A Door of Divine Opportunity

“A great and effective door has opened to me!” I Corinthians 16:9

It is quite thrilling when we recognize that God is doing something unique and wonderful. It is even more thrilling when we realize that He is giving us the opportunity to join His activity. The Apostle Paul had just concluded a season of ministry in the city of Corinth. He had labored faithfully there for some eighteen months before ending what we call his second missionary journey as he began the arduous journey back towards Jerusalem. Paul passed through the city of Ephesus as he traveled, and he told the believers that he would return to them if it proved to be the Lord’s will (Acts 18:19-21).

 

Well, it certainly proved to be God’s plan for this man to return, and when he did, he experienced some of his most fruitful ministry. After straightening out some poor doctrine concerning the Holy Spirit and believer’s baptism, Paul spoke boldly among the Jews in the synagogue for three months. When opposition began to rise against his teaching, he was able to secure a place in the school of Tyrannus (who was either a Jewish rabbi, or perhaps a Greek philosopher, and a well-known and respected teacher with his own “private” school) and continue his ministry for the next two years. This door of opportunity gave Paul a secure place to teach, lecture, mentor and disciple both Jews and Greeks on a daily basis. As a result, the Bible says, “the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed.” (Acts 19:20) No wonder Paul said to the Corinthians that a great and effective door has opened to me!

As I write these words, God has uniquely opened a wonderful door of ministry opportunity for me as well. I may not encounter what Paul did so many years ago in the exciting city of Ephesus, but I am no less delighted to be involved in the life and ministry of the Bethel Baptist Church on Military Road in Columbus MS (https://www.facebook.com/p/Bethel-Baptist-Church-100064557615154/). Tammy and I had been sincerely praying for a place to serve that would embrace our giftedness and life experiences, and we are humbled by this unique opportunity that God has given me to serve Bethel as their Interim Pastor. Please pray that we will bear spiritual fruit like we’ve never seen before, as we seek to love and lead this precious body of believers into the fresh encounters of God's presence. "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples." (John 15:5-8) To God be the glory!