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Series Code: BOLS
Program Code: BOLS000124S
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00:04 #S065 - What To Do When Opportunity Knocks (Part 1)
00:20 And so today we want to 00:20 go ahead and continue in this series 00:23 entitled The Construction Zone, 00:25 because there are some things 00:26 that God wants to reveal in us and for us. 00:29 And so as we get into the work, good, instant 00:31 your feet as we jump into it today, I want you to join me 00:35 first in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 21, 00:40 and then I want you to put your finger over in Nehemiah 00:42 chapter two, Proverbs, chapter 21, 00:46 and verse number one. 00:50 When you get there, let me hear you say, pass the room there. 00:54 Proverbs chapter 21 and verse 00:57 number one. 01:00 There is a very critical principle 01:04 that will undergird our discussion today, Proverbs 21 01:08 and verse one, When you say, Pastor, I'm here, 01:11 all right. 01:12 The Bible simply says this, that the king's heart 01:16 is in the hand of the Lord 01:20 like the rivers of water. 01:22 He turns it whatever way he wishes. 01:27 The jokes catch that church. 01:28 The Bible says The King's heart, the president's heart. 01:31 The governor's heart is in the hand of the Lord, 01:34 and he turns it whichever way he chooses. 01:36 Now go with me to the Book of Nehemiah Chapter two, 01:40 and we'll begin 01:41 our reading together at verse number one, Nehemiah 01:43 Chapter two. 01:46 And we will begin together at verse 01:48 number one, Nehemiah two and verse one. 01:52 When you get there, say pastor him there, 01:56 Nehemiah two in verse one. 01:59 Again, I just need to know how many of us need a word 02:01 from the Lord today. 02:03 I just need to know who you are. He meant 02:06 the Bible says, and 02:07 it came to pass in the month of Ni sung 02:11 in the 20th year of King Xerxes when wine was before him 02:16 that I took the wine and gave it to the king. 02:20 Now, I had never been said in his presence before. 02:23 Therefore, the King said to me, 02:24 Why is your face sad since you are not sick? 02:28 This is nothing but sorrow of the heart. 02:32 So I became dreadfully afraid and said to the king, 02:36 may the King live forever. 02:38 Why should my face not be sad when the city, 02:43 the place of my father's tomb lies in waste 02:46 and its gates are burned with fire. 02:49 Then the king said to me, 02:51 What do you request? 02:53 So I. What? 02:55 So he went. 02:58 So I prayed to the God of heaven. 03:01 And I said to the King, If it pleases the King, 03:04 and if your servant has found favor in your sight, 03:07 I ask that you send me to Judah, the city 03:09 of my father's tombs, that I may rebuild it. 03:13 Then the king said to me, the queen also sitting 03:15 beside him, 03:16 How long will your journey be and when will you return? 03:20 So it pleased the king to send me. 03:23 And I set him a time. 03:25 And furthermore, I said to the king, 03:27 if it pleases the King, let let us be given to me 03:31 for the governors of the region beyond the river that they must 03:33 permit me to pass through until I come to Judah. 03:37 And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the King's Forest, 03:41 that he give me timber to make beams for the gates 03:43 of the citadel, which pertains to the temple for the city wall. 03:47 And for the house that I will occupy. 03:50 And notice what the word says. The Bible says. 03:51 And the King granted them 03:55 according to the good hand 03:58 of my God upon me. 04:01 Then I went to the governors of the region 04:03 beyond the river and gave them the King's Letters. 04:08 Now, the King had sent captains of the army and horses with me. 04:13 But again, I just want to read for emphasis. 04:17 Verse four Then the king said to me, 04:21 What do you request today? 04:24 Since I want to talk for a little while under the subject 04:27 what to do when opportunity knocks and what to do. 04:33 When opportunity knocks, let's pray together. 04:35 Father 04:37 In this little while, 04:38 would you please say much? 04:42 Father 04:44 There are some of us that are about 04:45 to see some open doors. 04:49 And Lord, my prayer is that you would give us 04:51 the spiritual faculties to be able to recognize 04:55 where you're moving, how you're moving. 