Responding to Our Opportunities - Part 1

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Life is full of opportunities. In fact, the truth is God's will and purpose for your life and mine is expressed through the opportunities that he gives us because it is his will for example, that you save in so he provides you the opportunity to be saved, it may be his will to call you in the sump area of service, so he gives you the opportunity it gives you the opportunity to go to school get educated. So all will only go there. Many people today in this country who would love this opportunity if somebody said I have a job for you.

They love that opportunity and sometimes we sort of think that opportunity is not all that significant.

They there is significant because an opportunity is an occasion that is its vacation time in our life when we are in a position to make a decision that has a very positive impact on our life. That's why you and I need to be very discerning about being able to spot what is an opportunity what is an obstruction life that oftentimes ways that God offers opportunities that we overlook them.

We don't see them that way we talk about our responsibilities in some time really going to fulfill our responsibility when you think about life is being this awesome continuous series of opportunities, which is exactly what it is I have the opportunity to obey him or not to obey at the opportunity to go this place that plays are not. Most important, I have the opportunity to be able to share the Lord Jesus Christ with somebody not just once but every single opportunity that God gives us we should take advantage of.

So when you think about your life you think about is a series of responsibilities things that you have to carry out other you see it as a series of opportunities that God gives you what you do the opportunities that come your way. You just let them pass by and say what you and I'll always have another chance not necessarily so the Scriptures about one man and then to others who had the same opportunity, but two of them decided that none on the nano negative that there will decided that he would. Jesus gives us a great lesson in opportunities in this 10th chapter of Luke. So when you turn that you will and let's begin in the 25th verse of this 10th chapter Jesus gives is a parable here after he introduces the conversation he gives is a parable here and so beginning in this the 25th verse. He said that and a lawyer stood up and put him to the test, saying teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life and he said to what is written in the law, how does it read to you and he answered, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself. And he said to you have answered correctly do this and you will live, but wishing to justify himself, he said to Jesus, and who is my neighbor now so this conversation went on, and so Jesus to answer that question gives this parable, would you know well, but I also read he says, Jesus replied and said a man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, and they stripped him and beating, and went away, leaving him half dead, and by chance a priest was going down that road and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. Likewise a Levite also. When he came to the place and saw him pass down the other side but a Samaritan who was on a journey came upon in and when he saw him, he felt compassion and he came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them and he put him on his own donkey and brought him to an inn and took care of on the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, take care of him and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.

Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the robbers hands and he said the one who showed mercy toward him. Then Jesus said to him go and do the same several hours. I got to do with opportunity simply this.

That's on the one hand, it's interesting the people whom Jesus chose to tell the story about one him.

He said a priest came by and the Levite that the priest and the Levite were serving in the Temple in Jerusalem and they probably live down in Jericho about a 15 mile hike through the mountains of a deserted area. Lots of caves and so forth by Robert Scott had and so these two men walk by and first of all, the priest who'd been to the temple doing his job.

He came by. He looked went down the other side ignored that this was a Jew, there was Rob and Lana have their and then the Levite comes by and he does the same thing and he walks down the side so you would say without a doubt the neither of these men took the opportunity to help our brother who had been robbed and beaten so badly was left to die and what would you say about them is that will let them take advantage of the opportunity they had to helping why because first of all they want, practicing what they been preaching up in the temple because the law and that is you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength and the second is this that you love your neighbor as yourself. So this is what they told in the temple and Jesus and let love your neighbor as yourself.

When you put this together.

This is the sum total of the law. So instead of practicing that they just ignore the law or one of the son and left a brother dying, so neither of them took the opportunity that was presented to them to say this man's life then comes along a Samaritan and Jesus uses on purpose because Samaritans and Jews hated each other and so there was always conflict that you remember. For example, the woman at the well and Jesus was talking to her and he began the conversation. She said no weatherman what you doing in carrying on a conversation with me when you are a Jew and I'm a Samaritan because Jesus is overlook that took advantage of the opportunity and led her to believe in him as the Savior. And remember, she went back and just about evangelize the whole counties that I've met a mentor told me everything they wonder was this the Messiah, and of course he was. So when he comes along, Samaritan, and he sees this Jew who hated him hated each other and so when he comes along.

