8月28日

標　　題：打開門與反對勢力

經　　節：因為有寬大又有功效的門為我開了，並且反對的人也多。（哥林多前書十六章9節）

打開事奉大門的同時，反對的勢力也會進入。保羅曾經有許多這種經歷。當他從以弗所寫信給哥林多人時，他正準備決定下一步要去哪裡。他選擇在以弗所多作停留，因為神已經為他打開事奉的門。保羅不管自己得面對多少敵人，當知道神已經打開事奉的門，他就不準備離開。我們可能會以為，保羅面對反對勢力時會作相反的決定。以考慮反對勢力的角度來看，保羅理當去敵意較少的地區傳道。相反地，保羅的決定是基於神的作為，不是基於人的作為。

當你回應神的邀約時，不要因為遭遇敵人的阻撓而大感吃驚。如果專注于對手的身上，你會走岔了方向，拖延該做的事。不要讓你的決定取決於人的作為上。他們不能阻攔你實踐神的旨意（羅馬書八：31）。有時候，最有成效的屬靈工作，是在面對最嚴酷的迫害及反對勢力時所達成的。當保羅待在以弗所的時候，他的事奉引起合城暴動。一群暴徒在戲園裡整整叫囂兩小時之久，擁護他們的神說：「大哉！以弗所人的亞底米啊！」（使徒行傳十九：23∼41）儘管他們如此激烈地拒絕福音，以弗所仍然成為亞洲福音傳播的主要城市。

要超越人的行動看到神的旨意，需要敏銳的屬靈分辨能力。當你看到事奉所在，要超越人們的話語評論，查找神當前的作為。

Open Doors and Adversaries

For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries. (1 Corinthians 16:9)

Open doors of service may also let in adversaries. Paul had many of both. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians from Ephesus, he was trying to determine where to go next. He chose to remain longer in Ephesus because of the open doors of service God granted him. Knowing that God had opened the doors of ministry, Paul was not going to leave, regardless of how many enemies he faced. We might assume that Paul would reach the opposite conclusion. In light of the opposition he faced, he could have concluded that it was best to serve in less hostile regions. Instead, Paul based his decisions on God’s activity rather than on what people were doing.

As you respond to God’s invitations, don’t be caught by surprise when adversaries try to thwart what you are doing. If you concentrate on your opponents, you will be sidetracked from God’s activity. Don’t base your decisions on what people are doing. They cannot prevent you from carrying out God’s will (Rom. 8:31). Many times the most rewarding spiritual work is done in the crucible of persecution and opposition. While Paul was in Ephesus, a riot broke out in reaction to his ministry. The city theater resounded with an angry mob who shouted for two hours in support of their god, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” (Acts 19:23–41). Despite this fierce rejection of the gospel, Ephesus became one of the chief cities from which the gospel spread throughout Asia.

It takes spiritual discernment to see beyond human activity to God’s will. As you seek places of service, look beyond what people are saying to find what God is doing.