For a great door and effectual is opened unto me…
By Larry Schoonover, Puyallup, WA

The apostle Paul in writing to the church at Corinth , communicated his desire to be with them (the church at Corinth ), but was not sure it was in the plan of God. He expressed his desire to remain at Ephesus until the Feast of Pentecost and that he discerned that God had given him an effectual open door there.

We often relegate our points of evangelism by a regional location that we have determined to be our assigned geographical area much like the franchise business concept. Grant it, we are able to associate and fellowship effectively when we are in close proximity, but often close the door to the idea that God would send us to an individual of his choosing and in the working of His ultimate plan. The apostles in scripture were sent to people and individuals which responded to the gospel and were born into the kingdom of God . Some of them became elders or pastors in some local congregations or assemblies that were risen up, and some of them served in other offices of the body or were used in some form of the five-fold ministry. The apostles rarely stayed in one place very long because they were exercising a ministry of being sent.
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