Making the most of the Opportunity – Part I
Ephesians 5:16Making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
Let’s Pray…
Today I would like to start a two-part series that talks about making the most of an opportunity.
The series is entitled “Making the most of the Opportunity.”
Did you know because of the times that we are living in; you and I have opportunities right in from of us?
You may be thinking Pastor Dre we are in a pandemic right now, how can there be an opportunity?
My goal is to show you by the end of this message how you and I can make the most of what looks like a problem and turn it into an opportunity.
We just read in Ephesians 5:16 – Where the Bible talks about making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
The King James Version reads – Redeeming the time because the days are evil.
There are a few ways that you and I can make the most of the opportunity that is in front of us.
In the first part of this series I am going to talk about how we can make the most this opportunity.
In the next part of this series I am going to talk about what can we use to make the most of this opportunity.
Opportunity to be a blessing
Maybe you we see our neighbor, friend, family or loved one in need during this time, that is a great opportunity to be a blessing to them.
It may be a parcel of food, it may be a financial blessing to put petrol in their car to travel to work, it may be purchasing some electricity for them, it may be saying a prayer for your neighbor or co-worker, or it might even be as simple as purchasing some airtime for someone.
Either way as the body of Christ you and I have an opportunity to be a blessing to those that may be in need during this time.
Maybe you have the privilege of still being able to work during this time and you see people at your job not knowing what their future holds.
We can pray for our co-workers.
Maybe we see our neighbor or friend in need, and we have a little extra, what an opportunity that is for you and I to be a blessing.
Maybe our neighbor needs some electricity, airtime, or petrol I don’t know, but it can be an opportunity for you and I as the church to be a blessing.
When you and I do this, it brings glory to God. The world is not looking for another sermon, but what they are looking for is the church to be the church.
Matthew 5:16 – In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Opportunity to be a Testimony
During this time there might even be some of us watching by way of social media or web cast and you may not be working at this time.
Maybe your job called you and said unfortunately we will not be having you come into work and we will not be able to pay you.
You are faithful in your giving to the Lord. You are a tither and you are faithful in your offerings, but now you are in a place where you are not sure how you are going to take care of certain needs.
Well I have some good news for you.
Even though it is not a nice situation to be in and it does not feel good, the good news is that God is still faithful.
You are in what is called miracle territory.
This is a perfect opportunity for God to come through for you.
He said in the book of Malachi that if you and I are faithful in our tithes and offering he will open the windows of heaven. Not only that He said test me and see if I will not open up the windows and pour out a blessing that you can’t contain.
This is a perfect opportunity for God to come through and when He does, we can step back and say look what the Lord has done.
The key thing for you and I is to be faithful in our giving.
We do the natural and God does the supernatural.
It reminds me of the widow woman I Kings 17 who was down to her last meal and the man of God said bake a cake for me first.
Now I do not know about you, but I am not trying to give my food if I am down to my last meal. I do not mind sharing with you if I have plenty, but if it is my last meal then I may not be willing to give you some.
Hello…
The widow woman was obedient. The Bible says in I Kings 17:15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family.
God met her every need.
You may feel like the widow woman, but I encourage you keep putting God first and watch how He will come through.
I say to you there is a blessing on the way.There is a check on the way.There is a raven on the way.
You may not see it yet, but it is on the way.
Expect a call from someone who says I do not know why I am doing this, but we are going to wave your payment that is due this month.
Expect someone to tell you The Lord Placed you upon my heart and here is a financial blessing.
I wish I had a witness up in here.
When God does come through it will be a testimony for God’s honor and God’s glory.
One more area that can be an opportunity for us in this time is.
Opportunity to Spending more time with the Lord
Another opportunity that you and I have as the body of Christ is to spend more time with the Lord.
Many times, you and I have busy schedules and our prayer life and word life my not be where it should be.
Well now that we are on lockdown, this is the perfect opportunity for you and I to spend more time with the Lord.
I heard someone say, if we are still not spending time with the Lord, then we do not have a time problem we have a discipline problem.
Look Family we are all on lockdown and have more time on our hands then we normally do.
You and I can use this time to spend a little bit more time in prayer. We can use this time to get into the Word of God
We can use this time to listen to sermons, teachings and things that will help us grow in our walk with God.
So even though we are in a crisis, we can also use this crisis as an opportunity to get closer to God.
Today I hope this message has encouraged you to use this crisis that we are all facing to make the most of the opportunity.
Let us recap the areas that we talked about:
An opportunity to be a blessing,
Opportunity to be a testimony
and an opportunity to spend more time with the Lord.
Like I said this is a two part series and in the next part of this sermon I will be talking about how to use this crisis as an opportunity of:
How to get better in our gifting.
How to learn something new.
How to use this time to be a producer and not a consumer.
Let us say a word of prayer.
