Sunday 9 June 2014
Speaker: Pastor Austen Ukachi
Key Passages:
Ephesians 3:20; “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us”
Luke 1:37: “For with God nothing will be impossible.”
What is an Opportunity?
A dictionary definition of opportunity is:
“A favourable juncture of circumstance when something could happen.”
It is also “a good chance for advancement or progress.”
Another definition of opportunity is “an amount of time or situation in which something could happen or be done”
In the scriptures, we find many examples of divine opportunities. Some people had opportunities but did not utilize them. Others missed out on their opportunities. Others capitalized on their opportunities. May you not miss your opportunities today!
I have observed that whenever there is a need in our lives it is a divine opportunity for God to step into our lives. Often, the more pressing the need is, the more the opportunity we have for God to act in our situation. Most occasions, those who connect with divine opportunity are blessed, transformed, promoted, increased, and become more fruitful in their future endeavours. As one of our definitions suggests a divine opportunity is “a good chance for advancement or progress.”
Ephesians 3:20 reminds us that in Christ all opportunities are made possible or turned into a blessing. In Christ, our opportunities are made achievable goals, far beyond our wildest dreams and expectation.
EXAMPLES OF OPPORTUNITIES IN THE SCRIPTURES
When Jesus and his disciples were invited to the wedding at Canaan of Galilee, it was a divine opportunity for the bridegroom, the guests and servants at the wedding to partake of the blessings of Jesus (John 2). The Master of the feast, the bridegroom and guests must have gone home joyful and satisfied because of Jesus’ presence and miracles.
The woman of Samaria had a rare divine opportunity when she encountered Jesus by Jacob’s well (John 4). From the discussion that transpired between her and Jesus, she would have missed a rare opportunity when Jesus said to her, “give me water to drink.” But her initial refusal gave way to her request to Jesus to give her the “living water to drink.” This woman later went into the city of Samaria to publicize a city wide interest in Jesus.
The little boy who in John 6:9 gave Jesus his five barley loaves and two fishes for multiplication must have gone home rejoicing for not missing the divine opportunity of being blessed by Jesus. Have you wondered how he would have felt after the miracle Jesus did? Who knows, he may have gotten something extra from the twelve baskets that remained after the miracle.
In Luke 5, Peter came face to face with divine opportunity when Jesus entered his boat and told him to launch out into the deep. Exhausted and tired, he managed to obey. Peter was not the only fisher man by the Sea of Galilee at this time, but somehow it was his boat Jesus chose to enter and preach from. When Jesus said to Peter “Follow me I will make you fishers of men” it was a divine opportunity to a life-long blessing.
The woman with the issue of blood had an opportunity when she met with Jesus. Though she was in the midst of a crowd, she did not let the opportunity slip by. Many followed Jesus, but they never seized the opportunity they had. May you never miss a divine opportunity! May you not be a mere spectator! Don’t just be in the crowd or one of those people. Learn to seize divine opportunities.
Blind Bartimaeus had a divine opportunity the day Jesus came to Jericho (Mark 10: 46-52). He did not allow the opportunity to slip. There were many people by the wayside like Bartimaeus and many others around Jesus, but they never availed themselves of the opportunity. They were mere spectators.
Zacchaeus also had an opportunity for salvation the day Jesus passed through Jericho (Luke 19:1-10). His willingness to climb up to a tree ensured he did not miss the opportunity.
THE JULY FAST AND THE PRAYER SURGE
The month long July fast we are about to embark upon as a Church, is a divine opportunity we must not miss. It is an opportunity for God to meet with us and bless us. The Prayer Surge, the current year long prayer initiative in the church is also an opportunity for God to bless every one of us. May none of us miss these programmes. Be a part of the programmes and be blessed.
Today is recognized as Pentecost Sunday by the global Church. I believe that it is a divine opportunity for the global Church to ask God for a fresh outpouring of His Spirit upon the Church. The Church is revitalized when the Holy Spirit is poured out on her.
Again, I repeat, all those who connect with divine opportunities are blessed, are increased, experience multiplication and fruitfulness. May that be your experience!
TO ACCESS THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE IN CHRIST WE NEED TO:
1) Have hope in God. Job 14:7-9:
“For there is hope for a tree,
If it is cut down, that it will sprout again,
And that its tender shoots will not cease.
8 Though its root may grow old in the earth,
And its stump may die in the ground,
9 Yet at the scent of water it will bud
And bring forth branches like a plant.”
2) Wait patiently like Job counsels. Job 14:14:
“If a man dies, shall he live again?
All the days of my hard service I will wait,
Till my change comes.”
3) Exercise Faith as Peter and Abraham did in Luke 5; Romans 4:21:
“and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform.”
4) Ask and pray like Job encourages us to in Job 5:8-9:
“But as for me, I would seek God,
And to God I would commit my cause—
9 Who does great things, and unsearchable,
Marvelous things without number.”
5) Lastly, even when we have divine opportunities, we must bear in mind that God satisfies those who are hungry for him Isaiah 44:3:
“For I will pour water on him who is thirsty,
And floods on the dry ground;
I will pour My Spirit on your descendants,
And My blessing on your offspring”
