INITIATE GOD’S WORD! SET DIVINE APPOINTMENTS
By Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
WILL YOU ALLOW THE TRAP OF WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN TO DEFINE WHERE YOU ARE GOING
My friend God has a plan. Can you dream? Will you dream larger?
Can your heart declare: GOD HAS MORE? Will we bring on God’s plan?
INITIATE GOD’S WORD.
Isaiah 54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;
I. PERTINENT TERMS FOR THE LESSON:
A. APPOINTMENT:
To assign, to fix, set, EQUIP, to delegate.
Elevation to a new station.
A Godparent.
Backer, one that supports or makes possible an activity.
To provide with a full set of needed things.
To arrange a meeting at a certain time and place.
B. SPONSOR:
To promote, fund, finance, underwrite, subsidize.
C. ENABLE:
To make possible.
Entitle, permit, approve.
The means of authority.
D. FACILITATE:
To help things go smoothly.
To assist or aid.
To help things go farther.
E. INITIATE:
Begin, to set going, to start action.
II. THERE IS A DATE WITH THE MANTLE OF GOD! SEEMS A MAN CAN BE DOING EVERYDAY MENIAL CHORES AND MEET HIS DIVINE APPOINTMENT.
A. There was an old man named Elijah. He was a preacher that had been very successful in his ministry, and his ministry is nearing the end.
B. YOU ARE NEVER A SUCCESS WITHOUT A SUCCESSOR.
C. Shaphat had a beautiful farm.
Shaphat had a son named Elisha.
D. One day Elisha got up and ate breakfast, put on his shoes, went out to the barn, hitched up the oxen and went out in the field and was plowing.
1 Kings 19:19 So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him, and cast his mantle upon him.
E. THERE CAME A NEW EXPERIENCE FOR THIS FARM BOY, HE IS NOW WEARING ELIJAH’S MANTLE. ELISHA WILL NEVER AGAIN BE THE SAME.
III. DO YOU HAVE A DATE WITH THE MANTLE? MANY YEARS PASS, THE YOUNG FARM BOY HAS BEEN MENTORED BY ONE OF THE GREATEST MEN OF GOD THE BIBLE RECORDS.
A. Elijah and Elisha’s journey has been long and twisted: (2 Kings 2)
1. GILGAL: rolling stone gathers no moss.
2. BETHEL: house of God, altar of prayer
3. JERICHO: sweet fragrance, praise, worship,
4. JORDAN: death, self-denial.
B. The Divine Appointment goes much deeper.
2 Kings 2:9 And it came to pass, when they were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.
C. Elisha’s appointment comes to the FULL CIRCLE, NOW THE FOLLOWER BECOMES THE TRUSTED LEADER.
2 Kings 2:14 And he took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him, and smote the waters, and said, Where is the Lord God of Elijah? and when he also had smitten the waters, they parted hither and thither: and Elisha went over.
15 And when the sons of the prophets which were to view at Jericho saw him, they said, The spirit of Elijah doth rest on Elisha. And they came to meet him, and bowed themselves to the ground before him.
D. DO YOU HAVE A DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH GOD’S MANTLE!
IV. GOD CAN USE LITTLE PEOPLE FROM LITTLE PLACES THAT SEEM TO BE IN BIG MESSES TO ACCOMPLISH HIS DIVINE APPOINTMENTS.
A. NAAMAN was a mighty man. He was CAPTAIN of the host of the King of Syria.
Naaman was honorable and a great man.
B. Naaman was in a mess. Naaman had everything but his health broke. Somehow this mighty man was EXPOSED TO LEPROSY.
C. Naaman seemed doomed to die.
D. THEN COMES A LITTLE GIRL TO BRING A DIVINE APPOINTMENT INTO THIS HONORABLE MAN’S LIFE:
2 Kings 5:2 And the Syrians had gone out by companies, and had brought away captive out of the land of Israel a little maid; and she waited on Naaman’s wife.
3 And she said unto her mistress, Would God my lord were with the prophet that is in Samaria! for he would recover him of his leprosy.
4 And one went in, and told his lord, saying, Thus and thus said the maid that is of the land of Israel.
E. Naaman learned a valuable lesson: there is a man of God, and there is a God!
2 Kings 5:15 And he returned to the man of God, he and all his company, and came, and stood before him: and he said, Behold, now I know that there is no God in all earth, but in Israel: now therefore, I pray thee, take a blessing of thy servant.
