Unlocking Your Potential - Chapter 18 Key 17

Those who unlock their potentials in the bible were people who took advantage of divine opportunities. God creates opportunity for you and me to take advantage of them. Don’t let moments that are important pass you without doing something about it.

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.

Phil 4:10

The church in Philippi was a church that loved Paul. They were endeared to him such that they were eager to sow seeds to him, but they lacked the opportunity to do so.

When you see greatness around you, sow to it. When I see a servant of God, anointed and walking in holiness, God usually touches my heart to sow seed to him. Sometimes ago a servant of God called me to tell me that they are going somewhere to preach. The Holy Ghost in me just told me, this is another opportunity to sow seed. I did not even know that they believed God for the flight fare. I just did what the Lord laid in my heart and met the need.

When you are in the habit of doing this, it will go into your future to be harvested. Opportunities should not be allowed to leave you. Paul told Philippians church, you don’t take me for granted, each time you see me; you do something. May God grant you divine opportunities (Amen).

Many times, people are looking for a time that will be convenient and comfortable. However, the time may not be convenient as divine opportunity cannot wait.

In John Chapter 12, a woman with a costly alabaster box of oil broke it and anointed Jesus with it; something that worth one year salary. Judas Iscariot spoke out and said, the oil should have been sold and given to the poor. The Bible said he did not love the poor, but being the treasurer, he only wanted to steal what is inside the purse. Do not join rebellious people and stingy ones because you do not know their motives. My philosophy is that: if God saved my soul, he can have my money.

Jesus rebuked Judas sharply because what the woman did was not wasteful. Do you know that Jesus was unable to take his bath after that event till he died on the cross? He would have ‘smelled’ to the grave. What the woman did became a memorial for her anywhere the Gospel is preached according to the words of Jesus.

After death when Mary Magdalene came to anoint the dead body of Jesus in the grave, it was too late, she met an empty grave. Do not wait for someone to die before you honour him. Honour him when he is alive. Please note that opportunities come to great and small, it does not have to come at a convenient time. Take advantage of divine opportunity around you.

Do not say I have nothing to give, that means you are saying God is a liar because He commanded that no one should come to Him empty-handed. If God does not give you a seed to sow, he is a liar. But God doesn’t lie; it’s either you have eaten your seed or you just ignore God. There is no one who does not have something to sow. He gives seed to the sower and bread to the eater. You must know which one is a seed and which one is bread.

If you eat your seed, you have no tomorrow. Your bread is to sustain you for today; your seed is to preserve you for future. Two of them are important. Until you plant your seed, it has no future.

When you walk in the blessing, right people will walk to your path. God has opportunities in your future that will amaze you. God’s dream for your life is bigger than your imagination. This is the time to get excited about your future, your destiny is not determined by the economy but by the Lord. Because you honour God, he will line up opportunities for you that will surprise you. Don’t get satisfied, but release yourself to the God of abundance and great things will happen in your life. Great things will happen in your future, you will be amazed at God’s goodness every day.

And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho. And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus, which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.

Luke 19:1-2

for visiting.

In this passage we saw Zacchaeus; he was rich but hated. Most poor people hate the rich, because they think, they are the one who caused them to be poor. Do not hate the rich, just be excited and believe that the top is meant for you also. Righteousness can exalt you; you don’t have to be a crooked person to be rich.

Here we see what Zacchaeus did. You will not normally see a rich man running unless something is pursuing him, but Zacchaeus ran. You will not also see a day that rich man climb a tree, but Zacchaeus climbed one. Why? He had value for Jesus.

And he sought to see Jesus who he was; and could not for the press, because he was little of stature. Luke 19:3

Zacchaeus did not go home and say, I am short in stature, I have tried. He said if I have no advantage of stature, I know what to do; I will run forward and climb a tree.

And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him: for he was to pass that way. And when Jesus came to the place, he looked up, and saw him, and said unto him, Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down; for to day I must abide at thy house.

Luke 19:4-5

The Lord Jesus knew his name by word of knowledge. Zacchaeus had a heart for the Lord to deserve that. He had many barriers: height, reputation (though rich, he was hated because he was a tax collector for Roman Empire); possibly Zacchaeus also had been charging more than what government asked him to charge. Here, he heard Jesus, and said; I may be rich in my own local house but this One has the greatest wealth.

He had value for the anointed Jesus. Your attitude to the anointing is how you value God. Sometime ago someone said, “Daddy, this is part of my pocket money. I had saved it so as to sow a seed to you on your birthday”. Naturally, I would not have collected it but I have to or else, I will deny her of a blessing ahead of her. As I collected it, God gave me a word for her. She did not miss the opportunity as some will do.

Zacchaeus said I am rich, but these riches can come to zero if sickness attacks. The worst I can get from the owner of heaven and earth is to abuse me because of what I have done. I will climb to see Him no matter my reputation. I will not say I have tried but can’t see Him because I am not tall.

No, you have not tried until you succeed. Nobody cares for trying; succeed and you will become celebrated. Failure is an orphan, failure is alone. Jesus stopped and told him I will sleep in your house today whether those who hate you like it or not.

Zacchaeus came down in haste and received him joyfully. That is a good reaction. Other people around started to murmur, they were probably saying Jesus loved money. But Jesus loved the heart, not the money. What Zacchaeus said when he ran down to receive Jesus showed that he loved God, but he did not know better, that was why he lived the way he lived. When he encountered Jesus, we see the heart he has. He said half of my goods I give to the poor, that is restitution, without anybody asking him to repent.

Beloved do not despise yourself, do not look at your past. Start today to love God from your heart. Opportunities will come along your, way take hold of it. Salvation coming to the house of Zacchaeus was much more important than the money he had. You can be sure that people sick in that house that day will be healed. Opportunity is coming your way in Jesus name, don’t miss it.

REFLECTION

Many people are looking for a time that will be convenient and comfortable. However, the time may not be convenient as divine opportunity cannot wait.