OPPORTUNITY
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (This is a two or three part lesson.)
Opportunity: to take advantage of suitable situations to accomplish something, the chance to get something done, chance to advance or make progress,
TEXT:
Galatians 6:10 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.
CAN WE SEE THERE ARE OPPORTUNIES BEFORE US…?
The Borden family had made a great fortune in Colorado silver mining. On November 1, 1887 the wealthy Borden family had a son named WILLIAM. At age 7 William Borden stood hours at a Chicago altar to GIVE HIMSELF TO THE LORD… In 1904 the rich young man graduated high school in Chicago. He was heir to THE BORDEN FAMILY FORTUNE. So the Borden family gave 16 year old WILLIAM BORDEN a “trip around the world” for his graduation present. William traveled in Asia, the Middle East, and Europe. William was so moved and touched by HURTING PEOPLE. Bill wrote a letter to his family. BILL said in his letter he desired to be a missionary.
Several of Bill’s friends and family could not believe this rich, young millionaire would THROW AWAY HIS LIFE. In 1905 Borden returned to study at YALE UNIVERSITY. Several other students noted that William Borden was different. He just was not a rich kid, He was totally surrender to Jesus Christ.
AS a young student Borden wrote in the back of his Bible. NO RESERVES. Later Borden wrote in his Bible: “SAY NO TO SELF AND YES TO JESUS EVERY TIME.”
Bill started a student PRAYER MEETING on the Yale Campus. At the end of Bill’s freshman year the prayer group went from 1 to 150 praying students. His sophomore year the number grew to 300.
William Borden started focusing in one area of China where MUSLIM people lived. He prayed for the MUSLIM KANSU people. Borden graduated college and REFUSED ALL THE HIGH PAYING JOBS that a millionaire community offered. His senior year William Borden wrote two more mores in the back of his Bible to go with the other two: NO RESERVES, and now he penned NO RETREATS… Bill went on to Princeton Seminary to do his graduate work in Bible studies. When he completed his studies. BILL SET SAIL FOR CHINA to the MUSLIM people. He stopped in EGYPT to study ARABIC.
While studying language in EGYPT Borden got sick and he was found to have cerebral spinal meningitis and could not return to the USA. William Borden was dying, he looked to the back of his Bible to read the 4 words he had written:
NO RESERVES, NO RETREATS, and now he added two more words: NO REGRETS…
Many considered the Borden a failure. He gave away all his BORDEN WEALTH, he gave away all his privileges of fame and wealth, BORDEN’S DEATH WAS A TERRIBLE WASTED LIFE? William Borden died in 1913. His mother, Mary Borden was reading Bill’s Bible and found 6 words in the back… found But he left 6 words penned in the back of his Bible that has been the theme of many: NO RESERVES, NO RETREATS, NO REGRETS…
Today in the northwest corner of an American Cemetery in Cairo, Egypt rest a man OF OPPORTUNITY as a student prayer warrior and a missionary that died at 25 years of age. Everything of his wealth was given to missions except enough money to bury him and buy a cement slab gravestone. That says: APART FROM CHRIST, THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR SUCH A LIFE.
As a young student he wrote: NO RESERVES, as a graduate he penned: NO RETREATS. As a dying man he penned the words: NO REGRETS. I am told many Christian missionaries have heard William Borden’s journey and been touched to carry the cross to a lost and hurting world. NO RESERVES, NO RETREAT, NO REGRETS… William took his opportunity and ran the cross as far as he could.
WE HAVE MANY OPPORTUNITIES BEFORE US… COME LET US DO GOOD…
WE PLAYED HIDE AND SEEK: HERE I COME--- READY OR NOT…. WHAT ARE WE SAYING?
John 4:35 Say not ye, There are yet four months, and then cometh harvest? behold, I say unto you, Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields; for they are white already to harvest.
Luke 10:2 (KJV) Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.
