ likeness, mature us as His children. That is the most important thing going on. Oftentimes we get caught up with things that the world says are so important and the whole globe, for example, oftentimes is centered on one particular nation or one event. But the most important thing today in the mind of God is His redemptive plan, which He says very clearly is this. That is the salvation of all men and that all men would come to the truth, come to the knowledge of the truth about Him and His ways in life.

So when I think about what Paul says, yeah, move over to 2 Timothy chapter 2 for a moment because this is the way he says that will take place. This is how God's redemptive plan will become a living reality and that is this. He says in chapter 2 verse 1, you therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, the things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses and trust these, the faithful men who will be able to teach of us also. Paul says this is the way God's redemptive plan is spread across the ages and across the globe. How men will teach other people, teach other men and women and boys and girls, and they in turn will teach others and they in turn will teach others. God's redemptive plan is not centered around a person. God's redemptive plan involves every single person. When you trusted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, you became involved in God's redemptive plan because you became a part of the body of Christ, a member of the church of the Lord Jesus Christ, a part of the kingdom of God. And what is the work of the kingdom? The work of the kingdom, the work of the church is, he said, as you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all the things that I've commanded you. And he says, lo, I'll be with you all the way, even to the end of this age. That is the mandate and the mission of the church. The mission of the church is not to be a social organization, though there is social functions that go on. It is not simply to be some organization of denomination, though there are organizations and denominations. It is a body of people who are committed to the Lord Jesus Christ for the purpose of doing the most important thing in the history of humanity. The most important thing in the mind of God is the redemption of mankind. Is establishing and building his kingdom and he's building his kingdom not with organizations He's building his kingdom of people people like you and me

The second thing I want you to notice is Paul uses this term as a figure of speech. It is also a door of obligation That is we have an obligation not just to stand before that door. We have an obligation to walk through it I think about what Paul said in Romans chapter 1 turn there for a moment He says in verse 14 I am he says therefore under obligation Both the Greeks and to the barbarians both to the wise and to the foolish So for my part, I'm eager to preach the gospel to you who also are in Rome Then he says here for I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ He says because it is the power of God for salvation To everyone who believes to the Jew first and also to the Greek he had this awesome sense of burden and sense of obligation Why because the gospel had reached him his life had been transformed his whole destiny Had been changed he felt this obligation Not only that but also because of God's love for him and his love for God his love for the Lord Jesus Christ motivated him This is what caused this man Not only to be willing to be beaten and stoned and shipwrecked and going Oftentimes and hunger and he says deprived but ending up in prison and finally giving his life Because he knew who God was in Christ Jesus he was willing to lay down his life because he knew he was involved in the most important thing in all of the history of Mankind that is the redemption of mankind. He never hesitated no matter what took advantage of every opportunity For example when he was in prison, the scripture says that for a season of time He had his own rented quarters And so as people would come and go he shared the gospel whether it was a Roman soldier or whether it was a friend Or whether no matter who it was strangers who came he was always sharing the gospel always busy doing the most important thing He wasn't looking for an opportunity. He took advantage of every opportunity that lay before him So when I think about the awesome door that is before us the wonderful opportunity listen the Church of Jesus Christ has never has never in its history ever had the possibility and the potential and Listen and the open door of opportunity to impact the entire world No matter where they are on the face of this globe. We have never had the opportunity we have at this particular time We have an awesome obligation now listen carefully

When I think about this obligation and I think about what the scripture says in a particular song that we're going to look at in Just a moment. It is Intensified in my mind this obligation is intensified in my mind when I read this passage So I want you to go back if you will to Psalm 78 Psalm 78 and I want us to look at a few verses here And if you are a parent or if you are a grandparent or if you ever intend to be one I want you to listen very very carefully to this particular passage of scripture Because as I think what the scripture says concerning our obligation and I think about what Paul felt in his own life and how God was working in his life and What motivated him his love for the Lord Jesus Christ the lost condition of mankind and the fact that God had commanded him Commanded him to preach the gospel I think about what God has commanded each of us to do all of us on the per personal Obligation to share the truth that transforms men's lives and brings them out of darkness Listen, you can live in the brightness of this nation with physical light and the sunshine that God gives us and be walking in Darkness every single day unless you know, Jesus Christ is your personal Savior So when I look at what God says here, look at this look at this 78th Psalm Let's begin the first verse he says listen, oh my people to my instruction Incline your ears to the words of my mouth. I will open my mouth in a parable I will utter dark sayings of old which we have heard and known and our fathers have told us now listen carefully this passage We will not conceal them That is these truths from our children But we will tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord and his strength and his wondrous works That he has done for he established the testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel Which he commanded our fathers that they should teach to their children That the generation to come might know Even the children yet to be born That they may arise and tell them to their children that they should put their confidence in God and not forget the works of God But keep his commandments and not be like their fathers a stubborn and rebellious generation a generation that did not prepare its heart and Whose spirit was not faithful to God now, I want you to think about something Every single society, every single society is only one generation from total paganism.

Because if each generation, listen, if each generation does not propagate the truth, if each generation does not instruct their children and their children's children, if they are not taught the truth, it will only take one generation for a nation to become pagan, totally pagan. It is the lack of that teaching of an instruction that has caused us to be where we are at this time in history in the life of our own nation. We see disintegration morally everywhere. We see the effects in leadership. We see the effects in every aspect of our society, though there may be tremendous evidences of progress in so many ways, morally, we are declining. Morally, it is very evident what's going on. Why? There was a time, for example, in villages and cities all across this nation that children were carried to Sunday school. Their parents took them to Sunday school. There was a Bible on their table in the home. They instructed their children. They took the Old Testament commands as well as the New Testament commands as, listen, as an authoritative word from the living God to instruct their children the ways of God. And so what happened? They got busy. Parents began to be busy. They began to be affluent. They sent them to schools. They sent them to nurseries. And so what happens? Children are now growing up. They're not going to Sunday school because their parents do not go. They do not go to Bible study because their parents do not go. They go to public schools and public colleges.

They hear nothing, almost nothing, absolutely about God, Jesus Christ, or His work. No sense of conviction about sin, but a very demoralizing kind of do what you please, when you please, as you please, criticism of the church, criticism of God, criticism of the What are we doing? We are raising up that generation that God has warned us that if we do not instruct our children and our grandchildren the ways of God, we will become a pagan nation. There was a time, for example, when we would look at other nations of the world and hear about their sin and their frivolity and their wickedness and their unbelief and all the rest. And we would look down on them and criticize them. And you know what's happened? Satan has deceived us as we've become affluent. What have we done? We've, listen, changed the morality of other people in the world. We have absorbed it into our own society until now. We are probably worse than they. We have accepted as a lifestyle, we've accepted as a way of life, sin, disobedience, and rebellion toward God. And God says those yet to be born are to be instructed in the ways of God. That is not an option. That is a divine obligation of every single parent who is alive to teach their children the truth of God's Word. He says, he says, listen, listen to this. He says that the generation to come might know even the children yet to be born that they may arise and tell them to their children. We teach our children, they teach their children, they teach their children. That's the way the gospel of Jesus Christ has been propagated down through these centuries. One telling one, parents telling their children, children telling their children, their grandchildren, their great-great-grandchildren. That's the way the gospel of Jesus Christ has penetrated our society.

But now we've become too busy. Now we've become so affluent. Now we don't have time to instruct our children. Now we don't have time to talk to our grandchildren. Now we don't have time to spend time with our children opening the Word of God. Well, we let the preacher do that. Listen, there is no preacher, no pastor in the world who can take, listen, the place of a father and a mother, a granddad or a grandmom who can teach their children the ways of God, first by their life, second by instruction, thirdly by simply saying to them, here's what God has done in my life, giving the illustrations of God's work in your life. You, listen, you cannot pass that on to some other generation. You cannot give that responsibility to someone else. This, listen, we have a divine obligation. It is not a matter of choice. We have the most wonderful, awesome opportunities. We stand before this door wide open to us. And I want you to notice, because the second, next thing I want to say about this door is simply just what I've hinted at right there. When Paul said, look at that 16th chapter again, when he said, for a wide door for effective service has opened to me and there are many adversaries. When he says a wide, a wide door has opened. When I think about what Paul was saying about his own life, here's what he was doing. He was in this metropolitan city of Ephesus and he was preaching the gospel and teaching the gospel there. And he saw the wonderful opportunity to make an impact on that city because it was a crossroads and people were coming and going, whether by ship or by land. And as people were converted and established that church there and they began to share the truth and it would spread throughout all Asia. This man had a vision. But listen, for reaching the world of his day, but when I think about, when I think

about how Paul was limited, he said this wide door of opportunity has opened to me. But think about it for a moment, how limited he was in lots of ways. The apostle Paul either had to be there to speak himself personally of the gospel, or he could write some epistles, which he did, and not very many, when you think about his life and what his goal was to evangelize the Mediterranean world of his day, or he could train other people and have them establish churches and have them propagate the gospel, but he was very limited in lots of ways. But think about who we are and where we are today. How limited are we? Listen, what is God's redemptive plan? He says that all men, all men might be saved and come to the knowledge of the truth of who God really is through his son, Jesus Christ. Paul was limited. How limited are we? Unlimited. Think about this for a moment. We stand at the most crucial, critical, opportune moment of time to impact the whole world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. For example, we have television, we have radio, we have shortwave, and now we have the internet and the printed page. Listen, do you realize that you could bring up 5,000 pages of sermons and biblical instruction just on our webpage in touch alone, 5,000 pages. There are people out there all over the world, country after country, responding. Because they're hungry. It is, listen, they're from all different kinds of religions, all different kinds of languages who can speak English. One of these days, I believe there'll be a time when you can hit the button and what? It all gets translated into your language. God is doing the most fantastic thing in the history of humanity when it comes, listen, to doing the most important thing, which is the redemption of mankind.