V. JESUS DESIRED LITTLE TO COME TO HIM, BECAUSE JESUS SAW LITTLE PEOPLE HAD LITTLE GIFTS THAT HE COULD ENLARGE BY BLESSING THEM.
A. The big shots gathered around Jesus didn’t understand how God works.
God deliberately uses small things to confound the wise.
B. Jesus WELCOMES little people to COME TO HIM.
Luke 18:16 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.
C. THERE WAS A SQUIRMY LITTLE LAD THAT WAS IN THE CROWD.
D. The small boy’s Mom packed him his lunch and sent him out on his way.
As the boy was running and playing he heard there was a man named Jesus teaching and healing the sick. The young boy followed the crowd and found Jesus.
E. THE YOUNG BOY AND HIS LUNCH THAT HIS MOMMA PACKED FOR HIM HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT. The little lad’s LOVE OF Jesus made him GIVE A LITTLE OFFERING that is still famous today.
John 6:9 There is a lad here, which hath five barley loaves, and two small fishes: but what are they among so many?
F. Can you imagine that night as the LAD ran home and said: Momma I met Jesus. Momma, Jesus heals people, and Momma remember my sack lunch?
Jesus took my lunch and fed 1,000’s of people.
G. The lad lay down and went to sleep, dreaming LOOK WHAT THE LORD HATH DONE.
JESUS USED MY GIFTS, I WILL FOREVER BE REMEMBER, AS THE LAD THAT GAVE HIS LITTLE LUNCH TO JESUS!
VI. STAINED GLASS IS SO BEAUTIFUL. EVEN JESUS, GOD’S ONLY SON HAD DIVINE APPOINTMENTS!
A. The last time Jesus was in Samaria the area rejected them.
The Sons of Thunder wanted to French Fry the town… BURN IT DOWN.
JESUS KNEW SAMARIA HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT!
B. Jesus had been very busy. Jesus had been traveling healing, teaching and touching many people. The crowds pressed Him on every side.
B. YET JESUS HAD TIME TO MINISTER ONE ON ONE.
John 4:3 He left Judaea, and departed again into Galilee.
4 And he must needs go through Samaria.
C. There was a little woman from Sychar, Samaria. She was not the best example for the young girls in Sychar. This woman could not walk to well at the normal time with the other ladies because she was tarnished.
D. JESUS’ WORK IS NOT ALWAYS WITH STAINED GLASS, SOMEDAYS DIVINE APPOINTMENTS COME FROM STAINED LIVES.
E. REVIVAL COMES TO SYCHAR BECAUSE JESUS HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH ONE WOMAN!
John 4:28 The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith to the men, 29 Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did: is not this the Christ? 30 Then they went out of the city, and came unto him.
VII. THERE WERE 4 SLAVE BOYS IN A STRANGE LAND. IT SEEMS GOD HAD FORGOTTEN THEM, BUT THERE WAS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH A FIERY FURNACE AND A LIONS DEN THAT WOULD MAGIFY A HOLY GOD!
A. Why do we know the three names of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego?
B. There was a Divine Appointment with crisis.
Daniel 3:16 Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter.
17 If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king.
18 But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up.
C. WHO IS THE FOURTH MAN?
Daniel 3:25 He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.
D. THERE IS A PROMOTION AFTER THE FIERY FURNACE!!!
Daniel 3:30 Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, in the province of Babylon.
E. MY FRIEND, ALWAYS REMEMBER GOD HAS A PLAN. THIS PLAN IS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT! NO HURT! NO HURT!
Daniel 6:22 My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut the lions’ mouths, that they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him innocency was found in me; and also before thee, O king, have I done no hurt.
VIII. THE FATHER SETS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT FOR A POOR WIDOW WOMAN DOWN TO HER LAST MEAL! SPEAK THE WORD!
A. The birds quit bringing Elijah food, God said get up and walk about 100 miles and there you will meet a woman, a stranger, of Zarephath.
B. Could God find a woman from His people?
C. Again note that God’s appointment was with somebody DOING SOMETHING!
She was picking up sticks.
1 Kings 17:10 So Elijah arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.
D. The Divine Appointment was SET IN ORDER BY THE SPOKEN WORD OF GOD!
1 Kings 17:16 And the barrel of meal wasted not, neither did the cruse of oil fail, according to the word of the Lord, which he spake by Elijah.
