This week on, Not Every Door Leads to Life (327)
How do we know what is the right way and what is the wrong way to go in life? Every choice in life is important. Every choice can lead to open doors of something good or something not good. It’s like stairs. Every choice can either take you closer to a better life, keep you where you are at, or take you down. No choice or decision, made is separate from the other. Everything you do, every place you go, every person your around, see, hear, what you take in, listen too, affects you for the good or for the bad. These things are access Doors into your life for good or for bad. You get to choose.
Today we will discuss the following:
–What are Doors?
–Doors that lead to the devil through the desires of the flesh
– What can I do to resist temptation?
– How do we know which door leads to Life?
– What good is it to gain the world and lose your soul?
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What are Doors?
Door definition – a means of access or participation: opportunity
opens new doors, door to success
Synonyms – words that are the same – access, entrance, entry, accession
opportunity definition – a favorable juncture of circumstances, a good chance for advancement or progress.
juncture definition – A point in time, especially one requiring a decision to be made.
Commentary – We can see from the definition of Door- access or participation: opportunity– a favorable juncture of circumstances, a good chance for advancement or progress., Opportunity. Juncture is A point in time, especially one requiring a decision to be made.
This means that when you come to a door it’s an access or participation, opportunity for advancement, or progress, requiring a decision to be made at that point in time.
Let’s think about some doors in our lives:
People – Places -Things -Beliefs -Finances -Love – Jobs –
Each item on the List – requires an access or participation with that person place or thing. Each person, place or thing is an opportunity for advancement, or progress in your life in that area of need. Every person, place or thing requires a decision to be made at that point in time when you meet them, go to that location, or use that thing. You are coming into agreement to allow a person into your life. You come into agreement with what a place does by going to that place. You come into agreement with a thing when you use it for the purpose it is needed for.
In order for a person to be in your life you agree within yourself or verbally say yes for them to be your friend, neighbor, date, spouse. This agreement gives them access to you and you to them. When people marry, they agree to give that person access to them and everything that pertains to them. You are not your own person anymore. You are one with that person now. This agreement opens the door to you. People are Doors because you need to make a decision to be in a relationship with them or not.
How do we know this is possible, because Jesus was a Door. In John 10:7 – 7 So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.
In order for you to get into a location, you decide what you are doing in that location first. You learn what’s in the place, you agree (inside yourself or with a person) to go to that place to get what’s inside. You agree by your action of entering into that place. The location is a Door because it is giving you access to what you want. The location choices are Doors because you need to make a decision to go forward to use their location or not.
In order for you to use a thing, you must know its use, and then agree to use that thing. Some examples this applies to are jewelry with evil on them in them. Games like the Quija boards. These choices are Doors because you need to make a decision to go forward to use them or not. When you use the item, the spirit attached to it has access to you. This is why we must watch what we use.
Commentary – Doors can come in many different forms as you have seen. Doors, are access points, entry points, are gates that decisions get to be made at.
Let’s take some time to think about decisions in our lives that we have made. Let’s think about the doors you have opened to people, places things. All of these doors are mini agreements to access good or evil opportunities on the other side of that Door.
Commentary – Let’s look at
-Doors that lead to the devil through the desires of the flesh
There is a way that leads to life and there is a way that leads to death. Matthew 7:14 – 14 But the gate is narrow (contracted by pressure) and the way is straitened and compressed that leads away to life, and few are those who find it. Commentary – Every choice can push you forward 10 steps or back 10 steps. What temptations are pulling you and in what direction? Today there are so many temptations trying to pull from every direction. Everywhere you turn there is another way to get what you’re looking for. The question is, what are you looking for? What are you wanting? The compromise is how bad do you want that thing or need that thing? What doors are you willing to walk through to get what you want? Matthew 6:21 – 21 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. What good is it to gain the world and lose your soul?
Story – Are you aware that there are people who want to live in certain countries so bad that they are willing to take an illegal way into the country?
The people take their families, little children and go through a dangerous journey. The path they are taking is dangerous because it’s not the right path to enter that country. It’s a back door someone had them pay for telling them that it is safe. They are blinded to the truth because their want and need is greater than the reality of the current truth.
