“From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27 On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened a door of faith to the Gentiles. 28 And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.” Acts 14.26-28
Although I’ve read Acts many times before, I do not recall hearing the phrase, “a door of faith,” (NIV). After looking at many other English translations, and the Greek, this translation remains the same. The only difference found is whether it’s interpreted at “a door of faith,” or “the door of faith.” Slight but subtle difference.
The point is that God opened an opportunity, i.e. “door,” for which the Gentiles to walk through. And the strength of this message is that it was a word of hope brought back to Gentiles in Antioch, a community of Gentiles and some Jews. The or A “door of faith” was opened by God to reach the Gentiles with the Gospel. Although not all who heard the word believed, many did. And the church knew, as the disciples recorded, that it was in fact God doing the opening. As a result of this “opening” opportunity and their return to Antioch, Paul and Barnabas remained “a long time” with the new Christians.
It’s been overused by Christians that if God opens one door, he closes another. And whereas there is no exact verse with this wording, here is one example of God opening “a door of faith” to reach a group of people for his name. This is in the context of evangelism and or conversion. But it certainly can apply to others areas of our lives.
In my own experience, I see God opening doors of faith as one ministry I work with reaches more youth and children with the Gospel through camping and retreat ministry. Because of the creation of new denominations, more churches and students are being made aware of existing ministry opportunities through Revive (revivetexas.org). Is God causing “a door of faith” to open to include more people into his Kingdom? I would say so.
However, sometimes God does not open doors of faith. If the initiative is not of or for God, if it was human inspired and not Holy Spirit inspired, why would God bless it? In Acts 16.6, Paul was prevented from going into Asia. Although Paul was intending to go in that direction, God closed the door of faith for that opportunity. Sometimes I have wanted to move forward in a ministry or a new ministry endeavor and God shut the door of faith. At the time it does not make sense and is often disappointing, but given time I have seen the clarity in the leading and or redirecting of the Holy Spirit.
As God opened the doors of faith for the apostles to preach to the Gentiles, and then enabled them to stay for a long time with the new believers, his work continued by the power of the Holy Spirit. Let us be open to God’s leading, looking for signs, living by faith, and seeking open doors in which to walk through so that the Gospel of Christ might be preached.
“O Lord, as I take a few days of Sabbath, I recall the goodness of your love in my life. I reflect upon how you are leading me, directing me, guiding me. I pray Lord, that I might be useful to you and your Kingdom. I pray that I might be in lock step with your will. Even when I fail, your love remains steadfast. Use me, as your vessel, to make your glory known. In this world, in which the battle for the souls of people is ever present, help me know the truth of your love. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen