Divine Appointments In Daily Life
INTRODUCTION:
People ask me how I prepare sermons. I spend a lot of time each week reading scripture and praying. Even if I am not preparing for a sermon. Additionally, I am constantly reading other books, usually one or more a week. One of my favorite things to do is read sermons or collections of sermons by other preachers. I know I really need to get a life! When I write a sermon, I spend about 20 hours preparing. To help my thinking and writing, I find myself using suggested outlines, illustrations, or starter sermons. One of my favorite sources is a preacher from Lexington, KY – Barry Davis. We have become friends, even though we have never met face-to-face. I used his outline, with suggested illustrations and commentary, to write my sermon today. So, thank you again, Barry, for your inspiration and help.
Now “Divine Appointments in Daily Life.”
In 1855, a Sunday School teacher named Edward Kimball felt a burden to speak with one of his students about his relationship with Christ. The young man worked at a shoe store in Boston, and Kimball was nervous about approaching him there. After much hesitation, he finally walked into the store, found the young clerk in the back room stocking shoes, and awkwardly shared his faith. That seemingly random encounter led to the conversion of Dwight L. Moody, who became one of the most influential evangelists of the 19th century, reaching an estimated 100 million people with the gospel. Some would say we need a D L. Moody today,
What appeared to be an ordinary conversation between a Sunday School teacher and a shoe clerk was a divine appointment—a moment orchestrated by God that would impact countless lives for generations to come.
History is full of examples of seemingly random encounters that changed the lives, communities, and even nations. But from God's point of view, there are no random encounters. There are only divine appointments—moments He has set up for His purposes.
Many times, in my years of ministry, Marsha and I have experienced “For such a time as this” (to borrow a phrase from Ruth 4:14) appointments. Most recently, a church we attended after returning from our ministry in Malaysia asked me to be its supply pastor. They had let their young pastor go, and I had preached a couple of times in her absence. They wanted me to stay as long as I wanted to preach and teach. “For such a time as this,” divine appointments. I thoroughly believe we are here at Hope Church because of a divine appointment.
The New Testament is filled with divine appointments. A couple of weeks ago, in London, KY, I preached on Luke 8:26-39, where Jesus arranged an appointment with the Disciples on the Sea of Galilee. Secondly, He had arranged a meeting with a demon-possessed man whom He would heal and commission the man to be a missionary to his people in Gentile lands.
In a divine appointment with the Disciples in Matthew 28:18-20, where Jesus Christ turns to his disciples and says, "Go! Go therefore and make disciples of all nations...." That commission is for us today also. Think of it! Almighty God turns and looks you and me full in the face and commissions us to work with him on his latest creative project. I tell you, when the most important thing I've been asked to do all week is wash the dishes or take out the trash, this comes as quite a shock! I know of no other statement in the Bible that can give a person a greater sense of esteem, joy, and purpose than Christ's Great Commission. It turns our place of vocation into a place where we may fairly affirm, "I'm here on temporary assignment with God. My talent, time, and money are needed. God has personally called me here to be his representative." He has divine appointments arranged for me in my daily life.
I am not an expert in NT Greek, but I understand from my sources that the Great Commission, originally written in Greek, states, "As you go into all the world, make disciples." There is a sense of this as a casual or spontaneous appointment. I have a friend named Doug who, in the 70s, lived in a school bus. He was sitting outside his bus when this man staggered by. He thought to himself, 'Now there's a guy who needs some coffee.' Instantly, Doug heard Jesus’ whisper in his ear, “Why don’t you go give him a cup of coffee and tell him about Me?” Doug led the drunk to Jesus and was able to get him connected with someone who could help with his drinking. Doug lived a life in which, as he traveled the world, he would make disciples as the Lord directed.
The disciples lived this way; search the scriptures, and you won't find the disciples starting "How to Witness" schools or planning a missions conference where they look at each other and say, "We've got to make some plans. Strategy! That's what we need! The missions committee meets this Wednesday night at eight! God has arranged daily divine appointments for us that we must obey.
The disciples went about their Great Commission with spontaneous, breathless awareness of the excitement of divine appointments. And considering the dimensions of the great commission, we can discover more of this breathless excitement in our own lives as well.
One dramatic meeting in the Bible is in Acts 8:26-40, where Philip, an evangelist, meets an Ethiopian official on a desert road. Their time together was short, lasting just an hour or two, but the effect was lasting. This story shows us how to recognize and respond to the divine appointments that God gives us in our everyday lives.
God sets up special moments in our daily lives. To notice these moments, we need to be spiritually aware and ready to act. Today, let's look at how we can engage in these special appointments.
1. DIRECTED BY DIVINE GUIDANCE
The story begins with specific guidance from God. Acts 8:26 tells us:
"Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'"
This direction came at an interesting time in Philip's ministry. Acts 8:5-8 tells us that he had been in Samaria, where God was using him powerfully:
"Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there. When the crowds heard Philip and saw the signs he performed, they all paid close attention to what he said. For with shrieks, impure spirits came out of many, and many who were paralyzed or lame were healed. So there was great joy in that city."
As I understand it, Philip was experiencing success. Miracles were happening, and people were being saved, and yet an angel whispered in his ear, 'Go to the desert.' I have an appointment scheduled for you there. I am sure Philip thought, “Are you crazy? I have a successful ministry here, why would I leave?” Then he heard Jesus, “Because I have someone I want you to meet.
This pattern of divine guidance appears throughout Scripture. Genesis 12:1 records God's call to Abraham:
"The LORD had said to Abram, 'Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you.'"
Abraham was directed to leave everything familiar for an unknown destination.
Young Samuel experienced divine guidance in 1 Samuel 3:10:
"The LORD came and stood there, calling as at the other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' Then Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant is listening.'"
God's voice came unexpectedly in the night.
In Acts 16:9-10, Paul receives guidance through a vision:
"During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, 'Come over to Macedonia and help us.' After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them."
How can I know if there is a divine appointment for me? There are three signs that indicate God's guidance in leading us to such moments.
First, consistent Bible study, meditation, and memorization of Scripture and dedicated prayer help us recognize His voice and His priorities for us.
Second, seek counsel and help in understanding the circumstances. I have found that others, such as our pastor, may see opportunities or connections that we miss.
Third, through the inner promptings of the Holy Spirit. John 16:13 reminds us that
"when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth."
These promptings may come as a nagging thought, concern for a person you know, or an unexplainable sense that this is one of those “for such a time as this” appointments.
The key is obedience. Philip didn't question the directive or delay his response. Acts 8:27 simply states:
"So he started out..."
Divine appointments begin with divine direction, but they require our willing response.
2. DISCERNED WITH SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
Divine direction must be followed by spiritual discernment. Acts 8:27-29 continues:
"...and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch, an important official in charge of all the treasury of the Kandake (which means 'queen of the Ethiopians'). This man had gone to Jerusalem to worship, and on his way home was sitting in his chariot reading the Book of Isaiah the prophet. The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.'"
Philip's spiritual awareness allowed him to recognize this moment as a divine appointment. Acts 8:30 tells us:
"Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet."
Notice the details: Philip not only approached the chariot, but he was attentive enough to hear what the man was reading. He was spiritually alert to the significance of this moment.
The Ethiopian official represented a different culture, social status, and possibly a different racial background from Philip. He was a high-ranking government official from a distant land. Yet Philip overcame these potential barriers because he was spiritually aware enough to see beyond surface differences to the divine appointment at hand.
We face many barriers to such discernment today. First, busyness and distraction. Our attention is constantly pulled in multiple directions by notifications, deadlines, and demands. Divine appointments are easily missed when we're rushing from one activity to the next.
Second, cultural and social differences. Like Philip, we may encounter people who differ from us in background, beliefs, or status. These differences can become barriers if we allow them to prevent meaningful connections.
Third, our own agendas and expectations. We often have fixed ideas about what "ministry" should look like, causing us to overlook the divine appointments God places directly in our path.
How can we develop greater spiritual awareness to discern these appointments? We can practice what Brother Lawrence called "the presence of God"—a conscious awareness of God's presence in every activity and interaction. This means turning ordinary encounters into opportunities for prayer, asking God to help us see people as He sees them.
We can look for divine appointments in unexpected places. Philip found one on a desert road with a foreign official. God may arrange appointments for us in checkout lines, waiting rooms, neighborhood gatherings, or workplace conversations.
Finally, we can specifically ask God to open our eyes to the people around us. Proverbs 20:12 reminds us that
"ears that hear and eyes that see—the LORD has made them both."
Spiritual perception is a gift we can request from God.
3. DELIVERED THROUGH MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION
Once Philip discerned the divine appointment, he engaged in meaningful conversation. Acts 8:30 continues:
"'Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked."
Notice how Philip began—not with a presentation or proclamation, but with a question. He met the Ethiopian at his point of spiritual interest, engaging with what was already on his mind. This approach demonstrated both sensitivity and wisdom.
The Ethiopian's response reveals his openness:
"'How can I,' he said, 'unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him." (Acts 8:31)
The conversation deepened as the Ethiopian asked,
"Tell me, please, who is the prophet talking about, himself or someone else?" (Acts 8:34)
This led to the heart of the divine appointment. Acts 8:35 tells us:
"Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus."
The conversation moved naturally from the Ethiopian's question to the gospel message.
