FRIDAY - 5TH NOVEMBER, 2021
MORNING WINGS DAILY DEVOTIONAL GUIDE - Olusola ADEJUMO
GREAT AND EFFECTUAL DOORS WITH MANY ADVERSARIES - NOW Series 013
READ Judges 14:5-9
I Corinthians 16:9, KJV
"For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries."
What is all this now? Why is it that other things are showing their heads besides opportunities? Paul spoke of the door of ministry being opened to him here. He called it a wide door (one that will allow you do a lot you desire to do) and effectual door (actively supporting ministry and its reward). That is, the kind of opportunity that will avail him to doing the kind of ministry he wanted or desired to do. That's the joy of any minister in any land. However, beside that opportunity, there's a thing contesting for that opportunity from being effectively utilized or utilized at all. This verse is one of the many that reminds us that the presence of opportunity won't always mean there won't be besetting hindrances to it. As a matter of fact, many things that may want to benefit you may be guarded and surrounded by challenges that hinders accessibility. Castles and houses of treasures in ancient times have been reputed to be guarded by knights, dragons and some other fearful created realities or illusions. Like we've said in afore teachings, you'll know a thing is an opportunity by how it has presented itself. Like this one also, it is not an ordinary door that was opened but a great and effectual door. A door that's the prayer of any evangelist to win souls for Christ, plant churches and revive the body of Christ. Meanwhile, those who hinder the gospel being preached are easily found around such opportunity of preaching the gospel. Where do preaching the gospel sounds better doing than the Arab world or Saudi Arabia itself? Imagine you having access to a gold mine but where two lions have made their den. The Arab world is a place populated by those who need Christ. We can call it an uncultivated or little cultivated land that needs tilling. It teems with many souls that are yet not born again. They're like fruits on a tree that is good for food. However, there's no road to get to such tree. One hindrance is just present. In many Arab world, preaching the gospel is forbidden and though missionaries are doing it, they're just being restricted. Paul found himself in such dilemma also. In these last days, opportunities that will be coming the way of believers will look like that also. Did you not consider that Samson couldn't have gathered honey if he did not first kill the lion? The honey would come from the carcass of the lion but till its death, no delicacy should be expected from the strong. That's why Samson himself posed a riddle describing the sourcing of a sweet thing (delight, opportunity, joy of anyone) from the strong (challenge, problem etc).
Judges 14:14, KJV
"And he said unto them, Out of the eater came forth meat, and out of the strong came forth sweetness."
But before sweetness can come out of the strong, did you see the effort he gave? Though he did by the anointing, if it wasn't a hard thing that requires superior strength, the anointing wouldn't have aided him. Will you flee because your honey is kept in a lion? I hope you've heard the cliche statement that's popular in Nigeria which says, "money is hidden in the lion's mouth." That saying is as well metaphoric. It means in acquiring wealth, hard work will be sacrificed and other requirements. Becoming wealthy won't just fall on you. No matter how easy anyone describes his getting his wealth to you, he still gives attention.
Great doors will be opened for effectual services but what if many adversaries show up to contend it? Will you turn back? I'll say, don't. The throne was ahead David but Goliath must be evacuated. Paul stayed. He said in the preceding verse that he'll stay in Ephesus for the fact that God has opened a great or wide door for effective ministry for him despite the contesting hindrances that grows beside it for rivalry. Whenever you see opportunity that's clearly marked as God given and many adversaries by its side, just know the other is the handiwork of Satan to resist God's will from being done. Should it be when the opportunity of bearing the gospel well was opened that the gates of hell would raise contenders? Something seem programmed and targeted into that time frame. Meanwhile, don't worry. When opportunities are being hindered this way, clearly receive God's encouragement to go for the opportunity while triumphing over the hindrances. Let your morale booster be the joy in front - the wide effectual door. Keep persevering for that sake.
PRAYER: Lord, give me discernment to separate between opportunities and adversaries. May the fear of the lion not keep me back from eating its honey.
BIBLE IN A YEAR: Ezekiel 10:1-11:25, Hebrews 6:1-20, Psalm 105:16-36, Proverbs 27:1-2
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