Divine Appointments: Embracing God's Intersections in Life
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor focusing on the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch from Acts 8:26-40, emphasizing the significance of divine appointments and intersections in life. The pastor then encourages the congregation to have a firm foundation in faith, especially in a world that may not align with Christian values. He highlights the importance of community groups and various ministries within the church, such as Celebrate Recovery, and shares a personal example of a young man on the basketball team who has undergone a transformation through encounters with Jesus.
The pastor then emphasizes the importance of surrendering one's agenda to God and allowing Him to use them for His purposes. He encourages the congregation to pray for divine appointments and to be prepared for those moments by having a reason for their joy, truth, and hope in a world that may not exhibit these qualities. The pastor shares a powerful story of a pastor who was at a low point in his life and planned on taking his own life, but had a divine encounter that changed his life forever.
The pastor then discusses the significance of the intersections in our lives and how they play a crucial role. He highlights the need for God moments and intersections in the lives of the people in the church, including their own. He shares a personal story about a couple who were sharing their faith with others, viewing it as planting seeds of faith. He encourages the congregation to see delays, changes, and redirections in life as potential intersections orchestrated by God.
The pastor recounts the journey of Paul and his companions to Macedonia, their encounters with Lydia and a female slave, and their imprisonment. He shares a personal experience where he found himself in the middle of a potential fight between two students, which serves as an intersection in the young man's life. He emphasizes that Christianity is not about what we can get for ourselves, but rather what we can give to others.
The pastor concludes by emphasizing the power and beauty of sharing the word of God and the importance of having mentors and spiritual fathers and mothers in our lives. He acknowledges that even after finding Jesus, people may still have struggles and challenges to work through. He views the church as a place for the hurting and broken to find healing and wholeness through Jesus.
Key Takeaways:
- Divine appointments and intersections in life are significant and can bring people from comfort to extreme situations, yet still carry the peace of the Gospel. These moments can lead to life-changing encounters with Jesus. ([12:45])
- Having a firm foundation in faith is crucial, especially in a world that may not align with Christian values. Participating in community groups and various ministries within the church can strengthen this foundation and deepen understanding of scripture. ([24:30])
- Surrendering one's agenda to God and allowing Him to use them for His purposes is important. Believers should be prepared to preach the word and have a reason for their joy, truth, and hope in a world that may not exhibit these qualities. ([36:15])
- Christianity is not about what we can get for ourselves, but rather what we can give to others. Biblical Christianity calls for selfless service and sacrifice, and as followers of Christ, we have surrendered our lives to the cross and have taken on the life of Christ. ([58:20])
- Sharing the word of God can stir a response in someone else, leading to a powerful impact. Having mentors and spiritual fathers and mothers in our lives who can provide wisdom and truth is important, and the church is a place for the hurting and broken to find healing and wholeness through Jesus. ([1:12:30])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Acts 8:1-40
"And Saul approved of their killing him. On that day a great persecution broke out against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout Judea and Samaria... Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Messiah there... Simon himself believed and was baptized... Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, 'Go south to the road—the desert road—that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.' So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch... Then Philip began with that very passage of Scripture and told him the good news about Jesus."
2. Isaiah 53:7-8
"He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished."
Observation Questions:
1. What are the key events that occur in Acts 8:1-40?
2. How does the Ethiopian eunuch respond to Philip's message about Jesus?
3. What is the significance of the passage from Isaiah 53:7-8 in the context of the story in Acts 8?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch illustrate the concept of divine appointments and intersections in life?
2. What does the response of the Ethiopian eunuch to Philip's message tell us about the power of the Gospel?
3. How does Isaiah 53:7-8 relate to the suffering and sacrifice of Jesus?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a moment in your life that you now recognize as a divine appointment? How did that encounter change your life?
2. How can you prepare yourself for divine appointments in your daily life? What steps can you take to be ready to share your faith when these moments arise?
3. How can you strengthen your foundation in faith in a world that may not align with Christian values? What specific actions can you take this week?
4. How can you surrender your agenda to God and allow Him to use you for His purposes? Can you think of a specific situation where you can apply this?
