“Open
Doors” Series #8
"THE DOOR OF OPPORTUNITIES!"
TEXT: Rev.
3:7-13,20
INTRO: We are
living at a time when everyone is interested in security. We are becoming so security minded that
we are reluctant to take risks or seek out new opportunities! Being a Christian has always held a
certain risk or risks:
a. It goes against the status
quo!
b. It means living a much disciplined
life in an age of "just let it all
go!"
c. It means being committed to values
that are on their way out!
d. It means putting character
above cash ... and family above
fortune!
Witnessing
to others is risky; it means being labeled ... perhaps even persecuted by
others.
The
early church understood the risks far greater than we do today, yet they took
those risks, they seized those opportunities and so must
we!
God
opens creative doors for us to use ... we must see the doors of opportunities
and
use them!
ILLUS: (A
LETTER TO THE “HONORABLE SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE,” WASHINGTON, D.C.) DEAR SIR, MY FRIEND, DAN HANSEN, OVER AT
HONEY CREEK, IOWA, RECEIVED A CHECK FOR $1,000 FROM THE GOVERNMENT FOR NOT
RAISING HOGS. SO I WANT TO GO INTO
THE "NOT RAISING HOGS" BUSINESS NEXT YEAR. WHAT I WANT TO KNOW IS, IN YOUR OPINION,
WHAT IS THE BEST KIND OF FARM NOT TO RAISE HOGS ON? AND WHAT IS THE BEST BREED OF HOGS NOT TO
RAISE? I WANT TO BE SURE THAT I
APPROACH THIS ENDEAVOR IN KEEPING WITH ALL GOVERNMENT POLICIES. AS I SEE IT, THE HARDEST PART OF THE
"NOT RAISING HOGS" PROGRAM IS KEEPING AN ACCURATE INVENTORY OF HOW
MANY HOGS I HAVEN'T RAISED. NY
FRIEND HANSEN IS VERY JOYFUL ABOUT THE FUTURE OF THE BUSINESS. HE HAS BEEN RAISING HOGS FOR 20 YEARS OR
SO, AND THE BEST HE HAS EVER MADE ON THEM WAS $422.90 IN 1968, UNTIL THIS YEAR
WHEN HE GOT YOUR CHECK FOR THE $1,000 FOR NOT RAISING 50 HOGS. IF I GET $1,000 FOR NOT RAISING 50 HOGS,
THEN WOULD I GET $2,000 FOR NOT RAISING 100 HOGS? I PLAN TO OPERATE ON A SMALL SCALE AT
FIRST, HOLDING MYSELF TO ABOUT 4,000 HOGS NOT RAISED THE FIRST YEAR, WHICH WOULD
BRING IN ABOUT $80,000.00; THEN I CAN AFFORD AN AIRPLANE! NOW ANOTHER THING ... THESE HOGS I WILL
NOT RAISE WILL NOT EAT 100,000 BUSHELS OF CORN. I UNDERSTAND THAT THE GOVERNMENT ALSO
PAYS PEOPLE NOT TO RAISE CORN AND WHEAT.
WOULD I QUALIFY FOR PAYMENT FOR NOT RAISING THESE CROPS NOT TO FEED MY
HOGS I WILL NOT BE RAISING? I
WANT TO GET STARTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE AS THIS SEEMS TO BE A GOOD TIME OF THE
YEAR FOR THE "NOT RAISING HOGS" AND "NOT PLANTING
CROPS" BUSINESS. ALSO I AM
GIVING SERIOUS CONSIDERATION TO THE "NOT MILKING COWS" BUSINESS AND ANY
INFORMATION YOU WOULD HAVE ON THE ENDEAVOR WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. IN VIEW OF THE FACT THAT I WILL BE
TOTALLY UNEMPLOYED, I WILL BE FILING FOR UNEMPLOYMENT AND FOOD STAMPS, AND WAS
WONDERING HOW LONG THAT PROCESS TAKES.
BE ASSURED, MR. SECRETARY, YOU WILL HAVE MY VOTE IN THE UPCOMING
ELECTION!" PATRIOTICALLY YOURS; DON
GENEREAUX. P.S. WOULD YOU PLEASE
NOTIFY ME WHEN YOU PLAN TO GIVE OUT THE FREE CHEESE AGAIN!?