GOD REVEALS HIMSELF AS THE GOD OF OPPORTUNITIES AND POSSIBILITIES… TO MOSES AS THE GREAT I AM
Exodus 6:2 And God spake unto Moses, and said unto him, I am the LORD: 3 And I appeared unto Abraham, unto Isaac, and unto Jacob, by the name of God Almighty, but by my name JEHOVAH was I not known to them.
GOD’S NAME WAS SO HOLY AND SACRED IT WAS NEVER TO BE SPOKEN OR PRONOUNCED OUT LOUD EXPECT BY THE HIGH PRIEST ONCE A YEAR ON THE GREAT DAY OF ATONEMENT… WHEN THE PRIEST WAS IN THE MOST HOLY PLACE…
WHEN COMMON PEOPLE SPOKE OF THE OPPORTUNITY OF GOD THEY SPOKE “ADONAI”
THE HARVEST IS PLENTIOUS, IT IS READY --- OPPORTUNITIES ABOUND…Why sit around idle. What have you done for Jesus this week?
WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY DAILY TO BE NEAR JESUS…
THERE IS A LESSON ABOUT OPPORTUNITY…
DRAW NEAR GOD…
THE OPPORTUNITY OF RELATIONSHIP IS BEFORE US…
1. ADAM and EVE had a wonderful OPPORTUNITY in the cool of the evening to WALK with God. WOW!
2. WHAT A WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY FOR THE MAN SEVENTH FROM ADAM:
ENOCH TOOK A DAILY WALK WITH GOD FOR 300 YEARS…
Genesis 5:22 And Enoch walked with God after he begat Methuselah three hundred years, and begat sons and daughters: 23 And all the days of Enoch were three hundred sixty and five years: 24 And Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.
We know that Enoch had a different opportunity one day and HE WALKED WITH GOD, and God said: ENOCH, I ENJOY OUR WALKS SO MUCH, WHY DON’T YOU COME UP TO MY HOUSE TOMORROW AND WALK ON STREETS OF GOLD WITH ME? ENOCH WAS TRANSLATED. Talk about the opportunity of fellowship…
3. Want to consider a great OPPORTUNITY? Look at ABRAHAM! God loved Abraham and called him FRIEND…
James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
4. WE CAN HAVE GREAT OPPORTUNIITIES EVEN AFTER GREAT FAILURES AND DISAPPOINTMENTS…
David’s life was a TRAIL OF TEARS. His personal sin. David is on the run for years from the fallen man of God. His hurts within his family. David’s baby boy dies. One son rapes one of his daughters. One son plots and kills David’s other son in revenge. David goes 5 years without seeing his son. Then his son undermines King David’s authority, rapes David’s wives. His son tries to steal the throne from his father. David escapes across the river as Shinmei throws stones and curses David. David buys several caskets for his family.
THROUGH IT ALL DAVID HAS THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO KNOW AND SERVE GOD.
Acts 13:22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will.
THE GREATEST CHAPTER IN THE BIBLE DAVID PENNED…
David took the opportunity to BUILD A STRONG RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD…
DAVID LEARNED: GOD FORGIVES --- LET HIM!
5. WANT TO DISCUSS A SPECIAL OPPORTUNITY?
THERE IS THE ONLY HUMAN RECORDED TO HAVE HEARD THE DIVINE HEART BEAT ---
JOHN THE BELOVED, DREW NEAR TO JESUS AND LAY HIS HEAD ON THE CHEST OF GOD’S SON…
John 13:25 He then lying on Jesus' breast saith unto him, Lord, who is it?
James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.
WHAT APPROACH TO THE OPPORTUNITY BEFORE US WILL WE DECIDE? You decide the distance you are from the Lord….
YOUR ATTITUDE WILL EFFECT HOW YOU APPROACH THE OPPORTUNITIES YOU HAVE BEFORE YOU…
MARY AND MARTHA BOTH HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE AND BE NEAR JESUS…
THEY BOTH HAD EQUAL OPPORUNITY TO SERVE… BUT THEIR ATTITUDES WERE SO DIFFERRENT…
Luke 10:40 But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me. 41 And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: 42 But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her..
