GOD GAVE ME AN ACORN?
DIVINE APPOINTMENTS?
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
I ask God for 2 x 6’s, and HE GAVE ME AN ACORN AND SAID, PLANT IT AND LEARN TO TRUST ME ...
I said I don’t want to wait that long?
I. HAVE YOU EVER DREADED AN APPOINTMENT?
A. APPOINTMENT:
To assign, fix, set, EQUIP, delegate.
An arrangement of a meeting at a certain time and place.
ELEVATION TO A NEW STATION!
To provide with a full set of needed things.
B. In 1990 I had a fall and detached the retina in my eyes. We have rode a roller coaster since that time. There have been some very low times, there have
been some serious internal visual times. I have had 9 eye surgeries on one eye,
7 on the other. I have new Bosch-Lomb lenses, a sclare buckle and other things.
When a brilliant Jewish doctor finished with my first surgery, I had patches over my eyes and he said: IT IS IN GOD’S HANDS NOW!
As I sat in a dark room, I heard his words echo time and time again...
IT IS IN GOD’S HANDS NOW.
I never questioned God, but I have questioned my self many times, there has been many days that I have EVALUTED myself and WISHED I had approached
eternal things, unseen things with a greater fervent attitude.
In December I had an appointment with the "eye disease" doctor. His nurse called me to tell me that the doctor was going to be gone that day, that
I had to reschedule the appointment. Well, I have been busy and I have forgotten and I have not rescheduled my tests and appointment with him.
I hate to think of when I go, he will tell me off!
C. Last time I missed him, when I went he said: DO YOU WANT TO BE BLIND?
YOU KNOW YOU ARE A BLINDNESS CANDIDATE!
I had no good answer, I said: Of, course you know I want to be blind?
As that was the only answer I could think?
I was serious? I just missed the appointment.
Now, several years later I find myself HAVING MISSED THE APPOINTMENT
and dreading the rebuke I shall face.
D. Yes, IT IS IN GOD’S HANDS, BUT I HAVE A DUTY TO CARRY OUT THE CARE OF MY EYES AS WELL AS SEEK GOD’S TOUCH!
II. THERE ARE A FEW APPOINTMENTS BEFORE ME THAT I TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY! WE MAY TAKE THE THOUGHT OF DEATH AND JUDGMENT LIGHTLY, BUT THERE WILL A DAY WHEN THE JOKING SHALL CEASE.
A. The last time I came out of the Doctor’s office, I told the nurse, the Doctor had really bad news. The nurse just looked at me with surprise and said, he didn’t tell me?
I said: YES, HE TOLD ME I WAS GOING TO LIVE!
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:
B. If you had read my work much you have heard me say what I would do if I were a Medical Doctor.
Every new patient that stood before me, I would get real serious, and say:
OH NO YOU HAVE A TERMINAL DISEASE AND YOU ARE DYING!
Then I would say: I am just joking, BUT YOU NEED TO TAKE LIFE MORE SERIOUS!
C. Some 5 years ago, I called a strong young man to the altar. He loved playing basketball and watching football. He had a young daughter, a good job, and a
beautiful wife. He had a new car, a new truck, a new speed boat and many of life’s toys. I said: Danny, play a pretend game with the preacher? He agreed.
I said: Danny if you knew today you was your last Sunday what would you do?
Tears started running down Danny’s face, he really pretended well with me.
He said, I would hold my daughter and love her. Then we called her to the altar, she stood with her Daddy? He held her so tight. I would hold my wife so dear to
my heart! His wife came forward. The whole church was crying!
This was an unforgettable moment, later Danny thanked me for reminding him.
Psalm 90:12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.
D. Within two months Danny had a freak accident at work, he was paralyzed from his chest down and confined to a wheelchair.
Two months later the NFL Championship Playoffs were being played.
Danny was sitting in his chair, all excited about his NFL team.
Danny made a strange sound and quit breathing.
His nephew gave Danny mouth to mouth. Danny came to and said,
WHAT --- ARE YOU TRYING TO KISS ME?
Danny stopped breathing again. The ambulance was called. His wife got home with a pizza that Danny ordered but never got to eat?
The call came in at church, we dismissed and all went to the hospital, we waited in a large room, praying and hoping.
The doctor called me into the room and said Danny was gone. My son and I lead Danny’s widow in the room, later his little daughter. In three days we planted Danny’s shell in the graveyard.
E. Many times in the last few years I stop at Danny’s grave. There are always little Nascars and flowers there? I always remember that prophetic service,
when Danny came to the altar and I asked him: DANNY WHAT IF YOU HAD LESS THAN A WEEK TO LIVE ON THIS PLANET EARTH?
