#2divine Appointments: The Darker The Night, The Greater The Light.

#2 DIVINE APPOINTMENTS, THE DARKER THE NIGHT, THE GREATER THE LIGHT.

By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com

This is part two.

I. WHAT IF WE COULD UNDERSTAND WHAT LIES BEFORE US?

MOST OF US WOULD SET OUR FACE TO THE WALL, EVALUATE OUR CHOICES, AND CORRECT OUR ATTITUDES.

A. The other night my wife Linda was watching the Game Show Network. She was watching Family Feud.

The Host asked a question:

IF YOU KNEW TOMORROW WAS THE LAST DAY,

WHAT WOULD YOU DO TODAY?

There were several answers.

1. Pray/attend church

2. Spend time with the family

3. Get drunk/party

B. In my opinion most of these answers were the answers of a fool playing a TV game show.

C. Hezekiah was told, you will not have a tomorrow?

He never approached the question with laughter, he grasped the true meaning of life.

2 Kings 20:1 In those days was Hezekiah sick unto death. And the prophet Isaiah the son of Amoz came to him, and said unto him, Thus saith the Lord, Set thine house in order; for thou shalt die, and not live.

D. Hezekiah has a PARADIGM SHIFT, his VALUE SYSTEM IS SET IN ORDER...

2 Kings 20:2 Then he turned his face to the wall, and prayed unto the Lord, saying,

E. GOD SEES HEZEKIAH’S NEW ATTITUDE AND IS SO PLEASED, THAT GOD TURNS THE PREACHER AROUND AND SENDS A NEW MESSAGE TO HEZEKIAH ...

Hezekiah, God’s tender mercies will ADD 15 YEARS TO YOUR LIFE.

F. I believe Hezekiah’s new 15 years had more meaning and purpose than his whole life had been to that day.

G. One is never ready to live until he is ready to die.

II. DON’T FAINT, LIFT UP YOUR HEAD, GOD HAS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT FOR YOU! GOD HAS A PLAN FOR YOU, GOD WANTS YOU TO BE STRONG IN BATTLE. ISSACHAR IS A TYPE OF THOSE THAT HAVE GREAT PASSION FOR GOD’S PLAN.

ISSACHAR IS A TYPE IN THE BIBLE, ISSACHAR IS ONE THAT IS STRONG AND THRIVES WHILE UNDERGOING BURDENS AND TRIALS.

A. WHEN THE BLESSINGS WERE BEING SPOKEN, LOOK WHO IS STANDING ON TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN --- THERE IS ISSCACHAR.

Deut. 27:12 These shall stand upon mount Gerizim to bless the people, when ye are come over Jordan; Simeon, and Levi, and Judah, and Issachar, and Joseph, and Benjamin:

B. ISSACHAR MEANS GOD HAS GIVEN ME MY HIRE, wisdom and understanding of God’s plan and appointments.

Issachar was Leah and Jacob’s 9th son.

C. When Issachar took his family to Egypt for the Divine protection and provision that Joseph had given his brothers, Issachar had 4 sons.

D. Issachar’s INHERITANCE in the Holy Land was the richest portion of the land, and still is the richest area of Palestine.

E. Issachar had sons that were VALIANT MEN and the whole family WERE WILLING TO OVERCOME ADVERSITY AND OBSTACLES, FOR THEY KNEW GOD HAD A PLAN,

AND THEY ACCEPTED THE PROMISE.

Issachar son’s were men of understanding.

Proverbs 24:10 If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

III. MUCH VS. LITTLE?

TO HAVE UNDERSTANDING OF SEED, PLOWING, SOWING, WEEDING, AND REAPING, ONE MUST PLACE THEIR FULL TRUST IN THE PROCESS, GOD’S PROCESS ---

GOD’S DIVINE APPOINTMENT IS COMING! YOU SET THE BOUNDARY OF BLESSINGS!

A. Eli was very old, his vision was dim.

Eli had two sons Hophni and Phinehas, they had no spiritual discernment. GOD HAD NO PLEASURE IN A PASSIONLESS MINISTRY!

B. They thought because they did the externals they were religious? Phinehas and Hophni had the ARK OF THE COVENANT, THEY DIDN’T HAVE THE GOD OF THE COVENANT.

C. When there is little light, there is little vision.

1 Samuel 3:3 And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the Lord, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;

D. God was calling a little boy laying in the church.

KEEP THE LIGHT BURNING --- THE ISSUES ARE ISSUES OF THE HEART!

E. Have you ever seen a surgeon work? He has great light all around the area that needs attention.

2 Cor. 9:6 But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully.

IV. BUT YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND, PEOPLE ARE OUT TO KILL ME, AND THERE IS NOTHING TO RE-ENFORCE KNOWING HIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT. IT IS GOING TO RAIN! TRUST GOD!

A. WE MUST GROW A FAITH AND TRUST BEYOND OUR FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT WITH PEOPLE.

B. FRUSTRATION IS WHEN YOU SEE THE VISION BUT YOU CAN’T SEE THE POSSIBILITY. My friend, there is a DIVINE POSSIBILITY, THERE IS A SWEET DIVINE

APPOINTMENT.

C. There is a real mean King, Ahab.

Ahab had a meaner wife, named Jezebel.