E. GOD NEEDS PEOPLE TO BELIEVE THE WORD ENOUGH TO SPEAK GOD’S PLAN INTO EXISTENCE.
IX. HAVE YOU EVER NOTICED MANY DIVINE APPOINTMENTS COME IN A CRUCIBLE?
A. CRUCIBLE: melting pot, severe test and trails.
B. MEET GOD’S PEOPLE THAT HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT.
1. Abraham: Lack of trust, liar, --- Father of the Faith.
2. Jacob: The cheater, to Israel --- prince with God.
3. David faced the bear and the lion to prepare for Goliath.
4. David: womanizer, murderer --- A MAN AFTER GOD’S OWN HEART.
5. Noah: means rest, and called to a huge work.
6. Rahab the Harlet : negative past --- bright future.
7. Ruth and Naomi, come home empty and bitter, Ruth has Obed, Obed has Jessie,
Jessie has DAVID!
8. ELIJAH HAD ENEMIES IN HIGH PLACES. Jezebel and Ahab promised to destroy he and his ministry. God had some DOGS with a duty.
9. Hannah’s prayer changed history. Her son Samuel anointed the first two Kings.
Yet, her dysfunctional home brought her to her knees.
10. MARY ANOINTS JESUS. They say if Jesus knew who she really was?
X. IT IS NOT US! IT IS GOD’S PLAN! ARE YOU LOOKING FOR GOD’S OPPORTUNITY TO RELEASE THE DIVINE APPOINTMENT? SAUL HAD A SON NAMED JONATHAN. JONATHAN WAS A FAITHFUL FRIEND OF DAVID. GOD HAD A DIVINE APPOINTMENT WITH VIICTORY.
A. While the King Saul sat idle, while the whole army sat idle, God had an appointment with King Saul’s son.
B. JONATHAN KNEW GOD HAD A PLAN FOR VICTORY, AND EITHER WAY WE ARE GOING TO STEP OUT AND FIGHT, THIS IS A DIVINE APPOINTMENT. IF WE GO, GOD WILL HONOR OUR EFFORT.
C. IF THEY SAY: WAIT --- WE WILL WIN ---
1 Samuel 14:9 If they say thus unto us, Tarry until we come to you; then we will stand still in our place, and will not go up unto them.
D. IF THEY SAY: COME --- WE WILL WIN ---
1 Samuel 14:10 But if they say thus, Come up unto us; then we will go up: for the Lord hath delivered them into our hand: and this shall be a sign unto us.
E. WHAT A GREAT CONFIDENCE JOHATHAN HAS IN GOD’S DIVINE APPOINTMENT!
You can sit over there idle all the day, but I SERVE A GOD THAT IS GOING TO HONOR HIS WORD AND HIS PEOPLE, LET US GO, GOD HAS DELIVERED.
1 Samuel 14:12 And the men of the garrison answered Jonathan and his armourbearer, and said, Come up to us, and we will shew you a thing. And Jonathan said unto his armourbearer, Come up after me: for the Lord hath delivered them into the hand of Israel.
F. GOD HAS DELIVERANCE, WILL WE CLAIM IT. The gold mine is ours, claim it, stake it, and work it --- GOD CAN! GOD WILL!
XI. WILL WE HEAR THE INVITATION TO COME? WILL WE LET 11 SITTING IN THE BOAT DEFINE WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE CAN DO?
A. Today we have many that try walking on water. Never forget the necessary ingredient, HONEY YOU BETTER STAY IN THE BOAT IF YOU HAVEN’T HEARD THE INVITATION: COME!
B. We know peter as the one that tried and failed, but never forget, he is the only other person in history to have walked on water beside Jesus Christ. Now that is pretty good company.
Matthew 14:28 And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.
29 And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.
C. Our God has many Divine opportunities for you. Sure, Bible men and women had opportunities, but YO DO TOO!
D. WILL YOU ALLOW THE TRAP OF WHERE YOU AND YOUR FAMILY HAVE BEEN TO DEFINE WHERE YOU ARE GOING?
E. Sure, Jericho had walls around it. Jericho was no problem for God’s people.
It was the little city of AI that threatens the hope and faith of God’s anointed!
Conclusion:
BRING ON GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU AND YOURS!
PARTICIPATE IN GOD’S DIVINE OPPORTUNITY AND APPOINTMENT.
INITIATE THE WORD!
If not you? --- Then who?
If not now? --- Then when?
If not here? --- Then where!
His servant, Wade Martin Hughes, Sr. Kyfingers@aol.com
Help me? Pass this on to another?