04:59 And to govern ourselves accordingly. 05:02 So I'm praying, dear God, that there would be an eruption 05:05 of belief in the House of God today, that 05:09 we would be able to move beyond what we see with our eyes. 05:14 And that we would act according to the promises of your word. 05:17 So would you please hide me in the shadows of the cross that 05:20 Jesus alone might be seen, that Christ alone might be heard? 05:26 And at the end of our time together, may Jesus alone 05:29 be praised. 05:30 Bless us. 05:30 To this end, 05:31 we pray 05:32 in the wonderful name of Jesus, and that those who believe, 05:34 say together, a man and a man, you may be seated in the House 05:38 of the Lord 05:40 again talking to you under the subject today. 05:42 What to do when opportunity 05:46 knocks. 05:52 Church 05:55 Have you ever wondered 05:57 why some people seem to get all the breaks? 06:04 Does it ever feel like doors 06:07 only open for certain people? 06:12 Have you ever been frustrated that opportunities 06:14 tend to be slow when they're coming your way? 06:19 And the truth is 06:21 that some of us are frustrated now because opportunity 06:25 seems to come to everybody but youth. 06:29 In fact, some of us men have desired an opportunity to serve. 06:34 Some of us are waiting for an opportunity to witness. 06:38 Some are wanting an opportunity to lead. 06:42 Some are wanting the opportunity for companionship. 06:46 Others are wanting the opportunity to finally show 06:49 what you're able to do. 06:51 And low key. 06:52 Some of us are a bit frustrated with God 06:57 that opportunities are slow to come in your direction. 07:02 But one of the problems, friends, is that some of us 07:05 treat opportunity like an event. 07:09 When the truth is opportunity is a science, 07:11 let me say it again. 07:13 That opportunity is not an occasion. 07:17 But there is actually a formula to opportunity. 07:20 You see, the problem is that some of us 07:21 see opportunity as this providential assist 07:26 that God only gives to an elite number of few. 07:31 But I need you to get that 07:32 there is an upper formula to opportunity and that God does 07:36 not want to bless anybody more than He blesses you. 07:42 And see, for instance, there are some things that are 07:44 part of the formula for opportunity. 07:47 Let me begin by saying 07:48 I need you to realize that diligence and faithfulness 07:52 is a part of the formula for opportunity. 07:56 Did not Jesus saying that if you're faithful over a little, 08:00 God will give you opportunity to be ruler or overseer of much? 08:06 Jesus, in the Book of Proverbs, 08:07 says that if a man is diligent in his labor, 08:12 he will have the opportunity to serve before kings. 08:16 And I need somebody to know that you audition 08:19 for opportunity when no one is looking. 08:23 In other words, friends, I need you to get that. 08:25 Because promotion comes ultimately from God. 08:30 You don't audition for the boss, the coworker, the board, 08:33 or the committee. 08:34 You've got to be faithful when no one is looking because 08:38 your audition is with the unseen power of Jesus Christ. 08:43 I need somebody to know 08:45 that willingness is a part of the formula of opportunity. 08:50 In fact, there are some of us that never get the opportunities 08:53 we pray for 08:54 because we're not willing 08:55 to act on the opportunities that God gives. 08:59 In fact, an example of this is Aesop. 09:03 You see, Aesop was not willing to carry 09:05 the weight of the opportunity of handling the birthright. 09:09 Do you realize that Jehovah should have been described 09:12 as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau? 09:17 But the opportunity was given to Jacob 09:20 because he was willing to carry it. 09:23 I need somebody to know that service is a part of 09:25 the formula. 09:26 In fact, some of the most blessed people I have ever seen 09:30 in my life are the individuals that serve community, 09:35 that serve neighborhood, and they serve in church. 09:39 In fact, they are committed to missions that don't 09:42 directly impact their bottom line. 09:45 In fact, I've seen physicians that serve 09:48 on the local church usher board, our deacon board. 