BORN TO WIN – OPPORTUNITY

/ By

Text: Ecc.9:11

11 I returned and saw under the sun that — The race is not to the swift,
Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise,Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.

INTRODUCTION
Every man has what may be called time and space to act or an opportunity to do a particular thing or to become something we had planned or as God had revealed. What then is opportunity? A number of definitions are available:
Oxford Advanced Learners Dictionary
A time when a particular situation makes it possible to do or achieve something.
A time when the circumstances are right for doing something.
The American Heritage Dictionary
An appropriate or favourable time or occasion
Situation or condition favorable for the attainment of a goal.
A good position, chance or prospect for advancement or success.

From the above therefore, we can see that opportunity is a set of circumstance that make it possible for things to happen. It can be created by any or a combination of the following:
People – My 1st Bank Job
Circumstance – ISam.17:17-24- David’s encounter of Goliath

IBB & the Northern Elders
Challenge – 2Kings 4:1-7- The prophets widow and Elish.

Jonathan/Yar’adua
Some opportunities can arise by a combination of all of these factors e.g
2Kings 7- The famine is Samaria as a result of the blockade of Syria, the Prophets word, The Lepers and the Noise of chariots.
From our text therefore we see that being strong
Fast
Smart
Educated or Skillful
does not always guarantee success in life. Smart and skilled people may still lose in the matters of life – because of time and chance i.e a well timed coincidence! Therefore, pls note: To win in life;
Our natural abilities, talents, training and connection, though needed may not always guarantee success.
There are lots of circumstances or occurrences in life that are not in our control and the way we respond to them will determine whether we win or lose.

When Opportunity comes, How does it Look?
There are 3 faces of opportunity
Chaos

When things are thrown out of their normal order i.e a state of complete disorder and confusion
Peter walking on the water – Matt.14:22-29
The ascension of Sonekan & Jonathan as presidents in Nigeria.

Please note, not all chaos is destructive some are sent to create opportunities for the prepared.
Challenge

When pressure is exerted to produce or demand arises for a result.
Mordecai’s challenge to Esther-Esth.4:13-17
Esther confronted Haman – Esth.7:1-7
Calling

A demand arises requiring the skill you have been learning or preparing for e.g
Ezra – Ezra1:4 And whoever is left in any place where he dwells, let the men of his place help him with silver and gold, with goods and livestock, besides the freewill offerings for the house of God which is in Jerusalem.

Ezra 7:10
10 For Ezra had prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord , and to do it, and to teach statutes and ordinances in Israel.

Ezra 10:4
4 Arise, for this matter is your responsibility. We also are with you. Be of good courage, and do it.”
The Lord Jesus Christ Lu.4:16-21
16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted,* To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord .”* 20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him. 21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
CHARACTERISTICS OF OPPORTUNITY
Comes to all but only the prepared can take advantage of it Ecc.9:11

I returned and saw under the sun that — The race is not to the swift, Nor the battle to the strong, Nor bread to the wise, Nor riches to men of understanding, Nor favor to men of skill; But time and chance happen to them all.
Eph.5:15-17.
15 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, 16 redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
Opportunity is given and can be withdrawn, Eph.4:27

27 nor give place to the devil.
Matt.21:43
43 “Therefore I say to you, the kingdom of God will be taken from you and given to a nation bearing the fruits of it.
Ecc.9:10
10 Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.
The hopeless does not see opportunity – Heb.11:15,

15 And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return.

Num.14:39-45, Heb.6:18-19
18 that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. 19 This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, 20 where the forerunner has entered for us, even Jesus, having become High Priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.
Opportunity does not always guarantee success. Work is required to convert opportunity into success. Mk.3:13-15; John 17:12

12 While I was with them in the world, I kept them in Your name. Those whom You gave Me I have kept; and none of them is lost except the son of perdition, that the Scripture might be fulfilled.
Acts 1:20;
“For it is written in the Book of Psalms: ‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’; and, ‘Let another take his office.’
ISam.13:13
13 And Samuel said to Saul, “You have done foolishly. You have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you. For now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever.
BENEFITS OF OPPORTUNITY
Opportunity is God’s instrument for collapsing time II Kings 4 – The prophet’s widow v 1-7 and the shunemite woman v8- 17; Rebekah Gen.24:12-21;John5:1-9
It is God’s instrument for lifting e.g Saul. I Sam.8:9

9 Now therefore, heed their voice. However, you shall solemnly forewarn them, and show them the behavior of the king who will reign over them.”
It is God’s instrument for restoration and a turn around e.g she invalid at the pool John5:1-9; Blind Bartimeaus Mk.10:46-52; Lk.5:1-7
Opportunity often helps in the discovery of purpose and the release of direction. When opportunities are missed, purposes are frustrated. Lk.5:8-11, Acts1:20;10:1-6
When it is well utilized it gives birth to new opportunities and challenges which takes one up the ladder of success/ fulfillment e.g David/ Goliath ISam.17:25-26
When opportunity meets preparation the result is favour ISam.17:32-37; 18:5-6
Opportunity makes things happen because with it,
You discover resources and prospects in places people had concluded barren. Gen.30:25-43
It is a chain with many facets.
CREATING OPPORTUNITY
Seeds Acts9:36-41; 10:1-6 (amp)
Prayers Acts10:1-6 (amp), Lu 2:25-38; Heb5:7-who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly fear,
Obedience and submission : Adam, Saul, Eleazer, The Lord Jesus
Association Phil4:13-19
Words Prov.15:4- A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, But perverseness in it breaks the spirit.
Faithfulness and Fruitfulness Zacharias Lu1:5-13
Thinking (meditation) Zacheaus Lu19:1-10
Skills development 1Chro12:32

32 of the sons of Issachar who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, their chiefs were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their command;
Savings and investment mindedness Jacob/ Esau Gen.27-28
The power of forgiveness Matt.18:23-34; Mk.11:4- 4 So they went their way, and found the colt tied by the door outside on the street, and they loosed it.
Service Elisha 2Kings3:11-12
Thanksgiving Psm.67:5-7;Mal.2:2-3(LB)- Listen, you priests, to this warning from the Lord Almighty: “If you don’t change your ways and give glory to my name, then I will send terrible punishment upon you, and instead of giving you blessings as I would like to, I will turn on you with curses. Indeed, I have cursed you already because you haven’t taken seriously the things that are most important to me. 3 “Take note that I will rebuke your children; I will spread on your faces the manure of these animals you offer me and throw you out like dung.

