Colossians 4:3-4 says, Withal praying also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds: That I may make it manifest, as I ought to speak.
There are several verses in the Bible speaking of doors of opportunity. There are also verses using the word “utterance.” However, Colossians 4:3 is the only verse in Scripture that speaks of “a door of utterance.” Paul at this time was in prison (I am also in bonds). He gave a prayer request for the church of Colosse to pray with him that God would open a door of utterance. This door is an opportunity to give the Gospel to the lost. It seems that Paul, being in prison, is sidelined from the ministry and from preaching the Gospel. Prison is not keeping Paul back from the ministry, but changing the direction of his ministry. Paul was praying for opportunities to speak the mystery of Christ while in undesirable circumstances.
A door of utterance should be our request to God. We may have difficulties in ministry. We may have hard hearts and rejection for an audience. We may have no one interested in hearing the Gospel. Moreover, we have no power in opening doors of utterance, but God does. I have observed a city of constant rejection towards the Gospel over the span of close to a year. I have personally knocked on hundreds of doors and talked to hundreds of people. My opening line is “We’re here to tell you about Jesus.” And yet, we see rejection, door after door with no respect or interest in Jesus. Like Paul, it may seem that we are sidelined with undesirable circumstances. However, opportunities may be available through different and unusual ways. God is the one who can open doors of utterance. His ways are different than our ways. We have no power, abilities, strength, or doors of opportunities in ourselves. We need to let our requests be made known unto God. We need to continue in prayer that God would open doors of utterance to speak the mystery of Christ. Let us rely less on self and more on God. God answers prayer. Continue to pray for doors of utterance. (By Matt Shold)
