160605 AM This Will Be Your Opportunity

“This Will Be Your Opportunity”   A.  Our English word opportunity comes from the Latin, ob portu–ob (against) and portu (portorharbor).  1.  In ancient times,ob portu was a nautical term for a ship’s maneuvers when approaching a port.  The ship would wait outside the harbor in deeper waters, waiting “against the port” for the high   tide to change and deepen the port’s basin so the ship wouldn’t run aground.  2.  Miss the high tide and you spent a dangerous night just off land, in the darkness, fearing the   shallows or reefs until the next high tide came. The worst place to be if a storm arose was just outside the port with winds and waves that could drive a ship aground and pound it to splinters.  B.God, throughout his written revelation to mankind, encourages us to see and seize opportunities:  1.  Joshua: “Choose this day whom you will serve” (Josh 24:15)  2.  The Lord GOD: “Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die?” (Ezek 33:11)  2.  Paul:“Behold, now is the favorable time, now is the day of salvation” (1 Cor 6:1-2)  3.  Jesus: “This will be your opportunity…”(Luke 21:13) This Will Be Your Opportunity: · To bear______________(Luke 21:10-16; 24:46-48; Acts 1:8; 1 Thes 1:6-10; 1 Pet 3:13-17) · To shine as a_____________in the darkness (Gen 39:6-10; 1 Cor 10:11-13) · To______________in a way that honors God (Luke 21:17-19; 2 Tim 1:12; 2 Cor 12:9-10) · To build______________________(Rom 5:2-5) · To do___________(Gal 6:9-10; Phil 4:14-16) · To love my_______________(Matt 5:43-45) · To fulfill the royal_______(James 2:8; Gal 5:13) · To advance the________________(Phil 1:12-14, 18-21) Conclusion: A.  “Opportunities are usually disguised as hard work, so most people don’t recognize them.” (Landers)  B.  One of the deadliest lies we tell ourselves: “When I get an opportunity…”(Acts 24:24-25; Jer 8:20) C. “At the right time” Christ died for you so that you could live for him (Rom 5:6-8; Acts 16:30-34)