I was in prayer and studying this morning and the Lord was speaking about the "great and effective door." I had a dream about it last week that I'd love to share, but this morning I want to tell you about something else that caught my eye.
"But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries." (1 Corinthians 16:8-9)
I've read that a million times, but this morning it stuck out to me that 1.) he's staying in Ephesus seemingly because of adversaries, and 2.) he doesn't ask for prayer about that... he just quickly states it once and moves on to talk about Timothy. And apparently there are many adversaries. Still, no problem, he's not leaving, and he's not worried in the least. No biggie.
Huh???
Then I looked up some commentaries and found this quote:
"Adversaries and opposition do not break the spirits of faithful and successful ministers, but warm their zeal, and inspire them with fresh courage. A faithful minister is more discouraged by the hardness of his hearers' hearts, and the backslidings of professors, than by the enemies' attempts." ~Matthew Henry's commentary
This truly makes me smile because I think of Paul traveling where the Holy Spirit leads, doing the Lord's work, and when he comes to Ephesus and encounters "many adversaries," he's like, "Oh yeah, baby! I'm staying here! Bring it on!" LOL He's not only unaffected by the enemy's tactics, he's EXCITED because he knows it's a sign that God's hand is on the situation... that a GREAT and EFFECTIVE door has been opened to him... and OH, THE WONDERS he will see when he walks through that door because the MIRACULOUS is on the other side!!! Many adversaries??? Who cares!!! We're about to strike ministry GOLD!! Haha!!
In the face of ministry, adversaries and opposition should make our mouths water to sink our teeth into what God has on the other side of our own "great and effective door." Our eyes should be wide with wonder in the face of every attack, at the throwing of every stone, because we know our Great God is about to do something that will blow our minds and change lives forever!
