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ONE MORE MINUTE... JUST OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE WORD OF GOD... 2ND CORINTHIANS... CHAPTER 2... I'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PASSAGE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS TRYING TO PREACH IT, SO TODAY IS THE DAY... SO PLEASE HELP ME BECAUSE I'M VERY ANXIOUS FOR THIS... YOU KNOW WHEN... WHO HERE HAS COOKED A FEAST FOR SOMEONE WHO ATE SO FAST THEY DIDN'T EVEN TASTE IT? IT'S MORE OR LESS LIKE THAT WHEN I SPEND A LONG TIME STUDYING A PASSAGE AND YOU GUYS ARE THERE YAWNING AND... ANYWAY... THIS WILL BE GOOD... 2ND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2, VERSE 10: "IF YOU FORGIVE ANYONE... I ALSO FORGIVE... AND WHAT I HAVE FORGIVEN... IF INDEED THERE WAS ANYTHING TO FORGIVE... I HAVE FORGIVEN IN THE PRESENCE OF CHRIST... FOR YOUR SAKE... SO THAT SATAN... WOULD HAVE NO ADVANTAGE OVER US... FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS SCHEMES"... THEN... VERSE 12... "WHEN I CAME TO TROAS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST... AND FOUND THAT THE LORD... HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME." I WANT TO READ THIS WORD AGAIN BECAUSE I'VE LIVED THIS. THE DOOR HAD OPENED. OR. SORRY. "THE LORD... HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME." TELL SOMEONE "THAT'S NOT YOUR DOOR. IT'S MY DOOR. THE LORD GAVE IT TO ME."... PAUL SAID "THE LORD... HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME." POINT TO YOURSELF...: "THE LORD"... SAY... "THE LORD"... TYPE THIS:... "THE LORD... HAD OPENED... A DOOR FOR ME." WHEN I FOUND. NO. "WHEN I CAME TO TROAS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST... AND FOUND THAT THE LORD HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME... I STILL HAD NO PEACE IN MY SPIRIT... BECAUSE I DID NOT FIND MY BROTHER TITUS THERE... SO I SAID GOODBYE TO THEM... AND LEFT FOR MACEDONIA." THIS IS THE WORD. "THE LORD HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME... YET I STILL HAD NO PEACE IN MY SPIRIT." I'M GOING TO CALL THIS MESSAGE... AN AFFLICTED MIND... AND AN OPEN DOOR... LAST WEEK I SHARED WITH YOU... A GREEN LIGHT... AT THE RED SEA... DO YOU REMEMBER?... MAN, YOU'LL FORGET SOON... BECAUSE I'VE BEEN THINKING ABOUT IT FOR A WEEK... ABOUT EVERY TRAFFIC LIGHT... I KEPT THINKING ABOUT THE GOODNESS... OF GOD... AND HOW HE GIVES US THE ABILITY TO OVERCOME EVERY OBSTACLE. AND OFTEN THE OBSTACLE IS THE OPPORTUNITY... BUT TODAY WE'RE GOING TO CONTINUE THAT TOPIC FROM A DIFFERENT ANGLE. WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT AN AFFLICTED MIND... AND AN OPEN DOOR... SPEAK, LORD, IN JESUS' NAME. YOU MAY BE SEATED. AN AFFLICTED MIND AND AN OPEN DOOR... YES. IT SEEMS LIKE IN THIS TEXT... IT'S AS IF WE'RE GETTING ON A MOVING TRAIN... I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FELT THAT WHEN I WAS READING. BUT... AROUND VERSE 10 IT'S... LIKE A. LIKE THAT ARGUMENTATIVE TENSION WHERE YOU GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF AN... ARGUMENT THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE IT STARTED... BUT YOU KNOW, YOU GET OUT OF IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, SO... YOU CAN UNDERSTAND FROM THE TEXT WE'RE READING. WANT TO KNOW? WHEN YOU READ BIBLICAL VERSES... IN ISOLATION..., YOU CAN'T UNDERSTAND THE ENTIRETY OF THE IDEA... SO. IF YOU READ JUST ONE VERSE, THAT'S OK,... BUT IT'S BETTER TO READ A FEW MORE... SO YOU CAN UNDERSTAND... AS THEY SAY IN SEMINARY:... THE TEXT IN CONTEXT... BECAUSE A TEXT OUT OF CONTEXT IS A PRETEXT... WHATEVER THAT MEANS I SPENT FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS TO LEARN THAT IN SEMINARY... THE INTERESTING THING... HERE IS... PAUL IS DEALING WITH... ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT CHURCHES... HE HAD THE CHANCE TO FOUND: THE CHURCH OF CORINTH... THE CHURCH OF CORINTH IS... RESPONSIBLE FOR A LARGE PART OF PAUL'S PRIDE AS A PASTOR... AND MANY OF ITS PROBLEMS. AND. UH. IT SEEMS, IN THIS PASSAGE, THAT WE ARE READING NOW... ABOUT THE CHURCH OF CORINTH... THAT PAUL CONSIDERS VERY IMPORTANT. I DON'T KNOW IF PAUL... THIS... DIGNITARY AND STATESMAN... THIS PRACTITIONER OF THE GOSPEL WHO... RAISED ALTARS TO JESUS CHRIST AND ALL THE KNOWN GENTILE WORLD WHICH BEFORE WAS NOT EVEN CONSIDERED WORTHY OF THE MESSAGE... I DON'T KNOW IF... IF HE HAD FAVORITES, BUT HE CERTAINLY UNDERSTOOD THAT... SOME PEOPLE... ARE MORE STRATEGIC THAN OTHERS... THAT DOESN'T MEAN SOMEONE HAS MORE VALUE THAN... OTHERS OR... AND I GOT HERE TODAY BEFORE THE SERVICE STARTED. I DON'T ALWAYS DO THIS BUT TODAY I CAME HERE TO THE AUDITORIUM... AND SAT IN ONE OF THESE SEATS... OF THIS BEAUTIFUL CONGREGATION OF BALLANTYNE. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN... IT WAS IN THE 5TH ROW... OF THIS SECTION... THIS SIDE OF THE AISLE... 1, 2, 3, 4.. 5, 5 SEATS AND, THEN, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. SO YOU THERE WITH... THAT SHIRT... KIND OF MUDDY GREEN. (LAUGHTER) I WAS IN THIS CHAIR... PREACHING... PRAYING... PRAYING FOR WHAT I HAD TO PREACH HERE TODAY... PREACHING TO MYSELF. PREPARING MYSELF TO PREACH... THIS MORNING, BEFORE YOU ARRIVED... SO IF YOU FEEL AN EXTRA VIBE AROUND TODAY (LAUGHTER)... UH... BUT I WAS THINKING ABOUT HOW... IN. IN. IN EACH SEAT THERE IS SOMEONE WITH A UNIQUELY DIFFICULT AND UNIQUELY WONDERFUL SITUATION... WHILE WE WERE PRAISING THE SAME GOD A MINUTE AGO WE WERE PRAISING THE SAME GOD FOR A LOT OF DIFFERENT THINGS... SOMEONE WAS PRAISING GOD... FOR NOT BEING CAUGHT... YOU WEREN'T PRAISING GOD FOR MANAGING TO MEMORIZE COLOSSIANS IN THE MEN'S BIBLE STUDY, OK? YOU WERE JUST PRAISING BECAUSE NO ONE CAUGHT YOU IN THE ACT OF CHEATING.. UH-HUH.. UH-HUH.. BUT, WHILE WE PREACH AND TEACH ONLINE, YOU PUT YOUR NAME AND CITY IN THE CHAT.. GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE SITUATED. GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE SITUATED.. UH.. BUT, CORINTH WAS A CITY THAT WAS WELL SITUATED.. IT WAS IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT WAS A COSMOPOLITAN CITY AND ALSO REPRESENTED A PORT CITY.. AND.. IT WAS A.. IT WAS A FLOURISHING PLACE IN CULTURAL TERMS.. BECAUSE.. YOU HAD TO PASS THROUGH CORINTH, WHICH WAS THE 3RD LARGEST CITY IN POPULATION IN ITS TIME. THE ONLY CITIES LARGER THAN CORINTH.. WERE ROME AND ALEXANDRIA... SO.. CORINTH IS NOT ONLY WELL.. POPULATED, BUT IT IS WELL SITUATED.. SEE.. WHEN YOU UNDERSTAND THAT IT IS ABOUT.. IT WAS A VERY IMPORTANT CITY... BECAUSE IT WAS A PORT CITY... THIS MEANS THAT.. SHIPS ARRIVED THERE AND.. AND IT WAS WELL SITUATED ENOUGH.. FOR DISTRIBUTION TO BE MADE.. BUSINESSES TO BE DONE.. AND TRADE TO EXPAND BECAUSE OF WHERE CORINTH WAS LOCATED. ON THE OTHER HAND.. CORINTH WAS A CITY.. OF MUCH WICKEDNESS.. BECAUSE THE SAME SITUATION THAT MADE IT EFFICIENT FOR BUSINESS, MADE IT SUSCEPTIBLE TO TEMPTATION.. CORINTH WAS A CITY WHERE THERE WAS MUCH SEXUAL IMMORALITY.. LOOK, IN BIBLICAL TIMES THEY HAD DIFFERENT PROBLEMS THAN THE PROBLEMS WE HAVE TODAY:.. THERE WAS SEXUAL IMMORALITY EVEN IN THE CHURCH.. THERE WERE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH THAT IN THE CHURCH OF CORINTH.. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? THAT THERE WERE "WILD LIFE" CHRISTIANS IN CORINTH? AND PAUL SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF WITH THEM, AND COULDN'T CAST OUT THE DEMON OF SEXUAL IMMORALITY,.. COULDN'T CAST OUT THE DEMON OF IDOLATRY.. THEY WERE SO INSATIABLE THAT THEY GOT DRUNK ON THE COMMUNION WINE IN CORINTH. A BUNCH OF CRAZY CHRISTIANS IN CORINTH. I FOUND IT VERY FUNNY WHEN PEOPLE SAID THEY DIDN'T COME TO ELEVATION, RIGHT WHEN WE STARTED, THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T COME TO ELEVATION BECAUSE MANY PEOPLE WHO GO THERE.. MANY PEOPLE WHO GO THERE ARE NOT TRUE CHRISTIANS.. AND I ALWAYS THOUGHT THAT WAS A GREAT INVITATION TO JOIN US... I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO INSTALL A CLOSED-CIRCUIT CAMERA IN THE HOUSE OF THOSE WHO SAY THESE THINGS.. JUST A HIDDEN CAMERA TO CATCH THEM IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT DOING THE KIND OF CRAZY THINGS THEY DO.. BUT, SERIOUSLY, IN REALITY: TO REALLY UNDERSTAND HOW CRAZY THE GUY IS.. I WOULDN'T PUT THE CAMERA IN THE HOUSE.. I WOULD HAVE TO PUT IT.. UH... AND PAUL IS TALKING TO A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO HIM.. HE INVESTED TOO MUCH IN THEM AND THEY HURT HIM DEEPLY.. A PERSON CAN'T... HURT YOU... DEEPLY... IF YOU HAVEN'T INVESTED INTENSELY IN THEM... THE PROOF THAT I LOVE YOU IS HAVING THE CAPACITY TO HATE YOU.. YOU CAN'T HATE SOMEONE YOU DON'T LOVE.. YOU CAN IGNORE THEM.. YOU CAN BE ANNOYED BY THEM.. YOU CAN BE DISTURBED BY THEM.. AND YOU CAN PRAY FOR THEM.. BUT YOU CAN'T HATE SOMEONE YOU DON'T LOVE.. IT'S NOT THAT PAUL HATES THE CHURCH OF CORINTH.. IT'S THAT THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THEM.. IS VERY IMPORTANT.. NOT JUST PERSONALLY TO HIM.. WE DISCOVER MORE ABOUT PAUL.. THROUGH HIS WRITINGS TO THE CHURCH OF CORINTH.. THAN IN ANY OTHER TEXT HE WROTE IN THE BIBLE.. IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS, IF YOU REALLY WANT TO UNDERSTAND PAUL'S THEOLOGICAL CONSTRUCTION ON JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH IN CHRIST.. RATHER THAN THE WORKS OF THE LAW.. YOU GO TO THE BOOK OF ROMANS.. BUT IF YOU WANT TO SEE DEEPLY INTO THE... MIND OF PAUL.. WHAT HE THINKS NOT ONLY ABOUT OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD, BUT.. HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH OTHERS, YOU HAVE TO READ 1ST AND 2ND CORINTHIANS AND IT WILL INTEREST YOU TO KNOW THAT HOWEVER POWERFUL PAUL WAS.. WITH GOD.. HE HAD DYSFUNCTIONAL RELATIONSHIPS WITH PEOPLE.. THROUGH WHICH GOD WORKED TO BRING THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD. THE CHURCH OF CORINTH WAS IMPORTANT TO PAUL.. IT SERVED.. SO TO SPEAK.. AS A SPRINGBOARD.. FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL.. THROUGH... UNTIL THEN.. NEVER BEFORE EVANGELIZED.. GENTILE WORLD. THAT CHURCH PLANTED IN A PORT CITY.. AND ESTABLISHED BY THE APOSTLE HIMSELF WHO NOW WRITES TO IT BECAUSE OF A CONFLICT... THAT SHOULD HAVE ALREADY BEEN RESOLVED... HE SAID: I HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM... I HAVE TO FORGIVE THEM.. AND I'M NOT.. I'M NOT SAYING YOU AREN'T IMPORTANT.. YOU THERE IN THE 5TH ROW, 5TH SEAT, WITH THE GREEN POLO SHIRT... BUT... THE SEATS IN THIS CHURCH ARE NOT ALL THE SAME TO ME.. I'VE LEARNED OVER TIME THAT THIS SEAT.. IT PROBABLY WON'T APPEAR ON CAMERA.. THIS ONE WHERE HOLLY IS SITTING RIGHT NOW... THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT CHAIR TO ME, TO ME... NOW.. AT THE BEGINNING OF MY MINISTRY.. I THOUGHT HAVING ALL THE SEATS OCCUPIED WAS THE MAIN GOAL.. BUT AT THIS STAGE OF LIFE I'M IN.. I THINK IF ALL THE SEATS IN THE CHURCH WERE FULL.. BUT MY WIFE DIDN'T RESPECT MY LIFE ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO ME PREACH WHAT I HAVE TO SAY.. BECAUSE OF THE LIFE I LIVE AT HOME.. THEN I WOULD BE A HYPOCRITE.. I THINK THIS SEAT.. WHEN HOLLY TELLS ME LIKE SHE DID LAST WEEK. SHE SAID: THAT WORD WAS FOR ME.. THEN I: WHOA! BECAUSE I KIND OF PUT SOME THINGS THERE FOR YOU. (LAUGHTER) I'M KIDDING!... BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS.. IN THE EYES OF GOD.. THE 5TH SEAT IN THE 5TH ROW IS AS IMPORTANT AS THIS ONE.. BUT NOT IN MY EYES.. THE EYES OF GOD.. SEE EACH HUMAN BEING WITH EQUAL VALUE. SO.. IF THERE'S A MILLIONAIRE IN YOUR ROW, AND THEN A PERSON WHO CAN'T EVEN.. WHO DOESN'T KNOW WHEN THEY'LL HAVE THEIR NEXT MEAL, FOR GOD THE.. THE.. THE VALUE OF HIS CHILDREN IS NOT BASED ON.. SOMETHING CALLED INCOME.. OR OCCUPATION OR.. NONE OF THE OPPORTUNISTIC WAYS WE SEE PEOPLE.. BUT FOR US.. FOR US.. WE HAVE TO REALIZE.. THAT CERTAIN THINGS, WE HAVE TO LEARN.. WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE.. WHAT IS REALLY.. IMPORTANT.. IN OUR LIVES.. IN WHICH OPPORTUNITIES ARE WE PUTTING ENERGY IN SOME OF US ARE PRAYING FOR GOD TO GIVE US THINGS THAT HE SIMPLY CANNOT GIVE IN THE WAY WE EXPECT HIM TO GIVE THEM.. IF WE ASK GOD TO GIVE US PEACE FOR OUR LIVES.. BUT WE DON'T HAVE PRIORITIES.. WE WILL NEVER RECEIVE THE PEACE THAT GOD GAVE US THROUGH JESUS.. WHICH IS OUR PEACE.. WHEN HE DIED ON THE CROSS. "SO. THIS IS THE OUTLINE.. AND THIS IS THE SERMON.. PAUL SAID: "WHEN I CAME TO TROAS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF CHRIST.. AND FOUND THAT THE LORD HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME... YET I STILL HAD NO PEACE IN MY SPIRIT." THIS IS PAUL.. THE MIDFIELDER OF THE NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH... FOR