Is
Opportunity
Knocking?
When the water gets rough, it is time
to enjoy the ride.
When we face a disappointment, failure, or tragedy, it is really just an
opportunity to see God work in our lives if we will look at it from that
perspective.
Story to illustrate:
Is
Opportunity Knocking At Your Door?
Let us supposed that you are head of a political party and you stand for
that which is godly. However, your popularity becomes greater than that of
the current president in power. The president becomes very jealous over
the rise in your popularity. In fact, he has becomes so jealous that
he publicly states that you are a traitor. He then sends the FBI to
chase you down and arrest you. You have some survival skills, so you flee
into a dense forest of a national park to escape being arrested, tried for
treason, and executed. Your extended family hears of your
situation. They discover where you are staying and they come to the cave
where you are hiding. However, your family in also is in a bad
situation. Most are in debt, in distress, and discontented
themselves. This all may seem like a very bad hand that God has
dealt to you? Would you see this situation as a tragedy or as an
opportunity for God to work?
In Scripture, king Saul became jealous of David and began
to throw javelins at David because of David's popularity. David fled
and hid in a cave for safety. Then a very motley crew of relatives:
those in debt, in distress, and those discontented
came to David. However, David saw it as an opportunity to teach this
motley crew about their covenant with God that they might become mighty men
of God and of David. (I Samuel 22:1-2)(II Samuel 23:8ff).
Here are some more scriptural
examples:
1. When
the great flood was to come, it was an opportunity for Noah to build an
ark and save the animals and his family.
2. When
Goliath came against Israel, it was an opportunity for David to kill him,
get great riches from king Saul, receive the king's daughter in marriage,
and gain a reputation in Israel.
3. When
Jehoshaphat was far outnumbered by three tribes that came up against him,
it was an opportunity for him to fast, seek God, and get so much spoil
that it took him three days to take it home.
4. When
Moses led the people out of Egypt and up to the Red Sea, it was an
opportunity for him to raise his hands with the rod of God and see God
part the sea.
5. When
Jesus was going to be tempted, it was an opportunity for him to fast and
pray and draw close to the Father that he might have the strength to
overcome the temptations.
6. When
Lazarus died, it was an opportunity for Jesus to resurrect him from the
dead and demonstrate his power over death.
7. When
Stephen was being stoned, it was an opportunity for him to praise God,
forgive his offenders, and be a witness for Christ. (Acts 7:60)
What opportunity is knocking at your door?????
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1. When people attack us, it is an opportunity to: forgive, to pray for, and
to bless them.
"But I
say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to
them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and
persecute you" (Matthew 5:44).
2. When trials come, it is an opportunity to rejoice in the Lord.
"My
brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations"
(James
1:2).
3. When we overwork and get sick, it is an opportunity to recommit ourselves
to follow the Spirit and get some rest.
"If my
people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray,
and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from
heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land"
(II
Chronicles 7:14).
4. When impossible circumstances come against us, it is an opportunity to
see God do the impossible.
"And he
said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God"
(Luke
18:27). "Jesus said unto him,
If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth"
(Mark 9:23).
5. When problems come, it is an opportunity to find resolutions.
"I
wisdom dwell with prudence, and find out knowledge of witty inventions"
(Proverbs
8:12).
"And he found a new jawbone of an
ass, and put forth his hand, and took it, and slew a thousand men
therewith" (Judges 15:15).
6. When the devil comes against us, it is an opportunity to pray, summit
ourselves to the Lord, resist the devil, and see him flee.
"But he
giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God.
Resist the devil, and he will flee from you" (James 4:6-7).
7. When imprisonment comes, it is an opportunity to pray and sing praise the
Lord.
"And at
midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the
prisoners heard them" (Acts 16:25).
8. When depression comes, it is an opportunity to praise the Lord.
"To
appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for
ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit
of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified" (Isaiah
61:3).
9. When the tempter attacks, it is an opportunity to do counter spiritual
warfare.
When Goliath came against Israel, it was an
opportunity for David to kill him, get great riches from king Saul,
receive the king's daughter in marriage, and gain a reputation in Israel.
Daivid answered. "And David
said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?" (I
Samuel 17:29).
10. When we are cursed, it is an opportunity to bless.
"Bless
them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you"
(Luke
6:28).
11. When we are compelled to go one mile, it is an opportunity to go two.
"And
whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain"
(Matthew
5:41).
13. When we are tempted to be critical, it is an opportunity to praise
others for their uniqueness.
The Angel of the Lord spoke to Gideon.
"And the angel of the LORD
appeared unto him, and said unto him, The LORD is with thee, thou mighty
man of valour" (Judges 6:12).
14. When we suffer, it is an opportunity to experiences the sufferings of
Christ and be a witness to others.
"Beloved,
think
it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though
some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are
partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be
revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy" (I Peter
4:12-13).
15. When the storms come, it is an opportunity to speak to the storm.
"And he
saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he
arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm"
(Matthew
8:26).
16. When doubt comes, it is an opportunity to grow in our faith.
"Why
art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me?
hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my
countenance, and my God" (Psalms 42:11).
17. When emotional wounds and emotional bruises come, it is an opportunity
to receive healing and freedom.
"The
Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to
set at liberty them that are bruised" (Luke 4:18).
18. When overwhelming problems come, it is an opportunity to pray in the
spirit.
"Likewise
the
Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray
for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with
groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26).
At the conclusion of the discussion of Spiritual Warfare, Paul writes, "Praying always with all prayer and
supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance
and supplication for all saints" (Ephesians 6:18).
19. When disease comes, it is an opportunity to receive healing by the
stripes of Jesus.
"Who
his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being
dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were
healed" (I Peter 2:24).
20. When weakness comes, it opportunity to become strong in the Lord.
"Beat
your plowshares into swords, and your pruninghooks into spears: let the
weak say, I am strong" (Joel 3:10).
"Finally, my brethren, be strong in
the Lord, and in the power of his might" (Ephesians 6:10).
21. When we suffer the consequences of our sin, it is an opportunity to
receive forgiveness.
"If we
confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to
cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (I John 1:9).
22. When we are waiting on God to move in our behalf, it is an opportunity
to draw close to Him.
"But
they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall
mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and
they shall walk, and not faint" (Isaiah 40:31).
23. When we are tempted to be afraid, it is an opportunity to trust in
the Lord.
"What
time I am afraid, I will trust in thee" (Psalms 56:3).
24. When we are overtaken by our enemy, it is an opportunity to do good to
him.
"If
thine enemy be hungry, give him bread to eat; and if he be thirsty, give
him water to drink: For thou shalt heap coals of fire upon his
head, and the LORD shall reward thee" (Proverbs 25:21-22).
For a real life story: See Sylvia's
Testimony.
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