Our theme this Year is “Fruitfulness” this means not just bearing fruits but sharing them. And the fruit we are talking about here is “the fruit of the spirit” we are talking about the qualities of character. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control (Gal 5:22-23). This fruits are not for show, they are to be shared with others. We cannot bear fruits if we are not connected with him…Jesus says, abide in me and I in you and you will bear fruit….Ones we are connected with him and are bearing fruits, God will then give us opportunities to share this fruits. In sharing them is hidden all of our miracles and breakthroughs both to the kingdom of God and our personal lives.
It’s not enough to bear fruits, we should share them.
So, the title of my message this morning is OPPORTUNITY.
Opportunity is a set of circumstances that makes something possible. You are not going to have just one opportunity in life, you are going to have so many opportunities.
Eccl. 9:11: I returned, and saw under the sun, that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, neither yet bread to the wise, nor yet riches to men of understanding, nor yet favour to men of skill; but time and chance happeneth to them all.
In this passage we are introduces to things we consider to be very good factors. Factors such as Strength, swift, scholarly, skilful. In fact if you ask anybody the factors they consider one needs to be successful you will hear something like, you have to be smart, you have to be skilful, you have to go to school, these are factors that all of us aim for. We want to be strong, wise, smart etc. and because of this we do a lot. We go to School, we train ourselves, however the writer of Eccl. Is saying that as great as all this factors are they don’t always produce the result. That is to say the battle doesn’t always go to the strong, there are strong people who lose the battle, and there are swift people who lose the race of life. Eccl. Says Time and Chance happens to them all. In other words how you appropriate time and chance will determine whether the things you have as an advantage will work for your advantage ultimately.
That word Chance means a situation in life that you cannot control. Something is going to hit you in life that you didn’t plan for. Something is going to come your way that you are not ready for. Whether you are swift, strong, scholarly, wise, whatever you are, when those things hit you, you are going to learn to respond well. Because if you don’t, the outcome will not be very wonderful. I summarize what this passage is saying to mean that: our natural abilities and professional trainings are not enough to guarantee success. I think that is true, if we think right now we will see we have stories. Maybe we are the stories ourselves.
TIME AND CHANCE.
Our lives as Christians and as a Church are about opportunities.
Understand this, God is at work with us in every season of life. Through trials, through tragedy, through triumph, God is always with us.
So how does opportunity factor in all of this? Let’s look at the phases of opportunity.
PHASES OF OPPRTUNITY
1. Purpose-made
When life has prepared you to play a suitable role. This is the opportunity most people are familiar with when you are ready for something and it happens. When readiness meets opportunity. That is recognising your calling in a time in history. Knowing I have come to the kingdom for such a time and this.
2. CHAOS
When things are thrown out of the normal order.
Many time we want to see the power of GOD and that power of GOD needs chaos to manifest.
Opportunity doesn`t always come when we are ready, when we are expecting it and when we are prepared sometimes it is chaos that brings the opportunity.
PETER and His friends were in a boat and then they looked afar and saw a figure, ordinarily they were not supposed to see a figure in that kind of place, so they thought it was a ghost, so as the figure got closer , the figure spoke , said don’t be afraid then PETER saw an opportunity.
HE says lord if it is you, bid me to come to you and JESUS said come. Peter stepped on water, you want the opportunity to step on water, you want to experience the power of GOD, you want to have testimony this year, there is going to be tests. When things get chaotic, don’t despair because opportunity might just be knocking on your door.
3. CHALLENGES
When pressure in place upon you to produce result, and you feel stretched, you feel your capacity being too much demanded from, that is opportunity.
Story of ESTHER in the Bible, Her people was going to be destroyed but she had a very comfortable life, she was living in the palace. Her people were slaves in the kingdom. She thought she was comfortable until a challenge was thrown to her ‘’go tell the king about the things that is happening so we can be free’’ but she says ‘’ it doesn’t work like that if you go to the king without invitation you DIE!’’ SECOND CALLENGE - don’t think you will be free over here, if you don’t go destruction will come and it will affect you too. And she says ‘’I will go if, if I perish, I perish, she thus became the redeemer of her nation. Challenges, Bribery, corruption, lateness in your office and in the society is an opportunity for us Christians.