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
PROP.
SENT: The Bible teaches us that we are to be
utilizing the God given opportunities that the church of Jesus Christ will have
to do the works of God! It is not
necessarily the largest church that has the most strength; it is the faithful
church that responds that finds strength!
I. RECOGNIZE POSSIBILITIES! Rev. 3:7-8
A. Control
Rev. 3:7
1. The message opens up by affirming
God's control over everything ... even the opportunities that come our
way!
a. "Him who is holy
and true" ... Jesus!
b. "who holds the
key of David" ... the King of the Kingdom!
c. "what He opens,
no one can shut, and what He shuts, no one can
open!"
2. Christ is in
control!
a. When God opens doors there is
nothing the enemy can do to close them, and when He closes them, the enemy is
helpless in trying to open them!
b. In a major city like ancient
Philadelphia that was big on business opportunities due to the major trade
routes that came through here, this was an important
concept!
3. Being a small, insignificant
church, with little money or power (referenced later by a comment about their
"little strength") this church needed to
start from this concept!
a. God can open and close doors for
them ... and nothing can work against that!
b. They needed to know that size,
money, and power were not the most important factors when seeking to do
something for God!
ILLUS: A
LITTLE GIRL WHO LOVED THE LORD LONGED TO SHARE THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION WITH
THOSE WHO HAD NEVER HEARD IT. SO,
SHE CONTRIBUTED A PENNY TO A MISSIONARY
TO HELP WITH THE WORK OF EVANGELIZING THE PEOPLE OF
BURMA. THAT SMALL COIN WAS ALL SHE
HAD, BUT IT WAS GIVEN FROM HER HEART.
THE WORKER ON THE FOREIGN FIELD WAS DEEPLY TOUCHED BY THE CHILD'S
EARNESTNESS AND DECIDED HE WOULD DO THE MOST HE COULD WITH THE PENNY - AFTER
CAREFUL THOUGHT HE PURCHASED A GOSPEL TRACT AND PERSONALLY GAVE IT TO A YOUNG
CHIEFTAIN. APPARENTLY THE CHRISTIAN
DID NOT KNOW THAT THE TRIBAL LEADER WAS NOT EDUCATED WELL ENOUGH TO READ
IT. GOD INSTILLED WITHIN THE RULER
A BURNING DESIRE TO KNOW THE MEANING OF THE LEAFLET, HOWEVER, AND HE TRAVELED
250 MILES TO FIND SOMEONE WHO COULD TRANSLATE IT FOR HIM. AFTER HE HEARD THE GOSPEL MESSAGE, IT
WASN'T LONG UNTIL THE YOUNG CHIEF WAS GLORIOUSLY SAVED! RETURNING TO HIS PEOPLE, HE TOLD THEN
WHAT THE LORD HAD DONE FOR HIS SOUL.
LATER HE INVITED MISSIONARIES TO GO AND PREACH TO HIS ENTIRE VILLAGE, AND
MANY TRIBESMEN WHO HEARD THE GOOD NEWS ACCEPTED THE SAVIOR! ALL THIS AND PROBABLY MUCH MORE RESULTED
FROM ONE DEDICATED PENNY GIVEN IN CHRIST'S NAME BY A LITTLE GIRL WHO WANTED THE
LOST TO HEAR ABOUT JESUS! HOW WE
NEED TO LATCH ON TO THE OPPORTUNITIES GOD GIVES US ... NO MATTER HOW SMALL THEY
MIGHT SEEN TO US AT THE TIME!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. How many missed opportunities have
come and gone that God has given us because we failed to see properly what God
might be able to do!
a. "What
difference will it make?"
b. "They never
were interested before!"
c. "They have
their own ideas!"
d. "It is such a
small thing ... it won't have any effect anyways!"
B. Confidence!
Rev. 3:8
1. God knew about their deeds in spite
of their small size!
a. Though they were a small
insignificant church ... they were not lazy or inactive ... they were willing to
work for God!
b. Because of their willingness to do
what they could do ... God would place “open
doors” ... opportunities before them!
c. For those willing to be used by
God there will always be opportunities!
2. The formula here is
interesting: Work first ... opportunities then
come! Too many times we wait first
for a big opportunity, and then we consider working!
a. The verse starts with recognizing
their deeds...
b. Then promises more open
doors!
