Opportunity with Obstacles

“Because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.” 1 Corinthians 16:9

Paul continued on working in Ephesus because he saw a great door of opportunity open for him. The fact that there were difficulties standing in his way did not negate the presence of an open door, and the fact that God had opened a door for ministry did not negate the presence of obstacles.

We see a door standing open for us, here, too. We also see a lot of formidable obstacles. The presence of one does not deny the presence of the other. Opportunity and obstacles go hand in hand. If it were not so, we wouldn’t have to depend on God. We would not have to walk by faith. But as it is, dependence on the Lord and choosing to walk by faith rather than sight are a daily necessity.

What are some of the obstacles to building a mature church? Here are just a few that we see:

• Cultural Barriers
• Language Barriers
• Life’s Challenges
• False Motives and Materialism
• Our Own Hearts

The brief examples in the following pages with give you an idea how to pray as you partner with us in reaching indigenous people with the truth of God’s Word. Your partnership plays a vital role in this task.