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For there is a wide open door for a great work here, and many people are responding. But there are many who oppose me.

1 Corinthians 16:9

Open doors invite opposition in ministry. I’ve always heard that where you find God working, you find the enemy working, too. Here’s another passage validating this claim. There was an open door in Ephesus and many people were responding. The response to Paul’s mission work was evident and obvious; while the results were quantifiable. His decision was to stay and involve himself where the door was open and God was working.

Even though people were responding, others opposed his work. Who were these others? It really doesn’t matter if these were people from within or people from without, I suspect the former. There was opposition in the midst of response.

Why is that? I’m not really sure except to say that experience proves a couple of things. When there is opposition in the midst of response, there is a greater reliance on Christ. An open door without opposition promotes self-sufficiency. Resistance isn’t always a bad thing if it drives us to a greater dependency. It also serves as a reminder that we’re in a spiritual battle and our weaponry isn’t physical. Spiritual battles call for spiritual weapons. Don’t forget the spiritual armor when you walk through the open door.