God’s Open Door and Obstacles to Entry

“No Weapon” by Fred Hammond

For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries. 1 Cor 16:9 (KJV)

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.

1 Cor 16:13-14 (KJV)

 

God’s Open Door and Obstacles to Entry

The Lord points the way, and He makes the way. But along the way, adversities arise. Not just one or two obstacles, but many. Obstacles created by the enemy of our souls, are specifically designed to discourage every and anyone on a mission from God.

 

Why Lord?

I sometimes wonder why it’s often so hard to get stuff done. When obstacles and disappointments carry a familiar face, it’s even worse: a son, daughter, a spouse, or fellow ministry workers, can cause confusion and slow your mission down. One thing I’ve learned in adversities is that many obstacles are painful but necessary for building faith that cannot be discouraged.

Overcoming obstacles gives you the experience and endurance you need to carry out the tasks God calls you to do. Obstacles are useful even for your health. Muscles and bones become weak when there is no resistance. Without forces like gravity (which we constantly have to move against), muscles, bones and other organ systems like your heart, gastrointestinal tract and immune system, become weak. Absence of resistance (gravity) is one reason weightlessness weakens muscles, bones, and immune system of astronauts. This is a major obstacle to intergalactic space flight.

Obstacles Build Strong Faith & Endurance

In order to build strength and endurance, athletes rigorously subject their bodies to increasing amounts of pressure and resistance. Without stress, muscle strength and size will not increase.

Resistance is painful but productive when building strength of your mind and spirit. Sometimes, I think the fall of man created the necessity for overcoming obstacles physically and spiritually. Perhaps it is a corollary of the “law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2), with death and separation from God being the last obstacles to God, which blood of Jesus removed.

Looking to the original Greek meanings of words in today’s verse shows us that our faith walk is an obstacle course. The original Greek word for the “great” door used in verse 9 is “mega,” (as in “mega-millions).” So, the door, portal or opportunity was BIG. The door was also described as being “effectual.” The original Greek word for this means “powerful.” So the door or opportunity spoken of was not just BIG, but also POWERFUL! The word translated as “adversary” means “stretched out, against” as one would stretch himself against the open door to prevent entry. (“Strong’s Talking Hebrew and Greek Dictionary”)

How to Run the Race

Verse 13 gives instructions about how we overcome big, powerful obstacles and resistances that stretch themselves across our open doors to prevent our entry. To overcome we must:

Watch so that we can see and know that we what the obstacle is.

Stand fast, not twitter about, disoriented. The movements of seasoned warriors are not disorganized, as “one who beateth the air” (1 Corinthians 9:26). The actions of God’s warriors are systematically executed as the Holy Spirit leads and empowers us.

“Quit” ourselves as men. This means we are to comport ourselves as mature Christians. Be grown up in Christ. “Act like we know.”

“Be strong.” The word here means “wax strong” which means grow strong, become strong. Becoming strong does not happen overnight, but rather by following Jesus’ example in battle after battle. Resistance after resistance. Mega obstacle after mega obstacle. Overcoming in the name of Jesus is the battle cry of the Christian until the day we become “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord” (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Last but not least, we must not get discouraged. We must never give up. It is written:

Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord. 1 Cor 15:58 (KJV)

Reflections

Knowing that the opportunities of the Lord often come with great resistance, and that it is my nature to not want to deal with resistance, or exert my faith, or discipline my body and senses for the strengthening process necessary to have victory over obstructions, what then is my prayer?

This Is My Prayer

Most gracious and loving Heavenly Father, thank you for Your plan for my life. Praise Your holy name Father God, that Your word is true: Your plans for me are for “good and not for evil.” Your plans give me “hope and a future.” Forgive me Father for my lack of faith. Forgive me for the many times I have given up and become discouraged. Forgive me for the many of Your tasks that I have abandoned. Forgive me for preferring luxury and sloth over victory in Christ Jesus. Grant me strength Lord to endure hardness as a good soldier (2 Timothy 2:3).

Lord, please help us to not hesitate to prepare daily in Your word, so that we may grow strong and mature in You. Help us to understand that we must grow in Christ, so that we may be equipped by the Holy Spirit to fight the good fight of faith: For without Jesus we can do nothing. Make of us mighty men and women of God. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven. These things I ask in the matchless and precious name of Jesus. Amen & Amen!!

Until next time, “Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might!”

Your friend in Christ,

Verneda

Twitter handle: @vlights

 

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