A NEW OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR LIFE

 A New Opportunity         

by Dan Barnes, Senior Pastor

Someone once said, “Opportunities are seldom labeled.”  – However, I have always felt that every day is a new opportunity to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

- It is a new opportunity to move forward along life’s journey and to make one’s life more eternally meaningful.

Romans 13:8-14    ”Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law. For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.  And that, knowing  the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.  Let us walk honestly, as in the day; not in rioting and drunkenness, not in chambering and wantonness, not in strife and envying.  But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.”

If we believe today is a new opportunity for the Lord, then we must spend much time in Prayer, Bible Reading, and Goal Setting.  I trust that you, too, have set some goals and are trusting the Lord to use you in a greater way today!

It has been said, “He who aims at nothing hits it every time!” I would rather try and fail than never try to do the things God lays upon my heart.  Let me encourage you to step out by faith each and every day!

Pastor Paul Chappel posted this list witten by Pastor Walter Schoedel.  He had  prepared this list as resolutions for his new year and called it his “The Seven Ups.”  I’ve taken that list and added a few Bible verses to it…hopefully it can be a help to you and yours…as you live in this crazy world.

1.  The first is WAKE UP – begin the day with the Lord. It is His day. Rejoice in it.

Romans 13:10-12  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law. And that, knowing  the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed. The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.

 I Corinthians 15:31-34  I protest by your rejoicing which I have in Christ Jesus our Lord, I die daily.  If after the manner of men I have fought with beasts at Ephesus, what advantageth it me, if the dead rise not? let us eat and drink; for to morrow we die. Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.

           Psalm 118:22-28  The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner.  This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes. This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity. Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD. God is the LORD, which hath shewed us light: bind the sacrifice with cords, even unto the horns of the altar. Thou art my God, and I will praise thee: thou art my God, I will exalt thee.

2.  The second is DRESS UP – put on a smile.  It improves your looks. It says something about your attitude.

 Proverbs 15:1  A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. 

 Proverbs 15:13  A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.  

Proverbs 15:15  All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.                

Proverbs 15:23  A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!

3.  The third is SHUT UP – watch your tongue. Don’t gossip. Say nice things. Learn to listen.

Proverbs 4:24  Put away from thee a forward mouth, and perverse lips put far from thee.                                         

Proverbs 6:2  Thou art snared with the mouth, thou art taken with the words of thy mouth.                                

Proverbs 6:12  A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth.  He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his finger; frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord.

Proverbs 8:13  The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogance, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

James 1:26  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.

4.  The fourth is STAND UP – take a stand for what you believe. Resist evil. Do good.

James 1:22  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves

James 4:5-8  Do ye think the scriptures saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

5.  The fifth is LOOK UP – open your eyes to the Lord.  After all, He is your only Saviour and He has promised to return!

 Psalm 5:1-3 Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King, and my God: for unto thee will I pray.  My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.

Psalm 40:8-13    I delight to do thy will, O my God: yea, thy law is within my heart. I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O Lord, thou knowest. I have not hid thy righteousness within my heart; I have declared thy faithfulness and thy salvation: I have not concealed thy lovingkindness and thy truth from the great congregation. Withhold not thou thy tender mercies from me, O Lord: let thy lovingkindness and thy truth continually preserve me. For innumerable evils have compassed me about: mine iniquities have taken hold upon me, so that I am not able to look up; they are more than the hairs of mine heard: therefore my heart faileth me. Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me: O Lord, make haste to help me.

Luke 21:25-28    And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring; Men’s hearts failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth: for the powers of heaven shall be shaken.   And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.  And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

6.  The sixth is REACH UP – spend time in prayer with adoration, confession, thanksgiving, & supplications to God.

 James 5:13-16  Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of the faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

Philippians 4:6-7   Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

7.  And finally, LIFT UP – be available to those in need, serving, supporting and sharing with each of them.

James 4:7-10  Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.