What principles can we learn from this exchange? First, meaningful conversations often begin with genuine questions that invite dialogue rather than monologue. Questions demonstrate interest in the other person and create space for them to express their thoughts and concerns.
Second, the conversation focused on Jesus. Regardless of where divine appointments begin—whether discussing current events, personal struggles, or philosophical questions—their ultimate purpose is to point people toward Christ. As Philip demonstrated, we can begin wherever people are, but we should guide the conversation toward Jesus.
Third, the Holy Spirit guided the timing and content of the conversation. Philip didn't follow a predetermined script; he remained sensitive to the Spirit's leading throughout the encounter. The same passage of Scripture might have led to very different conversations with different individuals.
In our own divine appointments, meaningful conversations require both preparation and flexibility. 1 Peter 3:15 instructs us to
"always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have."
Yet this preparation should never become rigid formulation that ignores the unique needs and questions of the person before us.
4. DEMONSTRATED THROUGH IMMEDIATE ACTION
The divine appointment culminated in decisive action. Acts 8:36-38 records:
"As they traveled along the road, they came to some water and the eunuch said, 'Look, here is water. What can stand in the way of my being baptized?' And he gave orders to stop the chariot. Then both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water and Philip baptized him."
The Ethiopian responded to the message with immediate obedience. He didn't delay or overthink his response. He recognized the truth, embraced it wholeheartedly, and acted upon it without hesitation.
Notice also how he removed barriers to obedience: "he gave orders to stop the chariot." As a high-ranking official with important responsibilities, he could have found many reasons to postpone his baptism. Instead, he prioritized his spiritual commitment above all else.
The divine appointment concluded as suddenly as it began. Acts 8:39-40 tells us:
"When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord suddenly took Philip away, and the eunuch did not see him again, but went on his way rejoicing. Philip, however, appeared at Azotus and traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns until he reached Caesarea."
Both Philip and the Ethiopian continued their journeys—physically in different directions, but spiritually united in purpose. The Ethiopian returned to his homeland "rejoicing," carrying the gospel message with him. According to church tradition, he became the first to introduce Christianity to Ethiopia, establishing one of the world's oldest Christian communities.
How can we follow through on divine appointments today? First, we must be prepared for an immediate response. This means being ready to pray with someone, share our testimony, provide practical help, or offer biblical guidance when the opportunity arises.
Second, we need to remove obstacles to obedience. These obstacles might be fear of rejection, concern about others' opinions, busy schedules, or comfort zones. Like the Ethiopian, we must be willing to "stop the chariot" when God presents an opportunity.
Finally, we must continue the mission after the appointment ends. Philip didn't retire after this significant encounter; he "traveled about, preaching the gospel in all the towns." Divine appointments aren't isolated events but links in an ongoing chain of God's work in and through our lives.
CONCLUSION:
Divine appointments are directed by God's guidance, discerned through spiritual awareness, delivered through meaningful conversation, and demonstrated through immediate action. They happen not just in church buildings or mission fields, but in ordinary places and everyday encounters.
Think about your upcoming week. What if the person you'll stand next to in the checkout line, sit beside on the train, or meet in a Zoom call represents a divine appointment? What if God has orchestrated these seemingly random encounters for eternal purposes?
I challenge you this week to approach each day expecting divine appointments. Begin each morning by asking God to direct your path toward the people He wants you to meet. Practice spiritual awareness in ordinary settings and conversations, looking beyond the surface to discern what God might be doing. Be prepared to engage meaningfully with those God brings across your path. And follow through with appropriate action when God presents an opportunity.
Remember that we may never know the full impact of our obedience to divine appointments. Edward Kimball certainly couldn't have imagined how his nervous conversation with a shoe clerk would impact millions. Philip couldn't have foreseen the establishment of Ethiopian Christianity from his encounter on the desert road.
Similarly, your obedience to divine appointments may have ripple effects far beyond what you can see. A conversation with a coworker might lead to their salvation and eventually impact their entire family. A word of encouragement to a struggling teenager might redirect their life path. A moment of kindness to a stranger might open their heart to the gospel message they'll hear from someone else.
May we, like Philip, be people who are directed by divine guidance, who discern appointments through spiritual awareness, who deliver the message through meaningful conversation, and who demonstrate commitment through immediate action. For when we do, we participate in God's ongoing work of drawing people to Himself through divine intersections in daily life.
Let's pray:
Heavenly Father, open our eyes to see the divine appointments You've placed in our paths. Give us the obedience to follow Your guidance, even when it leads us to unexpected places. Help us develop spiritual awareness to discern the opportunities around us. Give us wisdom for meaningful conversations that point people to Jesus. And grant us courage for immediate action when You call us to respond. We ask this so that we might participate in Your redemptive work in the lives of those around us. In Jesus' name, Amen.