3. This church was small ... but they
had done 2 things correctly!
a. "Yet you have
kept my Word..."
b. "And have not
denied my Name!"
4. They were not reticent about their
faith and the message of salvation!
a. It did not matter that they were
small ... obedience is what mattered!
b. No work they did was considered
insignificant!
ILLUS: WALKING
ON A BEACH WAS AN ELDERLY MAN. HE
WALKED WITH A CANE, CAREFULLY LOOKING OVER THE BEACH THAT THE RECEDING TIDE HAD
LEFT EXPOSED. EVERY NOW AND THEN HE
WOULD BEND OVER AND PICK SOMETHING UP AND TOSS IT INTO THE OCEAN. AS ANOTHER WATCHED THIS, HE BECAME
CURIOUS AS TO WHAT THE OLD MAN WAS DOING SO HE CAME CLOSER AND SAW THAT THE OLD
MAN WAS PICKING UP STAR FISH THAT HAD BEEN BEACHED BY THE RECEDING TIDE AND
TOSSING THEN BACK INTO THE WATER BEFORE THEY DRIED UP AND DIED. THE YOUNG MAN BECAME CURIOUS AS TO
WHY
HE WAS DOING THIS AND SO HE APPROACHED HIM AND ASKED, "WHY ARE YOU DOING
THIS, THERE ARE ENDLESS MILES OF
BEACH AND THERE ARE MILLIONS OF STARFISH, SURELY YOU DON'T THINK YOU CAN SAVE
THEM ALL!?" WHAT DIFFERENCE DO YOU
THINK YOUR EFFORTS WILL MAKE?"
SLOWLY THE OLD MAN BENT OVER AND
PICKED UP ANOTHER STARFISH, AND AS HE TOSSED IT INTO THE WATER HE LOOKED AT THE
YOUNG MAN AND SMILED, THEN SAID, "IT MAKES A DIFFERENCE TO THE ONE I JUST
TOSSED BACK INTO THE WATER! IT
DID NOT MATTER THAT HE COULDN'T SAVE THEM ALL ... HE DID WHAT HE COULD KNOWING
SOME WOULD BE SAVED! THOUGH WEAK
AND INSIGNIFICANT HIMSELF, HE WAS CONFIDENT THAT WHAT HE DID MATTERED TO
SOME!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
5. This message from God must have
inspired confidence in this small church! (And should in us
too!)
II. REAL PRESSURES! Rev. 3:9-10
A. Conflicts!
Rev. 3:9
1. The church that does nothing is no
threat ... no matter how big it is!
a. This small church had taken the
opportunities God had given it ... and this had stirred up a reaction against
them!
b. Satan is not threatened by a comfortable church ... only a committed
church!
2. Though small, the church in
Philadelphia was active in sharing the message ... they did not consider their
size or strength a restriction of "doing deeds."
3. In this church there were few if
any that sat on the sidelines hoping something got
done!
ILLUS: IN
ONE PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IT WAS THEIR PRACTICE TO HAVE ALL THE FOOTBALL PLAYERS
WEAR THEIR JERSEYS TO
SCHOOL ON
DAYS THEY
HAD
A
GAME ... IT WAS A REAL PROUD THING FOR THE BOYS. BECAUSE OF THIS, MANY BOYS WENT OUT FOR
THE TEAM FOR THAT REASON ALONE ... SO THEY COULD WEAR A JERSEY TO SCHOOL AND BE
ADMIRED! THE PROBLEM WAS THIS; MANY
OF THESE BOYS NEVER PLAYED IN A GAME ... IN FACT, MANY OF THEM DID NOT WANT THE
COACH TO SEND THEM INTO THE GAME, THEY DID NOT WANT TO GET HURT, THEY WERE QUITE
HAPPY JUST SITTING ON THE BENCH AND WEARING THE UNIFORM ... DURING PRACTICES
THEY WOULD DELIBERATELY AVOID CONTACT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, THEY WOULD PERFORM
POORLY TO GUARANTEE THEIR POSITION ON THE BENCH ...