It is important to understand that; you do not need to go to the devil’s office to sign up for the devil’s school program. Just by participating in demonic events, you are in agreement and opening doors for him to access you. An example of this is Halloween. Other examples are ungodly music, going to their concerts, buying and listening to the music. It is all access to you, another door opened in agreement with his kingdom of darkness.
1 John 2:16- For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the father but from the world.
Commentary – These Doors of temptation can keep a person caught up with things of this world. When a person is consumed with what they want it can open a door to Lust and people, places, power or things. Proverbs 15:15 – 15 All the days of the desponding (feeling or showing extreme discouragement, or depression) and afflicted are made evil [by anxious thoughts and forebodings], but he who has a glad heart has a continual feast [regardless of circumstances]. Forebodings definition – to worry. Commentary – the depression and worry are opening doors of agreement. A person is coming into agreement with lust and coveting, wanting all day. The act of this makes all your days evil. It is better to be silent than to complain and create a negative atmosphere of evil.
Colossians 3:2 – 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
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There was a story about a movie where there was a unique looking object. Once the person got the object a spirit came out and attacked them. The person would beg and plead that they had no idea exactly what it was. The spirit would say to them, you say you do not yet you have the object in your hand requesting to gain access to what it does. If you did not want it, it would not be in your hands. You would not have looked for the object because you wanted it. Did you not say that you wanted the object. Did you not ask for it by name?
Temptations –These temptations, wants, desires, needs are what can cause people to do things they never would do.
James 4:1 to 4 – 4 What leads to strife (discord and feuds) and how do conflicts (quarrels and fighting’s) originate among you? Do they not arise from your sensual desires that are ever warring in your bodily members?2 You are jealous and covet [what others have] and your desires go unfulfilled; [so], you become murderers. [To hate is to murder as far as your hearts are concerned.] You burn with envy and anger and are not able to obtain [the gratification, the contentment, and the happiness that you seek], so you fight and war. You do not have, because you do not ask.
3 [Or] you do ask [God for them] and yet fail to receive, because you ask with wrong purpose and evil, selfish motives. Your intention is [when you get what you desire] to spend it in sensual pleasures.
4 You [are like] unfaithful wives [having illicit love affairs with the world and breaking your marriage vow to God]! Do you not know that being the world’s friend is being God’s enemy? So whoever chooses to be a friend of the world takes his stand as an enemy of God.
– What can I do to resist temptation of this world?
Genesis 4:6 to 7 – 6 And the Lord said to Cain, why are you angry? And why do you look sad and depressed and dejected?
7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin crouches at your door; its desire is for you, but you must
master it.
Commentary – What does this mean – It means that there will be those who say, let me read your palm, let me tell you your future, let me do magic, take this drug, chant these words, hold this crystal. We must resist these doors of opportunity. They are counterfeit ways making people think they can get what they want. These are the ways that lead to destruction. You cannot get to something blessed through something that is cursed. These people, things, situations, locations cannot gain access to you unless you come into agreement with them and let them into your life by suing them, having relationship with them. Remember what ever evil promises evil makes, its come to do evil. If you don’t do what they tell you to do, that spirit through the person, place, or thing, will try to kill you. (Genesis 1: 11 – 11 And God said, Let the earth put forth [tender] vegetation: plants yielding seed and fruit trees yielding fruit whose seed is in itself, each according to its kind, upon the earth. And it was so.)
Matthew 26:41 – 41 All of you must keep awake (give strict attention, be cautious and active) and watch and pray, that you may not come into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
1 Corinthians 6:12 – “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but I will not be mastered by anything.
1 John 2:17 – 17 And the world passes away and disappears, and with it the forbidden cravings (the passionate desires, the lust) of it; but he who does the will of God and carries out His purposes in his life abides (remains) forever.
Colossians 3:5 – Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry.
Matthew 4:8 – (The devil talking to Jesus) 8 Again, the devil took Him up on a very high mountain and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory (the splendor, magnificence, preeminence, and excellence) of them.
