OBSTRUCTION VS OPPORTUNITY = WHO IS KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR.
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes) (I do this in two parts)
OPPORTUNITY: A CHANCE TO MAKE BETTER, being in the right place at the right time, make progress, an open door, a favorable time or set of circumstances that make it possible to do something; chance for advancement,
OFTEN OPPORTUNITY COMES DISGUISED AS HARD, DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.
Using the Bible we find opportunity as a period of time in which the conditions are right for a course of action,
OPPORTUNITY COST: choice of value (greatest benefits at lowest cost); what do you give up to make the choice…
WITHOUT THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE CRISIS, NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN.
1 Corinthians 16:9 For a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.
Galatians 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.
IS THIS AN OPPORTUNITY OR AN OBSTRUCTION? AM I STUCK HERE? THIS OPPORTUNITY-OBSTRUCTION TRAP HAS DOOMED MANY FAMILIES FOR SEVERAL GENERATIONS?
I was a pastor at a small mountain mission church in eastern Kentucky. A young man finished his
education and was idle and drew several government programs. His rent and utilities were paid. He drew so many food stamps that he traded half of them for cash money. He watched TV all night and slept all day. There was talk in this poor area of Kentucky that able bodied people would be losing their benefits.
This strong, young man came to the altar one Sunday night and he was broken and crying. He tarried at the altar, so I went over and was praying with him. He explained to me: PASTOR, I HAVE TO FIND A GOOD JOB AND I HAVE TO FIND IT SOON as he and his wife and children would soon lose their government aid. .
So we called the church around the young family and prayed for THE LORD TO HELP HIM FIND A GOOD JOB WITH GOOD PAY. The Spirit of God really moved as the church prayed. I JUST KNEW HE WAS GOING TO FIND A JOB THE NEXT DAY.
I picked them up for church on the next Sunday night. I was so excited, I knew that week he found a job. I asked him? He said: NO, I DID NOT FIND A JOB!!! I WAITED BY MY PHONE every day this week and NO ONE CALLED?
I asked him, WHERE DID YOU APPLY? How many businesses did you visit? How many
Applications did you fill out? The answer was --0--... He watched TV all night and slept all day, but HE KEPT THE PHONE RIGHT NEXT TO HIM and he said he knew he would have heard it
if it had rang. He said: I GUESS THE LORD LET ME DOWN???? He never did get a job??? HOW SAD? HE ENDED UP DIVORCED AND LATER IN PRISON. They feed him and his family continued drawing a check
WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? DO WE SEE GOD HAS OPENED DOORS TO OPPORTUNITIES FOR US? ARE WE SENSITIVE TO GIVE OURSELVES AWAY TO OPEN OPPORTUNITIES?
Life is full of opportunities. We can find God opportunities. School? Job? Is this an Opportunity or an Obstruction? Do we see life as the opportunities that comes our way? Or do we count troubles?
BY CHANCE MANY OPPORTUNITIES ARE AROUND US. DO WE PRACTICE WHAT WE PREACH? OPPORTUNITIES ARE ALL AROUND US. WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? THERE ARE 4 DIFFERENT CLASSES OF OPPORTUNITIES AROUND US. 1. MR HURT; 2. THE PRIEST; 3. THE LEVITE; 4. THE SAMARITAN.
Luke 10:29 But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour? 30 And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. 32 And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, 34 And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.
36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? 37 And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.
BY CHANCE MR. HURT WALKING DOWN THE WAY: THE SAMARITAN, CRITICALLY INJURED… JEWS WERE PREDIJUDICE AGAINST JEWS.
BY CHANCE THE PREACHER CAME DOWN THE ROAD. I CALL HIM: MR. BURN OUT, DON’T JUDGE HIM, HE WAS TIRED AND EXHAUSTED. PREACHER DO YOU PRACTICE WHAT YOU PREACH…PREACHER MISSED A GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER TO MR HURT, ONE OF HIS OWN.
THERE WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE LEVITE TO MINISTER? THEN CAME THE LEVITE, MR LONG NOSE. HE STOPPED AND SURVEYED THE SITUATION. THE LEVITE (DEACON) SAW ONE OF HIS OWN, A JEW… BUT HE DIDN’T CARE ENOUGH TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITY TO MINISTER.
SAMARITANS WERE HATED.
IS JESUS THE LORD
OPPORTUNITY: A CHANCE TO MAKE BETTER, being in the right place at the right time, make progress, an open door, a favorable time or set of circumstances that make it possible to do something; chance for advancement,
OFTEN OPPORTUNITY COMES DISGUISED AS HARD, DIFFICULT SITUATIONS.
Using the Bible we find opportunity as a period of time in which the conditions are right for a course of action,
OPPORTUNITY COST: choice of value (greatest benefits at lowest cost); what do you give up to make the choice…
WITHOUT THE STRENGTH TO ENDURE THE CRISIS NO ONE WILL BE ABLE TO SEE THE OPPORTUNITY WITHIN.
Life can tend to become a trap of habits and thinking patterns that define us. We have opportunities before us. Leave your comfort zone and do more than you ever dreamed... Bend your back and get to work.
Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things
shall be added unto you.
Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must
believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
ARE WE STUCK HERE? DO WE HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ARISE?
OPPORTUNITIES OFTEN COME AS DISGUISES:
Disguise: to hide what really is, to conceal identity, alter, Satan often wears disguises to deceive , steal.or destroy,
JOSEPH WAS HATED BY HIS BROTHERS? THROWN IN A PIT? SOLD INTO SLAVERY? ON THE AUCTION BLOCK? FALSELY ACCUSED OF RAPE? JOSEPH IN JAIL INTERPRETS THE BAKER AND BUTLER ‘S DREAM.
JOSEPH WAS FORGOTTEN IN JAIL BY THE BAKER AND THE BUTLER, THIS COULD BECOME A GREAT OPPORTUNITY.
Genesis 40:22 But he hanged the chief baker: as Joseph had interpreted to them. 23 Yet did not the chief butler remember Joseph, but forgat him.
Genesis 50:20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.
DANIEL IS THROWN INTO THE LIONS’ DEN…
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions' mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt. 23 Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and commanded that they should take Daniel up out of the den. So Daniel was taken up out of the den, and no manner of hurt was found upon him, because he believed in his God.
24 And the king commanded, and they brought those men which had accused Daniel, and they cast them into the den of lions, them, their children, and their wives; and the lions had the mastery of them, and brake all their bones in pieces or ever they came at the bottom of the den.
DAVID’S DAD COMMAND HIS SON to deliver the bread and cheese to his brothers. David never understood the opportunity before him.
1 Samuel 17:17 And Jesse said unto David his son, Take now for thy brethren an ephah of this parched corn, and these ten loaves, and run to the camp to thy brethren; 18 And carry these ten cheeses unto the captain of their thousand, and look how thy brethren fare, and take their pledge.
The opportunity could cost! TWO SPIES ARE IN GREAT DANGER. Rahab did not understand the opportunity when the spies knocked on her door. That visit was a great opportunity. That visit to her house was a God opportunity.
Joshua 6:22 But Joshua had said unto the two men that had spied out the country, Go into the harlot's house, and bring out thence the woman, and all that she hath, as ye sware unto her. 23 And the young men that were spies went in, and brought out Rahab, and her father, and her mother, and her brethren, and all that she had; and they brought out all her kindred, and left them without the camp of Israel. 25 And Joshua saved Rahab the harlot alive, and her father's household, and all that she had; and she dwelleth in Israel even unto this day; because she hid the messengers, which Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.
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THE PREACHER SEES A GOD OPPORTUNITY FOR ESTHER. Mordecai speaks opportunity to ESTHER.
Esther 4:14 For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? saves from the plot of Haman
WE CAN NOT ALWAYS DISCERN OR HAVE THE FORESIGHT TO RECOGNIZE THIS PROBLEM IS REALLY A BLESSING/POORTUNITY.
The little servant girl capture at NAAMAN’S HOUSE. There was an opportunity for a miracle by God allowing the maid to be captured.
IN AS MUCH AS YOU TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY? IN AS MUCH AS YOU PASSED UP THE OPPORTUNITY?
Matthew 25:40 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.
Matthew 25: 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.
ESAU ALLOW HIS MOMENTARY DESIRES TO REJECT GOD’S PLAN. LOST THE OPPORTUNITY, ESAU WAS SORRY HE GOT CAUGHT IN THE CONSEQUENCES OF SIN. HE BLAMED HIS BROTHER THIS PREVENT REAL REPENTANCE.
Hebrews 12:17 For ye know how that afterward, when he would have inherited the blessing, he was rejected: for he found no place of repentance, though he sought it carefully with tears.
OFTEN YOU FIND GOD’S WILL IN THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE A WILLING WORKER. YOU HAVE TO MAKE UP YOUR MIND AND BREAK THE THINKING PATTERNS... ARE WE REALLY LOOKING FOR THE OPPORTUNITY --- SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO LEARN TO STOOP PRETTY LOW... TO GET UP...
Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for
whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people,
and thy God my God: 17 Where thou diest, will I die, and there will I be buried: the LORD do so
to me, and more also, if ought but death part thee and me. 18 When she saw that she was
stedfastly minded to go with her, then she left speaking unto her.
RUTH'S LESSON IS VERY PRACTICAL, WE MIGHT HAVE TO MAKE OUR OWN OPPORTUNTIES. --- YOU FIND THE WILL OF GOD IN GOING AND DOING WHAT YOU CAN, WHERE YOU CAN, WHEN YOU CAN... As Ruth was in a strange place... Ruth never knew the habits or customs of this strange land. Ruth BLINDLY FOLLOWS NAOMI... RUTH HAD A MADE UP MIND...
WE MUST QUIT BURNING THE ROADS UP DOING NOTHING --- WE MUST ARISE ABOVE THE LOTTERY MENTALITY--- LOOK FOR THE OPPORTUNITY--- SEIZE THE MOMENT---
Ruth has heard about GLEANING. SHE HAS THE RIGHT TO GATHER, WHEAT, CORN, GRAIN OR WHAT EVER WAS GROWING FROM THE CORNERS OF THE FIELD.
BUT SHE HAD TO GET UP AND GO... TO GATHER THE BLESSINGS... She did not wait in bed and watch TV? WHILE STOOPING LOW, RUTH FOUND THE OPPORTUNITY, THE MOMENT OF BLESSINGS...
Ruth 2:17 So she gleaned in the field until even, and beat out that she had gleaned: and
it was about an ephah of barley.
WE TO MUST BE FAITHFUL TO THE CALL OF DUTY... We must GLEAN from the WORD OF GOD, prayer, and meditation of SPIRITUAL FOOD... RUTH'S WORK WAS LITTLE BIT? LITTLE BIT HERE? LITTLE BIT THERE... WE MUST GLEAN WITH GREAT DILIGENCE SHE HAD TO PAY ATTENTION, SHE HAD TO WATCH, SHE HAD TO WORK AND SWEAT... GOD REWARDS THOSE THAT BY FAITH OFFER THE OFFERING OF AN HONEST EFFORT.
Ruth 2:12 The LORD recompense thy work, and a full reward be given thee of the LORD God of
Israel, under whose wings thou art come to trust.
God was faithful to honor a SERVANT GIRL that was willing to get up and GO... LET ME GO LORD...
How did she end of in the field of Boaz? Was this an accident? Was this luck? BECAUSE RUTH WAS FAITHFUL TO HER POST OF DUTY--- AND WAS WILLING TO EXERT GREAT EFFORT --- opportunity
RUTH FINDS FAVOR...
Ruth 2:16 And let fall also some of the handfuls of purpose for her, and leave them, that she
may glean them, and rebuke her not.
CHECK OUT HISTORY --- THE LITTLE STRANGER WOMAN THAT HAD NOTHING IS RECORDED IN THE BLOOD LINE OF JESUS CHRIST THE SON OF GOD... Ruth made the opportunity.
Ruth 4:17 And the women her neighbours gave it a name, saying, There is a son born to Naomi;
and they called his name Obed: he is the father of Jesse, the father of David.
SEE LIFE WAS CHANGED WHEN RAHAB THE HARLOT, AND RUTH FROM MOAB
INVESTED IN THE ETERNAL AND DID WHAT THEY COULD...
Matthew 1:5 And Salmon begat Booz of Rachab; and Booz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed
begat Jesse;
CONCLUSION: DO YOU KNOW THE LAW OF ZERO? ZERO MULTIPLIED BY A MILLION IS STILL ZERO?
ARE YOU HONESTLY PUTTING FORTH EFFORT TO BE DILIGENT IN LOOKING FOR
OPPORTUNITIES? --- for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that
diligently seek him ARE WE DOING OUR BEST? COULD WE DO MORE? WHAT KIND OF SEEDS HAVE YOU NOT PLANTED?
WHAT KIND OF SEEDS HAVE YOU PLANTED?
SHOW ME WHERE YOUR FAMILY SPENDS YOUR MONEY AND I SHALL UNDERSTAND
MUCH ABOUT YOU!
SHOW ME HOW YOU SPEND YOUR TIME AND I SHALL KNOW YOUR HEART!
LIFE IS MORE THAN SUBSTANCE--- DO NOT WORRY --- DO WHAT YOU CAN---
TRUST GOD FOR THE REST. We must SEIZE THE OPPORTUNITY. God is waiting on us.
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com (YouTube: Wade Hughes)
I do this in two parts.
