Great & Effective Door
FEBRUARY 2025
God is gracious to America and He is giving the Church an opportunity to Arise & Build. Nehemiah 2:20a states, “The God of Heaven will prosper us, therefore we His servants will arise and build.”
The February sermon series centers around the “Great & Effective Door”. Pastor Paul provided us with several translations of 1 Corinthians 16:9:
“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.” (NKJV) This verse can also be read as, “Because there are many great and effective doors open to me, there are many adversaries.”
“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries.” (AMPC)
“Because a good opportunity for a great and growing work has been given [ great and effective door (of opportunity) has opened up] to me now. And there are many ·people working against me [opponents; adversaries].” (EXB)
To be clear, the door of and to victory is through Jesus. Jesus is the Door. Faith triumphs through adversaries. As His people, we need to operate in the dimension of dominion since we are called to subdue and rule the earth. The Spirit of God can come and refresh us like he did for Samson (Judges 15:9-20). Come to the Door (Jesus). Say “yes” to the door. Never give up!
Since we exist in the heavenly places and the enemy is in the second heavenly, we have leverage over him (Ephesians 1:20-21). The enemy tries to pull us down but we, as Christ’s victors, can just step on the enemy’s head! Stomp on the enemy! Victory is ours!
Week 1: Victory Through Faith
The book of Judges reflects on the cycle of oppression and deliverance, highlighting the need for God's intervention and the role of valiant warriors to break down the tide of evil.
Read the story of Samson. Samson's strength came from God, not due to his physical appearance.
Jesus declares all power was given to Him, including over death and resurrection.
“Which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come” (Ephesians 1:20-21, NKJV).
Prayer Points:
Have you been going through challenges or long battles and now you are feeling discouraged, tired, or overwhelmed? Now at times, you feel that you cannot take it anymore? Come to Him and pray for God to refresh and renew you and for His strength to arise within you. His strength is made complete in our weaknesses (2 Corinthians 12:9).
Is there anything that hinders you from moving in the power God has given you? Samson’s disobedience and his compromise with the enemy led to his eventual downfall, but when he repented and called to God to deliver him, God gave him strength once more to finally defeat the Philistines. Pray for God to reveal if there are any ungodly things in your life that might hinder you from moving in the power God has given you. Pray for an obedient heart and to re-align with God’s Word and His heart.
The same anointing of Holy Spirit that provided Samson with power and strength, gives us that same spiritual power. Pray for God’s divine intervention and a release of His power for you to overcome every challenge, situation, or battle that you are going through.
Set our minds and spirits to the truth that in Christ we already have been given authority and access to the victory Jesus accomplished on the cross. Pray that we as His church and as His children are able to enforce Christ’s victory, exercising our authority over the enemy’s power.
Pray and declare that you are empowered to accomplish every purpose God has in you.
Week 2: Faith and Victory in the Face of Overwhelming Odds
Samson finds a fresh jawbone of a donkey to defeat 1,000 Philistines.
Then Samson said: "With the jawbone of a donkey, heaps upon heaps, with the jawbone of a donkey I have slain a thousand men!" (Judges 15:16, NKJV)
Encourages believers to overcome by the power of their testimony and to give generously, as the word "heap" represents the idea of increasing blessings through giving.
Reflect on your personal journey with God. Share your experiences of feeling highly-favored and blessed despite challenges.
Prayer Points:
Samson found a fresh jawbone of a donkey to defeat 1,000 Philistines. David found 5 smooth stones to defeat Goliath. Pray for God to show you what He has given you to defeat every attack from the enemy and overcome every battle you face.
Pray for courage and increased faith to move with the power and authority God has given to you. God will fight for those who stand for Him.
In the face of overwhelming odds and despite how great the challenges we are going through, praise God, testify His goodness and faithfulness (2 Thessalonians 3:3). We will overcome the battle by the word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11).
Pray for fresh revelation from the Lord that will build your faith and enable you to press forward in the storm or battle that you have to go through.
Week 3: Door of Opportunity
“For a wide door of opportunity for effectual [service] has opened to me [there, a great and promising one], and [there are] many adversaries” (1Corinthians 16:9, AMPC).
The enemy will come at believers in a manifold of ways, including blindside, backside, and sideways temptations unless they are living effectively according to God's call.
Understand the importance of perseverance in the face of spiritual battles.
Samson's exhaustion in warfare leads to God's supernatural refreshing.
Prayer Points:
What doors are you expecting to open for you this year? Can you see the doors of opportunity God may be opening for you? Pray that God will bring you into a place of intimacy that you will be refreshed and be able to see the doors of opportunity He is opening for you in this new season. He will help you to see it as you draw yourself near to Him.
Pray for clarity, strategy, direction that God will show you the right timing and how to walk through that door. We are “Sons of Issachar who understand the times and know what to do” (1 Chronicles 12:32).
Pray that you will not miss the window of opportunity of the doors God has opened for you because of fear of failure, busyness in all daily tasks, weariness, or any form of distractions from the enemy.
There will be adversaries sitting on the doorsteps, but God will make you victorious over the enemies if He has called you to go through that door.
Pray for an increase in sensitivity to hear God’s voice and Holy Spirit’s instructions, pray for discernment and to be able to stay alert against all forms of deceptions or attacks from the enemy.
Pray for God’s strength, courage, and boldness so that you will not be afraid or give up during the warfare in order to get through the door.
Week 4: Faith, Prayer, and God's Supply
Understand the importance of asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer, as it represents a progression in the Spirit.
The law of demand and supply in the kingdom of God means that when we make a demand on God, He supplies what we need.
Pursue God's anointing for deliverance in your life, remember God's love and past blessings as reasons for faith and expectation.
The importance of asking and seeking, with growing confidence and expectation leading to manifestation through open doors and windows.
Jesus resurrected, walked around, liberated from death, and opened doors for others.
Prayer Points:
“Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.” (Matthew 7:7-11) Pray for strength, perseverance, and tenacity to keep asking, seeking, and knocking in prayer for open doors.
Pray for an understanding that our loving heavenly Father always gives lavishly and freely to us, His children and in His Kingdom, the supply never runs out. Our part is to exercise faith by approaching Him boldly in our time of need and He will supply our need so that we will have more than enough to give to others, like the story of the widow with an overflowing supply of olive oil found in 2 Kings 4:1-7.
If you have been discouraged due to past failures, closed doors, or you walked into wrong doors that were not from God, pray for courage to leave the past behind and to move forward into the new season God is bringing you into, to seize the window of opportunity at hand.
Pray for understanding and revelation on how the door of opportunity God is giving you will impact and open doors for others in your family and communities.