THEY JUST LIKED WEARING THE JERSEY TO SCHOOL ON GAME DAYS SO THE OTHER KIDS
WOULD ADMIRE THEM. HOW MANY
CHRISTIANS DO THIS WITH THEIR FAITH IN GOD ... THEY LIKE SITTING ON THE BENCH,
AND THEY DON'T MIND THE WORLD KNOWING THEY ARE CHRISTIANS, BUT THEY DON'T WANT
ANY CONTACT WITH THE SINNERS AROUND THEM SO THEY DON'T GET HURT!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. The church that is seizing the
opportunities that God gives it, are the churches that are faced with challenges
by the enemy!
a. God promises the church in
Philadelphia however that one day these challengers will fall at their feet and
admit that God loved them!
b. While the pressures might come
now ... the rewards will come later to those who are engaged in the battle
for the souls of men and women!
5. An active church should not be
surprised by conflicts that come its way.
a. Here most of the conflict was from
religious people!
b. Often the enemy seeks to destroy
God's work from the inside!
6. The danger would have been if those
in the church would have decided they no longer wanted to be challenged too much
... to give up the work and the opportunities for some peace and
quiet!
B. Confined!
Rev.
3:10
1. The word "since" indicates a conclusion ... since they
had remained faithful in spite of challenges and persecution, because they had
ENDURED FAITHFULLY and not given up on the
opportunities, God had a promise of reward for them:
a. God would keep them from the hour
of trial that was coming on the whole earth!
b. That they would be unmoved when the
rest of the world faced the real test, a test they had already
passed!
2. God would confine the struggle ...
they would not be overwhelmed!
3. The Greek word translated here, "from" comes from "ek" which can be translated either "out of" or "through" so it means the rapture before the
tribulation or after ... but the main point is clear: God will spare
those who are faithful!
a. God puts limits on what comes
against a faithful church or believer!
b. Satan does not have free reign
over the saints of God!
4. All this because they had "faithfully endured."
a. They had been patient ... a lost
quality of Christianity today ... today we want everything immediately ... we need to learn
to be patient!
b. We need to
learn to patiently endure right up to the end ... even when it seems there is no
way to win!
ILLUS: THE
TRUE STORY IS TOLD OF A WORLD CHESS CHAMPION WHO VISITED AN ART GALLERY DURING
HIS VACATION IN EUROPE. WHILE
TOURING ONE GALLERY HE CAME ACROSS A PAINTING THAT STOPPED HIM IN HIS
TRACKS! IT WAS A PICTURE OF A CHESS
GAME. ON ONE SIDE OF THE PAINTING
WAS THE DEVIL LAUGHING, EXCITED, AND JOYFUL! HE WAS ABOUT TO MAKE HIS MOVE. ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PAINTING SAT A
YOUNG MAN WHOSE FACE WAS FILLED WITH TERROR! HE SAT BITING HIS FINGERNAILS, HIS KNEES
WERE KNOCKING, AND SWEAT WAS POURING DOWN HIS FACE. THE CHESS CHAMPION UNDERSTOOD THE
SCENARIO WHEN HE SAW THE TITLE OF THE PAINTING; IT WAS TITLED,
"CHECKMATE!" THE DEVIL WAS
ABOUT TO MAKE THE FINAL MOVE TO CLAIM THE YOUNG MAN'S SOUL. THE CHESS CHAMPION WAS AWESTRUCK BY THE
PAINTING AND HE STUDIED IT FOR HOURS!
GRADUALLY A SMILE CAME ACROSS THE CHESS CHAMPION'S FACE AND A TWINKLE CAME INTO HIS EYES AS HE ASKED FOR
A CHESSBOARD ... UPON RECEIVING IT, HE SET IT UP EXACTLY LIKE THE
PAINTING. AFTER STUDYING IT FOR A
WHILE, HE TURNED TO THE YOUNG MAN IN THE PAINTING AS THOUGH HE WERE ALIVE AND
ANNOUNCED EXCITEDLY, "YOUNG MAN, I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS FOR YOU, THINGS ARE
NOT AS BAD AS THEY SEEM ... EVEN THOUGH IT LOOKS LIKE YOU'VE LOST, THERE'S STILL
ONE MORE MOVE LEFT ON THE BOARD ... AND SO AFTER THE DEVIL MAKES HIS MOVE, YOU
WILL STILL GET THE FINAL MOVE!" THE MASTER CHAMPION SAW A WAY TO
VICTORY … A MOVE THE DEVIL AND THE YOUNG MAN DIDN'T SEE ... WITH THE
MASTER'S HELP, THE YOUNG MAN COULD STILL DEFEAT THE ENEMY ... IT WASN'T TOO
LATE!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
5. God has the final move in history
... and to those who patiently endure, we will win! Satan's
power and plans are confined by God ... and so is the pressure Satan can put on
God's people!
