Seizing Kingdom Opportunities: A Call to Action
Summary
The sermon revolves around the theme of "kingdom opportunities" and the importance of recognizing and seizing these opportunities. The pastor uses the parable of the great feast from Luke 14:15-24 to illustrate this concept, drawing parallels between the story and the day when believers will partake in the kingdom banquet. The pastor shares a personal testimony of a transformative encounter with God, emphasizing the power of words and the importance of using them wisely.
The sermon also underscores the significance of giving and sowing into the kingdom of God, asserting that every gift and offering has the potential to lead someone to salvation. The pastor prays for revival in churches, cities, and leaders, expressing gratitude for what God is doing in their church. The congregation is encouraged to worship the Lord and remain standing as the pastor opens up in prayer.
The pastor emphasizes the importance of surrendering to the Lord and allowing Him to use them. They pray for the congregation to be put into action and led by the Holy Spirit. They ask for their eyes to be opened to opportunities to please God and make a positive impact in the world. The pastor concludes by thanking the congregation for allowing them to pastor and speak to them, acknowledging that they will be judged for their words and the congregation will be judged for their obedience.
The sermon concludes with a focus on the importance of recognizing and seizing opportunities in life. The pastor warns that distractions of the modern world, such as social media, can cause Christians to miss these opportunities. The pastor encourages listeners to be spiritually attuned and ready to seize the opportunities that come their way.
Key Takeaways:
- The parable of the great feast serves as a metaphor for the kingdom of God, where those who seize the opportunity to follow Jesus will be part of the kingdom banquet. This story underscores the importance of recognizing and seizing kingdom opportunities ([12:45]).
- Personal testimonies can serve as powerful reminders of God's transformative power. The pastor's own experience underscores the importance of seizing opportunities to encounter God and the transformative power of such encounters ([22:30]).
- Every gift and offering sown into the kingdom of God has the potential to lead someone to salvation. This emphasizes the importance of generosity in the Christian life and the potential impact of giving ([34:15]).
- Surrendering to the Lord and allowing Him to use us is a key aspect of seizing kingdom opportunities. The pastor's prayer for the congregation to be put into action and led by the Holy Spirit underscores this point ([45:50]).
- Recognizing and seizing opportunities in life requires spiritual discernment. Distractions of the modern world can cause Christians to miss these opportunities. Being spiritually attuned and ready to seize opportunities is therefore crucial ([58:20]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Luke 9:62 - [07:16]
2. John 8:31 - [58:01]
3. John 12:26 - [58:35]
Observation Questions:
1. In Luke 9:62, what does Jesus mean when he says, "No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God"?
2. In John 8:31, what does Jesus mean when he says, "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples"?
3. In John 12:26, what does Jesus mean when he says, "Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be"?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the analogy of the plow in Luke 9:62 relate to our commitment to God's kingdom?
2. What does it mean to "hold to" Jesus' teachings as mentioned in John 8:31?
3. How does following Jesus as mentioned in John 12:26 relate to serving Him?
Application Questions:
1. Can you think of a time when you were tempted to "look back" after committing to follow Jesus? How did you handle it?
2. What is one teaching of Jesus that you find challenging to hold onto in your daily life? How can you better adhere to it?
3. Can you think of a specific way you can follow Jesus more closely in your life this week? How will this act of following Jesus serve Him?
Devotional
Day 1: Seizing the Kingdom Banquet
The parable of the great feast in Luke 14:15-24 serves as a metaphor for the kingdom of God, where those who seize the opportunity to follow Jesus will be part of the kingdom banquet ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwbvJNrwgI&t=750s)). This story underscores the importance of recognizing and seizing kingdom opportunities. It is a call to respond to God's invitation and partake in His kingdom.
Matthew 22:14 - "For many are called, but few are chosen."
Reflection: Reflect on the opportunities God has presented to you. How can you seize these opportunities to partake in His kingdom?
Day 2: Encountering God's Transformative Power
Personal testimonies can serve as powerful reminders of God's transformative power ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwbvJNrwgI&t=1335s)). These encounters with God are not just personal experiences, but opportunities to be transformed and to transform others. It is through these encounters that we can truly understand the power of God's love and grace.
2 Corinthians 3:18 - "And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
Reflection: Reflect on your personal encounters with God. How have these experiences transformed you and how can they transform others?
Day 3: The Impact of Generosity
Every gift and offering sown into the kingdom of God has the potential to lead someone to salvation ([34:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwbvJNrwgI&t=2040s)). This emphasizes the importance of generosity in the Christian life and the potential impact of giving. It is through our generosity that we can truly reflect God's love and grace to others.
Proverbs 11:25 - "A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed."
Reflection: Reflect on your giving. How can your generosity lead others to salvation?
Day 4: Surrendering to Seize Opportunities
Surrendering to the Lord and allowing Him to use us is a key aspect of seizing kingdom opportunities ([45:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwbvJNrwgI&t=2735s)). It is through surrendering our will to God's will that we can truly seize the opportunities He presents to us. It is in this surrender that we can truly be used by God for His glory.
Romans 12:1 - "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."
Reflection: Reflect on areas of your life where you need to surrender to God. How can surrendering these areas lead to seizing kingdom opportunities?
Day 5: Spiritual Discernment in a Distracted World
Recognizing and seizing opportunities in life requires spiritual discernment ([58:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwbvJNrwgI&t=3485s)). In a world full of distractions, it is crucial to be spiritually attuned and ready to seize the opportunities that come our way. It is through this discernment that we can truly live out our calling as followers of Christ.
Colossians 3:2 - "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Reflection: Reflect on the distractions in your life. How can you cultivate spiritual discernment to recognize and seize kingdom opportunities?
Quotes
"Discipleship may be optional, obedience is voluntary. You must make a decision to seize the opportunity that God has for you and grab it." [01:14:27]
"The price tag may not always be money but opportunity is always linked to a cause." [55:34]
"Most people in church today, they come, they love church, they love worship, they love to even give to the kingdom, but they never let themselves be used by the master. They never want to walk out on the boat and see possibilities." [38:51]
"If you want to see miracles and see the hand of God, you have to get out of the boat. Let me give you an example: here's Peter, he gets out of the boat and he walks on the water. The problem is people today always want to point the finger at someone sinking when they're going down, but what about the 11 guys in the boat that didn't do nothing? They didn't seize that opportunity." [39:27]
"Opportunity is an interesting word especially when it pertains to our lives in the kingdom of God because how we respond to it determines our destiny." [30:47]
"Something happens when you seize that opportunity, it literally affects the destiny of lives." [31:28]
"Most people miss opportunities because they are often disguised, and the distractions in the world today are nothing but images before us on Facebook and Instagram." [44:02]
"You and I are called to be the light of the world, the salt of the earth. We are called to be the ones to make a difference. The key is you first must recognize the small kingdom opportunities that come your way." [42:49]
"Seize the opportunity to be a disciple, be humble, let someone teach you something, live a life of discipline, and prove yourself by living a testimony for Jesus." [36:55]
"Opportunity has a price tag. It has a price tag. Salvation is free, but it cost somebody something." [54:14]
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