A stressed mind will imagine what the eyes can’t see.”
                    –Nathan Wright  (The Pursuit)

       “Blessed are those who listen to me, watching daily at my doors, waiting at my doorway.”
                    –Proverbs 8:34 (NIV)
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Perhaps the most common question I received from youth when I was teaching was:  how do I know God’s will?  A very good and important question, one that we should be asking ourselves continually.  Those who questioned were asking in regard to their future, their careers, college and other things.  How does one know the will of God?  Let’s take a brief look at Acts 16:6-10.

          6 — Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.
          7 — After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.
          8 — So passing by Mysia, they came down to Troas.
          9 — And a vision appeared to Paul in the night.  A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
        10 — Now after he had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.  (NKJV)

     Paul was “forbidden” to preach in Asia, and the Spirit would not “permit” them to go into Bithynia.  How was this done?  By what means did the Spirit use?  Paul knew for sure that the door was closed to Asia.  Richard H. Longnecker reminds us that, “The missionary journeys of Paul reveal an extraordinary combination of strategic planning and sensitivity to the guidance of the Holy Spirit in working out the details of the main goals.”  The problems come when man tries to do all the planning and doesn’t rely upon the Holy Spirit or he sits back waiting for the Spirit to move.  We train, read, study, plan and move with the guidance of the Spirit.  When Asia was closed, Paul did not sit around moaning and groaning.  The Spirit said, “No,” so he looked for another opportunity–an open door.
     “God communicates His will through needs, through circumstances, through relationships,, and through open doors.” (Bill Wilson)  I would add that He also uses the inner conviction from the Holy Spirit, through a time of prayer, through the gifts of the Spirit, and most often through His Word.  But what if the decision is not expressly written in the Bible, what then?  We see in verse 9 that Paul had a vision.  Wouldn’t it be nice if God would give us visions or write in the sky His will for our lives?  Usually, and more often than not, He uses other means.
     Yesterday I wrote about the “open door,” and going through it into tomorrow or whatever God has planned for you, but we must never forget the “closed door.”  This is what happened to Paul.  Twice, the door was closed.  D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones states, “I am profoundly grateful to God that He did not grant me certain things for which I asked, and that He shut certain doors in my face.”  Some of you may remember a song by Garth Brooks a few years back where he sang, “thank God for unanswered prayers.”
     It has been my experience that the most common way that God shows us His will for answers that are not directly found in the Scripture is through open and closed doors.  We cry, “Oh, I wish I knew what the Spirit is telling me to do.”  Instead we need to look at our surroundings, get rid of “self” and our own personal desires, wishes, and wants.  “Paul was a Spirit-sensitized man…  He was prayer-saturated; all of life was communication with the Spirit.  He took it as part of the Spirit-filled life that his thoughts and feelings were marshaled in service to his Lord.” (Lloyd Ogilvie)  So much of the time we let our feelings decide for us.  “This is what I want and the Lord should give it to me.”
     Look at the circumstances to see if the door(s) are closed, then go on with the Spirit.  Don’t try to knock down a door that the Lord has closed.  And I would add this, be willing to accept a closed door and enter the one the Lord has opened.  Let me give an example.  When I was principal and organizing classes there was a student who was late in registering and most of the classes she wanted were full.  I was speaking to the student when her mother began to pray claiming that these classes would open up for her child to be in them with her friends. (Get the picture?  There was a lot of “self” going on).  I broke into the prayer, reminding the mother and child that there was a reason that there was not an opening–poor scheduling of their priorities, and that perhaps (to keep it spiritual) God had other plans.  “Oh, no,” the mother cried, “my child needs to be in those classes with her friends.”  
     Another situation, I was offered an early-out when I was in the Air Force.  It seemed like a good opportunity so I put in the required paperwork on a Friday.  The sergeant who was doing the processing said it would go right through.  All weekend I felt a heaviness; it was as if the weight of the world was on my shoulders.  I agonized over the weekend and as soon as the offices opened on Monday I called to ask if my request had gone through.  The sergeant looked down on his desk, “Why no, I didn’t send it out.  The orders are on my desk.”  I told him to tear up the request and as soon as I said that the heaviness was gone.  
     I used those examples to remind us that we should prepare ourselves, then look at the doors.  If they are closed it most likely is for a purpose, and we then should look for the open door.  We should be like Paul and let the Holy Spirit guide our minds, feelings, emotions, and reactions to situations and then accept the decisions that are not ours and follow the Holy Spirit.  If a door is closed, no matter how bad you want it to be open, accept it, but don’t wait around feeling glum, look for the open door.  Let me also add, this is true in regard to relationships as well.  Do not let a relationship keep you from doing what the Spirit is calling you to do.

The good Lord opens doors for us, but if we’re too scared or lazy to step through them, some-body else just might.”
                    –John Deacon  (The Provider 3)

       “When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, the Lord opened a door for me.”
                    –2 Corinthians 2:12 (HCSB)
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       “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write, ‘These things says He who is holy, He who is true, He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts and shuts and no one opens.  I know your works.  See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name.”
                    –Revelation 3:7-8 (NKJV)

     Sometimes we grow weary in the way, but we take a deep breath and continue on.  Sometimes it seems as if we cannot take another step then we look up and see a door that is open and beckoning us to enter.  Dare to take another step for the door has been opened by the Lord.  Step through it.  Use what little strength you have and go through the door that has been opened for you.  Use the strength you have to walk and you will find that the Lord will add strength to you.  Remember the words of Paul regarding the battle, Stand, and after done all remain standing.  Read at how the ESV translates verse 8:

       “I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name.”

