Looking For Open Doors

1 Corinthians 16:9 (ESV) 9 for a wide door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

Looking for open doors?

It is a common response to difficult circumstances or important decisions for a Christian to look for what is often called in the Christian community, “Open Doors.”  We often get counsel from others to that effect; “Just trust God and He’ll open doors for you.”  Frankly, that’s good advice but it is flawed.  Not so much the advice but our understanding of “Open Doors.”

The first question I think needs to be answered is how do we know God is opening a door or that it is not the “Deceiver”, the devil? We often answer that question by saying that if the door is wide open if the solution looks like a “blessing” or if it’s what I asked for, it must be of God.  This kind of understanding often looks to the outcome of a circumstance from our point of view and ignores any relevant assessment from a Biblical point of view.  We fail to discern solid overriding principles that may be found in the Scriptures.

In the Link below, I want to offer some things that should be considered as we seek God’s will and if what we perceive as an open door, might just be something else.

Looking For Open Doors

 

 

 

 

We need to remember that God is ever faithful, even when we are not.  He also transcends our circumstances and will provide a way out or through good faith poor decision-making on our part.  We need to also remember that when we decide in good faith with a desire to honor the Lord, He is there with us and will turn what we have, in good faith prayerfully decided, to His glory, which may include a learning lesson or a way of escape.

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The Futility Of Horizontal Affirmation

Have you ever been caught up in the futility of horizontal affirmation?

Built into every one of us is the desire to find affirmation from others such as friends, family, and society at large. And we seek the approval to satiate our self-esteem (self-importance). We judge our self-worth upon the approval of others and/or personal success. That is the desire of the “flesh” which is in bondage to sin.

Romans 7:14 (ESV)  For we know that the law is spiritual, but I am of the flesh, sold under sin.

We call this, the futility of horizontal Affirmation

We wake up every day with the “flesh seeking a horizontal affirmation. Which runs contrary to the “new man” that resides in every blood-bought believer. Paul understood this conflict as he spoke of that battle. It rages in every believer between the “flesh” and the new man in Romans 7:18-25.

In the video below we speak to how destructive it is and how it dishonors the Lord

The Futility of Horizontal affirmation

 

 

 

 

So, for the born-again believer, there is no need to seek something horizontally that has been given to us in Christ, vertically.

Colossians 2:10 (NKJV) 10 and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

Grace says we look vertically to the fullness of the grace of Jesus. Our self-worth, and purpose in life are found solely in Jesus and His grace.

John 1:16 (ESV) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.

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Is Salvation By Grace or Works?

Is Salvation By Grace or Works? Among the “religious” the argument rages. Is salvation by grace or works or a combination of the two? Among the Secular-minded, if there is a here-and-after, it must be by works or personal merit.

Two of the options above are related to each other because they both imply self-effort at some level. And they both are based on self-pride (the good outweighs the bad). And appeal to the “flesh” of man, ultimately rob God of His glory.

In the video below we examine this question: I salvation by grace or works?

Is salvation

 

 

 

 

We will look at several scriptures that teach this most crucial doctrine. Such as:

Romans 4:4 (ESV) 4 Now to the one who works, his wages are not counted as a gift but as his due.

Romans 11:6 (ESV) 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

Ephesians 2:8 (ESV) 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

Titus 3:5 (ESV) 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit,

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God’s Ever-Faithful Mercy

Devotional for 2/23/23 “God’s Ever-Faithful Mercy”

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Forgiveness In The Reality Of Injustice

Devotional for 2/16/23 “Forgiveness In The Reality Of Injustice”

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Living With Eternity In MInd

Devotional for 2/9/23 “Living With Eternity In Mind”

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Walk By Faith Not Sight

Devotional for 2/2/23 “Walk By Faith Not Sight”

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Abundant Overwhelming Grace

Devotional for 1/26/23 “Abundant Overwhelming Grace”

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Standing In Grace

Thursday 1/19/23 Devotional “Standing In Grace”

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Right Thinking

Thursday 1/12/23 Devotional “Right Thinking”

It has been over a year since I have published any YouTube Devotionals. This has been due to family medical issues that have taken up much of my time and made it impossible to continue that devotional ministry. Today I am relaunching that ministry with the Lord’s help!  My goal will be to produce two devotionals a week. One on Tuesdays and the other on Thursdays. There will also be, from time to time, what I call “Doctrinal Shorts” produced as well. These will be short and to-the-point doctrinal studies. The devotional videos will be 8-10 minute devotionals while the “Doctrinal Shorts” may extend to 15 minutes. For now, I will produce a devotional video every Thursday, Lord willing, with the Tuesday devotional videos added as I once again become more proficient.

I would like to ask you to do three things that would help with the YouTube algorithms. Go out to my Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@MAJESTY_OF_HIS_WORD

  1. If you haven’t subscribed on Youtube to my videos, please do!
  2. Be sure to like and click on the bell to get a notification of newly posted videos.
  3. The videos are intentionally short, so watch to the end, that helps as well.

That’s it.  One more thing is of utmost importance. Pray that the Lord will use this channel in your and others’ lives!

For the cause of Christ,

Michael Holtzinger

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