#S065 - What To Do When Opportunity Knocks (Part 1) 00:00:04.87\00:00:10.67 And so today we want to 00:00:20.12\00:00:20.95 go ahead and continue in this series 00:00:20.98\00:00:23.15 entitled The Construction Zone, 00:00:23.18\00:00:25.02 because there are some things 00:00:25.05\00:00:25.99 that God wants to reveal in us and for us. 00:00:26.02\00:00:28.99 And so as we get into the work, good, instant 00:00:29.96\00:00:31.13 your feet as we jump into it today, I want you to join me 00:00:31.16\00:00:35.30 first in the Book of Proverbs Chapter 21, 00:00:35.33\00:00:38.87 and then I want you to put your finger over in Nehemiah 00:00:40.04\00:00:42.44 chapter two, Proverbs, chapter 21, 00:00:42.47\00:00:46.21 and verse number one. 00:00:46.98\00:00:49.24 When you get there, let me hear you say, pass the room there. 00:00:50.48\00:00:54.08 Proverbs chapter 21 and verse 00:00:54.12\00:00:57.45 number one. 00:00:57.85\00:01:00.86 There is a very critical principle 00:01:00.89\00:01:03.46 that will undergird our discussion today, Proverbs 21 00:01:04.63\00:01:07.40 and verse one, When you say, Pastor, I'm here, 00:01:08.36\00:01:09.46 all right. 00:01:11.00\00:01:11.70 The Bible simply says this, that the king's heart 00:01:12.70\00:01:15.80 is in the hand of the Lord 00:01:16.60\00:01:19.11 like the rivers of water. 00:01:20.04\00:01:22.41 He turns it whatever way he wishes. 00:01:22.44\00:01:26.75 The jokes catch that church. 00:01:27.42\00:01:28.92 The Bible says The King's heart, the president's heart. 00:01:28.95\00:01:31.42 The governor's heart is in the hand of the Lord, 00:01:31.45\00:01:33.92 and he turns it whichever way he chooses. 00:01:34.89\00:01:36.52 Now go with me to the Book of Nehemiah Chapter two, 00:01:36.56\00:01:39.59 and we'll begin 00:01:40.03\00:01:41.06 our reading together at verse number one, Nehemiah 00:01:41.10\00:01:43.20 Chapter two. 00:01:43.77\00:01:45.27 And we will begin together at verse 00:01:46.10\00:01:47.77 number one, Nehemiah two and verse one. 00:01:48.70\00:01:52.87 When you get there, say pastor him there, 00:01:52.91\00:01:55.81 Nehemiah two in verse one. 00:01:56.44\00:01:58.81 Again, I just need to know how many of us need a word 00:01:59.95\00:02:01.55 from the Lord today. 00:02:01.58\00:02:03.12 I just need to know who you are. He meant 00:02:03.15\00:02:05.09 the Bible says, and 00:02:06.39\00:02:07.36 it came to pass in the month of Ni sung 00:02:07.39\00:02:10.83 in the 20th year of King Xerxes when wine was before him 00:02:11.96\00:02:15.96 that I took the wine and gave it to the king. 00:02:16.90\00:02:19.00 Now, I had never been said in his presence before. 00:02:20.10\00:02:22.40 Therefore, the King said to me, 00:02:23.10\00:02:24.94 Why is your face sad since you are not sick? 00:02:24.97\00:02:27.94 This is nothing but sorrow of the heart. 00:02:28.81\00:02:30.95 So I became dreadfully afraid and said to the king, 00:02:32.08\00:02:35.98 may the King live forever. 00:02:36.62\00:02:38.95 Why should my face not be sad when the city, 00:02:38.99\00:02:42.42 the place of my father's tomb lies in waste 00:02:43.32\00:02:45.63 and its gates are burned with fire. 00:02:46.49\00:02:48.10 Then the king said to me, 00:02:49.00\00:02:51.27 What do you request? 00:02:51.30\00:02:53.77 So I. What? 00:02:53.80\00:02:55.94 So he went. 00:02:55.97\00:02:57.47 So I prayed to the God of heaven. 00:02:58.31\00:03:00.44 And I said to the King, If it pleases the King, 00:03:01.44\00:03:04.25 and if your servant has found favor in your sight, 00:03:04.28\00:03:06.61 I ask that you send me to Judah, the city 00:03:07.48\00:03:09.72 of my father's tombs, that I may rebuild it. 00:03:09.75\00:03:12.22 Then the king said to me, the queen also sitting 00:03:13.29\00:03:15.52 beside him, 00:03:15.56\00:03:16.73 How long will your journey be and when will you return? 00:03:16.76\00:03:20.16 So it pleased the king to send me. 00:03:20.96\00:03:22.96 And I set him a time. 00:03:23.00\00:03:25.03 And furthermore, I said to the king, 00:03:25.07\00:03:27.10 if it pleases the King, let let us be given to me 00:03:27.14\00:03:30.24 for the governors of the region beyond the river that they must 00:03:31.51\00:03:33.58 permit me to pass through until I come to Judah. 00:03:33.61\00:03:36.24 And a letter to Asaph, the keeper of the King's Forest, 00:03:37.35\00:03:39.95 that he give me timber to make beams for the gates 00:03:41.05\00:03:42.98 of the citadel, which pertains to the temple for the city wall. 00:03:43.02\00:03:46.96 And for the house that I will occupy. 