THE PLACE OF GOD’S APPOINTMENT

The focus of the message is two-fold as regards the place of God’s appointment. The first focuses on our spiritual place of God’s appointment in the body of Christ. The scripture intimates us that God has set the members in the body as it has pleased Him (1 Corinthians 12:18).

The second focuses on the physical place of God’s appointment in the world. Where does God want us to live? Where God wants us to be is the best place we can ever be. We may live in a place that is like a barren desert but if it is God’s place of appointment for us, we shall prosper there. However we may live in the midst of plenty and still live in deprivation if that is not God’s place of appointment for us.

Far too many christians follow the crowd to do whatever the crowd is doing without finding out God’s will for their lives. No wonder many live in defeat and suffering, repeated setbacks and lack of progress despite a lot of expended efforts. The place of God’s appointment for us is the place where our peace and progress lies. We do ourselves a lot of harm if we never find out the place of God’s appointment for us.

PLACE OF GOD’S APPOINTMENT

1 Corinthians 12:18,14-30; 1 Peter 4:10,11; Romans 12:3-8; Genesis 26:1-6; 7:1,5-7,16; Jeremiah 18:1-6; 1 Kings 17:2-6; 2 Samuel 11:1,2; Ruth 1:1-6; Matthew 26:32; 28:6-10.

It is important and necessary that each believer discovers God’s place of appointment for him in the body of Christ. Does God want you to be the eye? Has He appointed you to be the leg? Find God’s place of spiritual appointment for you in the body and fulfil that function. If you are the eye, never be bordered that you are not the leg, nose, hand, etc.

God’s place of appointment for you in the body of Christ will be the place where you can best utilise your God-given natural talents, skills, training as well as spiritual gifts and graces for the edification and upbuilding of the body of Christ (1 Peter 4:10,11; Romans 12:3-8).

It is also very essential that we find out where God wants us to live in the world as it relates to physical location. Just any place will not do. God’s place of appointment for us can only be the place where His presence can go with us, where His protective eyes watch over us, where we can bring glory to His name and help to expand the Kingdom of His Son.

PRUDENCE IN GOD’S APPOINTMENT

John 13:7; Genesis 12:1,5-20; 20:1-18; 13:10-13; 14:8-16; 19:12-29; Ruth 1:1-6,19-22; 2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:1-14; Judges 5:23; Matthew 26:32; 28:6-10; John 21:1-7.

God is all knowing and all wise. His place of appointment for us both spiritually and physically is the best place we can ever be. We may not understand the wisdom behind such decision and appointment but biblical and contemporary history have both proved the great wisdom of divine appointment (John 13:7). When we leave God’s place of appointment no matter the reason why and we go elsewhere, the outcome will always be to our disadvantage and loss.

God’s place of appointment for Abraham was Canaan. However because of famine in Canaan he went to sojourn first in Egypt and then in Philistia. In both places he got into problems and started telling lies and soiled his testimony (Genesis 12:1,5-20; 20:1-18).

Sodom was not God’s place of appointment for Lot. Lot should have stayed with Abraham. However the fertile plains of Sodom attracted Lot. There he faced a devastating war, lost all his earthly substance and even his wife! (Genesis 13:10-13; 14:8-16; 19:12-29). The prosperous land you may be seeking to go may already be marked for destruction. Learn from Lot’s mistake.

Elimelech’s place of God’s appointment was Bethlehem-Judah where he was to experience God’s discipline with His people before divine mercy will follow their repentance. However he went to sojourn in prosperous Moab that was devoid of God’s presence. He lost his life, two sons, and possessions and left a sorrowful wife and daughters-in-law behind. Naomi’s testimony is proof that it never pays to leave God’s place of appointment even in difficult times. The difficult times will pass and God will visit His people (Ruth 1:1-6,19-22).

God’s place of appointment for David in times of national crisis and war was at the battlefront. However indulgent David stayed at home and got into a terrible sin that forever left a scar upon his life and family (2 Samuel 11:1-27; 12:1-14).

God’s place of appointment for the people of Meroz was on the battlefield helping to crush the enemy. However they stayed at home and were bitterly cursed (Judges 5:23).

God’s place of appointment for the disciples after the resurrection was Galilee looking for the Lord. They went to Galilee searching for fish. They caught nothing. Every effort expended in the place that is not God’s place of appointment for us will result in nothing (Matthew 26:32; 28:6-10; John 21:1-7).

PROFIT IN GRACIOUS ABIDING

Genesis 26:1-6,12-15,27,28; 7:1,5-7,16; 37:5-11,28,36; 39:1-23; 40:1-23; 41:1-57; 1 Samuel 16:1,12; Jeremiah 18:1-6; 1 Kings 17:2-16; 2 Kings 6:8-17,30-33; Exodus 10:28,29; 12:30-32.

There will always be profit and reward if we graciously abide at God’s place of appointment for us.

Isaac wanted to go to prosperous Egypt where there was no fear of God, however God told him to stay in Gerrar even though it was stricken with famine. His obedience led to great prosperity (Genesis 26:1-6,12-15,27,28). We will blossom in a desert if that is God’s place of appointment for us.

Elijah was always fed at the time of famine because he always stayed at God’s places of appointment for him (1 Kings 17:2-16).

Noah and his family didn’t perish with the world because they stayed in the ark, God’s place of appointment for them (Genesis 7:1,5-7,16).

Elisha didn’t run away from God’s place of appointment for him because of the military threats of the Syrian army or the tyrannous wickedness of the king of Israel at the time of acute famine. In both cases he enjoyed divine protection and preservation (2 Kings 6:8-17,30-33).

Jeremiah heard God’s voice and instruction because he went to God’s place of appointment for him – the potter’s house (Jeremiah 18:1-6). Samuel received God’s leading because he went to God’s place of appointment for him – Bethlehem (1 Samuel 16:1,12).

When we are in God’s place of appointment for us, prosperity will follow despite troubles and tribulations, difficulties and adversities as in the case of Joseph in Egypt (Genesis 37:5-11,28,36; 39:1-23; 40:1-23; 41:1-57). There will also be protection and preservation from the enemy as in the case of Moses before Pharaoh (Exodus 10:28,29; 12:30-32).