THE GENTILES... HE SAYS: "I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY"... SEE.. PAUL SAW GOD OPEN MANY DOORS.. AND YOU TOO.. I SAID YOU TOO.. HOW MANY OF YOU.. JUST WAVE AT ME.. HAVE YOU SEEN GOD PLACE YOU, SITUATE YOU, AND POSITION YOU IN AREAS.. THAT YOU COULD NOT REACH.. OR DESERVE?.. AND DON'T KNOW HOW YOU GOT THERE? YES.. HOW MANY OF YOU ARE SMART ENOUGH.. AND COMPETENT ENOUGH.. TO HAVE DONE EVERYTHING YOURSELF TO THE POINT OF CREATING YOUR OWN OXYGEN AND BREATHING IT INTO THE LUNG YOU FORMED YOURSELF WITH YOUR OWN HANDS INSIDE YOUR MOTHER'S WOMB?" EVEN.. SEE.. EVEN YOUR SUCCESS CAME FROM HOW GOD SITUATED YOU.. THE REASON CORINTH WAS SO IMPORTANT WAS BECAUSE OF WHERE IT WAS IN RELATION TO THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.. MANY OF US GET VERY PROUD BECAUSE OF THINGS WE'VE ACHIEVED.. BUT IF GOD HADN'T POSITIONED CORINTH NEAR THE SEA.. IT WOULDN'T HAVE BECOME A PORT CITY.. SO.. EVEN WHEN GOD BLESSES ME.. I UNDERSTAND THAT IF HE HADN'T GIVEN ME WISDOM.. IF HE HADN'T GIVEN ME STRENGTH.. IF HE HADN'T GIVEN ME OPPORTUNITY.. I DON'T CARE IF YOU ARE A PROFESSIONAL TENNIS PLAYER.. IF NO ONE HAD GIVEN YOU A RACQUET.. IF NO ONE HAD GIVEN YOU A BALL.. YOU COULD HAVE ALL THE ATHLETIC ABILITY IN THE WORLD.. BUT WITHOUT THE OPPORTUNITY THAT GOD GIVES YOU... ALL YOUR PROFESSIONAL ABILITY MEANS NOTHING.. EVEN THE ABILITY ITSELF COMES FROM GOD. PAUL KNOWS THIS AND THAT'S WHY HE USES A PHRASE WE CAN USE MANY TIMES: "THE LORD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME"... THE LORD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME... SO, DON'T BE ANGRY WITH ME FOR THE BLESSINGS I'M EXPERIENCING... THE LORD OPENED THOSE DOORS FOR ME... I REMEMBER BACK THEN.. WHEN I STARTED PREACHING.. I OFFERED TO PREACH IN A CHURCH.. AND IT WASN'T GOOD.. I DIDN'T LIKE THE FEELING, BECAUSE THEY SAID YES.. AND WHEN I GOT THERE, I FELT LIKE IT DEPENDED ON ME TO PERFORM.. I WAS 17 YEARS OLD.. THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD SPOKE TO ME AND SAID: NEVER OFFER TO SPEAK ANYWHERE AGAIN. YOU CAN SHARE YOUR MESSAGES, YOU CAN LEAVE THEM ONLINE, YOU CAN USE SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS AND WHATEVER ELSE YOU CAN DO TO BRING THE GOSPEL, BUT NEVER.. PUT YOURSELF IN A POSITION.. THROUGH MANIPULATION BECAUSE THEN YOU WILL CARRY THE WEIGHT OF PERFORMANCE. THERE IS SOMETHING WONDERFUL IN KNOWING THAT... THE LORD OPENED THAT DOOR... IT IS SOMETHING VERY LIBERATING TO KNOW THAT THE LORD OPENED THAT DOOR... THERE IS SOMETHING GRAND IN KNOWING THAT GOD BROUGHT ME TO THIS RELATIONSHIP.. BECAUSE, SEE, YOU CAN ENTER INTO A RELATIONSHIP AND.. IN REALITY.. GOD DOESN'T WANT YOU IN IT AND THEN YOU HAVE TO SPEND THE REST OF THE RELATIONSHIP.. MAKING A PERSON LIKE A PRETENDED VERSION OF YOURSELF THAT YOU HAVE TO PUT ON LIKE A COSTUME SO YOU CAN BE ACCEPTED.. BUT IF YOU HAVE TO COMPROMISE TO GAIN ACCEPTANCE WHAT DO YOU TAKE?.. THERE IS SOMETHING WONDERFUL IN KNOWING THAT THE LORD OPENS DOORS.. AND SOMETHING WONDERFUL IN KNOWING THAT THE LORD CLOSES DOORS... I NEED.. BOTH. LAST WEEK WE TALKED ABOUT THE GREEN LIGHT AND THE RED LIGHT.. PRAISING THE LORD FOR ONE.. AND NOT FOR THE OTHER IS FOOLISHNESS.. THE GREEN LIGHT HAS AS MUCH EFFECTIVENESS AS THE RED LIGHT.. DO YOU WANT ALL THE LIGHTS TO BE GREEN IN THE CITY OF CHARLOTTE? SO PEOPLE START CRASHING INTO EACH OTHER ALL THE TIME? THEN WHY DO WE WANT ALL GREEN LIGHTS FROM GOD?.. JUST TO RUN INTO THINGS WE COULD HAVE AVOIDED IF WE HAD LISTENED TO HIS VOICE?.. PRAY LIKE THIS: "LORD, OPEN THE DOOR.. LORD, CLOSE THE DOOR.. BECAUSE WHATEVER IT IS, I NEED YOUR HAND ON THE DOORKNOB"... (UH-HUH) EVERYONE OVER 25 SHOULD GIVE A SHOUT OF PRAISE TO GOD.. NO ONE CAN PRAISE GOD FOR A CLOSED DOOR.. UNTIL THEY ARE 25... THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT THIS TEXT FOR ME... IS THAT WE COULD AFFIRM THAT THE MOST IMPORTANT FIGURE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT AFTER JESUS... TO WHOM ABOUT A THIRD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT IS DEDICATED TO HIS LETTERS OR TO HIM.. PAUL.. FORMERLY SAUL OF TARSUS... THE ONE WHO WAS THROWN FROM HIS HORSE.. WHEN HE WAS TRAVELING TO KILL CHRISTIANS... THEN GOD.. COVERED HIS EYES AND BLINDED HIM.. SENT HIM TO ANANIAS IN ACTS CHAPTER 9 TO RECEIVE HIS VISION AND SPENT THE REST OF HIS LIFE.. BRINGING THE GOSPEL TO THE WORLD OF THAT TIME. HE STARTED AT LEAST 14 CHURCHES.. AND STARTED AS A KILLER OF CHRISTIANS.. GOD USED HIM TO MULTIPLY.. ON EARTH.. THE THING HE TRIED TO EXTERMINATE AT ONCE.. ONLY GOD COULD DO THAT.. ONLY GOD COULD TAKE SOMEONE FORMED BY GAMALIEL.. AND MAKE HIM ABANDON ALL THE TRADITIONS OF MEN AND CALL THEM RUBBISH. HE SAID: BUT WHAT WAS PROFIT TO ME, I COUNTED AS LOSS.. GOD COMPLETELY CHANGED MY.. UNDERSTANDING OF MY VALUE SYSTEM.. REGARDING.. IMPORTANCE.. WHAT WAS PROFIT TO ME,. I COUNTED AS LOSS.. AND WHAT WAS ONCE LOSS I NOW COUNT AS THE GREATEST GAIN.. AND ALL I WANT IS TO KNOW CHRIST.. AND ALL I WANT.. IS TO MAKE HIM KNOWN AS I KNOW HIM BETTER.. I KNOW WHAT IS IMPORTANT... AND ALL THE CHURCHES HE ESTABLISHED AND STARTED.. AT LEAST 14.. AT LEAST 14.. OF THOSE WE KNOW AND NOT COUNTING THOSE THAT DERIVED FROM THEM.. NOT COUNTING ALL THE CHURCHES THAT OPENED OTHERS, THAT OPENED OTHERS, AND THAT OPENED OTHERS AND OTHERS AFTER PAUL STARTED.. IN EVERY DROP OF GOSPEL THAT ENTERED THE GENTILE WORLD.. PAUL HAD A PART. SOMETIMES REAPING AMIDST TEARS AND PAIN.. THIS IS PAUL.. FOR WHOM GOD OPENED DOORS.. AND I WANT TO SAY ONE MORE THING ABOUT THIS.. BEFORE MOVING TO ANOTHER TOPIC I WANT TO TALK ABOUT AFTER THIS THAT I'M GOING TO TALK ABOUT... THE GREAT REASON PAUL TOOK THE GOSPEL TO THE GENTILES... WAS BECAUSE THE JEWISH PEOPLE REJECTED HIM... UNDERSTAND THAT SOMETIMES REJECTION.. IS ONE OF GOD'S BEST DOORS.. WHILE PAUL WAS PREACHING IN JUDEA, THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LET GO OF THE.. CUSTOMS AND LAWS.. OF JUDAISM. THEN GOD SAID: OKAY.. I'LL OPEN A DOOR FOR YOU ELSEWHERE.. WHEN GOD OPENS A DOOR.. NO ONE CAN CLOSE IT... AND.. IF THE DOOR IN FRONT OF YOU NOW DOESN'T OPEN.. IT'S NOT YOURS.. GOD WILL OPEN A DOOR IN THE DESERT.. WE LEARNED LAST WEEK.. THAT HE PUTS A GREEN LIGHT AT THE RED SEA.. HE MAKES YOU CROSS.. AND.. AND.. AND.. ONE OF THE GREAT WAYS GOD GUIDES YOU THROUGH LIFE.. IS THROUGH PEOPLE WHO DON'T LIKE YOU AND LIVE THEIR LIVES.. TO LEAD YOU TO SOMETHING MORE.. I'M PREACHING TO 3 PEOPLE. IT'S ONLY 3, LORD, BUT I'LL CONTINUE.. I'LL CONTINUE... SO THERE WAS A CONFLICT GOING ON IN THE CHURCH OF CORINTH.. AND PAUL SPENT.. SPENT A LOT OF TIME TRYING TO DEFEND HIMSELF.. TO PEOPLE WHO, HONESTLY, SHOULD HAVE BEEN THERE TO DEFEND HIM.. AT SOME POINT HE MUST HAVE DEALT WITH BITTERNESS BECAUSE OF IT.. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN BITTER BECAUSE OF PEOPLE.. WHO SHOULD HAVE FOUGHT ON YOUR SIDE?... OR IS THAT JUST A PREACHER'S PROBLEM? SOMETIMES I DON'T KNOW IF YOU GO THROUGH THE SAME THINGS.. SOMEONE SHOULD HAVE DEFENDED YOU... SOMEONE WHO.. HE SPENT A YEAR AND A HALF... WITH THESE GUYS... AND NOW HAD TO WRITE SOME LETTERS.. YOU KNOW 1ST CORINTHIANS AND 2ND CORINTHIANS. LET ME SHOW YOU SOME CONTEXT BECAUSE.. IT WILL BE VERY GOOD. THERE IS A LOST LETTER.. THAT WE DON'T HAVE.. BUT PAUL REFERENCES IT AND CALLS IT.. MY LETTER.. TEARFUL.. THEY WENT CRAZY IN CORINTH.. GOT DRUNK ON COMMUNION WINE AND THINGS LIKE THAT. THERE WAS INCEST IN THE CHURCH OF CORINTH AND PAUL WAS LIKE: "YOU ARE ABSOLUTELY CRAZY", BUT THEN THEY HAD THE AUDACITY TO COME AND ACCUSE PAUL.. AND SAY HE WASN'T A TRUE APOSTLE. SO INSTEAD OF TRYING TO VALIDATE HIMSELF.. HE MAKES A DECISION.. IN 2ND CORINTHIANS 2.. HE SAYS: "I'LL LET IT GO"... ISN'T THAT WONDERFUL?.. HE SAYS: "THE PERSON WHO SAID ALL THIS ABOUT ME.. AS FAR AS I KNOW.. I. I.. KNEW ABOUT IT.. I HEARD IT.. I AM FORGIVING.. I AM MOVING ON.. AND YOU HAVE TO LET IT GO TOO... BECAUSE I REFUSE TO LET.. UNFORGIVENESS IN MY HEART.. BLOCK THE FUTURE.. THAT GOD HAS FOR ME"... HE SAID: "SO. I WANT YOU TO FORGIVE.. BECAUSE I HAVE ALREADY FORGIVEN." I WANT MY MIND FREE.. BECAUSE LOOK WHAT HAPPENS.. THIS IS THE PART OF THE TEXT THAT DIDN'T MAKE SENSE.. THAT PAUL, WHO SAW THE GREATEST OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE GOSPEL.. THE LIFE, DEATH, AND RESURRECTION OF JESUS CHRIST – THAT IS THE GOSPEL. THAT IF YOU BELIEVE IN HIS NAME YOU WILL BE SAVED.. THAT IS THE GOSPEL. THAT HIS BLOOD REDEEMS YOU FROM SIN.. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SHED THE BLOOD OF BULLS AND GOATS.. OLD TESTAMENT SACRIFICES.. BUT BY BELIEVING IN HIS NAME YOU WILL HAVE LIFE.. NOTHING COULD STOP THE GOSPEL.. FROM PROGRESSING THROUGH PAUL.. BUT HE DESCRIBES SOMETHING VERY INTERESTING AND I WANT US TO STUDY IT TODAY.. IT SAYS HERE IN VERSE 12: "WHEN I CAME TO TROAS.. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL.. OF CHRIST.. AND FOUND THAT THE LORD HAD OPENED A DOOR FOR ME,.. YET I STILL HAD NO PEACE IN MY SPIRIT,.. BECAUSE I DID NOT FIND MY BROTHER TITUS THERE. SO I SAID GOODBYE TO THEM.. AND LEFT FOR MACEDONIA." WOW! SO, WE HAVE TROAS,.. WHICH IS AN ENTIRE CITY.. AND WE HAVE TITUS,.. WHO IS A PERSON.. LET'S LOOK AT THIS.. TOGETHER AGAIN BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'VE HAD COFFEE TODAY AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO MISS THIS. VERSE 12 SAYS: "I WENT TO TROAS AND GOD GAVE ME AN OPEN DOOR.. TO SPEAK THE GOSPEL.. IN THAT CITY." TROAS IS ALSO A PORT CITY. CAN YOU SEE THAT? ZOOM IN ON THE CAMERA.. I DON'T KNOW IF IT WILL WORK OR NOT.. I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN ZOOM IN.. BUT FOCUS ON IT.. IT WON'T WORK. IS THERE ANOTHER CAMERA?.. I HAVE TO SHOW THIS.. GO ON. FOCUS ON THIS.. I'LL STAND STILL.. AND THEN? IN THIS ONE?.. I WANT THIS PAGE HERE.. DO YOU SEE MY TATTOO ON MY RING FINGER? GET CLOSER.. GET CLOSER.. CAN YOU GET CLOSER?... I WANT TO SHOW SOMETHING.. BECAUSE IT'S AN IMAGE.. IT'S ALREADY TOO CLOSE.. IT'S STARTING TO GET A LITTLE SCARY ALREADY.. UH.. CAN YOU SEE IT YET? CAN YOU SEE A... CHAIN?... THE CHAIN?... LOOK, IT COULD HAVE BEEN PROFESSIONAL. I COULD HAVE PUT IT ON THE BIG SCREEN.. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN GREAT.. IT WOULD HAVE BEEN AWESOME.. HERE.. LOOK. LOOK. LOOK: HERE IS TROAS.. CAN YOU SEE TROAS? AND EMPHASIZE MACEDONIA.. SO, PAUL, LIKE, I CAME HERE.. CORINTH.. AND PREACHED THE WORD IN THIS IMPORTANT CITY.. THIS ISTHMUS.. THAT CONNECTS SOUTHEASTERN GREECE TO THE CONTINENT. IT'S IMPORTANT. IT'S IMPORTANT. I SAY BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT. AND HE SAYS: "YOU ARE MORE IMPORTANT TO ME THAN BEING RIGHT ABOUT THIS." I WON'T ARGUE WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.. BECAUSE IT HINDERS THE FLOW OF THE GOSPEL.. I WON'T.. I WON'T FIGHT WITH YOU ABOUT THIS.. BECAUSE SOME THINGS HAVE TO HAPPEN.. THERE IS SOMETHING IMPORTANT THAT HAS TO BE EXPLAINED.. SEE: PAUL UNDERSTANDS THAT IF THE CHURCH OF CORINTH DOESN'T GET ALONG WITH HIM.. IT WILL AFFECT THE REST OF HIS MINISTRY TO THE GENTILE WORLD.. SO HE SAYS: I'LL LET THIS OFFENSE GO.. TO USE THE OPPORTUNITY. WHY AM I PREACHING ABOUT THIS? BECAUSE SOME OF YOU ARE MISSING THE OPPORTUNITY.. BECAUSE YOU DON'T WANT TO FORGIVE THE OFFENSE. YOU WERE SLEEPING WHILE I WAS FIGHTING WITH THIS CAMERA HERE.. WAKE UP! I SAID THE OPPORTUNITY.. IS GREATER THAN THE OFFENSE... AND.. HERE IS CORINTH.. DO YOU SEE CORINTH?... SORRY, GUYS... AND HERE... IS TROAS... ANYWAY.. PRETEND YOU SAW IT.. BUT BETWEEN THE TWO AND THAT'S WHAT I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND.. BETWEEN THE TWO IS MACEDONIA.. LOOK.. PAUL SENT A MESSAGE TO THE CHURCH OF CORINTH. DID YOU FOLLOW SO FAR? THEY SAID: "PAUL IS NOT A TRUE APOSTLE.. WE LIKE APOLLOS MORE.. WE DON'T LIKE PAUL ANYMORE.. HE TOLD US TO BE QUIET AND STOP SLEEPING WITH JUST ANYONE.. AND STOP DECLARING OURSELVES GOOD CHRISTIANS AND WE DIDN'T LIKE THAT.. PAUL TOLD US TO GET OUR ACT TOGETHER.. WE DON'T LIKE PAUL ANYMORE. WE LIKED IT WHEN HE SAID BE SAVED, RECEIVE THE GIFT OF FORGIVENESS FREELY, BUT NOW HE IS TRYING TO PUT INTO PRACTICE WHAT CAN HELP US LIVE TRUE CHRISTIAN FREEDOM AND WE DON'T LIKE THAT ANYMORE. WE PREFER TO BE SLAVES TO THESE MUTE AND DEAF IDOLS." THEN, PAUL ARRIVES: NO. NO. NO. NO. STOP THAT. YOU HAVE TO STOP THAT. GOD GAVE YOU AN OPEN DOOR.. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT CITY.. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT CITY.. I'M NOT PREACHING ABOUT THEM I'M PREACHING TO YOU.. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT CITY.. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT CITY.. AAAHHH!.. HAVE THE CONFIDENCE TO SPEAK AND SAY OUT LOUD: I AM AN IMPORTANT CITY.. I AM AN IMPORTANT CITY.. EVEN IF I CAME FROM A SMALL CITY.. I AM AN IMPORTANT CITY.. I HAVE A SPECIFIC DESTINY.. I AM A PORT FOR THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST.. I AM THE GATEWAY FOR THE DELIVERANCE OF GENERATIONS.. YES I AM.. I AM AN IMPORTANT CITY.. OH, LITTLE TOWN OF BETHLEHEM!.. FROM YOU SHALL COME FORTH A RULER! I AM AN IMPORTANT CITY... I HAVE AN OPEN DOOR.. GOD HAS PLACED OPPORTUNITIES IN MY LIFE IN THESE TIMES.. THAT ARE.. WONDERFUL.. AND THE WORD OF GOD SAYS THAT IF HE OPENS A DOOR.. NO ONE CAN CLOSE IT.. THAT'S IN REVELATION CHAPTER 3 VERSE 7 AND 8 THANK YOU VERY MUCH.. THE LORD SAID TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA THROUGH THE APOSTLE JOHN.. WHO WAS EXILED ON AN ISLAND.. AND GOD STILL SHOWED HIM A DOOR.. EXILED ON AN ISLAND CALLED PATMOS.. AND GOD SHOWED HIM A DOOR.. ISOLATED IN A TERRIBLE SITUATION BUT GOD SHOWED HIM A DOOR.. AND LISTEN TO WHAT HE PROPHESIED TO THE CHURCH IN PHILADELPHIA.. HE SAID..: "THESE ARE THE WORDS OF HIM WHO IS HOLY AND TRUE.., WHO HOLDS THE KEY OF DAVID.." THIS MEANS THAT JESUS CHRIST HAS A KINGDOM.. OVER WHICH HE HAS ALL AUTHORITY: "THE KEY OF DAVID".. IT IS TO THIS GOD THAT YOU SERVE... SO: WHEN PEOPLE LEAVE YOU OUT, YOU ARE NOT LOCKED OUT.. BECAUSE HE HAS THE KEY TO THIS PLACE... (LAUGHTER).. WOO.. I'M HAPPY PEOPLE, THAT NOT EVERYONE LIKES YOU.. NO ONE HAS TO LIKE YOU.. WHEN GOD IS FOR YOU.. WHEN GOD IS FOR YOU.. YOU DON'T HAVE TO SAY ANYTHING.. YOU DON'T HAVE TO DEFEND ANYTHING.. YOU CAN COME AND GO AS YOU PLEASE.. LET IT GO AND WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.. THE DOOR IS YOURS... OK... SO HE SAYS..: HE "HOLDS THE KEY OF DAVID. WHAT HE OPENS".. HE IS TALKING ABOUT SALVATION.. HE IS TALKING ABOUT HOW JESUS CHRIST IS THE DOOR.. HOW.. ONE ARRIVES.. AT CHRIST THROUGH HIM.. THROUGH NOTHING ELSE.. NOT THROUGH ANY OTHER SYSTEM.. HE IS THE AUTHOR OF SALVATION.. HE IS THE END OF OUR FAITH.. HE HOLDS THE KEY OF DAVID.. I'M PREACHING ABOUT JESUS, OK?!.. I'M PREACHING ABOUT JESUS.. AND HE SAID: WHAT I OPEN "NO ONE CAN CLOSE, AND WHAT HE CLOSES NO ONE CAN OPEN".. NEXT VERSE, PLEASE. LET'S STAY ON IT FOR A SECOND..: "I KNOW YOUR DEEDS.. BEHOLD, I HAVE PLACED BEFORE YOU.. AN OPEN DOOR".. THE LORD SAYS "NO ONE CAN CLOSE".. THIS IS NOT IN THE PAST.... THAT'S WHY PAUL HAD TO FORGIVE.. HE SAID: "WHATEVER HAPPENED.. WHATEVER THEY DID.. BUT, LOOK.. PAUL FORGAVE THE GUY BUT DIDN'T PUT HIM ON THE LEADERSHIP TEAM.. HE JUST SAID: I'LL WALK THROUGH THIS DOOR.. AND WHEN HE OPENS, NO ONE CLOSES AND WHEN HE CLOSES, NO ONE OPENS. I HAVE PLACED BEFORE YOU AN OPEN DOOR THAT NO ONE CAN CLOSE.. NOW LISTEN TO THIS THAT GOD SAYS TO THE CHURCH OF PHILADELPHIA AND THAT, I BELIEVE, HE SAID TO US AT ELEVATION TOO: "I KNOW YOU HAVE LITTLE STRENGTH"... IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH STRENGTH.. CAN I SHOW SOMETHING? (EXHALES) THIS IS VERY COOL. EVERYONE SAY "STRENGTH"! NOW EVERYONE SAY "INTENTIONS"! GO BACK TO 2ND CORINTHIANS CHAPTER 2:... VERSE 11 IS ONE OF THOSE I READ OUT OF CONTEXT FOR YEARS.. I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IT WAS ABOUT.. I HAD NEVER READ IT IN THE CONTEXT OF PAUL'S CONFLICT.. BUT NOW I'VE READ IT AND SEEN SOMETHING. HE SAID IN VERSE 11.. WE HAD TO FORGIVE AND OVERCOME IT.. "SO THAT SATAN WOULD NOT GAIN AN ADVANTAGE OVER US..; FOR WE ARE NOT IGNORANT OF HIS SCHEMES." WHAT IS INTERESTING TO ME IS:.. HE DIDN'T SAY SO THAT SATAN.. PUT THE VERSE THERE AGAIN.. HE DIDN'T SAY SO THAT SATAN WOULD NOT DOMINATE US.. HE SAID TAKE ADVANTAGE OF US.. BECAUSE THE BATTLE IS NOT ABOUT STRENGTH... IT'S ABOUT STRATEGY. PUT THAT IN THE CHAT AND REPEAT IT OUT LOUD IF YOU ARE HERE WITH ME: IT'S ABOUT STRATEGY... AND SATAN IS NO LONGER STRONGER THAN YOU.. WE JUST READ THAT.. WHEN GOD OPENS A DOOR NO ONE CAN CLOSE IT.. NOT THE DEVIL.. NOT DEPRESSION.. NOT TRAUMA.. NOT ABUSE.. NOTHING (R).. NOTHING CAN PREVENT THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST FROM ADVANCING.. IN YOUR LIFE.. IN YOUR HEART.. IN YOUR MARRIAGE.. WE GIVE THE DEVIL TOO MUCH CREDIT SOMETIMES.. BECAUSE WE SAY: "AH! THE DEVIL IS.. UH. ATTACKING MY MARRIAGE.. THE DEVIL IS ATTACKING MY FINANCES." THAT'S HOW YOU'RE FEELING. BUT THAT'S NOT HOW THE ATTACK HAPPENS.. HE DIDN'T SAY.. SO THAT.. SATAN WOULD NOT DOMINATE US.. BECAUSE THEN HE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT HIS OWN STRENGTH.. AND WE ALREADY KNOW FROM JOHN 16:33.. THAT JESUS SAID I GIVE YOU PEACE.. MY PEACE IS WITH YOU. "IN THIS WORLD YOU WILL HAVE.. AFFLICTIONS.. BUT TAKE HEART! I HAVE OVERCOME THE WORLD." IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE PROBLEM IN FRONT OF YOU.. WE CAN HAVE A TESTIMONY SERVICE ABOUT YOUR PROBLEMS.. WHAT'S THE GOAL? WE COULD LINE UP AND PLAY "MINE WAS WORSE": "I HAD A HEADACHE." "I HAD BACK PAIN." "I HAD NO BACK." "I HAD NO HEAD." "I WAS DECAPITATED." I SEE PEOPLE DO THAT. AND THEN EACH ONE COMPETE WITH THEIR PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT IT'S ABOUT.. IT'S NOT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN MY LIFE.. SATAN IS NOT STRONGER THAN YOU.. HE CAN'T FORCE YOU TO DO ANYTHING.. IF GOD OPENS THE DOOR OF FREEDOM.. IF GOD OPENS THE SEA.. YOU CAN CROSS.. I DON'T CARE WHO IS CHASING YOU.. I DON'T CARE IF THEY SAY YOU CAN'T.. I DON'T CARE HOW LONG YOU STRUGGLE WITH IT.. IT'S NOT ABOUT WHO IS STRONGER... IT'S ABOUT WHO IS SMARTER... BECAUSE THEN YOU SAY: "AH. IT'S JESUS. JESUS IS THE ONE WHO OVERCAME THE WORLD." I AM NOT JESUS.. BUT 1 JOHN 4:4 SAYS "HE WHO IS IN YOU IS GREATER THAN HE WHO IS IN THE WORLD." SO. HE IS NOT STRONGER.. THAT'S NOT WHY YOU ARE STUCK.. HE IS NOT STRONGER.. YOU HAVE THE SPIRIT OF GOD.. HE IS NOT STRONGER.. THE CONDEMNATION THAT HAUNTS YOU HAUNTS YOU AT MIDNIGHT WAS CONQUERED ON THE CROSS.. IT IS ALREADY CONQUERED.. THAT'S NOT WHAT'S HOLDING THE DOOR. PAUL SAID: "I HAVE AN OPEN DOOR.. BUT I HAVE AN AFFLICTED MIND." SO HE SENT TITUS WITH A LETTER TO THE CHURCH OF CORINTH.. BECAUSE HE DIDN'T KNOW IF THINGS WOULD BE OKAY.. YOU KNOW WHEN YOUR BODY CAN BE IN ONE PLACE AND YOUR MIND CAN BE IN ANOTHER? AND THEN PAUL IS IN TROAS. AND GOD GIVES HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE WHOLE CITY.. AND HE SAYS: "BUT I DID NOT FIND TITUS, SO I LEFT." AND IT'S NOT THAT HE LEFT BECAUSE