I shall never forget his answer and the precious tears?
F. HOW SOON CAN WE FORGET THAT WE ARE HEADED TOWARD DEATH AT
60 MINUTES AN HOUR? Let me increase the sense of urgency that is 1440 minutes a day? That is 10,080 minutes a week?
G. You can not recall a mean word that you have spoken? You can not recall a cold shoulder you have given?
III. CHRONIC? USELESS? I HAVE BEEN THIS WAY? I SHALL ALWAYS BE THIS WAY? HAVE YOU EVER THOUGHT YOU HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT AND GOD OR YOUR FRIENDS HAVE FORGOTTEN YOU? 38 LONG, HARD SAD YEARS? I HAVE NO ONE???
A. CHRONIC:
Not yielding to efforts of betterment.
Marked by long duration, or frequent reoccurrence,
Suffering, always present.
Constantly vexing.
SUCH AS BEING HABITUAL...
B. SIR, I HAVE NO ONE TO HELP?
Have you ever felt trapped and stuck in a situation?
John 5:7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth
down before me.
C. WELL, MR, --- EVERYTHING IS GOING TO CHANGE TODAY!
TODAY, IS YOUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT --- GET UP, GET YOUR BED, AND HEAD HOME BUDDY --- JESUS HAS COMPASSION
ON THE ONES THAT FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE NO ONE.
IV. GREAT VICTORIES ARE OFTEN FOUGHT ALONE! QUIT LOOKING FOR SOMEONE ELSE TO PULL YOUR WAGON --- THIS APPOINTMENT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD!
THIS VISION MAY BE LONG TERM VISIONS! HURRY UP AND WAIT!
OFTEN TIMES DIVINE APPOINTMENTS COME WITH DIVINE DELAYS.
GOD AND GOD’S PLAN IS NOT ALWAYS INSTANT OATS?
A. Daniel was a precious man of God. Daniel’s integrity and faithfulness before God was not questionable.
B. Daniel knew the beauty of faithfulness, Danny Boy was faithful to God and to his prayer life.
C. God had a team of believers, three Hebrew boys and Daniel.
D. THEY LEARNED THAT GOD’S PLAN WORKS IN THE FIRE.
E. Daniel had been on a 3 week fast! He had earnestly cried and cried before the throne.
F. DANIEL ANOINTED HIMSELF EVERYDAY FOR 3 FULL WEEKS,
21 DAYS --- SEEKING GOD FOR THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT!
G. LONG TERM, DEEP PRAYER CHANGES PEOPLE, EVEN BEFORE THE ANSWER COMES.
Daniel 10:8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength.
H. Here comes SPIRITUAL VISION, THEN THE 21 DAY DELAY THAT WOULD CAUSE US TO DOUBT OUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT! ????
I. God what are you doing? ISSUES OF THE HEART? TRUST?
WAIT --- SON --- WAIT.
Daniel 10:10 And, behold, an hand touched me, which set me upon my knees and upon the palms of my hands.
11 And he said unto me, O Daniel, a man greatly beloved, understand the words that I speak unto thee, and stand upright: for unto thee am I now sent. And when he had spoken this word unto me, I stood trembling.
12 Then said he unto me, Fear not, Daniel: for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.
13 But the prince of the kingdom of Persia withstood me one and twenty days: but, lo, Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me; and I remained there
with the kings of Persia.
14 Now I am come to make thee understand what shall befall thy people in the latter days: for yet the vision is for many days.
V. WHEN YOU ARE AT THE END OF YOUR ROPE, HANG ON ---
JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE DONE ALL YOU KNOW, YOU MUST STILL SEEK A DIVINE APPOINTMENT!
A. 12 YEARS OF SICKNESS? 12 years of weakness? It appears that this woman had no one to help her.
B. Jesus still welcomed her when the whole medical system failed.
C. There was religious teaching that made this woman spiritually unclean.
Luke 8:43 And a woman having an issue of blood twelve years, which had spent all her living upon physicians, neither could be healed of any,
D. THERE ARE MANY WONDERFUL SIDE EFFECTS TO HEALING...
Good comfort, WHOLENESS, and PEACE!
Luke 8:48 And he said unto her, Daughter, be of good comfort: thy faith hath made thee whole; go in peace.
VI. HAVE YOU EVER HAD HEAVY EYES WHILE WAITING FOR YOUR DIVINE APPOINTMENT?
A. Many of us seem to think that we can be very PASSIVE while we wait for our DIVINE APPOINTMENT!
Job 14:14 If a man die, shall he live again? all the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come.