09:52 I've seen CEOs that show up at the annual church clean up. 09:56 And one of the things I've come to believe, friends, 09:59 is that you will never, ever be blessed beyond your capacity 10:03 for service. All my required in here today. 10:06 In fact, friends, I had somebody of great means 10:09 that gave a gift to our ministry at Breath of Life. 10:12 But I notice that he still 10:13 serves youth in his pathfinders and his tiny little church. 10:18 And I even I could not help but remark 10:20 that how you do 10:21 these great things in Hollywood and in government, 10:24 and yet you still serve the kids at church. 10:27 And he made it clear that the reason I'm able to do 10:30 those things is 10:31 that God has blessed me because of my ministry to young people. 10:36 And what I'm saying to somebody Saints is that when you have 10:39 no active ministry, you withdraw 10:42 a supernatural favor and blessings from your life. 10:47 In fact, Jesus said that if you seek first my kingdom, 10:51 all of the things will be added unto you. 10:54 In other words, I need you to get that 10:56 there is a formula and science to opportunity. 10:59 You've got to be willing. 11:00 Can you say, man, you've got to serve. 11:03 Can you say amen? 11:05 You've got to be willing to step out in faith. 11:08 And I need you to know, beloved, 11:09 that you don't have to be wistful about opportunity. 11:14 You just got to be scientific about opportunity. 11:17 The same way to m to equals for willingness 11:21 plus service equals an open door. 11:24 You've got to be willing to embrace the science 11:28 of divine opportunity along with me today, friends. 11:31 And so go back with me in your Bibles. 11:32 I need you to see some things in the Word. 11:34 Go back to Nehemiah, chapter one and verse one, 11:38 and then we'll go to Nehemiah two and verse one, Nehemiah 11:41 chapter one and verse one. 11:45 The Bible says the words of Nehemiah, the son of Aliyah. 11:51 It came to pass in the month of Kislev 11:55 in the 20th year as I was in Tucson, the Citadel. 11:59 So we realize that 12:00 Nehemiah begins his prayer in the month of chiseling. 12:04 But in verse one of chapter two, 12:07 it says, and it came to pass in the month of Nisan 12:10 in the 20th year of King of Desert sees. 12:14 When I was before him that I took wine 12:16 and gave it unto the king. 12:19 Now, friends, I need you to get that. 12:21 The story of Nehemiah has great principles of faith and action. 12:28 But today, I want to spend just a little while talking 12:30 about how we manage the opportunities that God gives. 12:36 And the first thing that you'll learn today is that God 12:39 blesses the patient, not the fidgety. 12:43 Let me just say that again for your hearing 12:45 that God blesses the patient, not the fidgety, 12:48 anxious believer 12:50 that starts tinkering with the providence of God. 12:54 Not now. 12:55 Last week, church. 12:56 We begin to get into deuce to a broken 12:59 and grieving man named Nehemiah. 13:03 And we read in chapter one 13:04 that Nehemiah begins his petition 13:08 in the month of his land, which is November 13:11 of the Jewish calendar. 13:13 But notice that the opportunity does not reveal itself 13:17 until Nisan, 13:19 which is the month of March in the Jewish calendar. 13:23 And so it's not like Nehemiah prays one day 13:26 and opportunity shows up the next day. 13:30 Nehemiah has been petitioning God for four months 13:34 before an opportunity arises. 13:37 Now there is somebody looking at that and saying, Pastor, 13:39 four months is not really a long time to have to wait. 13:44 But how many of us know that the sense of how long 13:46 the wait is is always related to how great your urgency is. 13:53 In other words, when it's not that big a deal, 13:56 you don't mind waiting for God to show up. 13:59 But when it is something that you value, 14:02 when it's something that burdens your soul, 14:05 when it's something that's important to you, 14:08 even the smallest weight can feel like an eternity. 14:13 In other words, when you're in great physical pain, 14:16 the 30 minutes it takes the drug clinic 14:19 to fill your prescription can feel like a long time. 14:23 When you hate your job and it's 3:00, man, 5:00 can take years 14:28 to finally come when it's December 14:31 23rd and you're a child waiting on Christmas. 