1 Corinthians 16:9 (KJV)

Bible Commentary

1 Corinthians 16:9 is a Bible verse in the New Testament where the Apostle Paul, a great leader of the evangelical church, was delivering news about great opportunities and great adversity. Just like a coach giving marching orders to his team to prepare them for a big game, so Paul was writing the church at Corinth to give them instructions to further the cause of Jesus Christ.

Victory is not obtained on game day, but in the daily drills on the practice field, in the trenches where the hard, grinding work takes place, and in the comradery of team. So it is with the church of God. In the body of Christ, there are many members, each with his and her own spiritual gifts, talents and intellect, as the Spirit has provided.

Romans 12:5

“So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another.”

No one person is meant to endure spiritual warfare alone. Notice in 1 Corinthians 16:9, Paul is informing them about his battle, “…there are many adversaries.”

This information went out and was received by the church, so that each individual could use the gift God had given them. Maybe for one it was to make intercessory prayer, for another, serving Paul in some capacity, maybe for another, standing firm in faith for the victory.

Unlocking the Truth – Spiritual Weapons

The great opportunity preceded the battle. Notice again in 1 Corinthians 16:9 Paul said, “For a great door and effectual is opened unto me…”

Before the victory, there is an encounter, a battle, or game if you will. Paul recognized a great opportunity to further the cause of Christ, and he had entered into that encounter, or battle—spiritual warfare. He needed help.

Matthew 13:44 says, “The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”

In the spiritual world, there are guards standing by the entrance of a battleground. The battleground contains the treasure that is buried in it, and whoever gains possession of the battleground secures the treasure.

Notice the treasure of the kingdom of heaven is so valuable that the man in Matthew 13:44 went and sold all he had to buy it. For many of us that would be a battle of faith—to sell everything we had, fighting to believe the kingdom of heaven was worth such a sacrifice.

That is what Satan and his armies are counting on—that we will be weak in faith and therefore more susceptible to his lies. If we believe his lies, we will be stopped by the illusion of fear.

The closer we get to the treasure, the more subtle the lies and the more intense the fear.

The Devil’s Schemes Revealed

Don’t be fooled by his schemes (Ephesians 2:11).

        F alse

        E vidence

        A ppearing

        R eal

The Bible exists for this very reason, so we can get help discerning the truth from the lies, to recognize the devil’s schemes. Time with the Bible must be a daily drill if we want victory. Just like an athlete in the trenches of hard workouts, our daily discipline of time alone with God in prayer and reading the Bible will attract great doors of opportunity to us.

Standing guard over that great door are Satan’s soldiers, and then comes the spiritual battle. Know that teachers and Pastors, your brothers and sisters in Christ are fighting the battle with you. You are not alone.

Remember, Christ went ahead of us (John 14:3). He has already won the battle for us. We must choose to follow Him on the narrow way to obtain freedom, victory, and paradise.

The kingdom of God is within us (Luke 17:21), here and now. When we unite in faith and victory, it becomes evident. We each have access to it through Christ Who lives in us.  Don’t muddle through this life, waiting to live victoriously in Heaven, when you can have it and help others attain it now.

When the great and effectual door is opened unto you, like it was with Paul in 1 Corinthians 16:9, don’t shrink back in fear, but covered with the blood of Jesus and with the support of your family in Christ, charge through, knowing the victory has already been won.

Study the Bible verse of 1 Corinthians 16:9, and prepare your battle armor for victory in spiritual warfare.

Daily Prayers