.png)
Praying for Open Doors (Sermon Notes + Reflection)
- May 16
- 11 min read
Date: 05/03/2026
Church / Speaker: Beulahland/ Pastor Dr. Carlos Kelly
Sermon title: Praying for Open Doors
Scripture: Colossians 4:2-6
Hey, beloved. I’m Nissi
I’m on a journey of searching for a church home, and while I’m in the middle of that process, I don’t want to waste what God is teaching me. This series is where I’ll share sermon notes, the parts that challenged me, and the action steps I’m taking so I can actually live it out, not just hear it.
Watch the sermon first, then go back through the notes (or follow along while you watch). I actually ended up doing both.😅
Notes from Praying for open doors sermon
Mentioned last sermon (Mark 10) about the rich man. He asked Jesus, “What must we do to inherit eternal life (that is, to partake in the eternal salvation in the Messiah’s Kingdom)?”
Jesus said, keep the commandments (love), and let go of your great possessions and serve others. Use your funds to help and serve.
The man made wealth his god. The Lord required him to surrender everything to follow Him. But the man was sad because he didn’t want to give up his wealth, so he left. Jesus didn’t chase the man once he walked away. The rich man didn’t need more information or a better invitation; he needed a miracle.
The Lord had already given him everything he needed; all he needed to do was surrender.
Jesus’s disciples asked, “Well, who can be saved?” He responded, with man it is impossible, but not with God; for all things are possible with God.
Salvation is not a human achievement; it is a divine act. We cannot force or manipulate someone into the Kingdom of God. We cannot get someone to God in our own strength.
The work of opening a human heart belongs entirely to God. For those who want to be used, pray.
The things you pray about are the things you trust God to handle. The things you neglect to pray about are the things you think you can handle on your own.
Our prayer life reveals our posture and exposes if we actually believe that we need God to do what we cannot do by ourselves, or if we have simply operated in God’s name while leaning on our own understanding. (VERSE 2)
Paul is calling the people back to a life of consistency that reflects the Gospel they received. He requested the people pray that God would open the door so that the Word can go forward, reach those who are lost, and lead them to Christ.
Only God can open doors by His divine power; man cannot force it open. It’s important that we spend time in prayer, because when we pray together, God shows up and shows out, and doors begin to open.
When the church prays with devotion, God opens doors that no human effort can unlock.
Steps that can be applied from these verses:
Devote ourselves to steadfast prayer.
Continue earnestly, unwearied, and alert in prayer.
Be persistent, vigilant, and committed to prayer; remain with it without abandoning it. (Like a soldier assigned to a post who refuses to leave it.)
Understand that we are a part of God’s army and have a responsibility to fulfill our role of praying and offering up prayers to God.
This is in a plural tense; all of us, as a part of God’s body.
Prayer is not just for when you are in a crisis, not just when you need something, not just when life goes wrong or bad, and not just when there is sickness in your family. Prayer is not just for when you need God to intervene.
Do not use God as if He’s a spare tire, using Him only when you need Him, and when you arrive at a safe place, putting Him back in the trunk until you need Him again.
If you pray, then you won’t faint.
Vigilant means: when you have gotten up from praying in the name of Jesus, you get up expecting that God will do what you asked God for. Have the faith to believe that it’s going to happen. Expect that the moment you get up, it’s already in the works of being done and/or that it’s coming; if it’s in His will, it will happen.
Faith without works is dead. Prepare to receive what you are praying for.
Have an umbrella when you ask for rain.
Have your resume ready when you ask for a job.
Apply for colleges when you ask God to have your child get into college.
When you pray about something, have an attitude of gratitude. Have thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving is a backwards look. I’m praying with confidence today because of what I’ve seen God do for me yesterday. The things He has already done gives me the assurance for what I need today, and if He hasn’t done another thing, He has already done enough.
I’m still going to thank Him. I’m still going to tell Him thank you, because my thank you is not predicated on the happenings of my life.
I’m thanking Him because He’s already been good and keep revealing Himself to me.
Thank you is a forward look because if I’m praying with expectations and am getting up in faith, looking for the door to open, I don’t have to wait until the door opens before I tell God thank you. I thank Him on the way to my blessing. Even if it doesn’t open right now (that second, month, or year), sooner or later He’s going to open the door in my favor. So I’m going to thank you for what You are about to do and about to release.
Thank God before it comes to pass. Pray knowing, with complete faith, God will do it.
You don’t have to be experiencing favorable circumstances to intercede or to pray so God can open doors.
Paul asked that the doors may be opened so that the Word may be known; he didn’t ask for them to pray so that he would be free.
Some may say, “How do you expect me to pray, intercede, or help others when I have my own problems and things I need help with?” Real spiritual maturity is the ability to pray for someone else even when you stand in need of a breakthrough.
The best time to pray or bless others is when you’re down and need a blessing. When you ask God for something to happen for others, God has the ability to make it happen for you also. Think beyond yourselves.
Make the most out of every divine opportunity as something precious.
Pray, but don’t just pray, operate as if it’s already done. Prayer helps prepare you for what God is getting ready to do, so start practicing for it to happen. You’ll be ready to receive once it’s given.
Sometimes we pray for things we aren’t ready for and wouldn’t be able to handle. We haven’t even rehearsed or practiced for it. Thank God He hasn’t given you what you asked for so that you didn’t mishandle it and misrepresent Him.
Allow God to work on you while He’s working on what you’re praying for (in His will): Work, train, have discipline. Get your mind and heart right. Walk in wisdom. Don’t delay or procrastinate.
We are asking for open doors but don’t want to deal with folks outside or operate from wisdom. Would you be able to recognize the door was open if God did it?
You need the Holy Spirit to discern when God is revealing a divine opportunity.
Position yourself in the right place so God can do what you are asking for. Sometimes we are out of position. (v. 5) Conduct yourself with wisdom (living prudently and with discretion) towards outsiders; make the best of the opportunity.
You can’t reach people if all you do is hang around people already saved and know God. Build relationships and connect with people who don’t know Jesus.
Make the most out of every divine opportunity. Seize it before someone else does. It’s divinely orchestrated and Spirit-led. Redeem the time. When God reveals that it’s the moment, don’t procrastinate or put it off, because you have a window of the moment.
Don’t be busy, cluttered, comfortable, or fearful and miss the opportunity of the door being open. You never know when or who God is going to assign you to. That’s why you always have to be prayed up.
Don’t get too comfortable; always be ready to move.
Sometimes the people you write off are the people that God writes into your story.
There can be someone you can’t stand; you pray for them to be removed from your life. God allows them to go through hardships, but they see the God in you.
Despite what they did or do, you continue to do right and be kind. It could be God put you in place that you’re the one they come to for godly advice. How do you respond? You have to get your spirit right, use wisdom.
Kairos moment; God opening a window of opportunity, and everything that has happened prior has been preparing you for THIS moment: for you to be a vessel that God uses, with Christ living through you. You speak words of life, pray for them, and show them love and kindness.
Be careful how you carry yourself and how you treat people. That’s why you have to be filled with God’s Word and Spirit.
Don’t just get up and go to work or just start the day. You don’t know who God is going to send or what you might encounter.
Spend at least 10 minutes when you wake up praying, saying, “Lord, I need you to touch me, to fix my heart, and get my spirit and attitude right so that anywhere and everywhere I go I’m a vessel, that I’m a minister for God. That I reflect You, light in the midst of darkness, the salt of the earth, so that people can sense that You’re working on the inside of me.”
Prepare yourself so that you can walk in godly wisdom.
Phil 1:12–14: Paul said even though he’s in prison, which was meant to stop him, it has actually served to advance and spread the good news of the gospel, which is salvation. Those near him (the guards) started getting saved.
If you maximize your moment, it’s going to help somebody else have the confidence to step up and start speaking when God opens a door for them.
Choose your words wisely always.
You’re praying for open doors, but you gotta mind your mouth.
Let your speech ALWAYS be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt.
Is your speech ALWAYS filled with grace and seasoned with salt?
James 3:5–12 said the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity—no man can tame it.
The way you talk about people who stabbed you in the back, who cut you off in traffic, that family member who wounded you; how you engage on social media and respond to a hate comment; how you talk about a church that hurt you or other churches—always.