00:03:47.86\00:03:49.46 And notice what the word says. The Bible says. 00:03:50.49\00:03:51.79 And the King granted them 00:03:51.83\00:03:54.93 according to the good hand 00:03:55.53\00:03:58.00 of my God upon me. 00:03:58.03\00:04:00.40 Then I went to the governors of the region 00:04:01.37\00:04:03.74 beyond the river and gave them the King's Letters. 00:04:03.77\00:04:07.28 Now, the King had sent captains of the army and horses with me. 00:04:08.54\00:04:12.95 But again, I just want to read for emphasis. 00:04:13.95\00:04:16.58 Verse four Then the king said to me, 00:04:17.45\00:04:20.56 What do you request today? 00:04:21.39\00:04:24.03 Since I want to talk for a little while under the subject 00:04:24.06\00:04:26.59 what to do when opportunity knocks and what to do. 00:04:27.66\00:04:32.40 When opportunity knocks, let's pray together. 00:04:33.40\00:04:34.94 Father 00:04:35.80\00:04:36.20 In this little while, 00:04:37.37\00:04:38.64 would you please say much? 00:04:38.67\00:04:40.84 Father 00:04:42.34\00:04:43.28 There are some of us that are about 00:04:44.11\00:04:45.88 to see some open doors. 00:04:45.91\00:04:48.45 And Lord, my prayer is that you would give us 00:04:49.48\00:04:51.25 the spiritual faculties to be able to recognize 00:04:51.29\00:04:55.59 where you're moving, how you're moving. 00:04:55.62\00:04:59.06 And to govern ourselves accordingly. 00:04:59.86\00:05:01.80 So I'm praying, dear God, that there would be an eruption 00:05:02.96\00:05:05.70 of belief in the House of God today, that 00:05:05.73\00:05:09.24 we would be able to move beyond what we see with our eyes. 00:05:09.27\00:05:13.14 And that we would act according to the promises of your word. 00:05:14.38\00:05:16.28 So would you please hide me in the shadows of the cross that 00:05:17.48\00:05:20.65 Jesus alone might be seen, that Christ alone might be heard? 00:05:20.68\00:05:25.69 And at the end of our time together, may Jesus alone 00:05:26.82\00:05:29.06 be praised. 00:05:29.09\00:05:30.26 Bless us. 00:05:30.29\00:05:30.76 To this end, 00:05:30.79\00:05:31.33 we pray 00:05:31.36\00:05:32.53 in the wonderful name of Jesus, and that those who believe, 00:05:32.56\00:05:34.83 say together, a man and a man, you may be seated in the House 00:05:34.86\00:05:38.83 of the Lord 00:05:38.87\00:05:39.43 again talking to you under the subject today. 00:05:40.70\00:05:42.54 What to do when opportunity 00:05:42.57\00:05:46.31 knocks. 00:05:46.61\00:05:48.94 Church 00:05:52.55\00:05:53.58 Have you ever wondered 00:05:55.22\00:05:57.85 why some people seem to get all the breaks? 00:05:57.89\00:06:03.09 Does it ever feel like doors 00:06:04.99\00:06:07.40 only open for certain people? 00:06:07.46\00:06:11.47 Have you ever been frustrated that opportunities 00:06:12.53\00:06:14.90 tend to be slow when they're coming your way? 00:06:14.94\00:06:18.27 And the truth is 00:06:19.97\00:06:21.11 that some of us are frustrated now because opportunity 00:06:21.14\00:06:25.51 seems to come to everybody but youth. 00:06:25.55\00:06:28.78 In fact, some of us men have desired an opportunity to serve. 00:06:29.98\00:06:34.56 Some of us are waiting for an opportunity to witness. 00:06:34.59\00:06:38.13 Some are wanting an opportunity to lead. 00:06:38.99\00:06:41.60 Some are wanting the opportunity for companionship. 00:06:42.63\00:06:45.57 Others are wanting the opportunity to finally show 00:06:46.60\00:06:49.57 what you're able to do. 00:06:49.60\00:06:51.64 And low key. 00:06:51.67\00:06:52.74 Some of us are a bit frustrated with God 00:06:52.77\00:06:55.98 that opportunities are slow to come in your direction. 00:06:57.15\00:07:01.45 But one of the problems, friends, is that some of us 00:07:02.58\00:07:05.02 treat opportunity like an event. 00:07:05.05\00:07:08.16 When the truth is opportunity is a science, 00:07:09.16\00:07:11.76 let me say it again. 00:07:11.79\00:07:13.16 That opportunity is not an occasion. 00:07:13.19\00:07:16.00 But there is actually a formula to opportunity. 00:07:17.00\00:07:19.63 You see, the problem is that some of us 00:07:20.54\00:07:21.74 see opportunity as this providential assist 00:07:21.77\00:07:25.91 that God only gives to an elite number of few. 00:07:26.94\00:07:30.41 But I need you to get that 00:07:31.05\00:07:32.18 there is an upper formula to opportunity and that God does 00:07:32.21\00:07:36.79 not want to bless anybody more than He blesses you. 00:07:36.82\00:07:41.69 And see, for instance, there are some things that are 00:07:42.82\00:07:44.66 part of the formula for opportunity. 00:07:44.69\00:07:47.13 Let me begin by saying 00:07:47.13\00:07:48.53 I need you to realize that diligence and faithfulness 00:07:48.56\00:07:52.37 is a part of the formula for opportunity. 00:07:52.40\00:07:55.40 Did not Jesus saying that if you're faithful over a little, 00:07:56.64\00:08:00.44 God will give you opportunity to be ruler or overseer of much? 00:08:00.48\00:08:05.58 Jesus, in the Book of Proverbs, 00:08:06.28\00:08:07.72 says that if a man is diligent in his labor, 00:08:07.75\00:08:11.49 he will have the opportunity to serve before kings. 00:08:12.59\00:08:15.49 And I need somebody to know that you audition 00:08:16.52\00:08:19.03 for opportunity when no one is looking. 00:08:19.06\00:08:22.66 In other words, friends, I need you to get that. 00:08:23.67\00:08:25.80 Because promotion comes ultimately from God. 00:08:25.83\00:08:29.34 You don't audition for the boss, the coworker, the board, 00:08:30.47\00:08:33.38 or the committee. 00:08:33.41\00:08:34.58 You've got to be faithful when no one is looking because 00:08:34.61\00:08:38.75 your audition is with the unseen power of Jesus Christ. 00:08:38.78\00:08:43.22 I need somebody to know 00:08:43.79\00:08:45.05 that willingness is a part of the formula of opportunity. 00:08:45.09\00:08:48.86 In fact, there are some of us that never get the opportunities 00:08:50.09\00:08:53.06 we pray for 00:08:53.09\00:08:54.30 because we're not willing 00:08:54.30\00:08:55.56 to act on the opportunities that God gives. 00:08:55.60\00:08:58.80 In fact, an example of this is Aesop. 00:08:59.67\00:09:02.17 You see, Aesop was not willing to carry 00:09:03.07\00:09:05.17 the weight of the opportunity of handling the birthright. 00:09:05.21\00:09:08.81 Do you realize that Jehovah should have been described 00:09:09.98\00:09:12.61 as the God of Abraham, Isaac and Esau? 00:09:12.65\00:09:16.55 But the opportunity was given to Jacob 00:09:17.45\00:09:19.55 because he was willing to carry it. 00:09:20.39\00:09:21.92 I need somebody to know that service is a part of 00:09:23.02\00:09:25.69 the formula. 00:09:25.73\00:09:26.86 In fact, some of the most blessed people I have ever seen 00:09:26.90\00:09:30.77 in my life are the individuals that serve community, 00:09:30.80\00:09:34.80 that serve neighborhood, and they serve in church. 00:09:35.90\00:09:38.47 In fact, they are committed to missions that don't 00:09:39.57\00:09:42.01 directly impact their bottom line. 00:09:42.04\00:09:44.88 In fact, I've seen physicians that serve 00:09:45.75\00:09:48.02 on the local church usher board, our deacon board. 00:09:48.05\00:09:51.05 I've seen CEOs that show up at the annual church clean up. 00:09:52.29\00:09:55.79 And one of the things I've come to believe, friends, 00:09:56.93\00:09:58.66 is that you will never, ever be blessed beyond your capacity 00:09:59.86\00:10:03.03 for service. All my required in here today. 00:10:03.06\00:10:05.53 In fact, friends, I had somebody of great means 00:10:06.60\00:10:08.74 that gave a gift to our ministry at Breath of Life. 00:10:09.77\00:10:11.87 But I notice that he still 00:10:12.51\00:10:13.68 serves youth in his pathfinders and his tiny little church. 00:10:13.71\00:10:17.58 And I even I could not help but remark 00:10:18.48\00:10:19.98 that how you do 00:10:20.42\00:10:21.42 these great things in Hollywood and in government, 00:10:21.45\00:10:23.72 and yet you still serve the kids at church. 00:10:24.65\00:10:26.86 And he made it clear that the reason I'm able to do 00:10:27.96\00:10:30.03 those things is 00:10:30.06\00:10:31.43 that God has blessed me because of my ministry to young people. 00:10:31.46\00:10:35.56 And what I'm saying to somebody Saints is that when you have 00:10:36.77\00:10:39.07 no active ministry, you withdraw 00:10:39.10\00:10:42.10 a supernatural favor and blessings from your life. 00:10:42.14\00:10:45.97 In fact, Jesus said that if you seek first my kingdom, 00:10:47.14\00:10:50.88 all of the things will be added unto you. 00:10:51.78\00:10:54.02 In other words, I need you to get that 00:10:54.92\00:10:56.05 there is a formula and science to opportunity. 00:10:56.08\00:10:59.22 You've got to be willing. 00:10:59.85\00:11:00.79 Can you say, man, you've got to serve. 