Scripture:
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18; Colossians 4:3; Acts 16:6-10
Fri, 1 April 2022

Open Doors and Closed Doors

Observation:

What significant observations can you make about open doors and closed doors in Paul’s ministry?

Deeper Reflection
PRESUMABLY, BOTH PAUL AND THE THESSALONIANS KNEW what the interference was in “Satan hindered us” in Paul’s repeated attempts to return to Thessalonica (v.18), while we lack this information.1In Paul’s ministry, he experienced both open doors and closed doors. And apparently, he moved in terms of open doors and closed doors, as he prayed for open doors (Col 4:3). During his second missionary journey, Paul was “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the Word in Asia” (Acts 16:6). And when he attempted to go into Bithynia, “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” (Acts 16:7). Then Paul discovered that God was directing him to go to Macedonia (Acts 16:9-10). Towards the end of his third missionary journey, he prayerfully planned to go to Rome (Acts 19:21; Rom 1:10), but he had been “often hindered” by God’s will “from coming to you [Rome]” (Rom 15:22).In Paul’s failed attempts to reconnect with the Thessalonians, he attributed the blockage to Satan, while attributing others to God. It could be that God gave Paul spiritual insight “to distinguish between providential and demonic happenings”, or “with the benefit of hindsight”2. But theologically, God still retains supreme authority while Satan does his part. Once, “even though a door was opened to me in the Lord” in Troas “to preach the gospel”, Paul abandoned it to attend to a more urgent pastoral situation at Corinth (2 Cor 2:12-13; 7:5-7). It wasn’t an act of disobedience, but an act of discerning what was deemed to be of higher priority.
1 ohn R. W. Stott, The Message of Thessalonians, The Bible Speaks Today (IVP, 1991), 63 2 John R. W. Stott, Thessalonians, 63
Application:

What does it mean for me to move in my life and ministry in terms of open doors and closed doors?

Prayer:
Write a prayer to God as your response from your meditation on and application of the Scriptures.
Prayer Pointers:
  • Give thanks and praise
  • Pray for SGI leaders: To follow God according to divine opening and closing of doors
  • Pray for significant people
  • Pray for those in need
  • Pray for self

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Daily Devo
Daily Devotional Journal
Sun, 31 December 2023

Sunday Journal

Past Week’s Review
  • What was my high point and my low point for the week?
  • What gave me life and what drained me?
  • How was the Spirit of God at work?
Reflect

What is one key thing that God said to me this week in light of what has happened?

Respond

What is one thing I need to do in light of what God is saying?
Commit in prayer.

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