Colossians 4:3-4 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
Paul’s prayer
Paul asked the believers at Colossae to pray for him that God would open doors for him to give his testimony and share the gospel with many others. Paul knew from experience that it was the Lord Who opened doors for him (2 Cor 2:12). The purpose of an open door is to enable us to preach/testify of the gospel and to speak the mystery of God to those who do not know or have never heard. In the Revelation, John writes that it is the Lord who opens and closes doors (Rev 3:7). Paul indicates that door of opportunity are answers to prayer, not human devices.
Criteria for open doors
Jesus told the church of Philadelphia that there were three criteria that brought about the open door by the Lord (Rev 3:8).
1) Thou hast a little strength – it is not through our great strength or ability that Jesus opens doors, but the church at Philadelphia had a “little” strength. Little can mean little in the sense of size or also in length of time. Therefore, having little strength could apply to our strength in faith or maturity. It is those who do not rely upon their own abilities but rather rest upon the strength of God (2 Cor 12:7-10). Too often we feel like we have to be strong in faith or emotion to present the gospel, but Jesus said if we have a little strength, He will open a door for us.
2) (Thou) hast kept My word – kept means to attend to carefully; to guard. Jesus placed keeping His word and commandments as an indication of loving Him (Jn 14:15, 21-23). The word of God is an important part of our Christian walk (2 Tim 3:16; Heb 4:12). When others were going back and not following Jesus any more, it was Peter who maintained the importance of Christ’s words (Jn 6:68). It is thru words that we communicate to others and it is thru His word that God communicates His truths to us. Therefore, He opens doors to those who make His word important enough to attend to carefully and guard. Samuel was used mightily of God because he did not permit God’s words to slip away from him (1 Sam 3:19). It is also the promise to be kept from the hour of trial upon the whole earth to those who keep His word (Rev 3:10)
3) (Thou) hast not denied My name – Literally denying the name of Jesus in our day is not the same as it was in the days of the apostles. During the days of Roman occupation there was a time when everyone had to avow allegiance to Caesar calling him lord or god, or be killed (Rev 2:13). Jesus spoke of this in Matt 10:33 indicating that denying Him before men would be a serious offense. Deny carries the idea of disregarding the person or proving untrue or false to him. In Jesus’s day it meant literally denying Him before men in preference to another, and also proving untrue as a follower of Christ. God spoke similarly of this in His commandments (Ex 20:7). Taking God’s name in vain means more than saying it out of context; it also means taking that name as our own and then living in such a way that it shames, sullies or makes it be thought evil of (1 Sam 12:14; 1 Tim 6:1; Rev 3:1). We are to uphold the name of Christ as Creator, Savior and coming King.
Will not be easy
An open door does not guarantee ease of testifying or witnessing. It does not mean it will always be easy to enter that open door. Paul found this out in his missionary journeys (1 Cor 16:9). This would be the reason Paul requests that we pray, for it is God we rely upon and not man – our own self.
The Lord is also seeking an open door into churches that have apostate away from the truth and do not see their need of Him. They do not see their nakedness, blindness (Rev 3:17). Jesus stands at the door and knocks to gain an open door into these churches before it is too late.