He had the same opportunity in the Scripture says deliberately that he was on the journey. Now the Levite of the priest were going home from work.

So they went on a journey they were just going home. This man was only journey was going somewhere specifically to do whatever the business was. But when he saw in Scripture says he went over he looked at him.

He saw his condition. He took out some bandages and he took wine and he took oil in bandaged him up well and then he put them on his donkey and took him to an inn paid his fare for that night. Also, some giving enough to denarii, which were taken care of several days and the he says that if you spend more than this on him when I come back I will repay that.

Would you say that he took advantage of an opportunity. Yes he did so want you to watch this. I either look at things as an opportunity on obstruction in my life.

Is this something that God is placed here. Is this an opportunity he's given me or is this something that just obstructs our journey.

Our pathway I'm going what I want to do and when I want to do it in the Levite of the priest would probably have time to do that.

I'm on my way home and it's a pretty good ways to go there.

I want to have the times you and explain away our opportunities excuse ourselves from our opportunities by rationalizing the fact I'm too busy this that the other and so forth. So what I want us to look at his this is a perfect example of a choice. We have, we can act like the priest and the Levite, the real religious people and then this Samaritan who is hated by the man that was lying that they despise the child and yet he stooped vanity about to come to an end and said look at this more that you can trust me I'll pay for it now. What I want us to note in this message is this what is it that opportunities reveal about us when you have an opportunity. Do you think opportunity or obstruction. Do you think in terms of the fact that God is giving you the privilege of doing something that will honor him as well as helping somebody else and so how would you define an opportunity would be have to be something that's really tremendous all our will to be something so simple that you sat down beside someone and you could feel that they were troubled in their heart, and you said to them, could I help you, and I pray for you.

Is this something I can do for you.

Take advantage of an opportunity. Opportunities come in small sizes and opportunities come in major sizes and when I think about that and I think about how we respond the way we respond as we are revealing whether we have the discernment to distinguish when something is an opportunity and when it's not and I got this phone call is homesteading and all in the middle of what I was doing and the I got this phone call and picked it up without thinking and this voice began a call my name in the heated tell me who he was at first that he tell me about what kind of condition he was in with drugs and alcohol of the law and all the things that were going on and he just kept on and I'm thinking first of all, I'm working on the message and unthinking. I don't think I have time for the listened all this and then all of a sudden it dawned on me.

Is this an obstruction to your message or is this an opportunity to help somebody who is desperately in need straight me up.

Is that okay keep talking and the dysuria. What an opportunity I would've missed. He kept telling me what was going his life and then he said, I haven't seen my father since 1976 I have them talk to them since then. So I said well give me a telephone number so I took his telephone number and I call this day because I knew his daddy. I know he had the son and I checked was the answer.

How you doing and so far, but I didn't tell his father of why: this McDonald conversation. I call the boy back in game as follows telephone number because he knew how to get in touch with his father that was on Thursday morning. I believe it boy call me back. He said the you know where I am. I said no just blessed me.

He said I'm certain about 6 feet from my father and I thing the Lord suppose I had said to him the look I thank you very much but I don't have time to talk to this one because I'm the senses like a priest, Levite, because I'm working on a sermon I don't have time to talk to you about your drugs and your alcohol in your bed family. Thank God that I didn't feel that we know in the city. I'm simply say that opportunities come sometimes as a surprise.

You not ready for. But God knows when you're ready. We had to be discerning because there are people all around those who are hurting, but different reasons and all of us are busy.

If I should ask anybody in here you have a busy time and you're like oh yes, everybody's busy but here's the issue. If I'm really following Jesus. Not too busy for a God given opportunity. It may not have been what I wanted to do at the moment, but when all of a sudden it dawned of me. This isn't just a strange call though I'd never heard of them before they even know existed. Suddenness like the spirit of God said this is an opportunity and the thing that the Lord allowed me to be able to put the father the son together and even spoken to each other and some of years. What a wonderful opportunity and you know what they're all around you if you stop and think that all around her that people who are hurting all around you, probably people who are hurting more today than ever before and so many of them just looking for somebody who give them some attention who will empathize with them in some fashion to be able to say I do know how you feel.