B. JESUS SAID: BOYS, WE HAVE A DIVINE APPOINTMENT, LET US PRAY AND WAIT .... They slept and waited?
Matthew 26:41 Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.
C. THE FIRST TWO TIMES JESUS SAID: WAKE UP BOYS ----
D. THE THIRD TIME JESUS SAYS: SLEEP ON...
Matthew 26:43 And he came and found them asleep again: for their eyes were heavy.
E. PETER IS SLEEPING THROUGH PRAYER MEETING, AND WAKES UP AND SAYS: LET US BUILD THREE TABERNACLES:
1. FOR JESUS ...
2. ONE FOR MOSES ...
3. ONE FOR ELIAS, ELIJAH ...
JESUS KNEW YOU CAN NOT BUILD A CHURCH ON SLEEPING SAINTS!
F. YOU MUST BE ACTIVE AND DO WHAT YOU CAN WHILE WAITING
FOR THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT!
Joshua 3:8 And thou shalt command the priests that bear the ark of the covenant, saying, When ye are come to the brink of the water of Jordan, ye shall stand still in Jordan.
VII. HAVE YOU EVER COME TO GOD AND YOU CAN’T SEEM TO FIND HIM? THAT IS OK, GOD KNOWS WHERE YOU ARE! GOD WILL FIND YOU!
A. WHERE YOU ARE WILL NOT CATCH GOD BY SURPRISE.
GET UP AND HEAD TOWARDS HOME.
B. I ask God for 2 x 6’s, and HE GAVE ME AN ACORN, AND SAID, PLANT IT AND LEARN TO TRUST ME...
C. I CUT OPEN AN APPLE, HERE ARE 5 SEEDS.
I CAN COUNT THE SEEDS IN AN APPLE,
BUT ONLY GOD CAN COUNT THE APPLES IN A SEED.
D. I OFTEN TIMES WARN THE CHURCH:
DON’T EAT THE SEED CORN ... THIS IS NEXT YEARS CROP!
E. ARE WE IN A CHURCH THAT DEMANDS HIGH EMOTIONS AND SALES GIMMICKS WITH PROFESSIONAL, POLISHED PROGRAMS WHILE BYPASSING PRAYER AND FASTING AND FAITHFULNESS TO CHURCH?
F. REMEMBER 1 KINGS 19, GOD SET THE APPOINTMENT, GOD SAYS: MAN OF GOD I WILL MEET YOU --- BUT GOD DID NOT COME IN A CIRCUS ATMOSPHERE AS PEOPLE EXPECTED.
1 Kings 19:11 And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord was not in the earthquake:
12 And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.
G. DAVID ENQUIRED OF THE LORD GOD, WHAT SHALL THIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT BE FOR THIS BATTLE?
2 Samuel 5:24 And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in
the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.
VIII. CONCLUSION:
A. I heard a parable once that is worth listening to again. A teenage boy was walking through the woods.
The temperatures were dropping very fast.
The boy came upon a huge old Diamondback Rattle Snake.
The boy stopped to look at the snake.
The boy recognized by the shape of the rattlesnake’s head it was full of deadly poison. The snake was so cold it was not active.
The rattle snake had the boy come close and the snake begged the boy to pick him up and let him wrap around the boy’s warm body.
The boy said: I KNOW BETTER THAN THAT! I will never pick you up?
You are full of poisons and could kill me or my family!
The snake begged and pleaded, Son, I am dying, please, please, pick me up and let me ride in your shirt under the coat to the warm house?
Finally, the boy knew better, but he reached down to the almost frozen snake, he picked the snake up and unbuttoned his shirt and allowed the snake to crawl in around his warm body.
The snake really enjoyed the warmth and the trip into the warm house.
Later, the very warm snake grabbed and sank it’s fangs in the boy. The young boy felt dizzy and feel down. He realized he was dying, he opened his shirt, and said to the snake, WHY? WHY DID YOU DO THAT?
The snake answered: You knew my nature, you knew I was poisonous, you can’t blame me for being what I am?
B. My friend, God has a plan for you. These problems shall pass.
Don’t play with sin, sin will cost you dearly.
There is a Divine Appointment to LIFT YOU into the realm of Divine
Possibilities. Get up! Try! Try again! It is too soon to quit.
C. How will you ever know JESUS IS ALL YOU NEED:
Until Jesus is all that you have!
D. TAKE THE SEED IN YOUR HAND AND PLANT IT!
GROW IT! DEVELOP IT! WEED IT!
ALLOW THE LORD OF THE HARVEST TO SET A DIVINE APPOINTMENT
AND GROW YOU INTO 30, 60, OR 100 FOLD HARVEST!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? pass it on?
