Divine Appointments

My last post was more than a month ago. I know that's terrible blog etiquette, but hey we survived the holidays and God is still on the throne!

To make this a bit more relevant for me and you I've decided to use this forum to elaborate on my Sunday messages and teaching programs. This will simplify my preparation and hopefully address items you may have already encountered. You can ask questions or post replies here as well of course.

Practically this means that I'm jumping from Joshua to Acts. Think of it like getting the Delorian up to 88 mph and having the flux capacitor shoot us forward from the taking of the promised land under Joshua to the taking of the entire world by Paul and the missionary apostles.

I started preaching through Acts in January of 2010 in a series entitled "Movement of the Spirit." I have all those sermons saved in word. If you would like to read them let me know and I'll send them to you. They are probably recorded here at the church but I can't guarantee that.

In 2011 we went in other directions but now we are back to finish Acts beginning at the end of chapter 15. We will roll on through chapter 28 and take as long as it takes. God has it all planned out, but we'll take it one day at a time.

In that vein I spoke last Sunday about keeping divine appointments. In Acts 16:11-40 Paul has three major encounters all of which result from Paul's obedience to simply go where God led.

The first as the pleasant encounter with Lydia, a God worshipper, who was having a time of prayer on the sabbath. God opened her heart and she received Christ from Paul's witness. She invited them all home for dinner which was great.

The second encounter was not so pleasant. A demon possessed slave girl followed along for several days taunting the missionary team. Paul, annoyed, commanded the demon away in Jesus' name. Of course the demon fled, but the people who profited from this evil had Paul and Silas thrown into prison. No pleasant dinner in someones home on this night. No, instead they received a beating and a night in jail.

The third encounter was with the Philippian jailer. God miraculously set the captives free and the jailer thought he would be put to death upon their escape. The man despaired so greatly he almost took his own life. Instead of making a hasty exit, the missionaries shared the gospel with the man and he was saved. From suicide to salvation, that is the power of Jesus Christ.

God has divine appointments set up for you. They may be pleasant like Lydia, unpleasant like the demon possessed girl, or totally unexpected like the Philippian jailer, but realize God can use them all for His glory.

Our job is to be available for the appointment! You never know what God may do through you!

Will you be available this week? How about today? How about right now? Do it! God has it all set up.