III. REQUIRED PATIENCE! Rev. 3:11-13,20
A. Commitment!
Rev.
3:11,20
1. The message concludes with several
important statements from God that were intended both to encourage us to endure, and encourage us to act!
a. "He is
coming;" the opportunities and the opposition have
limited possibilities!
b. "Hold on to what
you have!"
(1. Don't give
up!
(2. Don't ignore the
basics!
2. Technically, no one can take our
crown ... but we can forfeit it by lack of action!
a. It is clear this is a reference to
rewards!
b. The danger of the church is to pull
back and relax when things are either going well or the pressure seems too
tough!
3. The "hold on to what you have"
is a call for the church to not lose sight of what it exists for ...
to save the lost ... lest we lose the rewards of winning the
lost!
a. Church must not become just a
social club or institution where we come to get peace of
mind!
b. It is a place where we receive so
that we might go forth to give!
ILLUS: ON
A DANGEROUS SEA COAST WHERE SHIPWRECKS OFTEN OCCUR THERE WAS ONCE A CRUDE LITTLE
LIFE SAVING STATION. THE BUILDING
WAS JUST A HUT, AND THERE WAS ONLY ONE BOAT, BUT THE FEW DEDICATED MEMBERS KEPT
A CONSTANT WATCH OVER THE SEA, AND WITH NO THOUGHT FOR THEMSELVES THEY WENT OUT
DAY AFTER DAY TIRELESSLY SEARCHING FOR THE LOST AT SEA. SOME OF THOSE WHO WERE SAVED, AND
VARIOUS OTHERS IN THE SURROUNDING AREA WANTED TO BECOME ASSOCIATED WITH THE
STATION AND GIVE OF THEIR TIME AND MONEY AND EFFORT FOR THE SUPPORT OF ITS WORK
AND MISSION. EVENTUALLY, NEW BOATS
WERE BOUGHT AND NEW CREWS TRAINED, THE LITTLE LIFE-SAVING STATION GREW. SOME OF THE MEMBERS BECAME UNHAPPY THAT
THE HUT WAS SO CRUDE AND POORLY EQUIPPED; THEY FELT THAT A MORE COMFORTABLE
PLACE SHOULD BE PROVIDED AS THE FIRST REFUGE OF THOSE SAVED FROM THE SEA. THEY REPLACED THE EMERGENCY COTS WITH
BEDS AND PUT BETTER FURNITURE IN THE NEW ENLARGED BUILDING. NOW THE LIFE SAVING STATION BECAME A
POPULAR GATHERING PLACE FOR ITS MEMBERS, AND THEY DECORATED IT BEAUTIFULLY AND
FURNISHED IT EXQUISITELY ... IT BECAME MORE OF A SOCIAL CLUB FOR
FELLOWSHIP. FEWER MEMBERS WERE
INTERESTED NOW IN GOING TO SEA ON LIFE SAVING MISSIONS, SO THEY HIRED LIFE BOAT
CREWS TO DO THE WORK FOR THEM. THE
LIFE SAVING MOTIF HOWEVER STILL PREVAILED IN THE CLUB'S DECORATIONS AND
THEIR BULLETIN BOARDS. THEY EVEN
KEPT A BOAT INSIDE THAT THEY USED FOR INITIATING NEW MEMBERS. ABOUT THIS TIME A LARGE SHIP WAS WRECKED
OFF THE COAST; AND THE HIRED CREWS BROUGHT BACK BOAT LOADS OF COLD, WET, AND
HALF-DROWNED PEOPLE, THEY WERE DIRTY AND SICK, AND SOME OF THEM HAD BLACK SKIN
AND SOME HAD YELLOW SKIN. THE
BEAUTIFUL NEW CLUB WAS IN CHAOS ... SO THE PROPERTY COMMITTEE MET AND DECIDED TO
HAVE A SHOWER HOUSE BUILT OUTSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE WHERE VICTIMS OF SHIPWRECKS
COULD BE CLEANED UP BEFORE THEY COULD COME INSIDE THE CLUBHOUSE. AT THE NEXT MEETING, THERE WAS A SPLIT
IN THE CLUB MEMBERSHIP OVER ALL THIS ... MOST OF THE MEMBERS WANTED TO STOP THE
CLUB'S LIFE SAVING ACTIVITIES AS BEING UNPLEASANT AND A HINDRANCE TO THE NORMAL
SOCIAL LIFE OF THE CLUB. SOME
MEMBERS INSISTED UPON LIFE SAVING AS THEIR PRIMARY PURPOSE AND THEY POINTED OUT
THAT THEY WERE STILL CALLED A "LIFE SAVING" STATION. BUT THEY WERE FINALLY VOTED DOWN AND
TOLD THAT IF THEY WANTED TO SAVE LIVES