Martha was a good housekeeper, her priorities were twisted…
Martha’s motto of opportunity was about good service… “I SERVE!”
MARY’S OPPORTUNITY WAS ABOUT RELATIONSHIP --- I desire a “personal relationship.
TALK ABOUT OPPORTUNITY? WE FIND MARY AT JESUS’ FEET THREE TIMES…
Mary came to Jesus to: 1. Provide service, to wash Jesus feet, 2. to find comfort when death was mean, 3. to be a student and to learn. It is recorded, Martha was a good house keeper. But MARY MADE THE BEST OF HER OPPORTUNITIES to know Jesus in a more personal relationship.
NOT ALL OPPORTUNITIES ARE GOOD…
1. JUDAS HAD MANY OPPORTUNITIES TO BE “WITH JESUS!”
Matthew 26:16 (KJV) And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
Matthew 26:16 (MSG) He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over
2. THREE HAND PICKED STUDENTS HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRAY WITH THE SON OF GOD… One time? Two times? THIRD TIME
Matthew 26:40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? 41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
The third time was different… JESUS NEVER TRIED TO WAKE THEM. The boys missed their opportunity, JESUS SAID: SLEEP ON… This time Jesus had heard directly from HIS FATHER. Son, it will be OK!
3. THOMAS, WAS NOT WITH THEM… Thomas missed the OPPORTUNITY of being with Jesus…
John 20:24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.
4. KING JOASH COULD HAVE HAD A TOTAL VICTORY… WHAT AN OPPORTUNITY?
KING JOASH was a new King in Israel. He had great opportunities and potential. King Joash heard about the OLD MAN OF GOD that was home and was dying… JOASH KNEW HE NEEDED GOD’S TOUCH. Joash visited Old ELISHA. A half- hearted, have to visit… to the old man of God. THE OLD PREACHER SAW THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A TOTAL VICTORY OVER THE THORN THAT SYRIA HAD BEEN FOR YEARS.
2 Kings 13:16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king's hands. 17. And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the LORD'S deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them. 18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed. 19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten
five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.
WHY JOASH? WHY NOT FOLLOW GOD WITH A ZEAL AND OBEDIENCE?
DIVINE OPPORTUNITIES… GOD WILL WATCH OVER HIS WORD TO SEE TO IT THAT…
Jeremiah 1:12 Then said the LORD unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I will hasten my word to perform it.
*Divine opportunities: *JEHOVAH-JIIREH --- GOD THE PROVIDER.
MOUNT MORIAH --- MAN’S EXTREMITY IS GOD’S OPPORTUNITY
GOD WILL PROVIDE…JEHOVAH-JIREH… God sees the need and He will provide
Genesis 22:14 And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovah-jireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
*Divine opportunies: *JEHOVAH-NISSI --- GOD IS THE BANNER OVER ME…
THE OPPORTUNITY OF SWEATING ARM PITS?
MOSES IS IN A BIG PICKLE… THERE IS A TERRIBLE BATTLE ON GOING… MOSES HAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A GREAT VICTORY, BUT HIS HUMANNESS AND WEAKNESS AND DOWN RIGHT TIREDNESS WILL LIMIT HIS VICTORY….
MOSES IS STANDING ON A HILL TOP, HE IS AT THE ALTAR OF GOD…
AT THE ALTAR WHILE MOSES HANDS WERE UPLIFTED THERE WAS VICTORY…
WHEN HIS HANDS WERE LOWERED THERE WAS DEFEAT…
JEHOVAH-NISSI--- GOD IS MY BANNER…
Exodus 17:15 And Moses built an altar, and called the name of it Jehovahnissi:
Exodus 17:15 (MSG) Moses built an altar and named it "GOD My Banner."
*Divine opportunities: *JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH --- GOD IS THERE, GOD OF THE OLD SHIP OF ZION.
