Beautiful Gate

Sunday Service 29 May 2011

Appreciation
Appreciation to:
Pastor Billy Iloebo Pastors of Beautiful Gate Beautiful Gate Congregation

Todays Bible reading: Revelation 3:20

20 "Behold,

I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (NKJV)

Todays Message
The Lord is Knocking on your door to provide you with a divine opportunity Stop complaining Stop the excuses The opportunity may require hard work, but, Seize the opportunity

The kings Rock: A story of opportunity

The King gets a rock placed in the middle of the path Rich men and other high-ups complain bitterly but do nothing The poor man sees and then moves the rock after a struggle He find a purse of money (gold) underneath

We are unhappy with our situation

We keep praying for grace We complain loudly about:
A job Our finances Our business Our grades in school Our church Getting a husband/wife

We do nothing We give excuses We do not see opportunities we see problems

It is too hard Nigeria is too difficult I dont have capital My boss is too strict All men are not serious

We ask for the Lord to shower us with blessings

The shoe Salesman in Africa: Another story of opportunity

In the time of our great grandfathers a company in Europe sent a White Salesman to sell shoes in Africa The Shoe Salesman reports that the Africans do not wear shoes and so he will not be able to sell Another White Salesman is sent to Africa He reports that Send all the shoes you have! The Africans do not have shoes!

Song of Solomon 5: 2-6

I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: Open to me, my sister, my darling, my dove, my flawless one. My head is drenched with dew, my hair with the dampness of the night. 3 I have taken off my robe must I put it on again? I have washed my feet must I soil them again?

Song of Solomon 5: 4-6

My beloved thrust his hand through the latchopening; my heart began to pound for him. 5 I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. 6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. (NIV)

Is there a dream that keeps your heart awake at Night?

Song of Solomon 5:2 2 I slept but my heart was awake. Listen! My beloved is knocking: (NIV) What dream keeps your heart awake at night?
Is it something you must do for God? In His House? Is it a business you must start? Is it school you must go back to? Is it leaving/applying for a new job

Someone is knocking at your door!

Are you making excuses?

Song of Solomon 5:2 3 I have taken off my robe - must I put it on again? I have washed my feet - must I soil them again? (NIV) Quote from Thomas A. Edison inventor of the light bulb:

Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.

Isaac farms the dry land: Genesis 26: 1-3, 12-14

1 There was a famine in the land, besides the first famine that was in the days of Abraham. And Isaac went to Abimelech king of the Philistines, in Gerar. 2 Then the LORD appeared to him and said: "Do not go down to Egypt; live in the land of which I shall tell you. 3 "Dwell in this land, and I will be with you and bless you; for to you and your descendants I give all these lands, and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.

Isaac farms the dry land: Genesis 26: 1-3, 12-14

12 Then Isaac sowed in that land, and reaped in the same year a hundredfold; and the LORD blessed him. 13 The man began to prosper, and continued prospering until he became very prosperous; 14 for he had possessions of flocks and possessions of herds and a great number of servants. So the Philistines envied him. (NKJV)

The Lord knocked on Isaacs door

The Lord said to Isaac that do not leave this land for a more prosperous place, I will bless you here. Isaac took up the challenge. He did not give excuses about how hard it is to farm dry land! He took the opportunity and reaped a hundredfold He prospered till the Philistines envied him!

Song of Solomon 5: 4-6

My beloved thrust his hand through the latchopening; my heart began to pound for him. 5 I arose to open for my beloved, and my hands dripped with myrrh, my fingers with flowing myrrh, on the handles of the bolt. 6 I opened for my beloved, but my beloved had left; he was gone. My heart sank at his departure. I looked for him but did not find him. I called him but he did not answer. (NIV)

What happens when you make excuses

The Lord opens the door We know it is the Lord because he leaves the scent of myrrh on the door knob
myrrh was the incense burned at the Tabernacle Jesus was given myrrh at his birth

The Lord leaves! The opportunity is Lost?

Opportunity knock on the door of condemned thieves: Luke 23:39-43

Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." 40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 "And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong. 42 Then he said to Jesus, "Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom."
39

Opportunity knock on the door of condemned thieves: Luke 23:39-43

43

And Jesus said to him, "Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise."(NKJV)

Opportunity knock on the door of condemned thieves:

When opportunity knocks (through Jesus) like it did on the cross for the two condemned thieves are you going to mock it? Are you going to grasp it with both hands and erase the shame and disgrace that you have suffered?

The Lord is giving you a second chance

2 Corinthians 6: 2 2 For He says: "In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you." Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation. (NKJV) The Lord is Knocking again at your door! He is about to send you a divine opportunity This time make no excuses! Do not mock the opportunity!

The Lord is standing at the door and knocking: Revelation 3:20

20 "Behold,

I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. (NKJV)

Receive and hold on to this message

If you believe that the Lord is about to send a divine opportunity your way join me in worship Hebrews 13: 15 15 Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. (NKJV)

My Redeemer Lives
Who taught the sun where to stand in the morning? and Who told the ocean you can only come this far? and Who showed the moon where to hide 'til evening? Whose words alone can catch a falling star? Well I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives: Let all creations testify Let this, life within me cry I know my Redeemer lives, yeah.

My Redeemer Lives
The very same God that spins things in orbit runs to the weary, the worn and the weak And the same gentle hands that hold me when I'm broken They conquered death to bring me victory

My Redeemer Lives
Now I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives Let all creations testify Let this life within we cry I know my Redeemer, He lives To take away my shame And He lives forever, I'll proclaim

My Redeemer Lives
That the payment for my sin Was the precious life He gave But now He's alive and There's an empty grave. And I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives Let all creations testify Let this life within me cry I know my Redeemer,

My Redeemer Lives
I know my Redeemer I know my Redeemer lives I know my Redeemer lives I know that I know that I know that I know that I know my redeemer lives Because He lives I can face tomorrow I Know I know He lives He lives yeah, yeah I spoke with him this morning He lives He lives, the tomb is empty, He lives I gotta tell everybody

Prayer: Help me grab the divine opportunity coming

Dear Lord; I receive your message that you will knock on my door with a divine opportunity Holy Spirit help me recognize this opportunity Holy Spirit help me till that Dry Land Holy Spirit let me not mock the opportunity In Jesus name we pray (Amen)