Today Is Your Appointed Time!

“See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant” (Jeremiah 1:10 NIV).

Everyday, most of us have scheduled appointments we have either written down on a calendar, in a planner or programmed into our phones. This is how we manage and budget out time so we can get things done. But notice I said, this is how “we” manage our time. Have we thought about what our appointments would be if we allowed God to manage our time?

Imagine how Jeremiah must have felt when The Lord spoke to him! The Lord reminded Jeremiah that before he was formed in the womb, He had plans for him. He also told him that he had no need to fear what others might say or think of him and that he would never be alone. Before Jeremiah could open his mouth to say anything, The Lord spoke and told him not to make excuses about not doing what He told him. And then, He told Jeremiah, “today, I have appointed you over nations and kingdoms” to expose all that is not right, tear it down and rebuild per my specifications (slightly paraphrased). Although Jeremiah had his doubts, he eventually fulfilled his role in God’s plan for his life.

What about us? Have we heard God speak to our hearts and know without a doubt that He has plans for us–an appointed time–for which we must do what He tells us to do? Are we making excuses for not doing what we know we have heard Him say? When we know we are to speak God’s Word to people, do we shy away from doing so because we think we are incapable of speaking or too young, or too old, too short, too fat, too thin, too tall, too ignorant, too knowledgeable about science to speak God’s Word? What are the excuses that we’re making?

In the 21st Century, we have an advantage that Jeremiah didn’t have–technology. We have an avenue through cyberspace to speak God’s Word through social mediums, blogging, emailing, texting, and even with the advantage, some are still making excuses. “I can’t spell; I can’t write; I don’t know these people; they won’t follow/fan me if I talk about God, etc.” Excuses to be disobedient–now find reasons to obey, this day!

Since God is no respecter of persons, He will use anyone who is willing to be used to get what He wants done. With Him, “there is no male or female, Jew or Gentile,” just willing people–who hear and obey. This day, right now, determine within yourself that you are going to hear what God says and obey. You are not going to make any more excuses; you are going to do what you have been appointed to do, without any regard to how people will think of you or what they might say. And if you feel as though you’ll be persecuted for doing what is right–you’re not alone and you’re not the first.

Now get up and get ready–open your heart to hear God speak and then allow Him to give you the words to speak to others in order to expose evil–from the highest to the lowest in the nation, tear it down and prepare to rebuild with the values and presence of The Lord. This day–you have been appointed, gifted and anointed to do all the things God has given you to do! Today–let’s get it done!

 

 

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Honoring God’s Choice

When we look at our society and the church world today, what do we see?  Do we see leaders whom God has chosen or do we see the promotion of nepotism and self-appointment?

As a reference, I would remind those reading to re-visit the situation with Adonijah and Solomon when their father (King David) was dying.  Adonijah took it upon himself to garner support from those with questionable characters to elevate himself to the throne as king.  When God’s anointed priest and prophet refused to support him, he threw a party celebrating his kingship and did not invite the priest or the prophet or Solomon.  Later, while they were partying, David kept a promise  (as directed by God) to Bathsheba and placed her son, Solomon on the throne as king.  When the people at the party found out they were celebrating a self-appointed, not God-anointed king, they quickly left the party and Adonijah was afraid (I Kings 1:32-34–read the entire chapter)

When God first “called” Samuel, he thought it was Eli calling him (his leader, mentor and teacher).  Finally, after the third time of mistaking a voice, Eli convinced him that God was calling him to do a great work (I Samuel 3:8).

Peter reminds us that we should “make our calling and election sure” (I Peter 1:10).

More and more people are being misled and misguided by “church leaders” who are self-appointed and not God-anointed.  Many of these are using their ministry to pimp the church and they think God is not watching.  Just as many “church leaders”  are put in positions of authority because of nepotism, not ability and Godly character.  We know because we see it everyday.  How many people are leading churches because their father did or their grandfather did?  How many of these were called or appointed to ministry by their fathers or grandfathers?

The difference in God-called leadership whom He has anointed is remarkably distinctive.  God-called leaders hold the heart of the people close to them and are only interested in pleasing God.  Self-appointed or nepotism-appointed ministers have only one agenda–how they can use the ministry to benefit themselves.  We can all see the difference in those communities where God is actually reverenced over those who are seeking reverence for a “man or woman”.

With whom will God say, “He is well-pleased?”  We need to understand and honor God’s choice, more than man’s choice as it pertains to the things and directions of God.