I've been there before and so the issue is, do I have a discerning spirit to know when it's an opportunity or just somebody who is intruding into my affairs. So the whole issue here is this what is it reveal about what it reveals whether we have that the seminar the second thing it reveals is this and that is it reveals if Jesus Christ is really the Lord of our life and not there was when God gives me an opportunity and I ignored it, that he's not Lord I'm still the loss he gives me an opportunity and I explained away rationalizing don't have time. It's an opportunity from him that he's not Lord of my life. I'm still in charge. I'm not saying that all the opportunities that come your way are always delightful and pleasant and I wouldn't listen.

This distinguish between an opportunity and a temptation because some so-called opportunities are not opportunities. They are enticements the sin they are routes that lead you away from God that we turn about God-given opportunities and they're all around.

And so the issue is, what is it reveal about it reveals not only whether we have a discerning spirit and can detect one another but it also says is he really and truly the Lord and Master of my life or is he not if he's Lord, and he gives us an opportunity he'll make us aware that that's what it is that we have to decide. That's why I say being discerning the capacity to be able to understand what is really going on at the moment and what is really going on at the moment is God is offering you an opportunity to change somebody's life by your personal testimony or whatever it might be but opportunities are there opportunities to serve God.

There opportunities all around you and your family opportunities where you work there opportunities that you have you not even aware of the people who look at you as a believer believe that you know how to pray and talk to God, believe that you know what that God answers prayer, believe that you have some subtler insight to God and they would love for you to pray for them if they have the courage to ask you to do it, then they want you to tell them how Jesus is working in your life. If they had the courage to ask you, but they don't. And so what happens if you and discerning God will bring us together. Somehow, with that person in some way, he will make the opportunity. I'm simply saying to you that there people who see you as a possible blessing and a help in their life that you not even aware of and also when I think about all the go zone. I think about in this light.

He's given us all spiritual gifts and we have opportunities to utilize those spiritual gifts and in the process of doing so, we are helping somebody else and especially for example, somebody's going through a very difficult time and you can tell on their face there said that you work with them. They come to work said you see them going about their responsibilities and you know something's not right you have the opportunity to offer yourself, at least as a friend to say is this something I can help you with the notice you, you seem to be sad today and then listen there people in such desperate need. You'd almost have to be blind to walk around them and not know their hurting very very deeply and they need some encouragement. Well, your willingness to exercise your spirit. You gives you may have a gift for example of exultation and in God can use you to speak to them your suite of law, but you have the opportunity and the privilege and the know-how and the gift to say to them, something that is very comforting. Something that is reassuring.

And sometimes that may simply be you know I've been there and though how you feel and I want you and I'm going to be praying for you and if you need me you call me if I can help in a way, I'll be happy to listen, you can save people's lives there people who hurting deeply and need somebody who is willing to at least give them some attention and of course one of the things it reveals about us is this it reveals whether we are willing or not to give to other people. That is, give my time give my attention give my money, whatever it might be the way we respond to opportunities because there opportunities to give and their people today are said again and again on purpose hurting more deeply for more reasons than ever before. I don't have to and you don't have to look for an opportunity to help somebody today that everywhere, and the people who are crying out of never cried out people and deeper need that have never been that deeply in need than ever before, and we who are believers if we believe what we say to love our neighbor as ourselves, then listen. Our antennas are to be out not tucked in because with two busy and I don't want to spend the time but our antennas all of their God has given you a capacity and the ability and the skill and the discernment and the mind and the heart and the compassion to make you a vessel that makes a difference in someone else's life, and we cannot afford to overlook those opportunity. Thank you for listing to responding to our opportunities. If you like to know more about Charles Stanley for intense ministries, intense tantalizing contact of the presentation and intense ministries and handling