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE SELF-DOUBT TO DESTROY WHAT GOD HAD PLANNED…
AT THE ALTAR OF OPPORTUNITY WHEN THERE IS TROUBLE ON EVERY HAND, GIDEON BUILDS AN ALTAR AT OPHRAH--- AS GOD SENDS AN ANGEL FINDS JEHOVAH-SHALOM…
GOD GIVES PEACE…
Judges 6:24 Then Gideon built an altar there unto the LORD, and called it Jehovah-shalom: unto this day it is yet in Ophrah of the Abiezrites.
THE OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE THE LORD IS THERE… JEHOVAH- SHAMMAH…
GOD IS THERE, GOD HAS ALWAYS BEEN HERE…
JEHOVAH-SHAMMAH IS A TYPE OF THE OLD SHIP OF ZION…
THERE IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY IN EZEKIAH’S DAYS WHEN THE PREACHER IS FACING A DIFFICULT DAY… JERUSALEM SEEMS TO BE HOPELESS AND EZEKIAH FINDS HOPE WITHIN THE CHURCH….
Ezekiel 48:35 It was round about eighteen thousand measures: and the name of the city from that day shall be, The LORD is there.
Ezekiel 48:35 (MSG) "The four sides of the city measure to a total of nearly six miles. "From now on the name of the city will be YAHWEH-SHAMMAH: "GOD-IS-THERE."
EVERYONE IS READY TO DIVIDE AND CLIMB INTO THE LIFE BOATS… PAUL WARNS, STAY WITH THE SHIP…
THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO YOUR OWN THING… YOU BETTER STAY WITH THE SHIP OF ZION…
SHAMMAH IS A SYMBOLIC TITLE OF JERUSALEM THAT EZEKIEL TAUGHT…
Divine opportunities: found in JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU… (SIGH-kin-new)
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU ( (sigh-kin-new) the God that makes everything right…
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE EVERYTHING RIGHT… COME INTO THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD…
JEHOVAH-TSIDKENA --- THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD… JESUS CHRIST IS OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS…
Jeremiah 23:6 In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely: and this is his name whereby he shall be called, THE LORD OUR RIGHTEOUSNESS.
Jeremiah 23:6 (MSG) In his time Judah will be secure again and Israel will live in safety. This is the name they'll give him: 'GOD-Who-Puts-Everything-Right.'
Hebrews 11:13 (MSG) Each one of these people of faith died not yet having in hand what was promised, but still believing. How did they do it? They saw it way off in the distance, waved their greeting, and accepted the fact that they were transients in this world. 14 People who live this way make it plain that they are looking for their true home. 15 If they were homesick for the old country, they could have gone back any time they wanted. 16 But they were after a far better country than that—heaven country. You can see why God is so proud of them, and has a City waiting for them.
OPPORTUNITY? WHEN DID WE DO THAT?
WHAT COULD YOU DO IF YOU WANTED TO? JESUS IS WAITING…
We have great opportunities before us…
Matthew 25:37 Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink? 38 When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee? 39 Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee? 40 And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.
OPPORTUNITY: WHEN DIDN’T WE DO THAT…
42 Matthew 25: 42 For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: 43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. 44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? 45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. 46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.
CONCLUSION: There are two words that when teamed together speak of tears and heart break…
Put the word LOST: THAT IS SO SAD… but put the word OPPORTUNITY with LOST and we find some of the saddest words known to man… LOST OPPORTUNITY. My friends listen closely to my heart…. YOU CAN NOT ALWAYS SEE OR FEEL WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS… Time brings us opportunities, we once were young… how quick that passes? HAVE WE BURIED OUR TALENTS IN THE GROUND? HOW SAD ARE THE WORDS: WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN? TOO LATE? YOU MISSED YOUR OPPORTUNITY? Lord speak to our hearts to BE BUSY ABOUT THE FATHER’S BUSINESS.
His servant, Wade martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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