Divine Appointments

Are you aware of divine appointments when they happen?  People you meet in a chance encounter.  Something you read in a way that is out of the ordinary…maybe on a bus sign or on the back of the newspaper the guy across from you is reading.  Perhaps you catch a t.v. show that you don’t watch or a Christian show happens to follow your favorite version of CSI. 

Doesn’t matter how it comes but when it does, the meeting or the written word or the t.v. show just “happens” to address an issue…or answer a prayer…about something that  you’ve been wrestling with or thinking about.  An answer or conversation that seems to be beyond circumstance.  These are divine appointments.  I had one today.

I recently talked to a man of God who lives over  a  thousand miles from me and until today, was a complete stranger in my life.  After two phone conversations, I have no doubt that this meeting has not only been a divine appointment but a very important one in my life.  A kindred spirit, a friend, a kingdom co-worker…in short, one of those people that the Lord sends your way at the exact moment that they needed to appear.

I want to comment about one thing among the many important subjects we touched up in our several hours of conversation (but this ONE thing will blow your mind!)   The man is starting a ministry in a way that very, very, very, VERY few Americans would dare to do.  He’s made enormous sums of money, owns all the “American Dream” items, big house, cars, boats, etc. and he’s giving it all away because God told him to “take it down to one suitcase” and totally, utterly depend upon the Lord for everything — absolutely everything — as he steps into the lifelong ministry that Jesus has called him to.

Would YOU do that?  Would I?  99.99% of us not only wouldn’t do it, we share a secret relief that we haven’t been asked to sacrifice in such a huge way.  I mean, I LIKE my stuff!  (Never mind that the only thing I get to take off this planet with me is the souls I’ve reached for Christ…period.)

After we’d managed to kill our cell phone batteries, the conversation ended.  Afterward, I asked God to give me a scripture for David, anything…something to encourage him, lift him up, strengthen him…whatever God had.  I find where I turned in scripture to be simply…God.

“And with many other words he testified and exhorted them, saying , ‘Be saved from this perverse generation.’  Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them.  And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.  Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.  Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possesions and goods, and divide them among all, as anyone had need.”  Acts 2: 40-47

To me, it was a confirmation for him…giving it all away is the right thing to do…that sense of moving into what God had ordained was so critical for the early believers…and no less critical for us today.

Yet few have anything CLOSE to that kind of commitment to Jesus Christ.  We want our Starbucks and our designer clothes and that new car smell and the granite and stainless steel in the house…we are American Christians and darnit, God WANTS us to be blessed with stuff…just turn on the T.V. and you’ll discover that brand of popular belief and gospel truth on many, many programs, both Christian and secular.

I have no doubt that this scripture in Acts will bless this man of God and I’ll send him the link to this post when I’m done writing it.  There was more in that passage, a little before the verse I just wrote, a passage we’d talked about several times in our conversations tonight…and  a scripture that many Christians today are dwelling on:  “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prphesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; and they shall prophesy.  I will show wonders in heaven above and signs in the earth beneath:  blood and fire and vapor of smoke.  The sun shall be turned into darkness, and the moon into blood, before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord.  And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be saved.”  Acts 2:17-21

These scriptures will bless my friend but my question is this:  do they bless you?  Is God’ spirit being poured out over your life?  Are you walking in your calling?  Can you possibly imagine walking away from the American Dream?  Most will honestly admit, “No, I can’t.”  Now, ask yourself this.

What if doing so walks you straight into GOD’S dream (read:  plan and purpose) for your life?  Would you want it then?  If giving up everything you own would cause you to begin the greatest journey of your life, would you do it?  Does the fact that God is pouring out HIS spirit over us like fragrant balm, those of us blessed enough to be living in this last generation before Christ’s return…does that fact and outpouring touch your heart?  Your spirit?

Are you willing to trade your standing appointment at Starbuck’s with your best friend, or your weekly nail or hair appointment, or that next business appointment that’s going to net you the “big bucks”…will you walk away from those appointments in favor of a divine appointment with Almighty God himself?  The answer you give yourself will make a difference on how you spend the rest of your life before the great and awesome day of the LORD.

Hmmm, prosperity or eternity?  It’s an interesting choice and brings up part of a song I wrote some time ago:

“The choice we all face is not between Heaven and Hell
Any fool would choose Heaven, this we know well
The choice we all face is between God and ourselves”

Choose this day whom you will serve…as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord!  We’re dressing up in our finest humility and obedience and submitted hearts for our divine appointment.  Jump into God’s divine appointment for your life…the living  water is fine!