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Wall, Window, Basket, Rope Acts 9:22-25 a) walls b) window/opening c) basket d) rope A) WALLS = opposition...Walls are made to resist, oppose, obstruct EX. Great Wall of China 5,500 miles goes east - west US border with Mexico Designed to keep people out....or to keep people in...to keep them from escaping 1. Language and culture 2. Prejudice and ignorance 3. Governments restricting visas or religious freedom 4. Other religions...if you are Turk then you are Muslim...Bangladesh 5. Worldly Values...tolerance, materialism - debt 6. Self focus...fear, busyness, lifestyle 7. Churches who lack a vision or focus on world missions 8. Satanic opposition • 2 Cor. 4:4 Satan, who is the god of this world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe. They are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News. They don’t understand this message about the glory of Christ, who is the exact likeness of God. • Eph. 6:12 For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. • 1 Thess. 2:17-18 Brothers and sisters, though we were separated from you for a short time, our thoughts were still with you. We wanted very much to see you and tried hard to do so. We wanted to come to you. I, Paul, tried to come more than once, but Satan stopped us. B) OPENING/WINDOW = opportunity a window lets the light in • Col. 4:3 And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. • 1 Cor. 16:8-9 In the meantime, I will be staying here at Ephesus until the Festival of Pentecost. There is a wide-open door for a great work here, although many oppose me. • 2 Cor. 2:12 When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me. EX. Beckers in Hunan praying for open door...God allowed an attack C) BASKET = methods “Creative Access” Holy Spirit is not limited to one method. ★strike rock ★4 men letting friend through roof ★blind man...speak, clay/spit D) ROPE = support All of Paul’s future work dependent on those holding the rope. • they were courageous - risked life • they were strong - he didn’t fall • they were faithful -completed their job How does a church “hold the rope”? Hold the rope through prayer, through support/encouragement and care, through giving and through sending others to help. • Certainly God can and does provide...but we also see as early as Numbers 18:21-24 that God lays out a pattern for support of “full time” spiritual leaders through the giving of a tithe. • In the New Testament, Luke 8:1-3, Jesus allowed for others to minister to him physically and materially. • In Matt. 10:5-15 the 12 were sent out. They were not to take food or money but were to give themselves fully to ministry and trust God to provide for their needs. God’s plan was through other people. • Paul clearly expected that fellow Christians would support him as he took the gospel to the unreached. Romans 15:24; Philippians 4:10-20; 2 Corinthians 1:15-16 Summary: Wall = opposition Satan’s activity Windows = opportunity God’s provision Basket = methods missionary’s task Rope = support church’s responsibility
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