Mal 2:2-3 NKJV -2 If you will not hear, And if you will not take it to heart, To give glory to My name,” Says the Lord of hosts, “I will send a curse upon you, And I will curse your blessings. Yes, I have cursed them already, Because you do not take it to heart. 3 “Behold, I will rebuke your descendants. And spread refuse on your faces, The refuse of your solemn feasts; And one will take you away with it.

Please note:
God often answer our prayers by giving us opportunities to accomplish things. May you not miss the moment of your visitation especially in
Investment opportunities
Relationships
Travels or Education
A quote from Leonard Ravenhill a 20th century revivalist goes thus:
“The opportunity of a life time must be seized in the lifetime of the opportunity” Meaning:
Opportunity has a life span, once lost may never come again e.g Esther & Peter.
Opportunity typically favours the prepared
If you desire or are prepared, even in your weakness there is enough strength to take your opportunity.
The opportunity despised today, could be the key to a future road block.

WHY WE MISS OPPORTUNITIES
Lack of preparation – what look me before MA
Fear is often a major constraint because –we have no idea which opportunity will give us access in the future – Ecc.11:1-6;

Cast your bread upon the waters,
For you will find it after many days.
2 Give a serving to seven, and also to eight,
For you do not know what evil will be on the earth. 3 If the clouds are full of rain,
They empty themselves upon the earth;
And if a tree falls to the south or the north,
In the place where the tree falls, there it shall lie. 4 He who observes the wind will not sow,
And he who regards the clouds will not reap.
5 As you do not know what is the way of the wind,* Or how the bones grow in the womb of her who is with child,So you do not know the works of God who makes everything.
6 In the morning sow your seed,
And in the evening do not withhold your hand;
For you do not know which will prosper,
Either this or that, Or whether both alike will be good.
Gal.6:9-10 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. 10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
We miss because most of the time we are looking at the end product and not the seed. Opportunity does not look at the end product but it focuses on the seed that produces the end product – Judas Ischariot –Acts 1:17 “for he was numbered with us and obtained a part in this ministry.”

20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
‘Let his dwelling place be desolate, And let no one live in it’;* and, ‘Let* another take his office.’*
Lack of knowing that opportunity can come when the situation is not ideal – you may be broke, angry, afraid or in a very uncomfortable situation 2Kings 7- The Lepers.

THE BLESSINGS OF OPPORTUNITY
When you access opportunity, what follows is open door. At various levels or points in our lives, God is opening new doors each one results in new opportunities and so on.
Opportunity brings promotion because your gifts often are show cased –

The 3 Hebrew Children – Dan.3:30
19 Then Nebuchadnezzar was full of fury, and the expression on his face changed toward Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego. He spoke and commanded that they heat the furnace seven times more than it was usually heated.

20 And he commanded certain mighty men of valor who were in his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, and cast them into the burning fiery furnace.

21 Then these men were bound in their coats, their trousers, their turbans, and their other garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

22 Therefore, because the king’s command was urgent, and the furnace exceedingly hot, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego.

23 And these three men, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.

24 Then King Nebuchadnezzar was astonished; and he rose in haste and spoke, saying to his counselors, “Did we not cast three men bound into the midst of the fire?”They answered and said to the king, “True, O king.”

25 “Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.”*

26 Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.

27 And the satraps, administrators, governors, and the king’s counselors gathered together, and they saw these men on whose bodies the fire had no power; the hair of their head was not singed nor were their garments affected, and the smell of fire was not on them.

28 Nebuchadnezzar spoke, saying, “Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, who sent His Angel* and delivered His servants who trusted in Him, and they have frustrated the king’s word, and yielded their bodies, that they should not serve nor worship any god except their own God!

29 Therefore I make a decree that any people, nation, or language which speaks anything amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made an ash heap; because there is no other God who can deliver like this.”

30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego in the province of Babylon.
Opportunities seized and appropriately utilized makes your God famous – Dan.3:19-30
Opportunities utilized liberates others associated with you.

Nehemiah – Neh 1& 2
Daniel – Dan.9:1-2 In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans — 2 in the first year of his reign I, Daniel, understood by the books the number of the years specified by the word of the Lord through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem.
Recognizing Opportunity
Recognize God’s sovereignty over life’s circumstances and occurrences
See your life in the light of God’s larger purpose.
Be open to any new lesson to be learnt or experience or skill to be acquired.
Allow God to use what you are going through for His glory.
Find out the will of God and step out in faith as did Esther and Peter.
Release the pain of old opportunities missed
Forgive yourself and others for past mistakes – Psm.37:23-24,

23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, And He delights in his way. 24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down; For the LORD upholds him with His hand. Prov.24:16 16 for a righteous man may fall seven times and rise again, But the wicked shall fall by calamity.
Micah 7:8 Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, the Lord will be a light to me.

Dr. Udoh
Latest posts by Dr. Udoh (see all)