Being at the right place at the right time.

Sermon Topic: Being at the right place at the right time.

Preacher: Brother Waheed Ogunjobi 

Introduction:

Welcome, dear brothers and sisters in Christ. Today, we're going to explore a crucial aspect of our walk with God - being in the right place at the right time. We'll delve into the benefits of being in the right place, the consequences of being in the wrong place, and most importantly, how to discern and stay in God's perfect will.

Topic : Being  at the rignt place ?

Important Considerations: 

1. We are going to take a look at time and season - Don't try to shine in  another person time ...

Time and season is In the hand of God. Psalm 35:15.

Psalms 104:19 In-Context

19 He made the moon to mark the season and the sun knows when to go down...20 You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. 21 The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God.

Missed season: It might be your time but not your turn...People can also miss their season...And, as the popular saying goes, opportunity lost cannot be regained.  

I pray for you today may you never miss your season  May your season never elude you. 

2. Destiny: You have to understand  the place of destiny...Know what you are destined to do...Know your destiny so you do not run other people's race. .Yoruba will say Gba fun Olorun ni isinmi...You must understand  your place in destiny... You should know your place of grace...if you move out of your place of grace; you will be disgraced. Know your purpose in life ...But, please note destiny can also be altered.. But, you can not alter it if you are not mad at the poor or bad destiny..

YOU REMEMBER JABESH!!!!

1 Chronicles 4:9

 Jabez was more honorable than his brothers. His mother had named him Jabez, saying: "I gave birth to him in pain." Jabez cried out to the God of Israel, saying: "Oh that You would bless me indeed and enlarge my territory!

Did you also remember Jacob whose name was changed to Israel?

Gen:32 -28 ...God asks Jacob his name, then tells him his his new name will be 'Israel'. In Genesis 35:10, God says his name is Jacob but that he will no more be called Jacob, but 'Israel'. In both cases, we have confirmation that this is God speaking, not an angel or messenger.11 Jul 2019

Prayer, God can change your destiny....No fixed destiny....

There is a Pastor in one popular church , if I mention you will know...He told me this much...

SERMON: 

 Now, to the business....

Being at the right place mean being in the best position or place to take advantage of an opportunity.

Quote: 

The key to success is to be in the right place at the right time.

Bible Verse for the sermon: 

Ecclesiastes 9:11- 12

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

Ecclesiastes 9:12 

For man does not know his time...Like fish that are taken in an evil net, and like birds that are caught in a snare, so the children of man are snared at an evil time, when it suddenly falls upon them.

People can never predict when hard times might come. Like fish in a net or birds in a trap, people are caught by sudden tragedy. 12 No one can predict misfortune. Like fish caught in a cruel net or birds in a trap, So men and women are caught By accidents evil and sudden.

1st Corinthian 1 : 1:27-31:  But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him.

So, that no one may boast before him...

Bible Verses about the right place 

Proverbs 16:9?

The heart of man plans his way, but the LORD  establishes  his steps. This simply means that we can make our plans, but the LORD determines  our steps.

Prayer: May the Lord order our steps aright...Amen!!! Amen!!!

Proverbs 3:5-6 

 "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." Surrender your desires and plans to God, and He will direct your steps, leading you to the right person in His perfect timing. 

Simply put: Olorun lo ni deede

Illustration !!!!!!

Why do you think the traditional people do what is called " Akosejaye?. They want to determine the course of a child's  life; what profession is suitable for him; what type of life he would lead and so on.

So, specifically in life, we should always ask God, anytime we are planning to take a major step in life.

Yoruba will say " Ka ma wo aago Alago sise ...!!!

Let me sound this note of warning, we should understand that in life, we may be age mate, school mate but not destiny mates. 

Sometimes, your mate has a destiny to be your boss... I have lots of illustration on this :

 1. Former  Governor  of Ogun State.

Majority of his Commissioners are his mates in school. This goes to show that we should not wo aago Alago sise.

2. There was this SA even in Amosun's cabinet who helped his friend  with an appointment in Kaduna...More tbat 10 years

We should also realise that life is a misery.. Every man has its own season. You should undertake  your own season and let your life be guided by.

Let's take a look at this scripture to buttress the point.

