Tuning in to Divine Appointments

Mike O’Dea | Mars Hill Theology Response Team

At your next Community Group meeting, look around the room.  Consider that everyone present is there by “Divine Appointment”.  Somewhere and sometime at some location each of those  persons had some sort of divine appointment in which God in His providence caused someone to introduce them to Jesus. (Eph. 1:11)

One cannot find the term “divine appointment” in Scripture, yet we know it when we observe it.  For instance in Acts 8:27 we see how Philip was guided by the Holy Spirit to meet with the Ethiopian eunuch.  In Acts 8:35 Philip presented the Gospel and the eunuch was saved.

As I have matured in my Christian walk I have some regret that I have missed many divine appointment opportunities.  I am resolved to put an end to that.  I am beginning to realize that God is continually putting divine appointments in my path.  At this point I am aware of at least one per week.  Three weeks ago, my wife and I were enjoying dinner at Marie Calendar’s in Northgate.  We struck up a conversation with a young lady.  Her name was Pualani.  We told her about Mars Hill Church and how God has been blessing our ministry. She got so interested that she got up from her table and stood before us and took notes on where Mars Hill was located and the times of the services.  She told us she was a single mom and she wanted to get her child into some constructive activities.  I do not know if she showed up at Mars Hill, but her enthusiasm would indicate she probably did. (a divine appointment)

Two weeks ago, Bonnie and I were having dinner at Louie’s in the lounge.  While I was sneaking peeks over Bonnie’s shoulder watching the USC/Nebraska game a middle aged woman came in and sat no more than 4 feet from us.  Bonnie (a hair stylist) said to her, “My, your hair is lovely”.  That simple “ice breaker” resulted in a long conversation. USC was beating the @$#%&# out of Nebraska so I lost interest in that and I joined the conversation.  I asked Edith (we had learned her name by now) if she had heard of Mars Hill Church.  She said she certainly had and that she had seen the TV coverage of the Baptisms we had at Alki Beach the night before.  Once again, she was a single mom, and she had a 14 year old son.  We told her a lot about Mars Hill and we emphasized the Proxy teen age ministry.  She got very excited and we agreed to meet her the following day at the 5:00 PM service.  She not only showed up but she wanted to sit in the front row; and we did that.  Mark was pretty revved up but I think he only spit on us two or three times.  Anyway, she loved it and agreed to meet us again next Sunday.  (a divine appointment)

Again, a day ago, my wife had a client named Malka show up for her hair appointment. Malka is a Jewish, born in Israel, Hebrew and English speaking lady.  I often discuss Scripture with her.  I asked her if she had seen the publicity about the Mars Hill Baptism service.  She said she had.  I pulled out the photos I had taken at that service.  One of the photos was of my wife Bonnie speaking to pastor Mark.  Malka said, “Bonnie, what were you speaking to him about?”  Bonnie said, “Malka, I was asking him to pray for you.”  That happens to be the God’s honest truth and Bonnie was not going to lie about it.  Bonnie followed that up by saying, “Malka, would you like to join us at Mars Hill at the 5:00 PM service on Sunday?”  Malka said yes! (Another divine appointment)   

My point is that if you are alert to it and you pray to our Lord to put “divine appointments” in your path, it will happen.  Shall we resolve to grow our community groups with Jesus loving people by showing up and recognizing our divine appointments?  It is easier than you think because God knows who to put in your path and it may be someone you least  expect.  Maybe it is your barber, your mail man, your doctor, your grocer, your client, your neighbor, etc. Go for it in Jesus name.  (See Col. 3:17)

Do I hear an Amen?