HE WANTED TO.. WHEN PAUL SAYS IN VERSE 14 – 13, SORRY, I THINK THAT'S IT – "I SAID GOODBYE." IT'S THE ONLY TIME HE USES THAT PHRASE.. IN ALL SCRIPTURE... IT'S A SOLEMN FAREWELL.. HE IS ALMOST EMBARRASSED BECAUSE OF IT.. IT'S LIKE, "I COULDN'T GET MY THOUGHTS IN ORDER, SO I COULDN'T TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE OPPORTUNITY." THIS GOT ME, BECAUSE I'M TRYING TO RAISE MY CHILDREN, YOU KNOW?.. I KNOW GOD IS GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A GREAT FATHER.. BUT SOMETIMES.. TO BE HONEST WITH YOU.. I'M SITTING AT THE TABLE WITH THEM.. AND MY BODY IS THERE.. MY BODY IS THERE.. BUT MY MIND IS ON SOMETHING ELSE.. AND SOME THINGS.. ARE REAL.. AND OTHERS ARE COMPLETELY FABRICATED, THINGS THAT WILL HAPPEN.. IN 3 YEARS.. MAYBE... MY MIND WANDERS THROUGH POSSIBILITIES.. AND ESCAPES THE PRESENT.. WHEN I SAW PAUL, I SAW US. HE SAID: "I WAS IN TROAS.. JUST LIKE THE OPEN DOOR THAT GOD OPENED FOR ME".. GREAT THINGS COULD HAVE HAPPENED.. IN TROAS. BUT I HAD TO.. SAY GOODBYE. NOT BECAUSE OF THE PROBLEMS IN TROAS.. BECAUSE MY MIND WAS AFFLICTED. THE ENEMY WANTS TO MESS WITH YOUR MIND IN SUCH A WAY.. THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN WALK THROUGH THE DOORS.. THAT GOD OPENED FOR YOU.. THAT YOU CAN'T EVEN ENJOY THE MOMENTS.. THAT GOD GIVES YOU.. HE WANTS TO MESS WITH YOUR MIND.. AND CONFUSE YOUR PERSPECTIVE.. TO THE POINT.. THAT YOU CAN'T FOCUS ENOUGH.. TO SIT AND PRAY FOR SOMETHING.. HE WANTS.. HE WANTS YOU SO FOCUSED ON SOMETHING.. AND I WILL.. I WILL LIST 4 THINGS TO EXEMPLIFY THIS WHOLE SITUATION FOR YOU: 1. ARE THE DISAPPOINTMENTS IN YOUR LIFE... 2. ARE THE RESULTS.. THAT YOU CANNOT CONTROL.. THIS IS A.. DISAPPOINTMENTS.. RESULTS.. ANOTHER ONE I MENTIONED: THE OFFENSES TO BE FORGOTTEN.. AND 4. ARE THE REGRETS.. FOR THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU MISSED. THEN I REALIZED.. THAT IT'S NOT JUST GOD WHO USES DOORS. .. SATAN TOO.. HAVE YOU OPENED A DOOR IN YOUR MIND.. FOR THE DEVIL?.. A DOOR LIKE.. GOING DOWN A TRAIL?.. I LIKE TO IMAGINE THE BIBLE.. HOW DIFFERENT IT WAS FROM OUR DAYS BACK THEN... LOOK.. IF THEY HAD TECHNOLOGY BEFORE LIKE WE HAVE TODAY.. IF, IF PAUL HAD THE SAME TECHNOLOGY AS US BACK THEN.. NONE OF THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM... (LAUGHTER) PAUL. UH. SENDS TITUS WITH A LETTER AND REMEMBER THAT I TRIED TO SHOW YOU IN THE BIBLE, AND WE WON'T GO THROUGH ALL THAT AGAIN WITH THE CAMERA.. BUT.. HE SENDS TITUS BACK TO CORINTH.. BY THE AEGEAN SEA.. AND HE GOES.. ALL RIGHT.. "YOU GO TO CORINTH.. AND WHEN YOU RETURN TELL ME HOW THINGS ARE.. TELL ME IF YOU RECEIVED MY CORRECTION." HE IS TRYING TO RECONCILE THE RELATIONSHIP BUT SENDS TITUS WITH A LETTER.. HIS FAITHFUL COMPANION IN THE WORK OF THE GOSPEL. AND HE SAYS: "TITUS, WHEN YOU GET THERE AND FIND OUT LET ME KNOW." SO. IF HE COULD MAKE A VIDEO CALL.. IF PAUL COULD MAKE A VIDEO CALL.. JUST IMAGINE WITH ME.. HE COULD HAVE STAYED IN TROAS.. BECAUSE TITUS COULD HAVE HAD A ZOOM MEETING EASILY AND SAID: "HI, PAUL. EVERYTHING IS FINE. AQUILA AND PRISCILLA ARE HERE.. AND.. UH (LAUGHTER).. EVERYONE IS HERE ON ZOOM, PAUL. AND EVERYTHING IS FINE, PAUL.. WE ARE FINE.. THEY RECEIVED YOUR LETTER.. THEY LOVE YOU.. AND EVERYTHING IS FINE.. ANYWAY, ANYWAY. BUT LOOK: THE REASON I WANT TO SHOW THE MAP IS THAT.. BETWEEN CORINTH.. WHERE PAUL'S MIND WAS.. AND TROAS.. WHERE HIS BODY WAS.. THERE WAS A SEA AND.. FOR ME.. IT SEEMS LIKE MY MIND.. IT SEEMS LIKE SOMETIMES.. MY BODY IS IN ONE PLACE AND MY MIND IS IN ANOTHER.. AND PAUL IN A NOTE OF SADNESS SAYS: "I HAD TO GIVE UP.. THE OPPORTUNITY.. THAT GOD GAVE ME.. BECAUSE I COULDN'T ORGANIZE MY MIND IN THE PROCESS." HAVE YOU GONE THROUGH THIS?.. LET ME DO A TEST TO SEE IF YOU HAVE GONE THROUGH THIS.. HAVE YOU EVER PREVENTED.. NEW PEOPLE FROM LOVING YOU.. BECAUSE OLD PEOPLE HURT YOU?.. HAVE YOU STOPPED TRUSTING PEOPLE, COMMA.. AFTER DISCOVERING THAT PEOPLE ARE NOT TOTALLY TRUSTWORTHY?.. YOU SHOULDN'T TRUST ANYONE COMPLETELY EXCEPT GOD.. EVEN IF THEY ARE GOOD TO YOU, THEY WILL DISAPPOINT YOU. THEY CAN'T HELP IT. IT'S THE HUMAN CONDITION.. BUT FOR YOU TO COME AND SAY "I WILL NEVER TRUST ANYONE AGAIN. IT WILL ALL BE AT MY OWN RISK. IF YOU WANT SOMETHING DONE RIGHT, DO IT YOURSELF BECAUSE PEOPLE.." YES. PEOPLE ARE PEOPLE AND YOU ARE ONE OF THEM, AND JESUS DIED FOR ALL OF US, SO GET BACK IN THE GAME. DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR LIFE. AND DON'T BE SO BITTER THAT YOU DON'T WALK THROUGH THE DOOR.. HAVE YOU.. HAVE YOU.. HAVE YOU STOPPED AT AN OPEN DOOR.. BUT THE ENEMY KEPT YOUR MIND SO.. AFFLICTED.. THAT YOU DIDN'T WALK THROUGH?.. I MEAN.. REAL OPPORTUNITIES THAT GOD GAVE YOU TO BE FRUITFUL.. BUT THE SCARS.. NOT JUST SCARS. THAT'S GOOD, BECAUSE IT'S HEALED. YOU ARE WOUNDED.. AND THE WOUND IS STILL OPEN.. SO NOW THE DOOR IS CLOSING.. AND WEEKS AND MONTHS OF YOUR LIFE ARE ESCAPING.. YOU SAY GOODBYE TO TROAS AND GO TO MACEDONIA. WHY IS PAUL SO DESPERATE TO MEET TITUS? BECAUSE TITUS BRINGS THE NEWS.. IF TITUS COULD SEND A MESSAGE TO PAUL.. EVERYTHING WOULD BE RESOLVED AT ONCE.. BUT THERE WAS NO WAY TO SEND A MESSAGE.. IT TAKES MONTHS TO CROSS THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA.. SO PAUL WAITS FOR TITUS TO RESPOND: "IS EVERYTHING OKAY IN CORINTH?. WILL EVERYTHING BE OKAY THERE? WILL THEY ACCEPT THE CORRECTION? HAVE THEY BACKED DOWN?" BECAUSE HE LOVES THEM AND THEY ARE IMPORTANT.. AND WITH EACH DAY THAT PASSES WITHOUT TITUS APPEARING.. PAUL'S MIND GETS MORE AND MORE BURDENED.. HONESTLY? I CAN'T.. STAND.. 