Can you relate?  What do you think of when you see a door?  Take a moment to visualize what might be behind Door #3, if you remember the TV game show.  Can you speculate what might be there?  Look at the door, is it locked or slightly open?  In my reading I came across this from Vernon K. Lund and it is definitely thought-provoking:  “Doors–what a subject to let one’s imagination dwell upon.  Doors that are used for shields and coverups–some becoming barriers–some means of escape–some as methods of directing the paths of people–some sagging–some locked–some creaking–some stuck–some sealed–some with no handle–some with a combination lock–some false–some strange and unusual–some transparent–some hollow–some frosted–some sweating–some made of air–some embellished and ornate–some ugly–some inviting–some fearsome–some swinging and hanging–some rotten and useless–some a jar.”
     We have seen most of these at times in our lives.  But read the Scripture above again.  God has set before us an open door.  Now the question becomes:  Where does it lead?  I can tell you that one of the doors that is open to you is tomorrow.  The Lord willing, tomorrow will come and you must step through that open door.  You cannot go around that door you must enter.  “It may be inviting or it may be frightening, but go through it we must.” (Lund)  Some, upon looking at the door of tomorrow and knowing what might be there may wish that it would suddenly become yesterday, but that is impossible.  
     What is tomorrow?  What does it hold?  Know this, that entering that door of tomorrow is simply a part of life.  Know this also, that when you walk through that door you do not go alone, but God strides beside you.  Lund continues, “When one crosses its threshold trusting in God’s presence and help, it becomes a challenging adventure.  The door cannot be shut; yet it need not be entered alone.”  
     We need the faith and confidence that whatever the doorway into tomorrow might bring that the Lord is with us.  Don’t hesitate, take it as a challenge and make it truly into the day the Lord has made–has made for you to walk in for His glory.  Then one day, there will be that massive door of pearl–a gate that is open wide and nothing can shut it.  The words of the hymn written by Frederick A. Blom comes to mind:  “He the pearly gates will open, So that I may enter in…”

Little insignificant things can change everythin’ in life.”
                    –A.K. Vyas  (Shannon)

      “They promise freedom, but they themselves are slaves to sin and corruption.  For you are a slave to whatever controls you.”
                    –2 Peter 2:19  (NLT)
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The father gives another few warnings to end chapter 5 of Proverbs.  The question is, “Why?”  Why should you do that?  Why did I do that?  Why would anyone do that?  Perhaps you have questioned someone and asked them, “Why in the world did you do that?”

          20 — For why should you, my son, be enraptured by an immoral woman, and be embraced in the arms of a seductress?
          21 — For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths.
          22 — His own iniquities entrap the wicked man, and he is caught in the cords of his sin.
          23 — He shall die for lack of instruction, and in the greatness of his folly he shall go astray.  (NKJV)

     In studying these verses the phrase “practical atheists” came up several times.  Few people are truly atheists, but many, including those who may call themselves Christians, live that way.  This is practical atheism, for they live as if there is no God or that He is asleep and does not notice their deeds.  I do want to mention a comment by Dan Dick who brings up the idea that the “strange woman” or “immoral woman” could be a cult, a false religion that entraps an individual.  We know that there are many false paths and the primary focus of the father is to warn about “strange women,” but indeed it could also include the idea of moving away from the Father and going down the wrong paths of those who have enticed them to think that there are many paths to God.  It is good to avoid “strangers”–physical, mental, and spiritual.
     Reading these verses we cannot help but realize that the free will that people clamor they have and the freedom they want must be used wisely.  A person has to choose wisely in this life or they may end up trapped by sin.  Listen, one sin can easily lead to another sin, then another until the conscience is seared and the heart is calloused.  Bob Beasley states, “Repetition of any practice forms a habit, and the habit becomes our master, or the cords that hold us fast.”  The freedom we love to proclaim can lead to bondage.  “The laws of God are guideposts to lead us on the path of life, and He watches the decisions we make and the roads we take.” (Warren Weirsbe)
     When speaking in chapels I often used the illustration of thread.  I would choose one brawny, cocky boy and would wrap one strand of thread around him daring him to break it which he did easily.  The next step was to wrap five strands of thread and again he was able to break it.  Then, usually while telling the story of Samson, I would wrap and wrap and wrap several strands of tiny thread around the boys, however this time they could not break the thread.  What was once easy now held him bound.  We read of the words of Jesus in John, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.” (8:34, NKJV)
     Upon reading verses 22 and 23, the thought of Marley’s ghost comes to mind.  He was chained by the iniquities of his past deeds.  Hmmm, I wonder if those who do not accept Christ when they kneel before Him on Judgment Day if they will be wrapped in the chains of their sins.  “Change your ways,” he warned Scrooge, “or your chains will entrap you.  The NLT translates verse 22 this way, “An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him.”  These people die because they have no self-control.  Their utter stupidity will send them to the grave.  The HCSB puts verse 23, “He will die because there is no discipline, and be lost because of his great stupidity.”
     There is no place secret enough to commit sin.  God is all-knowing and is always watching.  Man may think himself brilliant because he is not apprehended by human law, but he does not realize that he is bound by his own deeds.  Slowly and surely they hold him fast.  This man, the undisciplined one, the one without self-control will die as he lived–a fool.  He is a fool not for lack of instruction, but because he does not heed it.  We must; it is imperative that we pay attention to the way we live our lives.
     But let me end with a positive note.  We are never out of the sight of the Lord.  He is always there and as a Christian we have the Holy Spirit to help us obey the instruction of the Father.  Dick writes, “There is absolutely no place we can go that God will not be there also.  His hand is always on our shoulder and He watches all our steps.”  Follow the instruction of the Father.

I’m up here to make peace if it can be done, but when you’ve got a rattler by the tail you’d best stomp on his head before he bites you.”