14:35 Those last two days feels like two years. 14:38 When you truly desire companionship. 14:41 Waiting on that person to show up 14:44 can feel like God is taking too long. 14:47 In fact, friends, if you've ever been really hungry 14:51 and you put 14:52 something in the microwave, those 2 minutes 14:55 and 30 seconds can feel like two and a half years. 14:59 Am I telling the truth today? 15:01 And what I want to simply say to somebody in the weight 15:04 is this that you don't get to manage God's timeline, 15:09 but you can manage your urgency. 15:12 So one of the things I've learned the hard way, 15:14 friends, is that your hurry, your urgency won't rush God. 15:20 Your urgency won't accelerate God. 15:23 Your urgency won't make God move faster. 15:27 In fact, the only thing that uncontrolled 15:29 urgency will do is it will tempt you to move out 15:33 of God's wheel and start tinkering with the formula. 15:38 And what I want to say quickly 15:39 is that sometimes God is not moving too slow. 15:44 The problem is we're just too anxious. 15:47 In other words, the problem is not that God is taking his time. 15:51 The issue is that you've got a warm sense of time. 15:54 We've just got too much anxiety. 15:56 The truth 15:57 is that some in the House of God are just way too press. 16:00 Come on and say, man, 16:02 some of us are too press to be grown and get out of the house. 16:07 Some are too press to relocate. 16:09 Some are too press to hurry and get married. 16:12 Some are too press to have a new start. 16:15 But one of the things I've learned 16:16 is that some of the stuff we're so pressed about, 16:20 once we actually get it, it's not what we actually thought 16:23 it was going to become. 16:25 So the things that we are pressed to have, 16:28 we're not impressed once we actually get it. 16:31 And one of the things I've learned 16:32 is that the more precious you are in your wanting, 16:36 the less impressed you are in your having. 16:39 But the less press you are in your wanting, 16:42 the more impressed you are when you finally receive 16:46 what God has for you. 16:47 You are hearing me today, friends. 16:49 And one of the things 16:50 I just need to remind somebody today is that your steps 16:55 have been ordered by the Almighty God. 16:59 I need somebody to know that 17:00 what God has for you, it just is for you. 17:05 You need to be reminded of some 84 when God says no. 17:09 Good thing will he withhold from those who love him. 17:14 In other words, I need you to know 17:16 that God is not withholding opportunity. 17:20 God is just preparing opportunity. 17:23 He's not withholding blessings. 17:26 That God is just maturing our developing blessings. 17:30 I need somebody to know that God is not withholding 17:33 the right house. 17:33 God is just preparing the right house. 17:37 God is not withholding the right job. 17:39 He's just preparing the right job. 17:42 God is not withholding the right spouse. 17:45 He's just preparing you for the right spouse. 17:49 I need you to know that God loves you so much 17:51 that He won't withhold a good thing. 17:54 He'll just 17:55 prepare you for the good things he's ordained for you. 18:00 Y'all hear me today, friends? 18:01 Listen, I remember 18:02 just probably about eight years ago 18:04 when my wife and I moved into the house we live in, ma'am. 18:07 I remember the year 18:09 before we moved in, we had begin to look at this neighborhood. 18:13 It was right across the street from where we lived. 18:15 My wife and I would go in and walk 18:16 through the neighborhood and pray. 18:18 And we were convinced that this was what God had for us. 18:23 And so we put a contract on a particular house. 18:26 We had been approved preliminarily in our financing, 18:29 but as we got 18:31 into the underwriting process, there was a tax document 18:35 that was not prepared the right way. 18:37 And so the entire deal fell through. 18:40 Now, we weren't just disappointed 18:41 that we didn't get the house, but what made it hard is 18:44 we thought that we had heard from God. 18:47 So we had to remain where we were for another year. 18:50 But God is faithful. 18:51 Any hears our prayers 18:53 because in the course of the next year, 18:56 the housing market continues to go down 18:59 so that interest rates fall below 4%. 