5. Can you identify someone in your life who could benefit from a mentor or spiritual guide? How can you step into that role for them?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Divine Appointments
God often uses unexpected encounters and situations to bring about His divine purposes. These divine appointments can lead us from comfort to extreme situations, yet still carry the peace of the Gospel. These moments can lead to life-changing encounters with Jesus. [12:45]
Acts 8:29-31 - "The Spirit told Philip, 'Go to that chariot and stay near it.' Then Philip ran up to the chariot and heard the man reading Isaiah the prophet. 'Do you understand what you are reading?' Philip asked. 'How can I,' he said, 'unless someone explains it to me?' So he invited Philip to come up and sit with him."
Reflection: Reflect on a recent unexpected encounter or situation in your life. How might God have been using that as a divine appointment?
Day 2: Building a Firm Foundation in Faith
In a world that often does not align with Christian values, having a firm foundation in faith is crucial. Participating in community groups and various ministries within the church can strengthen this foundation and deepen understanding of scripture. [24:30]
1 Peter 3:15 - "But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect."
Reflection: What is one way you can strengthen your foundation in faith this week? Consider joining a community group or ministry within the church.
Day 3: Surrendering to God's Agenda
Surrendering one's agenda to God and allowing Him to use us for His purposes is a key aspect of Christian faith. We should be prepared to preach the word and have a reason for our joy, truth, and hope in a world that may not exhibit these qualities. [36:15]
Proverbs 3:5-6 - "Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight."
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you are holding onto your own agenda? How can you surrender this to God?
Day 4: Embodying Selfless Service
Christianity is not about what we can get for ourselves, but rather what we can give to others. As followers of Christ, we have surrendered our lives to the cross and have taken on the life of Christ. [58:20]
Philippians 2:3-4 - "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can serve selflessly this week? What is one specific way you can serve them?
Day 5: Sharing the Word and Finding Healing
Sharing the word of God can stir a response in someone else, leading to a powerful impact. The church is a place for the hurting and broken to find healing and wholeness through Jesus. [1:12:30]
2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can share the word of God with this week? How can you offer them comfort and healing through Jesus?
Quotes
"So much of Christianity in America is feed me my preferences I want this I want this and if I don't get it I'm gonna go find it but if you match up American Christianity with Biblical Christianity you will see it's not about what we get it's about what we get to give it's the cost of living out taking it or as my wife says in Ministry you know what we have to take a lot of things on the chin why because we have given our lives to be servants not of this church not of this community but the true high God." #!!01:03:44!!#
"We may not always understand the word of God but God can send someone to explain it... that's why we all need mentors, spiritual fathers and mothers in our life that can speak wisdom and Truth to us." #!!01:14:29!!#
"I've always viewed church as a hosel for the hurting and broken people... they can find the health and the healing and the wholeness through the one that can give it, Jesus." #!!01:15:22!!#
"How often do we experience delays or changes in our plans or redirections and regard them sometimes as intrusions? You know what I'm saying? How often, you're living your life and something is just not going as planned and you're delayed in a spot, you're stuck in a spot, and instead of saying, 'God, what are you doing?' you look and you say, 'God, this is taken away from ABCD.' Maybe God is ordaining an intrusion in your life to maybe cross paths at the intersection, because everything changes in the intersection with Jesus." #!!01:21:34!!#
"I don't know about you but there's a lot of people that need those God moments and those intersections in their life... I still need those intersection moments in your life you do as well." #!!01:04:55!!#
"Persecution is never hurt the church that meant we had to take the message wherever we went... it wasn't about coming into a building, it was about taking this message to others." #!!01:06:11!!#
"God leads the faithful to cross another person's path resulting in amazing things... I'm not saying that moment might, you know, they might look at me say hey I hear what you're saying but I just don't want it." #!!01:19:11!!#
"Life is a lot like a straight line we just go go and go and go and go but at some point that straight line comes a crossroad... At some point in your life you can't go straight anymore... sometimes you pick this way and you just keep on going till you hit another intersection in life." #!!58:19!!#
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