PRAISE GOD FOR OPEN DOORS

“I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.” (Revelation 3:8)

These were the words of encouragement given by the Lord to the church in Philadelphia. This city in Asia Minor was named after Attalus II Philadelphus (220 – 138 B.C.), the king of Pergamon. “It was situated on the lower slopes of the Tmolus, about twenty-eight miles SW of Sardis and 100 miles W of Smyrna (Izmir). Its elevation is 952 feet above the sea. A Roman town until AD 1379, it fell, after persistent resistance, into the hands of the Turks. It has been several times almost destroyed by earthquakes. Its name now is Alasehir, ‘City of God.’” (New Unger’s Bible Dictionary) Interestingly, Philadelphia was a city where Greek and Roman cultures mixed very well, perhaps due to the aid received from Rome to the city after a devastating earthquake. This mix of cultures coupled with the location of the city along major trade routes caused it to have a reputation as an “open-door” city where anyone may come and settle.

The church in Philadelphia was small in terms of numbers. They were also facing heavy persecution from the Jews of the synagogue who were energised by none other than Satan himself (see Rev. 3:9). Nevertheless, the Lord promised the church at Philadelphia that their door of witness would remain open. Christ was the one who had opened this door of witness, and so long as He desired that witness to continue, no one could shut the door!

This passage of Scripture was in my heart as I reflected on the evangelism session held last Saturday. We had intended to evangelise the landed residences opposite the church since two months ago, but we were hindered by heavy rain during the evangelism sessions. The Lord gave us fine weather this time round – no rain but with some cloud cover. Thus, the evangelism team trod on with her mission with joy.

Nevertheless, there was also some trepidation in my heart. Tabernacle BPC’s evangelism team had not evangelised landed residences since the days we were at Fidelo Street. My prior experience in evangelism has been on the streets and witnessing to HDB flats. I was expecting closed doors and a hard time. How wrong was I! We encountered many open doors with the residents willing to listen and receive the church tracts from us. We even met with a political activist group which was out canvassing among the residences and gave them the gospel tracts. They were now the ones who had to receive pamphlets, but these pamphlets contained the best news that any man can receive – salvation from sins and eternal life in Christ. Praise God for open doors.

Of course, there will not be such “smoothness” in evangelism all the time. Our lessons from Acts 16 should teach us to expect obstacles and challenges in ministry. Nevertheless, if God has opened the door of witness, no man can shut it except the Lord.

I like to take this opportunity to encourage all in the church to attend the monthly church evangelism. Why not have some morning exercise and proclaim the gospel simultaneously? It will be a most profitable and God-honouring use of time. God has set for us an open door of witness. Let us do our best for the Lord.

“For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.” (Romans 1:16)

Yours affectionately,
Pastor Clement Chew