#2seizing The Window Of Opportunity Series

#2 SEIZING THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

This is part one of a two part series.

Part one is: STANDING IN THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

Part two is: SEIZING THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY

I have a big hour glass I purchased at Walmart. The hour glass is full of sand, when I turn the

hour glass over the sand starts pouring through the small hole, and there is one hour of sand.

I start quoting the continued show, AS THE SAND OF TIME --- SO ARE THE DAYS OF OUR LIFE!

TEXT:

Malachi 3:10 Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house,

AND PROVE ME now herewith, saith the Lord of Host, IF I WILL NOT OPEN YOU THE WINDOWS

OF HEAVEN, AND POUR YOU OUT A BLESSING, THAT THERE SHALL NOT BE ROOM ENOUGH

TO RECEIVE IT.

2 Kings 23:17 And Elisha said, OPEN THE WINDOW eastward. And King Joash opened it ---

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house: and

his WINDOWS BEING OPEN in his chambers toward Jerusalem, Daniel kneeled upon his knees

three times a day.

I. DEFINITIONS:

A. WINDOW:

an opening for light and air;

transparent material usually capable of being opened and closed;

interval of time when something must happen;

time when conditions for opportunity exist;

area at the limits of earth’s sensible atmosphere through which a space craft must pass for

successful launch and reentry;

part of a computer that displays or divides distinctly different types of information into

areas of display.

B. OPPORTUNITY:

favorable juncture;

good chance for advancement or progress;

situation which one may seize to the benefit of the whole;

chance; shot; opening.

I do a quick review of Elisha and Joash at their window of opportunity,

then I move into Daniel’s Window of Opportunity.

IV. DANIEL COMES TO A WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY AND HE SEIZES THE CHANCE BY

FAITHFULNESS TO PRAYER!

Daniel 6:10 Now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house: and

his WINDOWS BEING OPEN in his chambers toward Jerusalem, Daniel kneeled upon his knees

three times a day.

A. GENERAL STATEMENTS ON OPPORTUNITY.

We need more than observation when opportunity knocks.

Life is short, opportunity fleeting, death is sure, sin is the curse, grace is the cure.

Man’s great ability to be critical, judgmental, and analytical can often cause us to miss our opportunity.

Many lost opportunities can never be reclaimed.

Often opportunity knocks only once, we must seize the opportunity while it is before us.

B. HOW CAN WE SING?

WHEN DANIEL’S OPPORTUNITY COMES IT IS HIDDEN BENEATH A GREAT DISGUISE.

Daniel is a slave boy, 500 miles from home.

Babylon can’t be God can it?

All Daniel has is a dream of Jerusalem and his home.

Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, WE WEPT, when we remember Zion.

2. We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof. 3. For there they that carried us

away captive, REQUIRED OF US A SONG; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying,

SING US ONE OF THE SONGS OF ZION. 4. HOW SHALL WE SING THE LORD’S SONG IN A STRANGE LAND? 5. If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had to learn a great lesson, the SONGS OF GOD can be sung anywhere.

C. THE DARKER THE NIGHT THE GREATER THE LIGHT!

DANIEL LIVES IN A VERY DARK DAY YET THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY IS STILL BEFORE HIM.

1. The dark days of Nebuchadnezar, Daniel stays true, the window is open toward Jerusalem.

Nebuchadnezar was the mean, cruel ruler as Daniel is forced to labor in Babylon.

Daniel and the three Hebrew boys refuse the extravagant life style of Babylon.

Daniel may be in Babylon, but Daniel will never allow Babylon to grow in his desires.

Nebuchadnezar refused to submit to God and he had a nervous breakdown that lasted 7 long years.

2. THE PARTY HARDY DAYS OF BELSHAZZAR, Daniel refuses to compromise, the window stays open toward heaven.

When Nebuchadnezar dies, Belshazzar becomes the new King of Babylon.

Belshazzar is just as wicked as his king father. Belshazzar has a love of parties.

Belshazzar would invite all his party buddies over for drunken rages.

One day Belshazzar decides to have a party and use the golden vessels from the temple

in Jerusalem. Belshazzar shows a lack of respect for the holy things of God.

Out of nowhere comes a hand and it writes on the wall ---

MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN...

King Belshazzar sobers up and great fear shakes his knees.

God very clearly warns: