God Opens Doors, but How?
The metaphor of "God opening doors" has been used to symbolize opportunities and divine interventions. But how does this phenomenon occur according to the Bible, and has its interpretation changed dispensationally? Let’s search the scriptures and find out.
Covenants: Blessings and Curses
In many of the Biblical covenants, blessings and curses were tied to obedience to the contractual agreement God made with the recipient. To Abraham, God promised to bless them that blessed him and curse them that cursed him (Gen 12:3). In the Old Covenant, if Israel did not obey the law they would be cursed (Deu 28:15). In the New Covenant, endurance is required and brings forth physical blessings or else they are cut off (Heb 6:4-8, 10:38-39, Mat 6:26-33, 24:13-51).
It is no wonder then that the Jews, in particular, required a sign, a physical intervention from God, as validation for belief (1Co 1:22). This divine physical intervention blessed obedience, judged sin, and initiated processes of spiritual transformation according to their respective covenants. In a sense, God opened or closed doors through physical intervention in His covenants.
A Misunderstood Metaphor: Opening Doors
This concept of God "opening doors" has been frequently misunderstood. Modern Churchianity often interprets the concept through a lens of a covenant they are not under. They take the blessings promised to Israel and forget the curses (except when they try to manipulate someone else’s behavior) without first asking the question if that covenant involves them. In most people’s eyes, due to a smorgasbord of confused doctrines, God opening doors means God makes a path easy or convenient, implying divine manipulation of circumstances and people in order to “show the way.” But is this truly the biblical understanding of God opening doors?
No. Not even under the covenants.
Any action of God must align with His will. According to Ephesians 5:17, it is unwise to be ignorant of God's will, which is clearly outlined in scripture for the church today, not in a mystical confluence of events that aligns with your heart's desires. It concerns your salvation and spiritual transformation, not your physical situation (Eph 1:9-10, 1Ti 2:3-4, 1Th 4:3, 5:16-18).
It truly is amazing how most people will give God’s stamp of approval to a decision based on the ease at which the opportunity presented itself. This is mysticism, not Biblical Christianity.
Understanding God's Open Door Under Grace
The explicit phrase concerning God "opening a door" is found only in Paul’s ministry and doesn’t concern any physical intervention, but the preaching and reception of the gospel (Act 14:27, 1Co 16:9, 2Co 2:12, Col 4:3).
Under grace, we walk by faith, not by sight and God's direct physical intervention to alter our circumstances is not promised. Instead, we have His sufficient grace and promises concerning our spiritual transformation, our inner man (2Co 5:7, 12:9-10, 2Th 3:3).
To fully grasp what it means for God to "open a door" under grace, we can study Paul's letters to the Colossians and Ephesians. In these letters, an "open door" signifies an opportunity, though not necessarily an easy or convenient one (he was in prison after all).
“[2] Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving; [3] Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: [4] That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.” – Colossians 4:2-4
“[18] Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; [19] And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, [20] For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.” – Ephesians 6:18-20
When Paul prayed that "God would open unto us a door of utterance," he was not seeking an easy route. Instead, he desired the opportunity and courage to boldly preach the gospel, the mystery of Christ, in the hope that God's word would work in those that believe, and be received by all (Eph 6:18-20, 2Th 3:1-5, 2Co 2:13-14, Col 4:3-4).
God opens this door, or creates these opportunities, within us through His Spirit working in us. This process involves His word, our prayer, and fellowship, all of which contribute to spiritual growth and the growing conviction to speak the gospel boldly as we ought to (1 Corinthians 3:6-7). Through God strengthening your inner man, He creates opportunities with us by preaching the word of God.
Persistence Amidst Unopened Doors
There were times when the door appeared unopen to Paul and he was unable to preach to those he desired to (Romans 15:30-32). Despite these situations, Paul persisted in proclaiming the mystery of Christ, the message for which he was imprisoned (Ephesians 3:1-10, 4:1, 6:20, Phm 1:13).
Paul's prayer for boldness amidst contention to speak the gospel serves as an example for us (Ephesians 6:18-20, 1Th 2:1-2). It demonstrates that a door of utterance is an opportunity that God creates by working in our inner man, instilling in us the courage, boldness, and zeal to preach the gospel, to convey the message we ought to speak (Ephesians 6:18-20). It’s not about the ease at which it comes by, in fact, most of the time it is the opposite:
“For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.” – 1 Corinthians 16:9
“[1] For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: [2] But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.” – 1 Thessalonians 2:1-2
God opens doors by catalyzing spiritual transformation within us, enabling us to seize opportunities to spread His word, regardless of the surrounding circumstances. The understanding of God's open doors should therefore transcend notions of easy or convenient paths, and instead focus on opportunities to spread the gospel because of the spiritual growth God works in us, so that others may be saved and edified.
