108 --- YES 108 ... WHAT IS THE ENEMY OF BETTER?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I. EVER CONSIDER WHY SOME DOORS OPEN AND SOME DOORS CLOSE?
LET US WEIGH IN ON THE SUBJECT OF OPPORTUNITIES...
Revelation 3:8 I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can
shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.
A. OPPORTUNITY...
--- a favorable juncture of circumstances
--- a good chance of progress or advancement
B. Biblically: Where a willing worker has made preparation, Divine timing, and meets an open
door...
II. WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
WHAT REALLY MATTERS? ISSUES OF THE HEART?
Proverbs 4:23 (KJV) Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.
Proverbs 4:23 (NIV) Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
Proverbs 4:23 (MSG) Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that's where life starts.
Proverbs 4:23 (NLT) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
A. SOME DAY --- SOME DAY WILL BE YOUR DAY!
We are headed towards ETERNITY at 1440 minutes a day?
Do we live with ETERNITIES' VALUES IN VIEW?
B. 108 --- YES, I AM TOLD THAT 108 PEOPLE DIE EVERY MINUTE OF THE DAY...
1440 X's 108 = 166,520 a day... When is your number coming up?
C. One day you will tie your shoes in the morning and THE UNDERTAKER will un-tie
them and you will be buried without any shoes.
D. JOY WILL KEEP YOU SWEET...
TRIALS WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER...
SORROW WILL KEEP YOU HUMAN...
SUFFERING WILL BE THE THORN THAT KEEPS YOU IN LINE...
FAILURES WILL KEEP YOU HUMBLE...
BUT IT IS GOD THAT KEEPS US GOING...
E. As a whole women tend to live longer than men?
Little girls start out playing with baby dolls...
If you live long enough you will return to holding on to a baby doll.
III. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF STARTERS... BEGINNERS ...
LIFE SELDOM TEACHES THE BEAUTY OF THE FINISHER...
A. HOW MANY START IN SCHOOL?
HOW MANY FINISH HIGH SCHOOL?
HOW MANY COMPLETE COLLEGE?
HOW MANY GO TO SCHOOL AND REFUSE TO LEARN?
B. Do you know the ENEMY OF BETTER?
I have lived long enough that I can identify the ENEMY OF BETTER...
THE ENEMY OF GETTING BETTER IS GETTING GOOD --- THEN STAYING THE SAME...
How many people get GOOD at something and then they never IMPROVE?
C. WHO WAS ARCHIPPUS?
What was his work?
Paul is closing out HIS LETTER TO THE COLOSSIAN CHURCH ---
The Holy Spirit reminds Paul to say: something important to us...
Colossians 4:17 (KJV) And say to Archippus, Take heed to the ministry which thou hast received
in the Lord, that thou fulfil it.
Colossians 4:17 (NIV) Tell Archippus: "See to it that you complete the work you have received in
the Lord."
Colossians 4:17 (MSG) And, oh, yes, tell Archippus, "Do your best in the job you received from the
Master. Do your very best."
Colossians 4:17 (NLT) And say to Archippus, “Be sure to carry out the ministry the Lord gave you.”
IV. SIR, I HAVE ALWAYS MISSED MY OPPORTUNITY... 38 YEARS I HAVE MISSED IT...
THE ANGEL COMES ---HE TROUBLES THE WATER...
A. THE MAN HAS AN EXCUSE --- Probably a good excuse...
I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP ME...
B. JESUS ASK THE MAN THAT HAD BEEN SICK 38 YEARS ---
WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE? WHAT DO YOU WANT?
John 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue
Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered,
waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and
troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole
of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight
years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith
unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when
the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down
before me.
C. Today the opportunity HAS COME TO YOU!
You can go home WELL, WHOLE --- IN JESUS NAME...
AFTER 38 YEARS THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY OF HOPE...
V. GOD OPENS AND CLOSES DOORS... WE MUST EVALUATE EACH CASE.
MAKE THE BEST OUT OF EACH OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE...
TAKE THE CHANCE... MAKE THE MOST OUT OF EACH CHANCE YOU HAVE...
Galatians 6:10 (KJV) As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto
them who are of the household of faith.
Galatians 6:10 (MSG) Right now, therefore, every time we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of
all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.
Ephesians 5:16 (KJV) Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:16 (NIV) making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Ephesians 5:16 (MSG) Make the most of every chance you get. These are desperate times!
Colossians 4:5 (KJV) Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.
Colossians 4:5 (NIV) Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Colossians 4:5 (MSG) Use your heads as you live and work among outsiders. Don't miss a trick.
Make the most of every opportunity.
VI. THREE CHANCE OPPORTUNITIES? WHO IS THE REAL NEIGHBOR?
DO YOU WANT TO DISCUSS HOW EASY IT IS TO BE SO RELIGIOUS THAT WE MISS
THE OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US?
Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among
the thieves?
A. I CALL THE PRIEST'S OPPORTUNITY === "MR BURNED OUT"
He had so much stuff going on --- He could not take on another battle.
Luke 10:31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him,
he passed by on the other side.
B. I CALL THE DECON'S OPPORTUNITY === "MR LONG NOSE"
He stopped and surveyed the situation and went on his way.
Luke 10:32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed
by on the other side.
C. I CALL THE SAMARITAN'S OPPORTUNITY === "MR COMPASSION"
Samaritan and Jews were like enemies... (Cowboy and Indian)
Luke 10:33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him,
he had compassion on him,
D. ARE YOU A COMPASSIONATE OPPORTUNITY GIVER?
CONCLUSION:
THERE IS A CHILD THAT IS AN ORPHAN IN THE HOME WITH HIS MOM AND DAD.
The computer, Face Book, TV and the job have CAUSED THE PARENTS TO MISS
THEIR OPPORTUNITY.
There is a lady that is a WIDOW and her husband is ALWAYS gone on a fishing trip?
Where are you LAVISHING YOUR LOVE AND YOUR TIME?
There is always AN OPPORTUNITY TO LOVE, GIVE AND SERVE...
YOU CAN SEIZE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BE KIND, UNDERSTANDING AND LISTENING?
YOU CAN TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO TRAVEL TO THE LAND OF
ENCOURAGEMENT, GIVING HOPE AND MOVE TO THE LAND OF NEW BEGINNINGS...
OPPORTUNITY OFTEN TRAVELS IN THE DISGUIST OF BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS...
OPPORTUNITY MAY BE WEARING BIBBED OVERALLS AND GLOVES DISGUISTED
AS HARD WORK.
OPPORTUNITY? OPEN DOORS? TODAY IS THE DAY THAT OPPORTUNITY IS HERE.
I recently read where a man was so under conviction and he had cried all day.
His wife told him maybe he should go to church and pray and find God's plan.
The man went to a church close by the house. The church was empty, people just not attending
anymore, so they had not had a evening service in years. He went to another church and the parking
lot was empty. No church for the summer? He drove several miles to a large church, the people
there had voted to have church one week end a year. Finally the man found a church where
several had gathered. He was so relieved. He parked his car, went running to the doors.
The ladies stopped him, SIR, WE DO NOT HAVE CHURCH OF THE EVENINGS, WE
BROUGHT OUR KIDS HERE TO RIDE THEIR BIKES IN THE VACANT PARKING LOT.
The man got in his car and drove to the local bar. MISSED OPPORTUNITIES?
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