Technology, listen, man, God has given man the capacity and the ability to invent and to discover all kinds of things. And he intends for the church to take advantage because his primary purpose for doing so was simply not to increase man's finances or make progress in other ways, but listen, to get his truth, the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ to every single person possible on the face of this earth. Well let's think about something else for a moment. When I think about the possibility, it is a door that you and I can walk through with optimism. Look around you. It is a door that God has opened. We didn't have to push it open. It's not something that we have managed to do. We have, listen, God has opened the door. He's given the Holy Spirit to live on the inside of us, to give us, listen, to give us insight into his word, to enable us through the power and the anointing of the Holy Spirit to share with our friends and those about us or to preach it and to proclaim it to multitudes of people. We have the Holy Spirit. Not only that, we know that God doesn't open a door just to have an open door. He opens doors in order that you and I may walk through and take advantage. When I think about how the business world works, the business man there, he's looking for opportunities, sensitive to opportunities. How can he make more money? How can he increase his profit? How can he enlarge his business? God's people ought to be far more sensitive about who can I reach for Jesus? Who can I tell? What opportunity do I have? And I think about some of the people in this church that I know are just that sensitive,

who are just that committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They're ready to tell it. They do tell it. They do share it wherever they go. They've caught the passion. They've caught the vision. They understand what God's up to. They know it's the most important thing in the world. And some of these are very, very high-profile business people, but whose lives are, first of all, committed to Jesus Christ. It is a door of awesome opportunity. It is a door that you and I can walk with through an enthusiasm, an absolute, a perfect confidence that whatever God sends us to do, He's going to be there, enable us to help us do it. We don't have to look at all the reasons we can't, but all the reasons we can to be willing to be used by Almighty God to do the most important thing that's going on in the face of this world. Now here's the question. In the light of this message, God has opened the door of opportunity for all of us. What are you going to do with your life from this point on? You belong to God. What are you going to do with your life? Are you going to invest it in what, in the mind of Almighty God, is the most important thing going on in the history of humanity? You see, it doesn't make a difference what your vocation is. God can take your vocation and use you in the propagation of the gospel, whether it is building a church, building a parking lot, parking automobiles for people to be able to come in, ushering, teaching, instructing, singing. playing a musical instrument, sharing your testimony in your business, sitting down with your children tonight before you go to bed, and confessing to them that you have failed to

instruct them in the ways of God. You've left that to somebody else. You want to ask them to forgive you for that. And beginning tonight, just with the simple things that you know, say to them, let me tell you what God has taught me in my life. You can get started today making the impact in your life upon the lives of other people. We're just down to two alternatives, just two, no options. You say, well, I'm leaving. It's too late. Here are the options. I will accept the fact that God has a plan and a purpose for my life. I will accept the fact that the most important thing going on in this world is the redemption of mankind. I will accept the fact that God has opened doors of opportunity for me every day. I will accept the fact that I belong to a fellowship of people who are committed to evangelizing the world. I am committed to the fact that I will find a place of service. I will begin to be sensitive to opportunities. I will invest my life every day in ways that will bring about the best good for the most people, especially their salvation, their redemption, their eternal life. Alternative number one, best one. The next one, you can stay on the bench. You can just sit it out and watch the game. But I want to tell you, you're going to miss the thrill of one wonderful play after the other of people trusting Jesus Christ as their Savior. And when the game of life's all over, and you lie down to die, and you look back with regrets that cannot be changed, you will be sorry. And my friend, if you've never trusted Jesus Christ, you will be eternally sorrowful. We don't preach judgment to scare people. We simply preach the love of Christ. That's the message of the gospel. God loves us. That's why he sent Jesus. And that's why he sends us to speak the truth. If you've never trusted Jesus Christ as your Savior, let me explain how you do that. You acknowledge that he is the living Son of God testified to in the scripture. You accept the truth that he went to the cross and died on that cross and paid your sin debt in full. That's why we call it an atoning death. It paid for something. His death paid for your sin. And when you confess your sin and ask God to forgive you and to cleanse you, and you say to him, I am receiving Jesus. I'm accepting Jesus Christ as my personal Savior. I believe the testimony of scripture. And Father, I'm accepting you as my God, your Son as my Savior. In that moment, your eternal destiny is changed. The Spirit of God seals you as a child of God so that you're eternally secure. And now you step in the will of at that point. And now you can invest your life so that from that point on, your life begins to count

and you begin to be involved in the greatest work in the history of humanity, the redemption of mankind. That is the best alternative.