For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
A great and effectual door opened before Paul at Ephesus, an effective, important and unusually promising opportunity for gospel work, even though many adversaries opposed him and the opposition was strong. That opening mattered because Ephesus was a major city marked by corruption, sensual pleasure, superstition, magic, widespread idolatry and the worship of Diana with degrading practices. The power of Diana's temple and its idol, together with symbols and books explaining spells and their use, gave magicians influence over the people, and opposition arose within that influence, making the city both a difficult field and an important opening for the gospel.
Beyond Paul's time the open door means God-given opportunities to serve and spread the light that stand open everywhere and all around. Men and women are nearby who will gladly receive the message of salvation and who need help. Such opportunities are to be recognized and used rather than wasted, for wasted opportunities bring bitter regret. Using the opening involves taking the Bible to show people the truth, its beauty and God's love, and drawing them to Christ, who works with believers. It calls for lifting the standard higher and still higher, living close to Christ in order to exert a saving influence on those contacted, seeking earnestly for conversions, warning those who continue unwarned, doing one's best and longing to bring souls to Christ. It does not require going to India or China unless God sends.
Part of recognizing the opening is teaching people from other nations who come within reach so they can be prepared to share the truth with speakers of other languages. The opening is given to those who labor earnestly, prayerfully, humbly, in the spirit of Christ and set a visible example of self-sacrifice and self-denial. Blessing rests on them, for the Lord knows the spirit prompting action and turns matters in their favor at unexpected times.
The verse also means a great and effectual opening for missionary effort in Melbourne and the surrounding towns, seen in many unfilled calls to be filled. The report of the tent meeting had spread far and near and awakened wonderful interest, with outsiders attending in large numbers, becoming convicted of the truth, accepting the Sabbath, and asking for early morning and evening meetings to continue. That demand urges the use of every available worker at once, even a hundred men if they could be had, to enter those openings and meet it.
A great and effectual door opened before Paul at Ephesus, an effective, important and unusually promising opportunity for gospel work, even though many adversaries opposed him and the opposition was strong. That opening mattered because Ephesus was a major city marked by corruption, sensual pleasure, superstition, magic, widespread idolatry and the worship of Diana with degrading practices. The power of Diana's temple and its idol, together with symbols and books explaining spells and their use, gave magicians influence over the people, and opposition arose within that influence, making the city both a difficult field and an important opening for the gospel.
Beyond Paul's time the open door means God-given opportunities to serve and spread the light that stand open everywhere and all around. Men and women are nearby who will gladly receive the message of salvation and who need help. Such opportunities are to be recognized and used rather than wasted, for wasted opportunities bring bitter regret. Using the opening involves taking the Bible to show people the truth, its beauty and God's love, and drawing them to Christ, who works with believers. It calls for lifting the standard higher and still higher, living close to Christ in order to exert a saving influence on those contacted, seeking earnestly for conversions, warning those who continue unwarned, doing one's best and longing to bring souls to Christ. It does not require going to India or China unless God sends.
Part of recognizing the opening is teaching people from other nations who come within reach so they can be prepared to share the truth with speakers of other languages. The opening is given to those who labor earnestly, prayerfully, humbly, in the spirit of Christ and set a visible example of self-sacrifice and self-denial. Blessing rests on them, for the Lord knows the spirit prompting action and turns matters in their favor at unexpected times.
The verse also means a great and effectual opening for missionary effort in Melbourne and the surrounding towns, seen in many unfilled calls to be filled. The report of the tent meeting had spread far and near and awakened wonderful interest, with outsiders attending in large numbers, becoming convicted of the truth, accepting the Sabbath, and asking for early morning and evening meetings to continue. That demand urges the use of every available worker at once, even a hundred men if they could be had, to enter those openings and meet it.