SUCESS

Preparation + Opportunity = Success. 

Bible References:

1Samuel 16: 11, 17: 13; Matthew 24: 34 – 36, 25: 1 – 10; John 15: 1 – 11.

• Preparation is a personal thing.
• Opportunity may be something sudden.
• It doesn’t deal with our plan.
• Everybody gets opportunities. "...but time and chance happeneth to them all" Eccl. 9:11g
• Preparation is a constant thing. 
• It is only our father in heaven that knows and controls all opportunities. Dan. 2:21
• A prepared person without opportunity is just half gone. 
• "Prepared" in this case means in all ramifications. 
• David was being prepared by God as a shepherd, God knowing fully well that he will lead His people (Israel).   
• 1 Sam. 16:11 talks about opportunity, verse 12 points out the opportunity and verse 13 about success. 
• God is searching for people He needs and these people are those that are preparing and getting themselves ready for God’s work.
• In verses 14 – 17, another opportunity was created for David, gradually leading to his enthronement. 
• In verses 18 – 21, David was still tending sheep, not using His anointing as an excuse to relax, he continued with his work as a shepherd till the opportunity to play the harp in the palace came up.
• Even in chapter 17: 14 – 15, David refused to relax as the king’s harp player, he kept on going back to the field to tend the sheep. Another opportunity arose when Jesse told him to go check on his brothers, ref. V. 23(latter part) “and David heard them” and that was another opportunity.
• An opportunity could be taken up because the person knows what would come out of it, like David did in 17:30.
• Preparation doesn’t end in a place. You can never stop preparing. Do not be stagnant. However, in the place of preparation always remember your source (God) so you don’t run dry.
• The greatest preparation any man can make is that of the 2^nd coming of the Lord Jesus. It is going to be sudden. We shall not miss it in Jesus name. (Amen)

SHALLOM!!!