A Great Door of Ministry
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Intro
Intro
Our missionaries are looking for a great door of utterance for the Gospel…
These “open doors” to ministry come in many shapes; however the common denominator is God’s presence to open the door…
Paul asked for prayer for this:
3 Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: 4 That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
8 But I will tarry at Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Effectual: Producing an effect, or the effect desired or intended; or having adequate power or force to produce the effect.
What was going on in Ephesus?
1. People ready to hear and apply truth
1. People ready to hear and apply truth
1 And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, 2 He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. 3 And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. 4 Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. 5 When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.
I think of:
Cornelius and his house…
They were devout, religious, feared God, gave alms to the poor and prayed to God alway, but they weren’t saved… they were ready to hear and apply truths about God from Peter
Or the Bereans who searched the scriptures with all readiness of mind…
Or the Ethiopian Eunuch sitting in his chariot reading a scroll from Isaiah, but needing someone to come teach him what it means…
Maybe the woman at the well, though living in sin, was ready to apply the truth from Jesus and tell others also…
Possibly Zacchaeus who was a rich, chief publican who desired to see Jesus… He “sought” to see Jesus, then “climbed” a sycamore tree, then he “received” Jesus joyfully…
And of course the early church in Acts we looked at this morning who asked after Peter’s sermon, “what shall we do?” - Repent and be baptized… they gladly received His word, were baptized and were added to the church…
You have Lydia, the seller of purple in the city of Thyatira… “The Lord opened her heart” then she “attended unto the things that were spoken of by Paul…”
**We could go on and on and on of people who were ready to hear and apply truth…**
2. An opportunity in the synagogue to contend for the Kingdom of God
2. An opportunity in the synagogue to contend for the Kingdom of God
6 And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied. 7 And all the men were about twelve. 8 And he went into the synagogue, and spake boldly for the space of three months, disputing and persuading the things concerning the kingdom of God.
He also “disputed daily in the school of Tyrannus.” (8)
Disputing
Persuading
3 Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.
Earnest: eager to obtain; having a longing desire; intent; fixed
Contend: to strive or strive against; to struggle in opposition; to defend and preserve
Paul said, “… I am set for the defence of the gospel.” (Phil. 1:17)
15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Paul was in the convincing business:
27 And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28 For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, shewing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ.
1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.
All of the disputations, persuading and convincing came from the scriptures…
3. The result of the effectual open door in Ephesus
3. The result of the effectual open door in Ephesus
10 And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.
a. The name of the Lord Jesus was magnified
17 And this was known to all the Jews and Greeks also dwelling at Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.
b. The Word of God grew and prevailed
20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.
c. Riot in the theatre
Demetrius the silversmith “there arose no small stir…”
Paul’s truth speaking, revival of Ephesus was hurting the bottom dollar of the shrine makers…
Why?
26 Moreover ye see and hear, that not alone at Ephesus, but almost throughout all Asia, this Paul hath persuaded and turned away much people, saying that they be no gods, which are made with hands:
Because of his persuasion of the truth, it stirred up all the wickedness…
There was a people ready to hear and apply truth
There was an opportunity to contend for the kingdom of God
The result of the effectual opened door was:
the name of the Lord was magnified and grew
the word of God grew and prevailed
Wicked people were uncomfortable
“A great door of ministry”