Your desire to be a great person will not come already prepared it will come through challenging opportunity.
Remember, not everything we see as opportunity is our opportunity. Only God knows the best. Therefore if a door we think is an opportunity closes, then it means the main door is about to open. Don’t stay in that closed door and cry.
That is how we stay in the same place sometimes not because GOD is not faithful-HE is faithful, HE says no temptation will come your way that you are not able to overcome but in every temptation HE will open a way of escape, my friend there is another door, there is another opportunity. Don’t pack your life at a bus stop, just because someone was insensitive to you. GOD has a new door for you, HE’s got other opportunities for you, His mercies are new every morning. HIS faithfulness never seizes. If He takes one out, he will bring another back your way.
No human being is indispensable, those who have left, let them go, but there are those who are coming, let those who are going go and let those who are coming come. GOD will open the door.IT may not come the way you want it. It might come through chaos, challenge, that’s why it says the race is not to the strong or swift. There are strong, intelligent and swift people who miss opportunity. But you child of GOD take charge of your life, pray and ask GOD open your eyes because opportunity is not always comfortable and when the door of opportunity opens we must be ready to act. Not just act, but act on time.
Leonard Ravenhill, a great preacher made this statement about opportunity – “the opportunity of a lifetime must be seized in the lifetime of that opportunity.”
That is to say, every opportunity have a life time, opportunities are not permanent. They are doors they get open and gets shot. If you don’t access it when it is open, then it’s gone. Because the doors God opens for us will not be permanently open.
If Peter had not stepped into the water at that time, he might not have a second chance to do that and we would never had known that Peter could walk on water, He sank later but at least he walked on water.
If Esther has not said …”if I perish, I perish” we would not has known what one woman could do to save a nation –she used the opportunity in the life time of that opportunity.
Note making most of our opportunity is what we do for ourselves not for God. Because believe you me if Esther had not done that, God would have raised another person for himself.
God will give us opportunities this year, it might come in chaotic situations, a challenge or your purpose but when it comes you must use it in the lifetime of that opportunity. You cannot post pone opportunity, you cannot procrastinate opportunity. All of us can look back in our lives and discover missed opportunities.
Sometimes certain people come into our life and we mistreat them, now think about the people in your life right now, how are you treating them? Do not treat people anyhow – God brings people in your way all the time and you must use opportunity in the lifetime of that opportunity. Maybe an Orphan, a poor kid, nagging boss, etc. and God brings them in short time in your life, please don’t play with such an opportunity.
Joseph was in prison because he was falsely accused, his dreams seemed shattered. So one day in the prison two men had dreams respectively. If Joseph was a bitter, cynical person, he would looked at those two men, rubbished their dreams. Because his own dread hadn’t come to pass, he would have said ...”Forget about dreams, they don’t happen anyways, he would even gone ahead to tell them how his own didn’t work. Or he would have just said, “Nobody helped me, why should I help you. No Joseph didn’t do that, this two people comes. Joseph have no idea the consequences of what he is about to do that early morning because opportunity does not show you its outcome. It just shows you a door, you must have the consciousness to step into that door, because you have no idea what is in that door. Joseph interprets a dream for a man, a butler, the dream comes true and he is forgotten, but two years later he was remembered and that singular act that morning brings to pass dreams he had years ago himself which seems abandoned. One day he is moved from a prisoner to a prime minister within 24hours. Just because of one morning he was opportune to interpret a dream. Now you can be in an office where everyone collects bribe, and someone enters and say he has no money and everyone ignores the person that is an opportunity for you. Sow that seed. Opportunity does not come announcing itself in fine clothing many times it comes in very dirty clothing and you need to recognize it. And since you can’t tell which one is great opportunity or not the bible says cast your bread on many waters, in other words,
do good all the time,
sow good seeds all the time,
be nice all the time,
be generous all the time.
Many of the outcome of life is determined by the simple things we do. This has nothing to do with your education, strength, smartness. Something little you did opens the door something little you did shots the door. You ask me. Where is the opportunities? They are everywhere around you. It is the person sitting beside you. Since our future is still in the unknown, we should give every opportunity our best shot. You cannot tell who to treat well or not, so treat everybody well. Just one person you treat well can change your life forever. You can imagine if Joseph had been paying attention to only Lawyers, Politicians, and all big men yet it was a butler that announced him.
HOW TO MAKE MUST OUT OF OUR OPPORTUNITIES.
1. Be Ready to Serve
When God gave His only Son to die for us, with that he gave us all the opportunity to be more than we presently are, the opportunity to honour him, the opportunity to serve. Therefore, managing your time well becomes highly important when you recognize that God has called you to a life of serving Him and serving others. Jesus said, “By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be my disciples” (John 15:8).
To the Christians of his day, Paul emphasized the seriousness of “redeeming the time”—making the most of your time and opportunities. “So be careful how you live, not as fools but as those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity for doing good in these evil days” (Ephesians 5:15-16, New Living Translation).
2. Realize Why You Are . . . Where You Are
Realize why you are in that Office, realize why you married that man, realize why you have that kind of Boss, and realize why God gave you those kids.
Here, this realization will make you either maximize where you are better or move.
If you’re working the same job . . . in the same position you were ten years ago . . . if you’re still paying off the same debts . . . it’s time for some self-examination on your part.
Max DePree, businessman and author, once said:
“We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.”
You’ve got to know why you are . . . where you are.
Is it fear? Is it a desire to be comfortable in your surroundings and in the things you do on a daily basis?
If you don’t like where you are … why in the world would you want to continue living where you are?
Some people continue to live where they are because of laziness.
Understand this ... God doesn’t do laziness.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 in The Living Bible says:
“Now here is a command, dear brothers, given in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ by his authority: Stay away from any Christian who spends his days in laziness and does “not follow the ideal of hard work we set up for you.”
2 Thessalonians 3:11 in The Living Bible says:
“Yet we hear that some of you are living in laziness, refusing to work, and wasting your time in gossiping.”
Never be too lazy to read a book… it increases your knowledge and value in the marketplace.
Some people justify their lack of achievement by making meaningless excuses.
If there is one thing God dislikes more than laziness . . . its excuses.
Excuses by their nature imply limitations or an inability to break through the barriers of life. God does not impose any limitations on us . . . except that we obey His instructions.
Sadly, many of the imagined limitations are self-imposed.
Proverbs 22:13 in The Living Bible says:
“The lazy man is full of excuses. "I can't go to work!" he says. "If I go outside, I might meet a lion in the street and be killed!"
Romans 3:19 in the Amplified Bible say
“Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those who are under the Law, so that [the murmurs and excuses of] every mouth may be hushed and all the world may be held accountable to God.”
Regardless of why you are. . .where you are. . .once you realize you’re accountable to God. . .you’ll find a new fire in your bones. . .when it comes to making the most out of every opportunity you get.
3. Forward Ever.
If It Works. . .Do It…If It Doesn’t. . .Try Something New.
If you want to make the most out of every opportunity that comes your way . . . you need to stop looking in the rear-view mirror of your life . . . at what was or could have been.
Luke 9:62 in the New Century Version says:
“Jesus said, "Anyone who begins to plow a field but keeps looking back is of no use in the kingdom of God."
Some folks never seize the moment . . . the opportunity . . . because of sins in their past. If that’s you . . . this next scripture is going make you shout . . . and buy a ticket straight out of your past.
Isaiah 43:25 in the Amplified Bible says:
“I, even I, am He Who blots out and cancels your transgressions, for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins.”
The Message Bible translation of Isaiah 43:25 says:
“But I, yes I, am the one who takes care of your sins—that's what I do. I don't keep a list of your sins.”
How can God bring up your past sins . . . if He doesn’t even remember them or keep a list of them?
God will not bring up your past. . .but the enemy will. But he can only get away with it if you let him. That’s why you have to forget the past and move forward.
Philippians 3:13-15 in the New King James Version says:
“. . .forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”
It’s time to make the most out of every opportunity God gives you . . . starting today and continuing through the next 365 days of 2018.
Isaiah 43:19 in the New Living Translation says:
“For I am about to do something new. See, I have already begun! Do you not see it?
I will make a pathway through the wilderness. I will create rivers in the dry wasteland.”
God can’t do something new . . .as long as you’re staying where you are.
“A ship in a harbor is safe, but that’s not what a ship is built for.” Anonymous
One more thing, it’s a foolish person who does the same thing over And over again expecting a different result.
4. Develop Good Habits
Good Habits Will Open The Doors For New Opportunities.
What is a habit? It is simply something you do so often that it becomes easy. In other words, it’s a behaviour that you keep repeating.
Negative habits breed negative consequences….successful habits create positive rewards.
I want you to ponder this question . . . think about it before you answer. Maybe even write down several possibilities and then rank them in importance as they relate to helping you fulfil your vision and achieve your goals. Here’s the question:
What one habit would you like to have more than anything else?
Job 22:26 in the Amplified Bible says:
“You shall also decide and decree a thing, and it shall be established for you; and the light [of God's favor] shall shine upon your ways.”
The first step to establishing a new habit is: Make A Decision—purpose in your heart that you’re going to start acting in a specific way 100% of the time.
The second step is to simply act in that specific way for 21 days in a row. Work at it… don’t give up when you aren’t perfect…practice until you are perfect.
Studies show that if you do something for 21 days in a row. . .it becomes a habit.
Success is a habit. Mediocrity and failure are habits. A positive mental attitude is a habit. Debt Free Living is a habit. Exercise is a habit. Not exercising is a habit.
Everything you’re doing in your life right now, you’re in the habit of doing. But by the same token, what you’re not doing right now, you’re in the habit of not doing. And the only way to change a habit of not doing something is to start doing it.
You have to make a decision to change. It will take effort on your part.
Create the right habits and you’ll be amazed how suddenly opportunities begin popping up in your life.
5. Check your friends.
Maybe You Need Somebody Different In Your Foxhole
When you speak something repetitively . . .it’s more likely to be heard, understood and done. That’s why having somebody different in your foxhole is one of the ways to make the most of every opportunity.
Without question . . .you need to break free from some of the people you’ve been hanging around.
Make no mistake. . .your attitude, speech and behaviour are directly affected by your friends.
I Corinthians 15:33 says:
“Don’t be fooled by those who say such things, for “bad company corrupts good character.”
Do your friends encourage, discourage or ignore your dreams, hopes and plans for the future?
In the game of life. . .you don’t need anyone holding you back as you seek to make the most out of every opportunity.
Job 12:4 in the New Living Translation says:
“Yet my friends laugh at me, for I call on God and expect an answer. I am a just and blameless man, yet they laugh at me.”
Make no mistake … if your friends are laughing at those who want more out of life and/or they’re happy where they are. . .you can be certain they’ll never do anything to take advantage of your opportunities.
Your friends are either empowering and encouraging you. . .or they’re not. If not, you need to find friends who will.
If most of your friends would rather stay where they are . . . then you need to move on down the line...
6. Seek to Know, Act on what you know
If you’re not maximizing your opportunities . . . it’s because you don’t know something or you’re not willing to do something with what you know.
Romans 1:13 says:
“Now I would not have you ignorant, brethren, that oftentimes I purposed to come unto you, (but was let hitherto,) that I might have some fruit among you also, even as among other Gentiles.”
According to Strong’s Concordance the word ignorance means: “not knowing.”
Simply said, ignorance is not knowing the facts.
Now, stupid is knowing the facts but choosing not to do anything with or about that information and insight.
Benjamin Franklin said, “We are all born ignorant, but one must work hard not to remain stupid.”
There is a cure for ignorance. . .get knowledge.
If you lack knowledge, it's your fault because knowledge is available.
Psalm 119:66 in the New Living Translation says:
“I believe in your commands; now teach me good judgment and knowledge.”
It’s been said that if you don’t like where you are in life. . .chances are. . .there’s something you don’t know yet.
How do you get knowledge and wisdom? You see them.
Proverbs 4:7 says:
“Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”
Increased wisdom will help you make the most out of every opportunity.
You can make the most out of many more opportunities today than you did yesterday and tomorrow than you did today. All you have to do is start!
