"For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." 1 Corinthians 16:9, NKJV
Whenever the Lord opens up big doors, there is also big opposition. As Joyce Meyer puts it, "new levels, new devils." The apostle Paul met these adversaries when he said…
"A huge door of opportunity for good work has opened up here. (There is also mushrooming opposition.)" (1 Corinthians 16:9, Message)
“Anyone who wants to live all out for Christ is in for a lot of trouble; there's no getting around it. Unscrupulous con men will continue to exploit the faith. They're as deceived as the people they lead astray." (2 Tim. 3:12-13, Message)
If you are facing more opposition than usual—more critics, more hassle, more challenges, more hoops to jump through, more resistance, more political mumbo-jumbo—rejoice, God has opened a huge door for His Word and His plan to go forth! Stand strong!
No matter what little demons crawl out of what little dark corners to influence people to oppose the cause of Christ, remember—Jesus is Lord! His Word and saving power will continue to go forth because God loves people and He has a vested interest in them! Jesus, as our Redeemer, has completely defeated the devil and every adversary!
Think about it this way, when the devil motivates people to oppose the progress of the gospel, we should really consider it a compliment from the devil and a sign that great things are ahead! Remember when Peter was inspired by the devil to say words contrary to God's will to Jesus? Jesus had to rebuke the devil by speaking to Peter and saying, "Get thee behind Me, Satan." If you've been facing opposition and adversaries, be of good cheer. You are preparing for a huge testimony! As one person put it: "No test. No testimony!"
Fellow Church Leader, has the Lord opened up a big and effectual door for you and now you're facing unprecedented puzzling, vicious and bewildering opposition?
Fellow Christian, has God opened a big door for you and it seems like all hell has come against you?
Be encouraged today. God is working on a massive testimony and in the end, you win!
Let's stand strong and trust the Lord to bring us through that wide door in grand fashion. Remember what Jesus said, "I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict." (Luke 21:15, NIV) God is on our side. If the Lord is for us—who can be against us?
Say It: “Father, I thank You for a great and effective door! I thank You that Jesus is Lord and the final authority on all things. He has already defeated the enemy and through the power of Jesus' Name, we enforce the defeat of every adversary. Jesus is the light of the world and the darkness can never put out the light. He will build His church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. The Lord God Almighty will continue to open up great and effectual doors for church leaders around the world and for believers in every land and they will proclaim the gospel with a greater anointing, boldness and more eternal fruit will be produced than ever before! In Jesus' Name. Amen."