19:02 The price of houses begins to go down 19:05 and they build a model 19:07 that's more kid friendly to our lifestyle. 19:10 In other words, we thought, God was withholding it 19:13 when the truth is that God was just preparing it. 19:16 God was just maturing yet. 19:19 And I need somebody to know that when God has it for you, 19:23 there is 19:24 nothing that can stand against you. 19:27 So that for months now, 19:30 Nehemiah has this burden that is swelling. 19:32 He is crushed in spirit and there is anxiety 19:37 because he sees no change coming about. 19:41 But the thing I like about Nehemiah Church 19:45 is that even though it's taking a long time for God to move. 19:50 The thing I like about him is that he does not become fidgety. 19:56 He does not manufacture a political scheme 20:01 that allows him to press his way into the presence of the King. 20:04 He just falls back 20:05 and he waits on God to reveal it in his own time. 20:10 He realizes that he's got to keep his knee bended in prayer 20:13 and he's got 20:14 to keep his head up in service as he serves the king. 20:16 Are you with me today? France. 20:18 And so I need you to understand, for those who are 20:21 in a waiting season, 20:25 that you multiply your sorrows when you become fidgety 20:30 and you start tinkering with the will of God, 20:34 and you start making your factoring out counts. 20:37 Instead of waiting on God to show up. 20:40 Are you all with me today? France. 20:41 In other words, I need you to get that. 20:43 There are a series of consequences 20:46 that never stop hurting 20:47 when you start moving ahead of the hand of God. 20:52 Let me give you an example. 20:53 Remember that Sarah got tired of waiting on kids, 20:58 and so she became fidgety. 21:00 And she told Abraham to lie with my hand made Hagar 21:05 and I'll have children through her. 21:07 And it was all good until Hagar 21:10 start acting like she was the number one woman in the house. 21:13 And all of a sudden, 21:14 not only did she have to go, the child also had to go. 21:19 Remember that David got fidgety on the rooftop 21:21 that night when he saw Bathsheba bathing outside. 21:26 And understand the reason that David was judge 21:28 was not 21:30 just because of the adultery, but God said if you wanted more, 21:34 if you waited on me, I would have given it to you. 21:38 Do you realize that what messed up Judas was not Bree? 21:42 He became fidgety. 21:44 You realize it wasn't about the pieces of silver. 21:47 If that was the case, once 21:48 Jesus died, he would not have taken the money back. 21:52 But you realize that Judas was simply a schemer 21:56 who wanted Jesus to overthrow the government of Rome 21:59 and to use his power. 22:00 So what He did was painted Jesus in a corner 22:05 where he would have no choice but to use his power. 22:08 And it was the belief 22:09 that he had actually set Jesus up for success. 22:13 And that's why he sealed it with a kiss on his face 22:17 as he friends. 22:18 What I need somebody to know 22:19 is that every time you become fidgety, all you do 22:23 is push back the timing of God 22:27 so that what was supposed to happen in March 22:30 gets pushed back to November. 22:31 What was supposed to happen in 22 won't happen until 24. 22:37 Every time you begin to tinker with the hand and the directives 22:40 of the Almighty God, you see, every time you start 22:44 robbing God to pay bills, every time you start dating 22:51 just for company and not for covenant, 22:54 every time you start conniving and scheming 22:57 and politicking your way 22:59 into positions of upward mobility, the only thing you do 23:03 is actually push back the hand of God. 23:07 And the thing you got to know is that God can outwait you. 23:10 He ain't got 23:11 nothing but time and eternity on his side. 23:14 And you've got to be still and wait on 23:16 God, y'all here in the Pasadena Friends. 23:19 May I remember? 