#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.
D. Elijah has reproved King Ahab.
In a very bold move, Elijah kills 450 false prophets of Baal.
E. JEZEBEL HAS MADE A VOW, WE WANT ELIJAH’S HEAD, STOP HIS MINISTRY.
F. ELIJAH REPAIRED THE ALTAR OF GOD!
G. THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT NEEDS A MAN OF GOD TO DECLARE THE WORD OF GOD.
CAN YOU HAVE SPIRITUAL DISCERNMENT AND HEAR RAIN BEFORE THE CLOUDS ARE FORMED?
1 Kings 18:41 And Elijah said unto Ahab, Get thee up, eat and drink; for there is a sound of abundance of rain.
H. WE CAN MISS THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT BECAUSE ALL WE CAN SEE AROUND US IS NOTHING...
1 Kings 18:43 And said to his servant, Go up now, look toward the sea. And he went up, and looked, and said, There is nothing.
And he said, Go again seven times.
1. WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING?
WELL GO LOOK AGAIN.
2. WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING?
WELL GO LOOK AGAIN.
3. WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING?
WELL GO LOOK AGAIN.
4. WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING?
WELL GO LOOK AGAIN.
5. WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING?
WELL GO LOOK AGAIN.
6. WHAT DID YOU SEE? NOTHING?
WELL GO LOOK AGAIN.
7. WHAT DID YOU SEE?
A CLOUD THE SIZE OF A MAN’S HAND!!!
BOLDLY DECLARE --- A DIVINNE APPOINTMENT IS COMING ---
1 Kings 18:44 And it came to pass at the seventh time, that he said, Behold, there ariseth a little cloud out of the sea, like a man’s hand. And he said,
Go up, say unto Ahab, Prepare thy chariot, and get thee down, that the rain stop thee not.
I. JEZREEL IS 18 MILES AWAY, AND THE PREACHER TIES HIS SHOES IN PREPARATION OF THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT.
THE PREACHER ELIJAH OUT RUNS KING AHAB, AND IS LEANING AGAINST THE CITY GATE, AS A VERY WET KING AHAB COMES ROLLING INTO THE CITY.
J. 18 years ago I was preaching near Indiana, Pennsylvania when I heard a song for
the first time: IT’S BEGINNING TO RAIN --- My heart knows God is sending rain for His people!
V. WE MUST GROW A FAITH AND TRUST BEYOND OUR FRUSTRATION AND DISAPPOINTMENT WITH PEOPLE. WE FACE FIGHTINGS WITH-OUT? FEARS
WITH-IN? LOOK UP, GOD HAS A PLAN, SET A PRECEDENCE!
A.
HEAR AGIN, 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.
B. You must trust God’s promises and processes to plow the field, sow the seed, cut out the weeds, and sow ---- BY TRUSTING THE PROCESS, AND SOWING,
YOU SHALL REAP A MIRACLE.
Doesn’t history teach us, THE PROCESS WORKS?
THE PROCESS OF SOWING SEEDS WILL ALWAYS PRODUCE A HARVEST!
C. WHO FED ELIJAH BY THE BROOK? RAVENS? WRONG!
WHO FED ELIJAH AND THE WIDOW AND HER SON?
YOU KNOW THE ANSWER, THEY HAD SOWN --- THEY REAPED!
GOD’S DIVINE APPOINTMENT BROUGHT ABOUT THE REAPING OF GOOD THINGS.
VI. YOU CAN RELEASE THE POWER OF THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT IN HEART AND ESTABLISH A MOVE OF GOD FOR OTHERS! GIVE GOD PERMISSION TO SET A NEW SPIRITUAL PRECEDENCE IN YOUR HEART!
A. A WOMAN CAME TO JESUS.
She was sick and weak.
She could find no solution to her problem?
She had spent all she had on the doctors, then the doctors refused her, and her condition had grown worse.
B. ONE MORNING IS GOING TO CHANGE THIS WOMAN’S LIFE.
She got up this morning and declared: I AM GOING TO TOUCH JESUS TODAY!
Matthew 9:20 And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment: 21 For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
C. PRIOR TO THIS WOMAN TOUCHING JESUS THERE WAS NO BIG RECORD OF THE CROWDS COMING TO TOUCH HIM.
As a matter of fact, prior to this many people, vast crowds came and touched Jesus and left the same way they came.
D. THIS LADY SET A PRECEDENCE! SHE SET A PRIORTY.
Matthew 14:36 And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole.