00:11:00.82\00:11:03.49 Can you say amen? 00:11:03.99\00:11:05.33 You've got to be willing to step out in faith. 00:11:05.36\00:11:08.20 And I need you to know, beloved, 00:11:08.90\00:11:09.93 that you don't have to be wistful about opportunity. 00:11:09.96\00:11:13.07 You just got to be scientific about opportunity. 00:11:14.14\00:11:16.74 The same way to m to equals for willingness 00:11:17.74\00:11:21.08 plus service equals an open door. 00:11:21.11\00:11:23.65 You've got to be willing to embrace the science 00:11:24.61\00:11:27.18 of divine opportunity along with me today, friends. 00:11:28.32\00:11:30.39 And so go back with me in your Bibles. 00:11:31.29\00:11:32.79 I need you to see some things in the Word. 00:11:32.82\00:11:34.96 Go back to Nehemiah, chapter one and verse one, 00:11:34.99\00:11:38.03 and then we'll go to Nehemiah two and verse one, Nehemiah 00:11:38.06\00:11:41.56 chapter one and verse one. 00:11:41.60\00:11:44.37 The Bible says the words of Nehemiah, the son of Aliyah. 00:11:45.50\00:11:50.91 It came to pass in the month of Kislev 00:11:51.81\00:11:54.38 in the 20th year as I was in Tucson, the Citadel. 00:11:55.38\00:11:58.71 So we realize that 00:11:59.21\00:12:00.38 Nehemiah begins his prayer in the month of chiseling. 00:12:00.42\00:12:03.52 But in verse one of chapter two, 00:12:04.22\00:12:05.95 it says, and it came to pass in the month of Nisan 00:12:07.06\00:12:09.86 in the 20th year of King of Desert sees. 00:12:10.73\00:12:13.16 When I was before him that I took wine 00:12:14.03\00:12:16.26 and gave it unto the king. 00:12:16.30\00:12:18.93 Now, friends, I need you to get that. 00:12:19.77\00:12:21.37 The story of Nehemiah has great principles of faith and action. 00:12:21.40\00:12:27.04 But today, I want to spend just a little while talking 00:12:28.21\00:12:30.78 about how we manage the opportunities that God gives. 00:12:30.81\00:12:34.92 And the first thing that you'll learn today is that God 00:12:36.08\00:12:38.75 blesses the patient, not the fidgety. 00:12:39.65\00:12:41.76 Let me just say that again for your hearing 00:12:43.46\00:12:45.43 that God blesses the patient, not the fidgety, 00:12:45.46\00:12:48.93 anxious believer 00:12:48.96\00:12:50.63 that starts tinkering with the providence of God. 00:12:50.67\00:12:54.00 Not now. 00:12:54.67\00:12:55.14 Last week, church. 00:12:55.17\00:12:56.14 We begin to get into deuce to a broken 00:12:56.17\00:12:59.27 and grieving man named Nehemiah. 00:12:59.31\00:13:02.48 And we read in chapter one 00:13:03.11\00:13:04.75 that Nehemiah begins his petition 00:13:04.78\00:13:07.58 in the month of his land, which is November 00:13:08.58\00:13:11.62 of the Jewish calendar. 00:13:11.65\00:13:13.42 But notice that the opportunity does not reveal itself 00:13:13.46\00:13:17.53 until Nisan, 00:13:17.56\00:13:19.03 which is the month of March in the Jewish calendar. 00:13:19.06\00:13:22.33 And so it's not like Nehemiah prays one day 00:13:23.33\00:13:25.97 and opportunity shows up the next day. 00:13:26.87\00:13:29.24 Nehemiah has been petitioning God for four months 00:13:30.34\00:13:33.41 before an opportunity arises. 00:13:34.11\00:13:36.28 Now there is somebody looking at that and saying, Pastor, 00:13:37.51\00:13:39.71 four months is not really a long time to have to wait. 00:13:39.75\00:13:43.55 But how many of us know that the sense of how long 00:13:44.65\00:13:46.96 the wait is is always related to how great your urgency is. 00:13:46.99\00:13:52.59 In other words, when it's not that big a deal, 00:13:53.63\00:13:55.86 you don't mind waiting for God to show up. 00:13:56.83\00:13:58.77 But when it is something that you value, 00:13:59.70\00:14:01.87 when it's something that burdens your soul, 00:14:02.77\00:14:04.81 when it's something that's important to you, 00:14:05.74\00:14:07.61 even the smallest weight can feel like an eternity. 00:14:08.71\00:14:12.01 In other words, when you're in great physical pain, 00:14:13.11\00:14:15.65 the 30 minutes it takes the drug clinic 00:14:16.48\00:14:18.65 to fill your prescription can feel like a long time. 00:14:19.79\00:14:22.32 When you hate your job and it's 3:00, man, 5:00 can take years 00:14:23.56\00:14:28.36 to finally come when it's December 00:14:28.40\00:14:31.40 23rd and you're a child waiting on Christmas. 00:14:31.43\00:14:34.64 Those last two days feels like two years. 00:14:35.60\00:14:37.97 When you truly desire companionship. 00:14:38.84\00:14:41.14 Waiting on that person to show up 00:14:41.94\00:14:43.68 can feel like God is taking too long. 00:14:44.51\00:14:46.85 In fact, friends, if you've ever been really hungry 00:14:47.98\00:14:50.89 and you put 00:14:51.89\00:14:52.85 something in the microwave, those 2 minutes 00:14:52.89\00:14:55.69 and 30 seconds can feel like two and a half years. 00:14:55.72\00:14:59.26 Am I telling the truth today? 00:14:59.96\00:15:01.16 And what I want to simply say to somebody in the weight 00:15:01.20\00:15:04.40 is this that you don't get to manage God's timeline, 00:15:04.43\00:15:08.50 but you can manage your urgency. 00:15:09.20\00:15:11.44 So one of the things I've learned the hard way, 00:15:12.61\00:15:14.68 friends, is that your hurry, your urgency won't rush God. 00:15:14.71\00:15:19.45 Your urgency won't accelerate God. 00:15:20.28\00:15:22.88 Your urgency won't make God move faster. 00:15:23.75\00:15:26.55 In fact, the only thing that uncontrolled 00:15:27.42\00:15:29.59 urgency will do is it will tempt you to move out 00:15:29.62\00:15:33.60 of God's wheel and start tinkering with the formula. 00:15:33.63\00:15:37.70 And what I want to say quickly 00:15:38.40\00:15:39.73 is that sometimes God is not moving too slow. 00:15:39.77\00:15:43.34 The problem is we're just too anxious. 00:15:44.24\00:15:46.41 In other words, the problem is not that God is taking his time. 00:15:47.64\00:15:50.68 The issue is that you've got a warm sense of time. 00:15:51.71\00:15:53.72 We've just got too much anxiety. 00:15:54.42\00:15:56.22 The truth 00:15:56.58\00:15:57.69 is that some in the House of God are just way too press. 00:15:57.72\00:16:00.69 Come on and say, man, 00:16:00.72\00:16:02.26 some of us are too press to be grown and get out of the house. 00:16:02.29\00:16:06.33 Some are too press to relocate. 00:16:07.03\00:16:08.93 Some are too press to hurry and get married. 00:16:09.93\00:16:12.07 Some are too press to have a new start. 00:16:12.97\00:16:15.04 But one of the things I've learned 00:16:15.87\00:16:16.94 is that some of the stuff we're so pressed about, 00:16:16.97\00:16:19.67 once we actually get it, it's not what we actually thought 00:16:20.91\00:16:23.61 it was going to become. 00:16:23.65\00:16:25.35 So the things that we are pressed to have, 00:16:25.38\00:16:27.78 we're not impressed once we actually get it. 00:16:28.72\00:16:30.55 And one of the things I've learned 00:16:31.32\00:16:32.52 is that the more precious you are in your wanting, 00:16:32.55\00:16:35.86 the less impressed you are in your having. 00:16:36.76\00:16:38.79 But the less press you are in your wanting, 00:16:39.69\00:16:41.76 the more impressed you are when you finally receive 00:16:42.86\00:16:45.43 what God has for you. 00:16:46.27\00:16:47.64 You are hearing me today, friends. 00:16:47.67\00:16:49.34 And one of the things 00:16:49.37\00:16:50.51 I just need to remind somebody today is that your steps 00:16:50.54\00:16:54.81 have been ordered by the Almighty God. 00:16:55.71\00:16:58.51 I need somebody to know that 00:16:59.18\00:17:00.48 what God has for you, it just is for you. 00:17:00.52\00:17:04.85 You need to be reminded of some 84 when God says no. 00:17:05.99\00:17:09.82 Good thing will he withhold from those who love him. 00:17:09.86\00:17:14.10 In other words, I need you to know 00:17:14.93\00:17:16.23 that God is not withholding opportunity. 00:17:16.26\00:17:19.57 God is just preparing opportunity. 00:17:20.40\00:17:22.37 He's not withholding blessings. 00:17:23.07\00:17:25.47 That God is just maturing our developing blessings. 00:17:26.61\00:17:29.28 I need somebody to know that God is not withholding 00:17:30.41\00:17:32.58 the right house. 00:17:33.01\00:17:33.82 God is just preparing the right house. 00:17:33.85\00:17:36.25 God is not withholding the right job. 00:17:37.12\00:17:39.02 He's just preparing the right job. 00:17:39.85\00:17:41.79 God is not withholding the right spouse. 00:17:42.66\00:17:44.66 He's just preparing you for the right spouse. 00:17:45.63\00:17:48.06 I need you to know that God loves you so much 00:17:49.06\00:17:51.03 that He won't withhold a good thing. 00:17:51.90\00:17:53.74 He'll just 00:17:54.80\00:17:55.87 prepare you for the good things he's ordained for you. 00:17:55.90\00:17:59.51 Y'all hear me today, friends? 00:18:00.28\00:18:01.31 Listen, I remember 00:18:01.34\00:18:02.18 just probably about eight years ago 00:18:02.21\00:18:04.08 when my wife and I moved into the house we live in, ma'am. 00:18:04.11\00:18:07.32 I remember the year 00:18:07.85\00:18:09.05 before we moved in, we had begin to look at this neighborhood. 00:18:09.08\00:18:12.29 It was right across the street from where we lived. 00:18:13.39\00:18:14.79 My wife and I would go in and walk 00:18:15.62\00:18:16.89 through the neighborhood and pray. 00:18:16.93\00:18:18.79 And we were convinced that this was what God had for us. 00:18:18.83\00:18:22.06 And so we put a contract on a particular house. 00:18:23.03\00:18:25.77 We had been approved preliminarily in our financing, 00:18:26.84\00:18:29.54 but as we got 00:18:29.97\00:18:31.11 into the underwriting process, there was a tax document 00:18:31.14\00:18:34.21 that was not prepared the right way. 00:18:35.08\00:18:36.41 And so the entire deal fell through. 00:18:37.28\00:18:39.21 Now, we weren't just disappointed 00:18:40.05\00:18:41.35 that we didn't get the house, but what made it hard is 00:18:41.38\00:18:44.05 we thought that we had heard from God. 00:18:44.09\00:18:46.22 So we had to remain where we were for another year. 00:18:47.29\00:18:49.66 But God is faithful. 00:18:50.19\00:18:51.36 Any hears our prayers 00:18:51.39\00:18:52.99 because in the course of the next year, 00:18:53.03\00:18:55.23 the housing market continues to go down 00:18:56.13\00:18:58.30 so that interest rates fall below 4%. 00:18:59.17\00:19:01.70 The price of houses begins to go down 00:19:02.60\00:19:04.97 and they build a model 00:19:05.54\00:19:07.04 that's more kid friendly to our lifestyle. 00:19:07.08\00:19:09.68 In other words, we thought, God was withholding it 00:19:10.78\00:19:12.68 when the truth is that God was just preparing it. 00:19:13.72\00:19:16.02 God was just maturing yet. 00:19:16.65\00:19:18.49 And I need somebody to know that when God has it for you, 00:19:19.72\00:19:22.26 there is 00:19:23.59\00:19:24.43 nothing that can stand against you. 00:19:24.46\00:19:26.39 So that for months now, 00:19:27.83\00:19:29.96 Nehemiah has this burden that is swelling. 00:19:30.00\00:19:32.77 He is crushed in spirit and there is anxiety 00:19:32.80\00:19:36.77 because he sees no change coming about. 00:19:37.71\00:19:40.78 But the thing I like about Nehemiah Church 00:19:41.74\00:19:44.58 is that even though it's taking a long time for God to move. 00:19:45.78\00:19:49.32 The thing I like about him is that he does not become fidgety. 00:19:50.55\00:19:55.86 He does not manufacture a political scheme 00:19:56.76\00:19:59.83 that allows him to press his way into the presence of the King. 00:20:01.03\00:20:03.63 He just falls back 00:20:04.27\00:20:05.60 and he waits on God to reveal it in his own time. 00:20:05.63\00:20:08.94 He realizes that he's got to keep his knee bended in prayer 00:20:10.17\00:20:12.77 and he's got 00:20:13.17\00:20:14.28 to keep his head up in service as he serves the king. 00:20:14.31\00:20:16.64 Are you with me today? France. 00:20:16.68\00:20:18.61 And so I need you to understand, for those who are 00:20:18.65\00:20:21.32 in a waiting season, 00:20:21.35\00:20:25.35 that you multiply your sorrows when you become fidgety 00:20:25.39\00:20:29.49 and you start tinkering with the will of God, 00:20:30.46\00:20:33.53 and you start making your factoring out counts. 00:20:34.56\00:20:37.07 Instead of waiting on God to show up. 00:20:37.97\00:20:39.70 Are you all with me today? France. 00:20:40.54\00:20:41.60 In other words, I need you to get that. 00:20:41.64\00:20:43.20 There are a series of consequences 00:20:43.24\00:20:45.67 that never stop hurting 00:20:46.24\00:20:47.88 when you start moving ahead of the hand of God. 00:20:47.91\00:20:51.85 Let me give you an example. 00:20:52.51\00:20:53.58 Remember that Sarah got tired of waiting on kids, 00:20:53.62\00:20:57.52 and so she became fidgety. 00:20:58.15\00:20:59.69 And she told Abraham to lie with my hand made Hagar 00:21:00.89\00:21:04.23 and I'll have children through her. 00:21:05.06\00:21:06.39 And it was all good until Hagar 00:21:07.10\00:21:08.90 start acting like she was the number one woman in the house. 00:21:10.17\00:21:12.47 And all of a sudden, 00:21:13.00\00:21:14.14 not only did she have to go, the child also had to go. 00:21:14.17\00:21:18.21 Remember that David got fidgety on the rooftop 00:21:19.17\00:21:21.71 that night when he saw Bathsheba bathing outside. 