23:19 You know, 23:20 I learned this even as a little kid, 23:21 and the same thing showed up for one of my kids. 23:23 They were in the swimming pool one day and 23:25 and my youngest, he had a little toy 23:28 that he was trying to play with, but the toy had kind of begun 23:30 to drift over it toward the deep end. 23:32 And and what happened when he tried to reach it 23:35 every time he missed it, it would create a wave 23:36 and push the toy a little bit further away. 23:40 And so when I said to him, I said, Son, 23:41 stop reaching for the toy. 23:43 What I want you to do is just push back as fast as you can. 23:48 And he didn't really understand the instruction, 23:49 but I said, just push back as fast as you can. 23:52 Well, what happens is 23:54 when you go back in the water, it creates a draft current. 23:57 So that whatever is in front of you 24:00 is going to slowly begin floating toward your direction. 24:04 And so what happens is he began pushing back 24:07 and it created a draft and a current, and eventually 24:09 the toy just starts floating in his direction. 24:12 And what 24:13 I'm saying that somebody today is stop reaching for it. 24:16 Stop grabbing for it. 24:18 After you've done all you can do, just fall back 24:22 and let God send it in your direction. 24:25 Just fall back and let God send the job 24:29 fall back and let God send the spouse fall back and let God 24:33 send the house fall back and let God open the door. 24:38 Are you hear me today, Friends? 24:40 Thank you so much for joining us for the Breath of Life, 24:43 Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell 24:48 We hope and pray 24:49 that you have been blessed by this second message 24:53 in the sermon series titled The Construction's Zone. 24:56 Join us next week for part two of the message 25:00 What to do when Opportunity Knocks. 25:03 You don't want to miss it! 25:08 it's graduation season. 25:10 And I want to say congrats to all of our recent graduates. 25:14 And though we're thankful for how God is blessing you, 25:16 the only problem is that we ask 18 or 19 year olds 25:21 to make decisions that affect the rest of their lives. 25:24 That's why I'm inviting you to join me for our 25:27 first ever Breath of life decision day. 25:30 It's a one day online conference on July the seventh. 25:34 I'm going to be joined by a number of individuals. 25:36 They're going to help 25:38 our young people make decisions about their future. 25:41 We're going to be discussing things 25:42 like how to discover your calling. 25:44 Doesn't HBCU put me out of this advantage? 25:49 When do I need to pivot changing schools or majors? 25:52 Or how to dream big? 25:55 It's going to be held on July the seventh from 10 a.m. 25:57 to 2:00 PM. 25:59 It's a free conference, 26:00 but we don't just want the kids to come. 26:02 We want the parents to come so that we can make these decisions 26:07 with God's tutelage as a village. 26:10 So again, that's going to be July the seventh from 10 a.m. 26:12 to 2:00 pm. 26:14 I need you to know it's going to be a great time of learning. 26:17 You're going to be equipped. 26:17 You're going to be given some tools 26:19 to make sure 26:20 that you land at the right place 26:22 and that you make the right choice. 26:24 I look forward to seeing you soon on decision day. 26:39 What's good? 26:40 Family breath of life is going to be coming to the West Coast. 26:44 We're excited that from July the 14th to July the 27th, 26:49 we're going to be hosting our third annual Hope 26:51 Rally under the theme Almost Home. 26:55 We're going to be meeting for those two weeks 26:57 in Long Beach, California. 26:59 We're going to be meeting each night, 27:00 except for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM. 27:05 It's an in-person meeting only, so you can't catch it online. 27:09 You've got to be in the house. 27:11 We're going to be joined in musical partnership 27:14 by gospel recording artist Smokey Norful. 27:18 Jonathan Nelson and Donnie McClurkin. 27:21 Each night, dinner is going to be served 27:25 and there's going to be special programing for your youth 27:27 and for your little ones. 27:28 It's going to be a high time in Zion 27:31 where we're going to 27:32 be preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, 27:35 and we're going to be reminded that this world is not our home. 27:39 Again, I look forward to seeing you in Long Beach, 27:41 California, from July the 14th to the 27th. 27:46 Make sure that you're planning to be there 27:47 and you bring somebody with you. 27:49 If you want more information, go to our website 27:53 at www.breathoflife.tv, God bless. 27:57 I'll be seeing you this summer. |
Revised 2024-06-13