June 12, 2020
Old Testament Reading: Ezekiel 8-11
New Testament Reading: Romans 15

That is why I have been prevented many times from coming to you. But now I no longer have any work to do in these regions, and I have strongly desired for many years to come to you whenever I travel to Spain. For I hope to see you when I pass through and to be assisted by you for my journey there, once I have first enjoyed your company for a while.  Romans 15: 22-14

The Apostle Paul told the Christians in Rome in the first chapter of his letter, Now I don’t want you to be unaware, brothers and sisters, that I often planned to come to you (but was prevented until now). Romans 1:13  Paul said that he kept trying to come to them, but God kept closing the door. The Apostle Paul must have had a Smashed Nose! 

Here in the fifteenth chapter Paul explains in more details how he had strongly desired for many years to come to you. v23  But God prevented him from going because of the work Paul was to do in Macedonia and Achaia.  Now that work was finished, and Paul was coming to Rome.  But as we know from the book of Acts, God’s plan for getting Paul Rome was far different than what he had planned.

Earlier, on his second missionary journey Paul planned to travel through Asia Minor, but God kept closing the door on him. They went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia; they had been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them. Acts 16:6-7

All through the missionary journeys of Paul we see the Apostle running into opposition and conflict to his ministry.  He faced closed door after closed door to preach the Gospel.  But that never hindered him.  Paul saw the closed door not as a sign to stop the ministry, but God showing him the direction He wanted Paul to go.

As Christians, we all have ideas for ministry. Some may be as significant as plans for full-time Christian service, others for short-term ministry projects. Most often we don’t follow through on these ideas for ministry, and we have become very spiritual in making excuses as to why we don’t. We say things like, “I have this idea for ministry, and I told God I’m willing to go if He opens the door.”

How foolish it is to pray like that. Do you realize that today there are millions of doors open for ministry? There are ministry opportunities in every direction we look. God cannot open the doors any wider! And Jesus already commanded us to go (See Matt 28:19, Mark 16:15, Acts 1:8) so what are you waiting for?

When we have an idea for ministry, we need to first be certain our idea doesn’t contradict scripture, and we need to seek advice and counsel from other mature Christians as King Solomon advised in Proverbs.  Then instead of praying for God to open the door for us, we should begin praying, “God I have this vision for ministry and I’m going.  If You don’t want me to go then close the door.”  That’s how Paul would have prayed.

When you pray like this, there will be times when God closes the door on you (sometimes He slams it shut in your face). But then there are other occasions when God holds the door wide open for you and provides the resources for you to accomplish all you desire to do for Him. But if you do pray like this, God will take you seriously and you need to be prepared for developing a smashed nose – just like the Apostle Paul!