00:21:21.74\00:21:25.11 And understand the reason that David was judge 00:21:26.08\00:21:28.58 was not 00:21:28.88\00:21:30.09 just because of the adultery, but God said if you wanted more, 00:21:30.12\00:21:34.19 if you waited on me, I would have given it to you. 00:21:34.22\00:21:37.09 Do you realize that what messed up Judas was not Bree? 00:21:38.26\00:21:41.03 He became fidgety. 00:21:42.13\00:21:44.03 You realize it wasn't about the pieces of silver. 00:21:44.07\00:21:47.04 If that was the case, once 00:21:47.67\00:21:48.77 Jesus died, he would not have taken the money back. 00:21:48.80\00:21:51.71 But you realize that Judas was simply a schemer 00:21:52.74\00:21:55.34 who wanted Jesus to overthrow the government of Rome 00:21:56.48\00:21:58.95 and to use his power. 00:21:59.51\00:22:00.92 So what He did was painted Jesus in a corner 00:22:00.95\00:22:04.29 where he would have no choice but to use his power. 00:22:05.42\00:22:07.96 And it was the belief 00:22:08.52\00:22:09.46 that he had actually set Jesus up for success. 00:22:09.49\00:22:13.06 And that's why he sealed it with a kiss on his face 00:22:13.09\00:22:16.50 as he friends. 00:22:17.57\00:22:18.20 What I need somebody to know 00:22:18.23\00:22:19.53 is that every time you become fidgety, all you do 00:22:19.57\00:22:23.04 is push back the timing of God 00:22:23.07\00:22:25.37 so that what was supposed to happen in March 00:22:27.28\00:22:29.61 gets pushed back to November. 00:22:30.31\00:22:31.88 What was supposed to happen in 22 won't happen until 24. 00:22:31.91\00:22:35.82 Every time you begin to tinker with the hand and the directives 00:22:37.05\00:22:40.12 of the Almighty God, you see, every time you start 00:22:40.16\00:22:44.79 robbing God to pay bills, every time you start dating 00:22:44.83\00:22:51.13 just for company and not for covenant, 00:22:51.17\00:22:53.54 every time you start conniving and scheming 00:22:54.50\00:22:57.41 and politicking your way 00:22:57.97\00:22:59.41 into positions of upward mobility, the only thing you do 00:22:59.44\00:23:03.14 is actually push back the hand of God. 00:23:03.18\00:23:05.81 And the thing you got to know is that God can outwait you. 00:23:07.05\00:23:09.35 He ain't got 00:23:10.79\00:23:11.72 nothing but time and eternity on his side. 00:23:11.75\00:23:13.99 And you've got to be still and wait on 00:23:14.89\00:23:16.02 God, y'all here in the Pasadena Friends. 00:23:16.06\00:23:19.06 May I remember? 00:23:19.09\00:23:19.76 You know, 00:23:19.79\00:23:20.63 I learned this even as a little kid, 00:23:20.66\00:23:21.76 and the same thing showed up for one of my kids. 00:23:21.80\00:23:23.67 They were in the swimming pool one day and 00:23:23.70\00:23:25.47 and my youngest, he had a little toy 00:23:25.50\00:23:27.57 that he was trying to play with, but the toy had kind of begun 00:23:28.80\00:23:30.17 to drift over it toward the deep end. 00:23:30.21\00:23:32.14 And and what happened when he tried to reach it 00:23:32.17\00:23:34.34 every time he missed it, it would create a wave 00:23:35.31\00:23:36.95 and push the toy a little bit further away. 00:23:36.98\00:23:39.45 And so when I said to him, I said, Son, 00:23:40.35\00:23:41.38 stop reaching for the toy. 00:23:41.42\00:23:43.52 What I want you to do is just push back as fast as you can. 00:23:43.55\00:23:47.19 And he didn't really understand the instruction, 00:23:48.19\00:23:49.59 but I said, just push back as fast as you can. 00:23:49.62\00:23:52.19 Well, what happens is 00:23:52.76\00:23:53.96 when you go back in the water, it creates a draft current. 00:23:54.00\00:23:56.77 So that whatever is in front of you 00:23:57.60\00:23:59.43 is going to slowly begin floating toward your direction. 00:24:00.64\00:24:03.20 And so what happens is he began pushing back 00:24:04.14\00:24:05.87 and it created a draft and a current, and eventually 00:24:07.01\00:24:09.38 the toy just starts floating in his direction. 00:24:09.41\00:24:12.18 And what 00:24:12.48\00:24:13.62 I'm saying that somebody today is stop reaching for it. 00:24:13.65\00:24:16.25 Stop grabbing for it. 00:24:16.82\00:24:18.15 After you've done all you can do, just fall back 00:24:18.19\00:24:21.16 and let God send it in your direction. 00:24:22.06\00:24:24.63 Just fall back and let God send the job 00:24:25.46\00:24:28.40 fall back and let God send the spouse fall back and let God 00:24:29.56\00:24:33.27 send the house fall back and let God open the door. 00:24:33.30\00:24:37.44 Are you hear me today, Friends? 