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Video Sermon 10 Minute Highlights |
| FULL WRITTEN TRANSCRIPT OPPORTUNITY #1: TWO WORDS & TWIZZLERS
Before we get started, there are two things I’d like us to do together: · First: The story of my twizzlers- There’s a lady here known as Norma, A.K.A., “the candy lady.” Actually, Norma’s more like a “candy ninja.” Every music practice, “the candy lady” manages to get three twizzlers on to my music stand. I don’t even see her coming. I turn around and they’re just there! Like magic! And of course, I quickly gobble them down.
There is a time we have set aside as a praise team to get together and prepare our worship music. And all I have to do to get my much beloved twizzlers is be there. The candy lady is reliable as clockwork; if I am there, so are my twizzlers; always three. Be there equals twizzlers.
So it got me inspired as a physical representation of a vital spiritual lesson we all need to bring home. So for a few weeks I showed almost super-human control, and didn’t eat my twizzlers. I just continued to collect them, and as you can see, they really started adding up.
I’m not willing to part with all of them, but I’m willing to offer this limited, one-time opportunity: If there are any twizzlers lovers out there, if you come up right now, you can have one of my twizzlers.
There, that was the first order of business, and now on to the second. I’d like you to follow along as I read this passage: Gal 6 7. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith. 11. See with what large letters I have written to you with my own hand!
Obvious Question: What do twizzlers possibly have to do with this verse?
How they merge is in this one word, “OPPORTUNITY.” Opportunity is a cornerstone concept of how we see the purpose of our church. But that being said; what exactly is opportunity? -I’d like to offer you a challenge. I am going to read a two-part definition of the word, and I want you to offer me a basic trait that is common to both terms. (I am looking for something specific.) OPPORTUNITY · A set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something · An appropriate, favorable, or suitable occasion or time; a chance
What is common to both definitions? What I am looking for is this: They are both neutral. Opportunity in itself, is neither good nor bad! That is important because it dovetails into the next little story I want to tell you.
· The negative. I felt led that we were meant to focus on the idea of spiritual opportunity. So I began word study, and honestly, I was beginning to think I had made a mistake. Most of the passages are like this: Romans 7 8. But sin, taking opportunity by the commandment, produced in me all manner of evil desire. For apart from the law sin was dead. Gal 5 13. For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
The Biblical Greek for “opportunity” in most cases is the word, “aphorme.” It is an interesting compound of two words; starting-point. Some translations will use the word “occasion”, others “opportunity”, but the transliteration is the same, “starting-point.”
Think of the implications here. When it comes to “sin” in your life, wrongs, distance from God, it is tied to a “starting-point.” That means there is a point we allow it to begin, but it doesn’t stop there. Journeys have starting points, and sin is a journey. It is a step to the next step, to the next where you very likely end up some place you don’t even know how you got there, and you really wish you weren’t!
A young girl or boy in their first serious relationship; things reach a point where they become sexually engaged, it is a starting-point, for some it will be a journey joined to the bodies of many other partners that results in pain and regret, for others it will lead to disease of their bodies that they will not be able to cure. For others it will lead to unwanted children and all the tough decisions that involves. –There was a starting point.
A young man or woman gets their first real taste of alcohol, or experiences their first high. In some cases, really bad decisions will be made in those times. For others, the bottle they are holding will become all but impossible to let go, even as it is destroying them. It happened in steps; it had a starting point. ….Opportunity can be a really ugly, tragic thing!
· The positive I began to think it was a mistake using the word. And just then, I discovered something. There is a second word for “opportunity.” And in this case, the meaning is positive in an entirely different context.
The word is “kairos.” It means a set time or a proper time. It means time due, season, short, just for a while.
Consider the implication of this word when it comes to our relationship with God. It takes us into the “theology of twizzlers.” You won’t find this in any seminary work, it’s just a Kevin experience so let me explain: Think of my twizzlers as God’s blessing in candy form. Now by blessing, I mean the positive consequences or results from being in sync with God’s Will and plan.