Don’t close open doors with your words or turn people away from God by what you say. Be careful how you speak. What you say has consequences.
Don’t compartmentalize your speech. Fresh and salt water can’t flow from the same mouth. Blessing and curses can’t flow from the same mouth. Can’t have two foundations.
Salt is used to preserve, to purify, to enhance.
Daily devotion is important because what comes out is based on what you put in. Guard your words; think about what you’re going to say.
Let your speech ALWAYS be gracious and pleasant, seasoned with salt, so that you know how to answer each one. Your words can lead them to Jesus.
How to answer: “What must I do to be saved?” What to say to lead someone to Jesus?
Rom 3:23, 6:23, 10:9
Speak life, not death. Just say Jesus.
I think this sermon was really beautiful, and it carried a lot of reminders that we ought to keep close to our hearts, not just for a moment, but as daily posture. I know I need these reminders too. There was so much in it that encouraged me, corrected me, and strengthened me. I’m going to try to keep this part brief so it doesn’t get too long, but I also want to be honest about what stood out and why, because I don’t want the conviction to fade once the moment passes.
Here’s What “pricked my heart” the most (conviction)
What stood out: The rich man
Why it hit me: It reminds me not to live for myself, but to live in Christ and to serve. To deny my flesh daily, not driven by my own will, desires, or comfort. I do not live for myself.
What stood out: Being vigilant in prayer and expecting what you pray for to happen
Why it hit me: For a long time, I didn’t understand how to sit still or how to wait. But I’m learning to soak in all the training, discipline, and correction while I wait, to learn and grow in the process. God is working on me as He works on what He has in store for me.
What stood out: Thanking Him before He answers the prayer
Why it hit me: This helps me be patient and not get discouraged or feel like God has forgotten about me. A prayer may take years to be answered, but I trust God and know that He is working, and that it will happen in the time He deems acceptable.
What stood out: Praying for things you may not truly be ready for
Why it hit me: This hit me because one of the things I prayed for will take a lot of hard work and patience. But if it’s God’s will, He will qualify me, prepare me, and equip me with all I need to succeed.
What stood out: Not wanting to deal with or be around people
Why it hit me: This hit me because there’s still some residue of this being an issue. He has done and is still doing an amazing work in me in this area: bringing me into fellowship with others and teaching me how to love His people and to speak truth with grace, love, and salt. I’m learning, and I’m thankful.
My Action steps
This week I will: Be more intentional with my morning prayers. More purposeful and alert. Rise while it’s still dark to get spiritual food, sit in stillness, to confess, to repent, and to rededicate myself in full submission in case I accidentally picked something up.
I need to surrender/repent of: I need to surrender my timing and repent for not seizing the opportunity when it’s given. When God reveals that it’s the moment, I won’t procrastinate or put it off.
One habit/boundary I’ll practice: One habit I’ll practice is putting others first, thinking about what might make someone’s day, what would make someone happy, and how I can move so they can experience Christ through me.
Reflection questions ?
What part stood out to you and why?
What did God show me about my heart today?
Where do you feel the Holy Spirit nudging you to change?
What’s one step I can take in the next 24 hours?
Who can I encourage or serve this week?
Create your own Action steps:
This week I will…”
Spend at least 10 minutes when you wake up praying
Be more mindful of the things I say
“I’m repenting of…”
“I’m going to practice…”
“I’m setting a boundary / habit…”
If you haven’t watched the sermon yet, I really encourage you to watch the video and go through the notes for yourself. Pay attention to what pricks your heart, that gentle (or strong) conviction from the Holy Spirit that points to something God wants to heal, change, or grow in you. Don’t try to do everything at once, choose one action step and take it seriously this week.
Remember, my convictions may not be yours, and the same can be said for your friends. Our walk may look a bit different, and that’s okay. Don’t measure your growth by someone else’s struggle, and don’t feel pressured to copy another person’s exact action steps. Ask the Lord what your next step is in this season, even if it feels small, because small, sincere obedience adds up over time. If you’re talking with a friend about what stood out to you, do it with humility and love: share what God is correcting in you, and make space for what He may be doing in them. Just be honest with yourself, stay teachable, and accept the Holy Spirit’s nudges to change.
May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Peace be to you!
Comments