E. This lady that was sick 12 years set a SPIRITUAL PRECEDENCE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE FOLLOWED.
F. AS MANY AS TOUCHED HIM --- WHAT A TESTIMONY.
G. Does our testimony say: I HAVE LET GOD! NOW YOU LET GOD?
H. When you get a breakthrough, you can open the door for another to know a breakthrough.
THERE IS A TESTIMONY OF COMING INTO THE CHURCH, FINDING THE SWEET PRESENCE OF GOD, AND FINDING YOUR ORDINARY SELF BEHIND THE VEIL OF THE HOLY OF HOLIES!
VII. GOD CAN GRAFT IN STRANGERS AND THEY CAN FIND THEIR PERSONAL DIVINE APPOINTMENT AND CHANGE HISTORY.
A. RUTH WAS A MOABITE --- Ruth had to have times of loneliness and fear.
There was no welfare system to protect her.
Moabites are descendants from Lot’s son: Moab.
Lot refused to obey the angels and climb the mountain and thus they settled in ZOAR, ---
ZOAR MEANS LITTLE, SMALL.
B. A strange family moved into Moab, and their Dad, Elimelech died, and left Naomi and her two sons.
The two sons were all Naomi had, her sons married Orpah and Ruth.
Orpah kissed her Mother-in-law and returned home.
C. RUTH HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT, Ruth had to know God had a plan for her.
The night was very dark for Naomi and Ruth, but God had a plan, Ruth trusted the God of her Mother-in-law.
Ruth 1:16 And Ruth said, Intreat me not to leave thee, or to return from following after thee: for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou
lodgest, I will lodge: thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God:
D. Ruth will leave everything, to gain something she never had.
Ruth 3:8 And it came to pass at midnight, that the man was afraid, and turned himself: and, behold, a woman lay at his feet. 9 And he said, Who art thou? And she answered, I am Ruth thine handmaid: spread therefore thy skirt over thine handmaid; for thou art
a near kinsman.
E. BOAZ GOES AND CLAIMS RUTH AS THE KINSMAN REDEEMER, AND HE GIVES HIS SHOE AS A TOKEN AND CLAIMS NOAMI AND RUTH.
F. Ruth and Boaz have a son named Obed.
Obed has a son named Jessie, Jessie has a son named David...
David is of the linage of Jesus.
A stranger is welcomed into the Divine Appointment.
Can you imagine the night that Ruth went into labor, and Naomi stepped up and held Obed for the first time?
VIII. THERE WAS A MEAN MAN NAMED SAUL ---
SAUL CHANGED, BUT HIS MINISTRY WAS LIMITED, UNTIL A DIVINE OPPORTUNITY OF A BROTHER OPENED.
A. Saul stepped up to hold the coats of those throwing rocks at Stephen.
Saul was the legal authority that gave the stoning of a good man credence.
Saul is walking down a road and sees the blinding light.
Saul goes to the local motel and his heart has many fears, what is going on?
B. God saw in Saul a great potential, he was a man of zeal and learning.
C. GOD SPEAKS IN THE DARKNESS TO A PREACHER NAMED ANANIAS, GO PRAY FOR SAUL?
Acts 9:13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem:
D. GOD CLEARLY SPEAKS TO ANANIAS THIS IS A DIVINE MISSION, THERE
IS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT SET FOR SAUL.
Acts 9:15 But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children
of Israel: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake.
E. WILL SOMEBODY SEE BEYOND THE DARK PAST? Saul has become Paul.
A GREAT LIGHT HAS SHONE INTO THE DARK CORNERS OF SAULS HEART.
F. NOW PAUL NEEDS A CHANCE AND EVERYBODY REMEMBERS HIS PAST.
ONE MAN IS WILLING TO PARTNER WITH THIS MINISTRY.
Acts 9:27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the
name of Jesus.
G. ARISE MY LITTLE BROTHER AND BECOME ONE OF THE GREATEST MISSIONARIES AND TRUSTED WRITERS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT.
H. WILL YOU BUILD A HEDGE, STAND IN THE GAP AND HELP ANOTHER REACH THEIR DIVINE APPOINTMENT?
Remember Daniel? The Three Hebrew Boys? Esther? Peter? Andrew?
God says: TRUST ME MY CHILD, STEP INTO THE REALM OF THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT AND REACH A HEIGHT NEVER POSSIBILE BY WORKING IN THE FLESH.
God needs you to realize there is more than this, step up.
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
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