To get these twizzlers, there was a circumstance in physical life that was meant to unfold. The twizzlers were waiting for me, all I had to do was be where the twizzlers would be. All I had to do, was what I was supposed to do. If I was at my music stand, voila, there were the twizzlers.
The twizzlers weren’t my objective for being at praise team practice, but they were certainly a result, a “blessing” that was waiting for me. It was the proper time. It was the season. But it was just for a while, it was limited in time.
God’s blessings are like that. God has an ongoing plan for your life. There are opportunities waiting for you at many levels. There are opportunities where you can learn something vital and grow, become better equipped to do what you are here to do. There are opportunities where you can touch someone else’s life with Christ. There are all kinds of opportunities God has for you. BUT YOU HAVE TO BE THERE.
And keep in mind, “being there” means more than simply being there physically, it also means mentally, emotionally, in attitude; in heart. Every Sunday churches are filled with people being there physically, but there is no blessing, because they are not there in any other way.
Right now, we are doing teacher training in some of the best material in teaching us vision and technique in communicating Christ. What is being shared in class is great. But no matter how good, it cannot equip anyone if they are not there. There was a revival last week, five churches and three denominations coming together. Some Godly things happened, but no matter how Godly, it was of no affect to the believer who wasn’t there. When we did our door-to-door campaign a few years ago, it was amazing to hear of some of the stories and lives with which we were able to connect; I believe God wanted us there; but regardless of the opportunities, it meant nothing if we were not there.
· Principle One: God has blessings waiting, but to experience them, we must be there. · Corollary: If we are not there, we will not experience those blessings. (Don’t blame God for lack of blessing if you refuse to be there.)
~There’s another part to the “theology of twizzlers.” The candy lady is so reliable; it is not a one-time event. Practice goes on week after week. That means opportunity after opportunity for twizzlers. If I continue to go, I get twizzlers, then more twizzlers, and yet more twizzlers until my life is full of twizzlers!
That is exactly what Galatians teaches us about God’s blessings. They are cumulative; they add up. Gal 6 9. And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
You heard the saying, “Life is like a box of chocolates?” Well Blessings are like a handful of twizzlers; they are cumulative; they add up. As we do not grow weary of doing good, the “reaping” begins to add up. Day by day, the consequences and the results of staying in sync with God add up, they ripple into each other. A good opportunity exists because of one you’ve engaged before that, and before that. Your life becomes a parade of good consequences; blessings.
This passage is all about opportunity, but opportunity is two words! There is a dark side, so it is no surprise that God also gives a warning: Gal 6 7. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.
Let me add this: In the whole issue of opportunity; there are really four sides to it. We gain when we actively engage positive opportunity; when we avoid negative opportunity, we come out somewhat neutral; when we allow ourselves to slide into negative opportunity, we lose; but we also lose another way; when God offers positive opportunity and we take no action.
IF ONLY The British writer and minister, Sydney Smith once wrote: “Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.”
Four of the most inconsolable words in the English language are, “if only I had…” God’s Word and teaching is for the equipping of the saints, if only I had become better equipped… It was later in life before I let God into my thick head and heart and I began to see what He could really do in an ordinary life like mine; if only I had started sooner…
I believe that when we stand before God, and He opens up the Book of Life, He will show us our lives in full detail; I mean what each moment meant in context to eternity. We will see the lives that brushed ours, the ones we influenced, and the consequences; the ones we could have influenced and didn’t. We’ll see our own opportunities and the ripples from engaging or not engaging them. How many “if only’s” will we face?
Opportunity is not one, but two words: · Opportunity, the starting point of sin · Opportunity, time due, a limited season, the chance for blessing and to gather and give blessing. · “Opportunity is like a handful of twizzlers.” God has them just waiting to be discovered; but you have to be there. You have to be doing.
The entire message holds out the promise of blessing, just as surely as I am holding out these twizzlers, but as it does, it challenges you and me: WHERE ARE YOU, AND WHAT ARE YOU DOING? ARE YOU WILLING TO ENGAGE THE OPPORTUNITIES?
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