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How does God want us to view new opportunities?
- Volunteering for missions / Leading new ministries - Youth, Campus, Preetens, Esthers, Singing ministry
- If u want to get what u never got before,
- We must do things that we never did before
1. With opportunity comes responsibility.
Numbers 14:1-4, 20-24
1 That night all the people of the community raised their voices and wept aloud.
2 All the Israelites grumbled against Moses and Aaron, and the whole assembly said to them, "If only we had died in Egypt! Or in this desert!
3 Why is the LORD bringing us to this land only to let us fall by the sword? Our wives and children will be taken as plunder. Wouldn't it be better for us to go back to Egypt?"
4 And they said to each other, "We should choose a leader and go back to Egypt."
20 The LORD replied, "I have forgiven them, as you asked.
21 Nevertheless, as surely as I live and as surely as the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth,
22 not one of the men who saw my glory and the miraculous signs I performed in Egypt and in the desert but who disobeyed me and tested me ten times--
23 not one of them will ever see the land I promised on oath to their forefathers. No one who has treated me with contempt will ever see it.
24 But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to, and his descendants will inherit it.
VERSE: Not one of these people will ever enter that land. They have seen my glorious presence and the miraculous signs I performed both in Egypt and in the wilderness, but again and again they tested me by refusing to listen. They will never even see the land I swore to give their ancestors. None of those who have treated me with contempt will enter it. (Numbers 14:22-23)
The people of Israel had a clearer view of God than any people before them, for they had both his laws and his physical presence.
Their refusal to follow God after witnessing his miraculous deeds and listening to his words made the judgment against them more severe.
Increased opportunity brings increased responsibility.
As Jesus said: "Much is required from those to whom much is given" (Luke 12:48).
How much greater is our responsibility to obey and serve God-we have the whole Bible, and we know God's Son, Jesus Christ.
A seemingly impossible task may be an opportunity for God to work.
Mark 6:37, 41-44
37 But he answered, "You give them something to eat." They said to him, "That would take eight months of a man's wages ! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?"
41 Taking the five loaves and the two fish and looking up to heaven, he gave thanks and broke the loaves. Then he gave them to his disciples to set before the people. He also divided the two fish among them all.
42 They all ate and were satisfied,
43 and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.
44 The number of the men who had eaten was five thousand.
VERSE: Jesus said, "You feed them." "With what?" they asked. "It would take a small fortune to buy food for all this crowd!"
37)
When Jesus asked the disciples to provide food for over five thousand people, they asked in astonishment if they should go and spend a small fortune on bread.
How do you react when you are given an impossible task?
A situation that seems impossible with human resources is simply an opportunity for God.
The disciples did everything they could by gathering the available food and organizing the people into groups.
Then, in answer to prayer, God did the impossible.
When facing a seemingly impossible task, do what you can and ask God to do the rest.
He may see fit to make the impossible happen.
2. Opportunities to share the gospel are given to us by God.
Ephesians 3:7-13
7 I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God's grace given me through the working of his power.
8 Although I am less than the least of all God's people, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
9 and to make plain to everyone the administration of this mystery, which for ages past was kept hidden in God, who created all things.
10 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms,
11 according to his eternal purpose which he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord.
12 In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.
13 I ask you, therefore, not to be discouraged because of my sufferings for you, which are your glory.
VERSE: By God's special favor and mighty power, I have been given the wonderful privilege of serving him by spreading this Good News. (Ephes. 3:7)
When Paul became a servant of the gospel, God gave him the ability to share effectively the gospel of Christ.
You may not be an apostle or even an evangelist, but God will give you opportunities to tell others about Christ.
And with the opportunities he will provide the ability, courage, and power.
Whenever an opportunity presents itself, make yourself available to God as his servant.
- Prayer at Service, Singing at worship-awesome, Ushering-with a smile, Leadership of discipling and leading ministries with faith and zeal of God.
- Even if you are sick / struggling / caring a burden
- Coming on Time
As you focus on the other person and his or her needs, God will communicate your caring attitude. Your words will be natural, loving, and compelling.
Opportunities to share the gospel may come from hardships.
Philippians 1:12-14
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
VERSE: Because of my imprisonment, many of the Christians here have gained confidence and become more bold in telling others about Christ. (Phil. 1:14)
Being imprisoned would cause many people to become bitter or to give up, but Paul saw it as one more opportunity to spread the Good News of Christ.
Paul realized that his current circumstances weren't as important as what he did with them.
Turning a bad situation into a good one, he reached out to the Roman soldiers who made up the palace guard and encouraged those Christians who were afraid of persecution.
We may not be in prison, but we still have plenty of opportunities to be discouraged-times of indecision, financial burdens, family conflict, church conflict, or the loss of our jobs.
How we act in such situations will reflect what we believe.
Like Paul, look for ways to demonstrate your faith even in bad situations.
Whether or not the situation improves, your faith will grow stronger.
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