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.

apostolos (ap-os'-tol-os); from NT:649; a delegate; specially, an ambassador of the Gospel; officially a commissioner of Christ ["apostle"] (with miraculous powers):
KJV - apostle, messenger, he that is sent.

Philip was sent by God to the people of Samaria to bear witness of Him there, and a great revival broke out and many were baptized.   This experience was not planned by the church at Jerusalem, but by God.  Then Peter and John were sent by the apostles from Jerusalem and exercised the office given to them for a time.  Then they returned to Jerusalem and went into many Samaritan villages.  Philip is then instructed by the Lord to go to Gaza .  The purpose was to reach one man.  We never read of Philip returning to Samaria but rather preaching in many cities until he came to Caesarea .  Undoubtedly the Lord raised up elders and deacons in Samaria who would serve in pastoral ministry to these new converts, but it would not be Philip, nor Peter or John.  They were apostles who would be sent on to other cities and chosen vessels of God.  Could it be that God maintains the glory in this way?  That no flesh could take possession or ownership of such a work but be forced to give liberty to other men and ministries as God would choose.

Acts 21:8 tells us that Philip was in Caesarea but God did not choose to use him to reach Cornelius and all his house.  The angel of the Lord instructed Cornelius to send for Simon Peter who was abiding in Joppa.  Regional local is not reason enough to qualify or disqualify us from being lead of God’s spirit to an individual as God would choose.  We need an open door from God!

We consistently watch for souls to reach by God’s leading in the community where we congregate.  Yet we should not resist the idea when God will lead us beyond the borders of our own community.  Even though our property is located within the limits of our city, only a few people who congregate actually live here.  I know this to be true of many congregations.  When we view ourselves only as a local entity of a national organization we are in danger of shutting out God’s leading to individuals of His choosing, by individuals or vessels of His choosing.  The franchise concept of territorial ownership encourages competition and division between congregations which in some cases leads to exclusion. 

I believe in and acknowledge, God called pastors (elders) over congregations of which the Holy Ghost has given them the oversight (Acts 20:28).  However our tendency to regionalize hinders God in leading men to other men at His choosing outside state or city boundary lines.  Help us Lord to see with your eyes and to hear with spiritual ears and to obey your voice in reaching the lost for the gospel sake.  Let us be in the open doorway at  the appropriate time.

 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?  And how shall they preach, except they be sent?”  Rom 10:13-15

When a man (or women) chosen of God, is sent of God to a people or individual in His time, they will hear, believe and obey the gospel and be saved.

 Home Page         Order Books Here