5 MINUTES.. WHILE WAITING FOR A RESPONSE TO MY MESSAGE.. WITHOUT STARTING TO IMAGINE.. THE WORST-CASE SCENARIOS IN MY HEAD.. SO I UNDERSTAND PAUL... SERIOUSLY. IF HOLLY ISN'T.. IF I DON'T HEAR THE LITTLE NOISE WITHIN 25 SECONDS.. IN MY MIND SHE IS DEAD.. THE CAR ROLLED OVER 7 TIMES.. IT'S HORRIBLE. I KNOW IT'S KIND OF FUNNY.. BUT, SERIOUSLY, NOT AT THE MOMENT. IS THERE ANYONE LIKE THAT? YOU HAVE 2 MINUTES TO RESPOND TO ME, BUT I'M ALREADY FREAKING OUT. MAYBE THEY DON'T LIKE ME ANYMORE. MAYBE THEY WON'T RESPOND TO ME ANYMORE." AND WHEN I SEND A MESSAGE AND IT TURNS GREEN.. INSTEAD OF BLUE.. ON MY iPHONE.. OH, MY GOD! LAST WEEK I PREACHED ABOUT GREEN.. BUT IF THE MESSAGE IS GREEN, YOUR PHONE IS OFF.. YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK TO ME ANYMORE. I CAN GET VERY OFFENDED.. I AM SO BAD AT INTERPRETING SILENCE AND DISTANCE AND THIS IS PAUL AT THE MOMENT. PAUL IS LIKE THIS: "I SENT TITUS TO SEE THINGS, BUT I DON'T KNOW WHERE HE IS, SO I LEFT TROAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T FIND TITUS.. I LEFT AN OPEN DOOR BECAUSE I DIDN'T FEEL PEACE. I LEFT AN OPPORTUNITY.. BECAUSE DESPITE THE OPEN DOOR. SEE. THIS IS THE ENEMY'S STRATEGY.. THAT'S WHY HE SAYS: "YOU CAN'T LET THE DEVIL TAKE ADVANTAGE." HE USES THINGS THAT HAVEN'T EVEN HAPPENED YET.. TO MAKE YOU RUN AWAY FROM OPPORTUNITIES THAT ARE RIGHT IN FRONT OF YOU.. CAN YOU SEE HOW SMART HE IS. HE BRINGS FILMS FROM THE PAST.. HE BRINGS BACK CLASSIC FILMS.. THAT HAPPENED 20 YEARS AGO.. AND PREVENTS YOU FROM SEEING WHAT IS A METER AND A HALF AWAY FROM YOU.. BUT GOD SAYS "WHEN I OPEN A DOOR.. NO DEVIL CAN CLOSE IT." AND THE REASON.. FOR THE DEVIL TO BE AT THE DOOR.. JUST TO START.. IS BECAUSE WHAT GOD HAS.. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF IT.. IS VERY IMPORTANT.. OH, YES.. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT.. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE A DEVIL AT THE DOOR.. OF ANYTHING IMPORTANT THAT THE LORD GIVES YOU.. OF ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT THAT GOD GIVES YOU.. THERE WILL ALWAYS BE AN ENEMY FOR ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT.. DO YOU KNOW WHY THERE IS A DEVIL AT THE DOOR?.. BECAUSE WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE REALLY MATTERS.. YOU ARE AN IMPORTANT CITY.. YOU ARE A CHOSEN VESSEL.. YOU MAY NOT BE PAUL.. BUT GOD HAS SOMETHING WITH YOUR.. NAME WRITTEN.. THERE IS A DEVIL AT THE DOOR.. AND THE GREATER THE OPPORTUNITY. THE GREATER THE DEVIL WILL BE. YOU DIDN'T KNOW THAT YET?.. THE GREATER WHAT IS ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE DOOR.. YOU ASK GOD: "WHY DO I HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THIS?".. A WHILE AGO.. I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO TELL THIS STORY... BECAUSE IT'S VERY TOUCHING TO ME.. I WAS ABOUT TO DO SOMETHING VERY SIGNIFICANT.. IN THIS MINISTRY.. I WON'T SAY WHAT IT WAS BECAUSE IT WOULD, KIND OF.. EXPOSE ME TOO MUCH AND I'M NOT READY TO HAVE THAT LEVEL OF RELATIONSHIP WITH YOU GUYS YET... AND... WHEN I WAS GOING TO DO WHAT I WAS GOING TO DO.. I FELL INTO TEARS.. I'M NOT MUCH OF A CRYER.. ONLY RUDY AND ROCK 3 MAKE ME CRY.. IT WAS THE THIRD TIME I CRIED IN MY LIFE.. AND HOLLY SAW ME CRY SO LITTLE THAT SHE THOUGHT I WAS JOKING.. AND SHE
HE SAID, "STOP PLAYING... THIS ISN'T FUN"... BECAUSE MY HEAD WAS... MY HEAD WAS ON... I WAS LYING IN BED AND MY HEAD WAS RESTING ON THE PILLOW AND SHE SAID, "STOP PLAYING"... AND I COULDN'T TELL HER THAT I WASN'T PLAYING BECAUSE I WAS CRYING. AND I DIDN'T KNOW WHY I WAS CRYING... NO ONE HAD DIED... I HAD NO TECHNICAL REASON TO BE SAD AT THAT MOMENT. BUT WHAT WAS ON THE OTHER SIDE THAT NIGHT... WAS SO IMPORTANT... THAT I BELIEVE THERE WAS A DEVIL AT THAT DOOR... THERE IS ALWAYS A DEVIL AT THE DOOR... WHEN GOD IS BRINGING YOU TO SOMETHING IMPORTANT... WHY DO YOU THINK BOYS GET POSSESSED WHEN THEY GO THROUGH PUBERTY?... AND IF YOU DON'T KNOW. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THIS, YOU WILL THINK: "THE DEVIL IS AT THE DOOR. THIS CAN'T BE FROM GOD." NO. NO. NO... THE DEVIL IS GIVING YOU AN INDICATION... THAT THIS IS SO BIG... THAT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT... THIS CAN BE A WORD OF SALVATION FOR SOMEONE. HAVE YOU EVER STOPPED TO THINK ABOUT THAT? SOMEONE MAY BE ON THE VERGE OF SUICIDE WHILE I AM PREACHING AND THEY CAN'T UNDERSTAND. "WHY DO I FEEL SO DEPRESSED?... WHY AM I GOING THROUGH THIS DARKNESS?"... BUT PERHAPS WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW IS THAT THE SIZE OF THE DEVIL AT YOUR DOOR... INDICATES THE SIZE OF THE AUTHORITY... THAT WILL COME UPON YOUR LIFE... DON'T DIE HERE... THIS IS A DOOR... THIS IS A DOOR... AND THE DOOR THAT GOD OPENS... NO ONE CAN CLOSE... NO ONE CAN CLOSE... AND DON'T LET THE DEVIL USE THE DOOR OF WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW... TO FILL YOUR MIND WITH HYPOTHETICAL SCENARIOS... THAT MAKE YOUR HEART CLOSE... THERE IS ALWAYS A DEVIL AT THE DOOR... THERE IS ALWAYS INSECURITY WHEN YOU ADVANCE DEEPER INTO YOUR PURPOSE... AND INTO THE CONSCIOUSNESS OF YOUR TRUE CONDITION IN CHRIST... BUT HE CAN'T CLOSE THE DOOR THAT GOD OPENS... ALL HE CAN DO... IS MAKE YOUR MIND... SO CONFUSED... THAT WHILE YOU WAIT FOR TITUS TO COME WITH THE NEWS... YOU SAY GOODBYE TO TROAS... WE DON'T SEE PAUL GIVING UP ON... ANY OTHER DOOR IN SCRIPTURE... BUT HE SAID: "I HAVE NO PEACE OF MIND"... WANT TO KNOW? 4 CHAPTERS GO BY... AND PAUL DOESN'T EVEN MENTION WHAT HAPPENS... AFTERWARDS... "I SAID GOODBYE TO TROAS... I WENT TO MACEDONIA... MOST LIKELY TO PHILIPPI... AND I WAITED FOR TITUS... AND EVERY DAY THAT I DIDN'T SEE TITUS... I STARTED TO CREATE THINGS IN MY MIND"... THE ENEMY IS USING... A STORY... TO STOP YOU FROM PASSING THROUGH YOUR DOOR... "THEY WON'T LIKE YOU... THEY WON'T ACCEPT YOU... NO ONE REALLY CARES ABOUT YOU... YOU ARE NOT CAPABLE... YOU WILL FAIL AND EVERYONE WILL LAUGH"... SO. SO HE CAN'T CLOSE THE DOOR... BUT HE CAN TELL YOU A STORY... AND EVERY DAY THAT TITUS DOESN'T... APPEAR, PAUL HAS A LITTLE MORE DIFFICULTY BELIEVING... BUT EVERYTHING WILL END WELL... IT WON'T BE BEFORE CHAPTER 7... VERSE 5, OF 2ND CORINTHIANS... WHEN WE SEE THAT WHAT PAUL WAS SO WORRIED ABOUT... GOD HAD ALREADY RESOLVED... HE SAID: "WHEN WE CAME TO MACEDONIA... WE LEFT TROAS... WE CAME TO MACEDONIA... WE HAD NO REST... EVERYWHERE. OBSERVE... THIS IS... THIS IS THE PROBLEM ON THE OUTSIDE... HE SAID: "AFFLICTED IN EVERY WAY... EXTERNAL CONFLICTS"... BUT THAT'S NOT WHAT WILL STOP YOU... IT'S NEVER THE EXTERNAL CONFLICT THAT MAKES YOU STOP... OTHER PEOPLE HAVE OVERCOME MUCH MORE THAN YOU TO GET WHERE THEY ARE... BUT IT'S THE "INTERNAL FEARS"... PAUL SAID... AND THEN... AFTER MONTHS AND MONTHS OF WANTING TO KNOW... WHO AM I PREACHING TO? I. I KNOW IT'S BEEN. IT'S BEEN. IT'S BEEN AN HOUR THAT I'VE BEEN PREACHING HERE... BUT I'M TALKING TO YOU, RIGHT?... IT'S BEEN MONTHS OF WANTING TO KNOW... IT'S BEEN IN SUSPENSE FOR MONTHS. AND EVERY DAY HE WAITS FOR TITUS AND HE DOESN'T ARRIVE WITH NEWS ABOUT THE SOLUTION, THE RESULT... IT'S YOUR MIND. IT'S YOUR MIND. IT'S YOUR... YOUR MIND IS