Ecclesiastes: 9:11

I have observed something else under the sun. The fastest runner doesn’t always win the race, and the strongest warrior doesn’t always win the battle. The wise sometimes go hungry, and the skillful are not necessarily wealthy. And those who are educated don’t always lead successful lives. It is all decided by chance, by being in the right place at the right time.

Somebody said you can be in U.K and not be OK   Another one said sometimes we leave God above and we are looking for God abroad. If people do not understand  the dynamics of being and staying the right place, they will suffer.. I used to say it  Ti eda ba se ise onise a daamu...May you not labour and suffer to make it in life....!!!

Most people do not fully fulfil their destiny because they are at the wrong place , they are in the wrong profession, and sometimes they move with the wrong friend  and even live in the wrong place...Always ask God...I'm still a Lerner on this...But, I will learn, I'm learning fast ..

Prayer: May God Almighty lead us aright in the right path. I love this prayer point 

God should allow us get things that our life really deserves... Oun ti aye mi nilo ni ki olorun ki o se fun mi. 

Bible Characters  who were at the right place?

1. Esther: 

In the Old Testament book of Esther, we see how God placed the right woman in the right place at the right time, and she saved the Jewish people.

Joseph: We are all too familiar with the story of Joseph. Joseph was able to salvage his brethren by being the right person at the right place and at the right time.

Nehemiah 2:1-8

Nehemiah had a calling from God to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem. He was left with the possibility of getting it done or not. But, God strategically put him at the King  of Persia's palace. 

What are the benefits of being at the right place at the right time.

1. Divine Appointment. Being at the right place at the right time can lead to divine appointments, where God orchestrates encounters to fulfill His purposes (Acts 16:9-10). 

Acts 16:9-10 is about Paul Receiving  a vision from God guiding him to preach the message of Jesus Christ I'm Macedonia, emphasising  the divine guidance and intervention in the spreading  of the gospel to new territories.

2. Opportunities : Being in the right place at the right time can lead to new opportunities, such as Nehemiah's chance to request permission to rebuild Jerusalem's walls (Nehemiah 2:1-8).

3. Influence : Being in the right place at the right time can give you influence, like Esther's position in the palace, which allowed her to save the Jewish people (Esther 4:14).

4. Protection  Being in the right place at the right time can provide protection, like the Israelites being in Goshen during the famine (Genesis 47:27). Goshen is a place of rest and protection.... 

"The will of God will never take you, where the grace of God cannot keep you, where the arms of God cannot support you, where the riches of God cannot supply your needs, where the power of God cannot endow you." Everything happens for a purpose. Go where God sends you.

It was here that God allowed His people to live for hundreds of years until He decided they should move on and inhabit somewhere else. After a while, although the people of God were forced into slavery in Goshen, God was still with them

5. Guidance Being in the right place at the right time can provide guidance, like the Magi (wise men) following the star to find Jesus (Matthew 2:1-12).

6. Provision Being in the right place at the right time can lead to provision, like the widow of Zarephath being in the right place to receive food from Elijah (1 Kings 17:8-16).

7. Spiritual Growth Being in the right place at the right time can lead to spiritual growth, like the disciples being in the upper room to receive the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:1-4).

What does it mean by being in the wrong place?

It  means being unfortunate and being a victim of circumstances..

For instance, someone who happens to show up at a scene where robbery had just taken place and was apprehended.

Another one is the other instance where people will say won ko won mo roga...For instance someone who showed up at the scene of protest and was apprehended while not taking part.

Again Let's go scriptural 

Bible Characters who were at the wrong place at the wrong time..

Here are some Bible characters who were in the wrong place:

1. Adam and Eve - They were in the wrong place in the Garden of Eden, leading to disobedience and sin (Genesis 3).

2. Jonah - He was in the wrong place, running from God's call to prophesy to Nineveh (Jonah 1).

3. Lot's wife - She was in the wrong place, looking back at Sodom and Gomorrah, and was turned into a pillar of salt (Genesis 19:26).

4. Ananias and Sapphira - They were in the wrong place, lying to the Holy Spirit and the apostles, and were struck down (Acts 5:1-11).

5. Peter - He was in the wrong place, denying Jesus three times, but later repented (Matthew 26:69-75).

6. Judas Iscariot - He was in the wrong place, betraying Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, leading to Jesus' crucifixion (Matthew 26:47-50).

