Sermon Cloud

Title:  DIVINE APPOINTMENTS II – THE KNOCK OF OPPORTUNITY
Pastor:  Fred May
Date:  10 June 2007
Time:  18h00
 
All Scripture references from the  NIV
 
Revelation 3:20  
20
  Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with
him, and he with me.
 
Romans 8:28
28
  And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to
his purpose.
 
A. INTRODUCTION
Milestones
Critical windows
 
B. FIVE RESPONSE FACTORS
1. SEEK
Through prayer  
Colossians 4:3
3
   And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of
Christ, for which I am in chains.
 
Matthew 7:7-8  
7
   Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  
8
   For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
 
Implicit obedience  
Hebrews 4:7
7
   Therefore God again set a certain day, calling it Today, when a long time later he spoke through David, as
was said before: "Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts."
 
2. DISCERN
 Luke 4:13  
13
  When the devil had finished all this tempting, he left him until an opportune time.
 
Genesis 4:7
7
   If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your
door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.
Romans 7:8, 11
8
   But sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, produced in me every kind of covetous
desire. For apart from law, sin is dead.
11   
For sin, seizing the opportunity afforded by the commandment, deceived me, and through the commandment
put me to death.
 
3. MANAGE
Block  
I Timothy 5:14 [to slander]
 14  So I counsel younger widows to marry, to have children, to manage their homes and to give the enemy no
opportunity for slander.
 
 II Corinthians 2:12-13 (in line with priorities & values)
12
  Now when I went to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ and found that the Lord had opened a door for
me,  
13
 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-bye to them and
went on to Macedonia
  Avert  
 
Hebrews 11:15-16  
 15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16
 Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be
called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.
 
4. SEIZE  
Galatians 6:10  
10
  Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the
family of believers.
 
5. CREATE (for others / sow)
 II Corinthians 5:12  
12   
We are not trying to commend ourselves to you again, but are giving you an opportunity to take pride in
us, so that you can answer those who take pride in what is seen rather than in what is in the heart.
 Acts 14:27  
27
  On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and
how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.
 
 I Corinthians 16:9
9
   because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me.
 
Reap:
Isaiah 49:8
8
   This is what the LORD says: "In the time of my favour I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help
you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign
its desolate inheritances,
 
Isaiah 55:6-7   
6
   Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near.
7
   Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have
mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
 
Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV
15   
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise,  
16   
making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.
 
Colossians 4:5 NIV
5
   Be wise in the way you act towards outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.