Introduction

An “Open Door” is an opportunity given by God to us so that we can experience the presence of Christ, the purpose of God, and the power of the Holy Spirit. Thus, it is our foretaste of heaven on earth. But how do we know if an “Open Door” is actually set before us by God? What if we are wrong? How can we be sure? In other words, how do we discern an “Open Door”? The answer? We need to TEST it.

Four Ways to TEST

1. Trust God with your whole life completely (Prov 3:1-6). – You cannot discern the will of God for your life unless you completely surrender your life to Him and trust Him completely. The Holy Spirit cannot guide you if your heart is unsubmissive. If your heart is already set to pursue false attachments, you cannot hear His voice. You will not even seek God’s guidance, much less accept it, if your heart is already set on doing your will rather than God’s will.
2. Evaluate the movements of the Spirit (Acts 16:6-10). – The Holy Spirit will guide you through inner impressions and thoughts as well as feelings if you are willing to pay attention. It may take a while, and often through spiritual growth and maturity, to discern the guidance of the Holy Spirit. He is gentle and kind, and He will not force Himself on us. Therefore, we must learn to take the time to evaluate His movements in our souls through prayer and silence, and solitude.
3. Seek confirmation (1 John 4:1; Phil 4:4-7). – Since we are spiritual beings, we are open to the influence of not just the Holy Spirit but also evil spirits. Therefore, we must take the time to confirm the guidance that we are receiving in our hearts. Sometimes, we will have no doubts regarding His guidance. It will be crystal clear and it will be confirmed by others. This is a gift from the Lord. But most of the time, we have to confirm it through consolation and desolation, as well as peace in our hearts.
4. Take some time (Matt 13:24-28a; Gal 5:22-23). – The enemy can give us false consolations. Therefore, we must give ourselves some time to let our emotions settle down. We must not be deceived by the afterglow of religious experiences. God will reveal the enemy’s deception over time if we will wait upon the Lord. We can play the movie or imagine the fruit of our decision. The enemy’s tail will be revealed either at the beginning, the middle, or the end of our decision-making.

Conclusion

1. Main Idea: “Not all Open Doors are Open Doors from God.”
2. We must discern carefully and not jump in immediately.
3. Join the Prayer Gathering today or start praying for discernment.

Discussion

1. Why is it important to test “Open Doors.” What happens when we don’t test it first?
2. How should we test “Open Doors”?
3. Look back at your recent decisions. What have you realized? If you can repeat the process, what will you do differently?