00:24:38.97\00:24:40.44 Thank you so much for joining us for the Breath of Life, 00:24:40.48\00:24:43.85 Television Ministries broadcast with Pastor Debleaire Snell 00:24:43.88\00:24:48.38 We hope and pray 00:24:48.42\00:24:49.72 that you have been blessed by this second message 00:24:49.75\00:24:52.59 in the sermon series titled The Construction's Zone. 00:24:53.66\00:24:56.93 Join us next week for part two of the message 00:24:56.96\00:24:59.96 What to do when Opportunity Knocks. 00:25:00.06\00:25:03.26 You don't want to miss it! 00:25:03.30\00:25:05.23 it's graduation season. 00:25:08.30\00:25:10.11 And I want to say congrats to all of our recent graduates. 00:25:10.14\00:25:12.97 And though we're thankful for how God is blessing you, 00:25:14.14\00:25:15.78 the only problem is that we ask 18 or 19 year olds 00:25:16.81\00:25:19.85 to make decisions that affect the rest of their lives. 00:25:21.02\00:25:23.49 That's why I'm inviting you to join me for our 00:25:24.52\00:25:26.52 first ever Breath of life decision day. 00:25:27.46\00:25:29.36 It's a one day online conference on July the seventh. 00:25:30.43\00:25:33.43 I'm going to be joined by a number of individuals. 00:25:34.50\00:25:36.36 They're going to help 00:25:36.93\00:25:37.97 our young people make decisions about their future. 00:25:38.00\00:25:40.27 We're going to be discussing things 00:25:41.14\00:25:42.10 like how to discover your calling. 00:25:42.14\00:25:44.81 Doesn't HBCU put me out of this advantage? 00:25:44.84\00:25:48.01 When do I need to pivot changing schools or majors? 00:25:49.14\00:25:51.78 Or how to dream big? 00:25:52.31\00:25:54.35 It's going to be held on July the seventh from 10 a.m. 00:25:55.52\00:25:57.65 to 2:00 PM. 00:25:57.69\00:25:59.15 It's a free conference, 00:25:59.19\00:26:00.76 but we don't just want the kids to come. 00:26:00.79\00:26:02.69 We want the parents to come so that we can make these decisions 00:26:02.72\00:26:06.59 with God's tutelage as a village. 00:26:07.40\00:26:09.63 So again, that's going to be July the seventh from 10 a.m. 00:26:10.87\00:26:12.70 to 2:00 pm. 00:26:12.73\00:26:14.27 I need you to know it's going to be a great time of learning. 00:26:14.30\00:26:16.54 You're going to be equipped. 00:26:17.21\00:26:17.94 You're going to be given some tools 00:26:17.97\00:26:19.71 to make sure 00:26:19.74\00:26:20.41 that you land at the right place 00:26:20.44\00:26:22.14 and that you make the right choice. 00:26:22.18\00:26:24.18 I look forward to seeing you soon on decision day. 00:26:24.21\00:26:31.55 What's good? 00:26:39.26\00:26:40.46 Family breath of life is going to be coming to the West Coast. 00:26:40.50\00:26:43.83 We're excited that from July the 14th to July the 27th, 00:26:44.97\00:26:48.90 we're going to be hosting our third annual Hope 00:26:49.97\00:26:51.87 Rally under the theme Almost Home. 00:26:51.91\00:26:54.48 We're going to be meeting for those two weeks 00:26:55.51\00:26:57.01 in Long Beach, California. 00:26:57.05\00:26:59.15 We're going to be meeting each night, 00:26:59.18\00:27:00.82 except for Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7:00 PM. 00:27:00.85\00:27:04.29 It's an in-person meeting only, so you can't catch it online. 00:27:05.52\00:27:09.12 You've got to be in the house. 00:27:09.82\00:27:11.16 We're going to be joined in musical partnership 00:27:11.19\00:27:13.73 by gospel recording artist Smokey Norful. 00:27:14.60\00:27:17.33 Jonathan Nelson and Donnie McClurkin. 00:27:18.20\00:27:21.00 Each night, dinner is going to be served 00:27:21.94\00:27:24.07 and there's going to be special programing for your youth 00:27:25.24\00:27:27.04 and for your little ones. 00:27:27.68\00:27:28.81 It's going to be a high time in Zion 00:27:28.84\00:27:30.98 where we're going to 00:27:31.51\00:27:32.45 be preaching the good news of Jesus Christ, 00:27:32.48\00:27:34.28 and we're going to be reminded that this world is not our home. 00:27:35.52\00:27:38.62 Again, I look forward to seeing you in Long Beach, 00:27:39.72\00:27:41.62 California, from July the 14th to the 27th. 00:27:41.66\00:27:45.46 Make sure that you're planning to be there 00:27:46.43\00:27:47.93 and you bring somebody with you. 00:27:47.96\00:27:49.80 If you want more information, go to our website 00:27:49.83\00:27:52.37 at www.breathoflife.tv, God bless. 00:27:53.13\00:27:56.60 I'll be seeing you this summer. 00:27:57.31\00:28:12.39