LIKE THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA AND YOU IMAGINING... IF EVERYTHING WILL WORK OUT... BUT HE SAID IN VERSE 6:... "GOD, HOWEVER... GOD, HOWEVER..., WHO COMFORTS THE DEJECTED..., COMFORTED US WITH THE ARRIVAL OF TITUS"... THE WORD OF GOD IS "TITUS IS HERE"... BECAUSE WHEN TITUS FINALLY ARRIVES... VERSE 7... HE SAID: AND HE COMFORTED US "NOT ONLY WITH HIS COMING... BUT ALSO WITH THE COMFORT THAT YOU ADMINISTERED TO HIM... HE TOLD US ABOUT YOUR LONGING, YOUR SADNESS... AND YOUR CONCERN FOR ME,... SO THAT... MY JOY... BECAME... EVEN GREATER"... SO THAT MY JOY... BECAME EVEN GREATER... JOY IS COMING... HOPE IS COMING... RECONCILIATION IS COMING... THE RESTORATION OF ALL THINGS IS COMING... I DECLARE THIS BY FAITH... NOT BY SIGHT... MY EYES HAVE NOT YET SEEN... BUT I KNOW IN MY HEART... TITUS IS COMING... AND HE SAID: "I SPENT ALL THESE MONTHS WORRIED ABOUT ONE THING... THAT GOD HAD ALREADY RESOLVED... SO YOU ARE STANDING IN FRONT OF AN OPEN DOOR... YOU DON'T ALWAYS SEE IT... YOU DON'T ALWAYS FEEL IT... YOU CAN'T IDENTIFY IT... BECAUSE YOU HAVE AN AFFLICTED MIND... BUT LET'S TAKE A MOMENT... STAND UP... LET'S TAKE A MOMENT... TO BE STILL IN GOD'S PRESENCE... BECAUSE ALL THE CONFLICT ON THE OUTSIDE... IS NOTHING COMPARED TO THE FEARS ON THE INSIDE... GOD WE ARRIVE... TODAY... WITH AFFLICTED MINDS... I PRAY FOR THOSE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR WORK... I PRAY FOR THOSE WORRIED ABOUT THEIR CHILDREN... I PRAY FOR THOSE WORRIED ABOUT A... MEDICAL DIAGNOSIS THEY RECEIVED... OR OF SOMEONE THEY LOVE... I PRAY FOR THOSE WORRIED ABOUT... AN EVENT THAT IS AHEAD OF THEM AND THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY HAVE THE RESOURCES TO SUPPLY IT BUT... GOD I THINK TODAY YOU WANTED TO USE ME... THE WAY YOU USED TITUS... JUST TO BRING THE MESSAGE TO THEM... THAT THE DOOR REMAINS OPEN... THANK YOU JESUS... BECAUSE THE DOOR IS STILL OPEN... FOR NOT BEING TOO LATE... NOT BEING SO SMALL... NOT BEING SO LOST... HE SAID: "HE COMFORTED US WITH THE ARRIVAL OF TITUS"... GOD, LET ME BE LIKE TITUS TODAY... BRINGING THE MESSAGE... THAT GOD IS NOT COUNTING YOUR SINS TO THROW IN YOUR FACE... AND THAT YOU ARE NOT ANGRY WITH THEM... AND THAT THE TIME OF YOUR FAVOR IS UPON THEM... ALMIGHTY GOD... WHO OPENS DOORS... WHO OPENS PATHS... WHO WORKS MIRACLES... YOU ARE ALL THAT... BUT WE NEED TO HAVE PERFECT JUDGMENT... WE NEED OUR PERFECT JUDGMENT... WE THANK YOU... LORD... WE NEED THE KEY OF DAVID... IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE KNOW... THAT YOU ARE OUR DOOR... YOU ARE OUR DOOR... WE CAME TO YOUR PRESENCE TODAY BECAUSE YOU ARE OUR DOOR... AND, GOD, NOW, FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE NOT FORGIVEN IN OTHERS AND FOR ALL THAT WE HAVE NOT FORGIVEN IN OURSELVES... WE WOULD LIKE TO TAKE A MOMENT BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS PLACE AND SLAM THE DOOR IN SATAN'S FACE AND SAY "THIS HAS COST TOO MUCH... YOU HAVE TAKEN TOO MUCH... YOU HAVE STOLEN TOO MUCH... YOU HAVE DESTROYED TOO MUCH... NO MORE... THAT DOOR IS CLOSED... I WILL NOT GO BACK TO IT... THAT DOOR IS CLOSED. I WILL NO LONGER FIGHT WITH IT... THAT DOOR IS CLOSED... I WILL NO LONGER WASTE TIME WITH IT... I WILL MOVE FORWARD... THERE IS AN OPEN DOOR READY FOR ME IN HEAVEN... I WILL NOT SAY GOODBYE TO THIS OPEN DOOR... I WILL GO THROUGH IT IN JESUS' NAME... I WILL LIVE, AND I WILL NOT DIE... I WILL DECLARE THE WORDS OF THE LORD... I HAVE MORE TO DO... I HAVE BEEN PLANTED... I HAVE BEEN BLESSED... I AM FLOURISHING... IN THE FIELDS... OF THE LORD." LORD, THE DOORS ARE OPEN AT THIS MOMENT... NOW, BOW YOUR HEADS AND CLOSE YOUR EYES... THE DOOR OF SALVATION IS OPEN... THERE IS A PERSON HERE TODAY. YOU THOUGHT IT WAS TOO LATE TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD... YOU THOUGHT YOU HAD DONE TOO MUCH... GONE TOO FAR... LOST TOO MUCH... YOU THOUGHT THERE WERE THINGS GOD COULD NOT FORGIVE... YOU THOUGHT YOU WERE ONE OF THOSE WHO HAD BEEN LOST FROM GOD... IT IS NOT TRUE... TODAY IS A DAY OF SALVATION... THIS IS THE MOMENT... THIS IS THE HOUR... THIS IS YOUR TIME... GOD BROUGHT YOU HERE FOR THIS... THE DOOR IS OPEN... HE IS AT THE DOOR AND KNOCKS... AND HE WANTS TO COME IN... I WANT TO LEAD YOU... IN A PRAYER AT THIS MOMENT... YOU HAVE BEEN FAR FROM GOD... AND THIS IS THE MOMENT TO RECEIVE HIS GRACE... YOU DON'T COME TO GOD BY YOUR OWN EFFORT... YOU DON'T COME TO GOD... BY... GOOD BEHAVIOR... YOU DON'T COME TO GOD BY KNOWLEDGE... WE COME TO HIM... THROUGH FAITH... THE BIBLE SAYS THAT IF YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS CHRIST, THE SON WHOM HE SENT, YOU WILL HAVE LIFE... IF YOU CONFESS WITH YOUR MOUTH THAT JESUS IS LORD AND BELIEVE IN YOUR HEART THAT GOD RAISED HIM FROM THE DEAD... YOU WILL BE SAVED... THERE IS NO MORE IMPORTANT DECISION... THAN THIS... THIS IS THE DOOR... THIS IS THE DOOR... SO FOR YOU WHO WANT TO CROSS OVER... AND RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST FOR THE FORGIVENESS OF YOUR SINS... WHO BOUGHT YOU WITH HIS BLOOD... WHO KNOWS YOU BY NAME... WHO HAS BEEN WITH YOU IN EVERY SEASON OF LIFE... YOU HAVE BEEN FAR FROM HIM. I INVITE YOU BACK HOME AT THIS HOUR... THIS IS YOUR DOOR... PRAY WITH ME OUT LOUD... LET'S SLAM THE DOOR IN SATAN'S FACE TODAY... TO LET HIM KNOW THAT HE HAS LOST... HE HAS LOST ANOTHER ONE... LET'S SAY THIS PRAYER AS A BIG FAMILY OUT LOUD FOR ALL THOSE AROUND THE WORLD WHO ARE COMING TO CHRIST TODAY. TO PUT THEIR FAITH IN HIM. REPEAT WITH ME, CHURCH: "HEAVENLY FATHER..., I AM A SINNER... WHO NEEDS A SAVIOR... AND I BELIEVE THAT JESUS CHRIST IS THE SON OF GOD... AND THE SAVIOR OF THE WORLD... AND, TODAY,... I MAKE JESUS... THE LORD OF MY LIFE... I BELIEVE HE DIED... SO THAT I COULD BE FORGIVEN... AND ROSE FROM THE DEAD... TO GIVE ME LIFE... I RECEIVE... THIS NEW LIFE... THIS IS... MY NEW BEGINNING... WHEN I COUNT TO 3 RAISE YOUR HAND IF YOU PRAYED WITH ME... 1. 2. 3. RAISE YOUR HAND. GOD BLESS YOU... GOD BLESS YOU... WONDERFUL... LET'S GO! WHO ELSE? WHO ELSE? WHO ELSE? LET'S GO! SLAM THAT DOOR IN THE DEVIL'S FACE... LET HIM KNOW "I'M BACK HOME... TO MY FATHER'S HOUSE... I'M COMING HOME". PUT THE RING ON THEIR FINGER, CHURCH... LET'S GO! LET'S KILL A FAT CALF... LET'S CELEBRATE! WHAT WAS DEAD IS NOW ALIVE!... HALLELUJAH!... LET'S GO! LET'S GIVE A SHOUT OF PRAISE!