Skip to main content

Much Opposition

blood For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
1 Corinthians 16.9

Paul was... well... incredible! From his salvation to his martyrdom his experience points to God’s grace and Paul’s dedication to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was and is a hero of the Faith.

The comment he makes in the above verse always slaps me back to reality. My paraphrase would read, “God has opened many doors for ministry so pray for me because there is much opposition.”

Often, opposition seems a confirmation of “closed doors” for ministry doesn’t it? With the, “When God opens the door I’ll go” mentality the least bit of opposition is reason to indicate a closed door. It becomes an excuse NOT to minister.

Opposition can also become an excuse to cease ministry. I seemingly find myself in such a situation just now.

Yesterday morning a couple of our teens came over for breakfast. While munching on their bread and sipping their hot-chocolate one of them said, “The latest news from the hood is that a guy was murdered last night. I woke up to gun shots! The dead guy left twin baby girls.”

For the next few minutes, I sat with mouth agape as I listened to both kids recounted how that they have seen the dead sprawled in the street at least once or twice. The young lady told how that she had actually seen a murder take place within feet of her. The killer then coldly turned on his motorcycle and slowly rode past her with his pistol drawn as if to say, “you say anything and this is for you.” This, people, is opposition! Maybe not to us... just yet.

I heard that the guy was killed as a type of cruel threat to others in the hood. Do you think that we will become a threat? Will the Gospel threaten this type of dark activity? Of course it will.

Yesterday I also met with the school principal about helping her in some way at school. She welcomed the idea with open arms. So, now, with our foot in that opened door of ministry we need your prayers even more!  

The door is opened... and there is much opposition. Is it exciting? Yes. Do we need prayer cover? Yes. Thus pray! Pray for all of your missionaries. Or better yet, will you grab your weapon and join us?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What Are You Worth?

What are you Worth?  Have you ever thought about what you are worth? In investing circles there is a term used to gauge this exact question, it's called Net Worth. You take all of your assets, like property owned, funds in your bank account, clothes, jewelry, car, etc.. You total all of these things. You then take everything you owe, like mortgage, car loan, and credit card debt, and you subtract these items from the first total. This gives you your net worth. That number represents where you are financially. Most people never stop to think about this number because they don't understand anything about it. They never have two nickels to rub together. They live from hand to mouth and know (or at least believe) nothing will ever change so, they fall into the "daily grind" mentality. Psalm 49 should be a great encouragement to such as these. The sons of Korah write about them. These sons write about all of us. They call all people everywhere to listen to their wisdom. Bo...
Post a Comment
Read more

Tottering!

I was watching my one year old grandson, Brandon, today. He had on some baggy little shorts, weird flip-flops over his socks, and he was tottering. It made me think about how I often feel these days. Funny how that when we are little and "innocent" and tottering in our baggy pants, with our little potbelly sticking out from under our t-shirt we look precious. When we are older and tottering in our low slung trousers and the same potbelly, we looks pathetic! I guess that the two drastically opposite points of view are based on the viewer's chronological perspective. Brandon is growing and I'm dying. He is cute because the little guy has a lot to learn and we love to see him progress. The old guy has already had his chance at learning and what he is progressing toward is not quite so much fun to ponder. When I have these weird thoughts I praise my God because He never lets go of my hand whether a tottering little guy or an old one. And I found this verse to prove my po...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Circumcision Advantage

 What a title right? I'm thinking of Romans 3:1 where Paul asks, "What advantage, then, is there in being a Jew, or what value is there in circumcision?"  This was always an avoided subject in Sunday school, especially in a mixed class. We didn't use the "C" word. Too wierd.  Paul is bringing up this topic for good reasons. He wants to show that the Jews definitely have had a great advantage during their history. In the next verse he tells one of them when he says, ... "First of all, the Jews have been entrusted with the very words of God." The first jew talked to God in person. God chose Abram to be the father of many nations and to bring the blessing of the Messiah to the world. The Old Testament is the story of the Jewish nation. God dealt with the Jews throughout the ages of the time before Christ. They were the chosen. But in all that blessing they ended up crucifying the Messiah.  With all of their advantages the Jews came short of the ideal....
Post a Comment
Read more