When the Door is Slammed in Your Face
(Maximizing Your Impact for the Kingdom)
Acts 16:6-15
Paul is preaching along a route, endeavoring to share the gospel in various cities.......but the Holy Ghost gets his attention and gives him a different assignment.
2 Cor. 2:12-14 12
Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ's gospel, and a door was opened unto me of the Lord,
13 I had no rest in my spirit, because I found not Titus my brother: but taking my leave of them, I went from thence into Macedonia.
14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.
Paul visits Troas twice. On his second missionary journey, Paul is told to move on towards Macedonia.
On his third missionary journey, Paul speaks of an open door in Troas and spends 7 days ministering there.
At least twice in Acts 16: 6 and 7, God put the brakes on the plans of Paul. It appears that Paul is bewildered, but he continues to move ahead, thinking he just needs to skip a city of two.
Now, be honest. Have you ever felt that God slammed a door in your face when you were trying to do something benefecial for the kingdom of God?
When God makes and adjustment in your life, it does not always mean you have been doing something wrong, it could mean that God simply has what He considers a higher priority.
Sometimes, the unpleasant and the disturbing events in life are used to send us in the direction where God has greater things in mind.
There are times when we are slow or unsure about doing something different.
Then there are times that our disappointments impede us. We don't feel like trying a different challenge.
If you have a heart to be used of God, then He surely has a special task for you.
God is the author of the plans for our lives and the lives of others.
Jer. 29:11
For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
Personal examples:
We went to El Salvador and went to different cities, working with Police groups, by preaching and teaching the gospel to them. Then, out of the blue, a pastor told us of a need across the border a little ways into Honduras. Our ministry has now helped build 2 churches amongst the Lenca Indians in that region.
After 15 years ministrering in San Luis Potosí, God used at least 6 or 7 ministers and leaders from different states to relate to us that it was time to leave Mexico. It was the last thing that we wanted to do. After going back to the states, the doors opened for us to minister in Dominican Republic, Cuba, Colombia, and other countries.
In Cuba, we traveled first to Havana and preached in a couple of locations with no real sense of being where God really wanted us. Upon returning home, some contacts entered our lives with a possible group of churches in need on the other end of the island. Since then, Santiago de Cuba is where we have focused our cuban ministry efforts, and with success.
When God says NO.
It is good to make plans, but our plans do not always line up with what God has in mind.
Paul was a great man of God, but he had his times when God had to override his personal plan and agenda.
Paul had said NO to Mark. Now God is saying NO to Paul.
I. Maybe it was NO, not you.
In Genesis 48, we are told of Joseph bringing his sons to his father Jacob so that he would bless them. Joseph wanted his eldest son to receive the greater blessing. However, God led Jacob to place his right hand on Ephraim and prophesy over him to be the cheif recepient of his blessings.
In the first book of Samuel, the prophet goes to the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons to be the next king. God said no to 7 of his sons before coming to David and anointing him.
History states that Thomas the Apostle is credited for taking the gospel to the regions of Asia, as far as India, even though Paul carried it there in a smaller measure.
There are some places that I have longed to go and preach, but the door has never opened up for me to go. Sometimes I have wondered if it was the devil hindering or if it was God saying NO.
The Great Commission lets us know that God wants his gospel preached to all the world, but you and I have to hear from the Lord to know what part of the world he is sending us to.
II. It was definitely, NO , not right now.
The timing of our ministry is ever so crucial. There are people and places that are more ripe for salvation than others.
It was surely not convenient and without a doubt more costly for Paul to travel 865 miles to preach in Macedonia.
Most of us who are missionaries or evangelists would say, "I will put that on my calendar for when I am travelling in that area."
The Holy Ghost said "NO". He told Paul to cancel his schedule and get over to Macedonia.
III. Sometimes it is NO, not like that (Different method)
We are all familiar with the story of Gideon. Gideon was going to fight the enemy with 32,000 soldiers, but God said NO. He whittled is down to 300 and then they fought with pitchers and trumpets to defeat the enemy.
-Peter used intelectual debate at Athens
-The testimony of a blind man healed in John 9
-Matthew used Interpersonal/Relational method by inviting friends
-Dorcas showed a service based ministry through good deeds
-Sometimes it is one-on-one
-Or house-to-house
IV. NO, it is not about you
Jonah was given this lesson. Not sure if he ever learned it, but Nineveh reaped the benefit.
Sometimes the NO of God is due to His great and more perfect plan.
God knew the call that was coming from Macedoia was most urgent and needful for that time. Evidently, it brought forth a much greater harvest.
Churches in Phillipi and Thesalonica were founded. Macedonia became a strong financial supporter with Paul.
Joseph had dreams and was sincere. He had no idea that all the trouble he was about to face could lead him to the perfect will of God.
Gen. 50:20
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
Rom. 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Let us not get discouraged when the door is closed. Keep getting up and going forward. God may have something completely diferent for you to do.
Acts 16:10
And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.
The "we" in this verse gives us insight of this group of missionaries being in one mind.
Key words: immediately- he knew where to go now and was prompt
endeavored- doing everything possible to move forward
assuredly- no doubt whatsoever
When God shuts one door, you can be certain that He is going to open one somehere else. Keep yours eyes and heart in tune, so you don't miss it.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer once said "Only he who believes is obedient; only he who is obedient believes."--faith listens and faith walks.
IL.: Orlean Puckett was born around 1845. She got married around the time of the Civil War. She was excited to have a family. Her first child lived for 7 months and died of diptheria. She was grief stricken. They tried again. The second child lived just a few days. Orlean kept on trying to have another child. Time and time again, her babies died. None lived to be old enough to call her "mama". She lost 20-24 babies. Then one day a neighbor lady of the Appalchian mountains needed someone to help her deliver her baby. Orlean went and attended her. For over 40 years, she was midwife to hundreds of mountain women. She delivered over 1,000 babies in those hills and never lost one baby nor one mother.