Colossians 3:2 – 2 And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
1 Corinthians 10:13 – 13 For no temptation (no trial regarded as enticing to sin), [no matter how it comes or where it leads] has overtaken you and laid hold on you that is not common to man [that is, no temptation or trial has come to you that is beyond human resistance and that is not [b]adjusted and adapted and belonging to human experience, and such as man can bear].
Doors that lead to Jesus and life. – How do we know which door leads to Life?
We must go through the right door to enter into the kingdom of God. Matthew 6 verse 33 – 33 But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things [ab]taken together will be given you besides. OOOOOOOO
John 10:7 – 7 So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep.
John 14:6 – (Jesus speaking to His Disciples) 6 Jesus said to him, I am the Way and the Truth and the Life; no one comes to the Father except by (through) Me.
1 Corinthians 10:13 to 14 Continued – But God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure, but with the temptation He will [always] also provide the way out (the means of escape to [d]a landing place), that you may be capable and strong and powerful to bear up under it patiently.
14 Therefore, my dearly beloved, shun (keep clear away from, avoid by flight if need be) any sort of idolatry (of loving or venerating anything more than God).
James 1:13 to 14 – 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one.
14 But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions).
15 Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death.
1 Corinthians 10: 8 to 10 – (the topic of this conversation was about those who died in the wilderness because of complaining and wanting to go there way.) 8 We must not gratify evil desire and indulge in immorality as some of them did—and twenty-three thousand [suddenly] fell dead in a single day!
9 We should not tempt the Lord [try His patience, become a trial to Him, critically appraise Him, and exploit His goodness] as some of them did—and were killed by poisonous serpents;10 Nor discontentedly complain as some of them did—and were put out of the way entirely by the destroyer (death).
– What good is it to gain the world and lose your soul?
Matthew 16:26 – 26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his life [his blessed [q]life in the kingdom of God]? Or what would a man give as an exchange for his [blessed] [r]life [in the kingdom of God]?
Commentary – Every Day we must choose life or death in every situation. We can see from previous examples that every choice in life leads to another and opens doors of life or death. A person can say eating candy is no big deal. Coming into agreement with that thought and passing through the door of candy is ok can eventually rot your teeth if you are not carful to honor your body and be in balance.
What can be done so the flesh is not weak? –
Proverbs 22:17 to 20 – (Jesus speaking to Disciples)17 Listen (consent and submit) to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge;
18 For it will be pleasant if you keep them in your mind [believing them]; your lips will be accustomed to [confessing] them.
19 So that your trust (belief, reliance, support, and confidence) may be in the Lord, I have made known these things to you today, even to you.
20 Have I not written to you [long ago] excellent things in counsels and knowledge,
2 Peter 1:4 -Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
Galatians 5:16 – 16 But I say, walk and live [habitually] in the [Holy] Spirit [responsive to and controlled and guided by the Spirit]; then you will certainly not gratify the cravings and desires of the flesh (of human nature without God).
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
18 But if you are guided (led) by the [Holy] Spirit, you are not subject to the Law.
19 Now the doings (practices) of the flesh are clear (obvious): they are immorality, impurity, indecency,
20 Idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger (ill temper), selfishness, divisions (dissensions), party spirit (factions, sects with peculiar opinions, heresies),
21 Envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you beforehand, just as I did previously, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [[f]that can bring a charge].
24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
25 If we live by the [Holy] Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. [If by the Holy Spirit [g]we have our life in God, let us go forward [h]walking in line, our conduct controlled by the Spirit.]
Revelation 3:7 to 8 – 7 And to the angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Philadelphia write: These are the words of the Holy One, the True One, He Who has the key of David, Who opens and no one shall shut, Who shuts and no one shall open: 8 I know your [record of] works and what you are doing. See! I have set before you a door wide open which no one is able to shut; I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept My Word and guarded My message and have not renounced or denied My name.
Psalms 118: 20 to 21 – 19 Open to me the [temple] gates of righteousness; I will enter through them, and I will confess and praise the Lord.
20 This is the gate of the Lord; the [uncompromisingly] righteous shall enter through it.
21 I will confess, praise, and give thanks to You, for You have heard and answered me; and You have become my Salvation and Deliverer.
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