OR ALL THE VARIOUS KINDS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE SHIPWRECKED IN THOSE WATERS, THEY
COULD BEGIN THEIR OWN LIFE
SAVING STATION DOWN THE COAST. THEY
DID! AS THE YEARS WENT BY, THE NEW
STATION EXPERIENCED THE SAME CHANGES THAT HAD OCCURRED IN THE OLD, IT EVOLVED
INTO A CLUB, AND YET, ANOTHER LIFE-SAVING STATION WAS FOUNDED. HISTORY CONTINUED TO REPEAT ITSELF, AND
IF YOU VISIT THAT SEA COAST TODAY, YOU WILL FIND A NUMBER OF EXCLUSIVE CLUBS
ALONG THAT SHORE! SHIPWRECKS ARE
FREQUENT IN THOSE WATERS, BUT MOST OF THE PEOPLE DROWN ... THERE ARE NO MORE
LIFE-SAVING STATIONS, JUST CLUBS!
– SOURCE UNKNOWN
4. The fact alone that Jesus is coming
soon should inspire us to commitment ... to do what can be done while it can be
done!
a. We have become keen to look for
economic opportunities ... to seize them when they come ... what about spiritual
ones!?
b. While we will be spared that trial
that is coming upon the earth ... many that we know will not be ... we need to
reach them now while it is still day!
5. For
now
Christ is standing at the door knocking! (Rev.
3:20)
a. This won't always be
true!
b. This may well be the door to the
church! Christ is on the
outside trying to get back in, after all the passage is written to the church,
and Jesus is knocking on the door!!
B. Commendation! Rev.
3:12-13
1. “Him who
overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of my God” ... they will
be standing even after trials, much like the familiar sight around the city of
Philadelphia where frequent earthquakes had leveled many temples ... but the
pillars were still left standing!
a. This was a familiar sight to the
citizens of Philadelphia ... often after one of the tragic earthquakes that hit
this area, the only thing left standing were the pillars of the buildings ...
these pillars thus stood for a symbol of durability – and God uses that image to
say they will be like those pillars in the temple of God … still standing after
all the shaking!
b. God’s promise here is clear ... to
those who are to be commended by God for staying the course faithfully; they
will remain unshakeable by all that comes upon
mankind!
2. God also promises them a “New
name.”
a. We will be given God's own name ...
for we will reflect the very character of God by our faithful
service!
b. In antiquity, to be given the name
of the emperor was a very special privilege! It gave you the rights to all that he
had ... and gave you a place of prominence!
c. This was akin to being given all
that belongs to God ... making available all that is His! What a privilege for the faithful saint
or church!
3. Those that are commended by God
will have great reward...
4. "He that hath an
ear let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches!"
a. The church is after all us, not buildings!
b. What is the Spirit saying to you?
Have you been faithful to the
doors of opportunities ... or are you just content to wear the football
jersey to the services?
CONCLUSION: Opportunities for ministry are not
determined by a church's size, money, power, or programs! They are determined by God! God gives opportunities to minister to
every church and every believer, but we must "seize the
day!" God may open the
door, but we must walk through it!
Success requires two things:
(1. See the
opportunity;
(2. Act on the
opportunity.
Do you see possibilities of ministry? What are you doing about it?