MAKING THE MOST OF OPPORTUNITIES

FALL VISION WEEKEND

Rick Warren

Sept. 6-7, 2014

3 Essentials for a Great Life

1. GIVE MYSELF to a purpose greater than myself.
2. JOIN with great people committed to that purpose.
3. MAKE THE MOST of great opportunities.

"Make the most of every opportunity for doing good . . ."Ephesians 5:16 (NLT)

Success is the management of opportunities.
Successful people sense, see, sift, sort and seize opportunities.

LESSONS

1. I MUST  

say "no" to good & not so good opportunities so I can say "yes" to better or great ones.

SO I CAN SAY YES TO GREAT ONES.

"I want you to do whatever will help you serve the Lord best, with as few distractions as possible."1 Corinthians 7:35 (NLT)

Stop adding things to your schedule.
Eliminate less important things to provide more time and space for the best.
Clear out the clutter of your schedule and time.

2. EVERY OPPORTUNITY  

needs to be evaluated and carefully considered.

"Test everything, and keep only what is good."1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NCV)

Even if an opportunity is from God it needs to be evaluated.

5 QUESTIONS

• WHAT DO I NEED  

to know?  And who knows it?

"It is stupid to decide before knowing the facts!"Proverbs 18:13 (LB)

"Get all the advice you can, and you'll succeed; without it you will fail."Proverbs 15:22 (TEV)

Just because you like something, doesn't mean you should get into it... talk to people who know more about the subject.

• WHAT MIGHT BE  

the unintended consequences?

"A prudent man foresees the difficulties ahead and prepares for them; a fool goes blindly on and suffers the consequences."Proverbs 22:3 (LB)

There is a down side to every upside.  There are always pros and cons. Wise people figure things out before they make a final decision.

Proverbs 14:16 - The wise are cautious.
Expect the best, but plan for the worst.
Scenario planning =

"If it is the Lord's will... we will do this..."

Make plans and expect God to direct you. Realize ultimately God is in control.
Nothing turns out exactly as you think it will or works perfectly since this is a fallen world and we are imperfect.

Are you willing to live with the consequences?

• WHAT'S  

my motivation?

"Never let selfishness or pride be your guide when you do things."Philippians 2:3 (NCV)

God want to check our intent and motives in our actions.

The difference between heroes and celebrities.  Heroes make sacrifices for the benefit of others.
Celebrities are famous and rich for their personal gain and benefit of themself.

Jesus: "If you want to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross, and then follow me."Matthew 16:24 (NLT)

Can you put aside your selfish ambition to follow God's purpose and calling for you?

• DOES THIS FIT  

my purpose and calling?

Jesus: "Anyone who lets himself be distracted from the work I plan for him is not fit for the Kingdom of God."Luke 9:62 (LB)

Everybody is called by God to do something with your life.
It is not the same thing for everybody.
Discover your calling.  See Purpose Driven Life.
A need is not a calling.

• IS THIS THE BEST USE  

of my time and energy?  Do what matters most.

"Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial, and not everything is constructive."1 Corinthians 10:23 (NIV)

3. OPPORTUNITIES COME  

when I least expect them.

Jesus: "You must be ready all the time, for I will come when least expected."Matthew 24:44 (NLT)

4. I MUST STAY  

flexible to be ready and  abide in Jesus.

"Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit."Galatians 5:25 (NIV)

"Make hay while the sun shines."  Work while you can. Opportunities are limited.Proverbs 10:5 (Mes)

Opportunities are often disguised as problems.

CAUSES OF MISSED OPPORTUNITIES

•  

Inflexibility - unwillingness to change.  

"It is pleasant to see our plans develop. That is why fools refuse to give them up even when they are wrong!"Proverbs13:19 (LB)

Plan and pray - leave your plans in God's hands.  Let Him bring it to pass.  Things change constantly. God is ultimately in control of everything.

•  

Busyness.  We miss opportunities when we make excuses and pass.

"Jesus said 'Come follow me' but the man said, 'Lord, let me first' . . ."You really can't say: "LORD" + "ME First"  - Then Jesus in not "Lord" when you put yourself first.

Luke 9:57-10:2

•  

Lack of faith. Fear. Unwilling to take risks. If you want to walk on water, you must get out of the boat.

"According to your faith will it be done to you."Matthew 9:29 (NIV)

5. EVERY OPPORTUNITY  

will have opposition. Critics, doubters etc.

"There is a WIDE-OPEN DOOR for a great work here, and many people are responding! But there are also many who oppose me."

Opportunity + Opposition = God's will.1 Corinthians 16:9 (NLT)

Let the size of your God, determine the size of your goals.

GREAT OPPORTUNITIES IN 2015

Rwanda's president read "Purpose Driven Life" and asked to bring the Peace Plan and create a Purpose Driven Nation.  Churches there are growing and doing what the government was unable and unequipped to do. This nation has prospered and become the safest nation in the continent of Africa in 5 years. Genocide 1 million orphans in a nation of 10 million . The churches set the goal to eliminate orphanages by assimilating orphans into families. 

• The opportunity to impact an entire continent! 54 nation All-Africa Continental Congress Aug.11-14 

Top leaders from all African Nations will be trained in Rwanda on how to become a "purpose driven" nation. Africa is bigger than USA, China, Europe, India, put together.  40% of people will live in Africa.  Birth rate is at zero in many other nations while Africa is exploding with growth, 50% of the birth rate is there.  There are more Christians in Africa than in the USA. Muslims are influencing Africans too, we must reach them with the love of Christ.

• "Adventures in Faith!" A calendar of faith-stretching events, training, and opportunities in 2015 during our 35th year as a church family and our 30th year of Purpose Driven training.

6. GREAT OPPORTUNITIES BRING  

responsibility and accountability.

"To whom much is given, much will be required, and to whom much more is given, even more will be expected from them."Luke 12:48 

"The harvest is past, the summer has ended, and we are not saved."Jeremiah 8:20

God brought you here to make a difference.
God uses people who make the choice to be great.
Greatness does not happen by accident.  It happens by the choices you make and determination.

God did not give us opportunities to squander.
The rest of your life can be the best of your life.

Adventures in faith - look to the future of what God can do in you.
Your life will change and so will the world.

God blessed you abundantly and will ask you on judgment day what did you do with it?
The most costly opportunity that can't be missed is our Salvation through Jesus Christ.
Say "Yes!" to Jesus, "Use me!"