7. The prodigal son - He was in the wrong place, squandering his inheritance in a foreign land, but later returned to his father (Luke 15:11-32).

8. Samson - He was in the wrong place, marrying a Philistine woman and revealing his secret to her, leading to his capture (Judges 16).

9. King Saul - He was in the wrong place, consulting a medium and disobeying God's commands, leading to his downfall (1 Samuel 28).

10. Demas - He was in the wrong place, loving the world and deserting Paul (2 Timothy 4:10).

When people are in the wrong place , what happens?

1. Mistakes and errors. Being in the wrong place can lead to mistakes and errors, which can have serious consequences.

2. Missed opportunities. When people are in the wrong place, they may miss out on opportunities that could have been beneficial.

3. Harm to oneself or others.  Being in the wrong place can lead to physical or emotional harm to oneself or others.

4. Disobedience to God : In a biblical context, being in the wrong place can be a result of disobedience to God's will or guidance.

5. Wasted time and resources: Being in the wrong place can lead to wasted time, energy, and resources.

6. Lack of fulfillment: When people are in the wrong place, they may feel unfulfilled, restless, or discontent.

7. Confusion and chaos  Being in the wrong place can create confusion and chaos in one's life and the lives of others.

8. Regret and remorse: People may experience regret and remorse when they realize they were in the wrong place.

9. Delays and detoursBeing in the wrong place can cause delays and detours in one's journey or progress.

10. Spiritual stagnation: In a biblical context, being in the wrong place can lead to spiritual stagnation and a lack of growth.

Prayer Points about right and wrong places in the life 

Here are some prayer points about being at the right place in life:

1. God's Guidance .Ask God to guide you to the right place, where He wants you to be, and to give you wisdom to recognize it.

2. *Clarity of Purpose*: Pray for clarity of purpose and direction, that you may know what God wants you to do and where He wants you to be.

3. *Trust in His Sovereignty*: Trust that God is sovereign and has a plan to prosper you, even when you're unsure about your location or circumstances.

4. *Faith to Take Steps*: Ask for faith to take steps towards the right place, even if it's uncertain or uncomfortable.

5. *Protection from Wrong Places*: Pray for protection from being in the wrong place, where you might be tempted or harmed.

6. *Discernment*: Request discernment to recognize when you're in the right or wrong place and to make adjustments accordingly.

7. *Peace and Contentment*: Ask for peace and contentment in the right place, knowing that God has you exactly where He wants you.

8. *Opportunities and Open Doors*: Pray for opportunities and open doors that will lead you to the right place.

9. *Strength in Waiting*: Ask for strength to wait on God's timing and leading, even when it's difficult or uncertain.

10. *Gratitude*: Express gratitude for God's guidance and provision in leading you to the right 

Prayers about being at the wrong place in the Bible 

Here are some prayer points about being at the wrong place, with references to Bible characters who experienced similar situations:

1. _Jonah's Prayer_: "God, I know I'm in the wrong place, running from Your call. Forgive me and help me obey Your voice" (Jonah 1).

2. _David's Lament_: "God, I'm in the wrong place, surrounded by enemies. Rescue me and lead me to safety" (Psalm 59).

3. _Prodigal Son's Cry_: "Father, I realize I'm in the wrong place, squandering my inheritance. Welcome me back home" (Luke 15).

4. _Peter's Plea_: "Jesus, I denied You and am in the wrong place. Forgive me and restore me" (John 21).

5. _Saul's Confession_: "God, I'm in the wrong place, disobeying Your commands. Forgive me and guide me" (1 Samuel 28).

6. _Elijah's Despair_: "God, I'm in the wrong place, feeling alone and abandoned. Renew my strength and hope" (1 Kings 19).

7. _Hagar's Hope_: "God, I'm in the wrong place, rejected and alone. See me and provide for me" (Genesis 16).

8. _Thomas's Doubt_: "Jesus, I'm in the wrong place, doubting Your resurrection. Show me Your truth" (John 20).

9. _Martha's Distraction_: "Jesus, I'm in the wrong place, busy with many things. Help me focus on what truly matters" (Luke 10).

10. _Zacchaeus's Zeal_: "Jesus, I'm in the wrong place, stuck in my ways. Help me change and follow You" (Luke 19).

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