"How We Live" :Opportunities

Take the opportunity to…
PRAY
Vrs 2 Take opportunity...to pray
-Continue-it should be a habit. Think about the fact that you have Jesus willing and waiting to listen any time you want to talk.

"The greatest tragedy of life is not unanswered prayer, buy un-offered prayer."F.B. Meyer

-Vigilant-watchful-answers to pray are something we should be looking for as we should be looking for opportunities to pray.
There are no unanswered prayers

-Thanksgiving-reminder to be thankful for what you have. An ungrateful spirit is resented by God, remember Jonah.

Vrs 3-4 Take opportunity… to pray for fellow Christians and ministers that they will have opportunities to share the GOSPEL
You need to keep me in your prayers (I preach the gospel every week)
"Every great movement of God can be traced to a kneeling figure." D. L. Moody
Take opportunity…to ask others to pray for you. because you should be preaching the gospel

Why is it called a mystery? Through shadows, types and sacrifices Jesus is foretold.

Take opportunity…to work on a clear presentation of the gospel, not just the words we say. Its How We Live the gospel, mercy, grace, compassion, sacrifice

Remember Paul was in prison for preaching the gospel

As far as bringing the gospel to the people around us this is where it counts, your testimony.

LIVE

Vrs 5 Take opportunity…to act wise toward unbelievers.
Early Christians were criticized because they did not bow to the Roman or Greek gods they were accused of being cannibals because of communion. Paul encouraged about the way they act because they already don’t trust us or think we are crazy.

What you do and how you act can either be a good opportunity to be an example of Jesus or an opportunity for others to criticize and mock.

Ask this question… Is what I am doing going to promote Jesus?

Take opportunity… use time to benefit the cause of Jesus. “Redeeming” buying back, so much time is wasted and Eph 5:16 says the “days are evil”

Question: How do you use your time with unbelievers? What do you do? What do you talk about?

Notice Paul challenges our actions then our speech
The words we say will teach if we practice what we preach.

SPEAK
Vrs 6 Take opportunity… to talk about things that please Jesus.
Gentle, kind, loving, encouraging
Matt 12:34 abundance of the heart the mouth speaks

Take opportunity…to learn how to answer questions about Jesus, be a student of the Word