#13 Divine appointments

intro notes

1. send out the letters to everyone who wrote a letter Jan 1st

2. Marks Last day with us, so lets pray over him.

3. Deception topic

Doctor Livingston I presume.

The story of Dr, David Livingston the Scottish missionary explorer. He was born in 1813, and dies in 1873. HE was born during our 2nd war with Britain, and about the time Napoleon is defeated. During his childhood, The US is adding stars to it’s flag like crazy, as states like crazy — Louisiana, Indiana, Mississippi, Illinois, Alabama, Maine, Missouri and Arkansas. The British empire is rapidly expanding it’s influence around the world. And Christian missionaries are part of the exploration into the frontiers.

During David Livingston felt early in his life a divine leading to be one who would open up central Africa as a pioneer missionary for the Good news of Jesus Christ. He was a man of deep prayer.

In hid lifetime he shows great courage in the face of difficult sufferings for the Gospel.

Our story picks up in his second foray into Africa. Sadly in his first trip his beloved wife Mary had died in Africa earlier. During this first trip he had becoming exceedingly concerned and upset with the devastation the slave trade spreading throughout the region. He is a man of prayer and he is praying against slavery so fervently no doubt had an impact to the world events. By the time of his second trip to Africa, the US had outlawed slavery. The news was still fresh as he began his 1866 expedition to explore the headwaters of the Nile, Congo and Zambezi Rivers was to increase geographical knowledge but was difficult and dangerous.

David is not just to explore and map, but to help love and help the abused natives and bring the love of Jesus to them. His cheif hope was to open the way to the congo to many more christian missionaries. He was doing something that God had called him to do. He was one of the kindest and most loving and gentle of the British explorers.

Our story picks up 5 years into his exploration, after he has already mapped much of the areas, and has become burnt by the African sun, and his shoulder has been somewhat deformed in a lion attack. He is in terrific pain and is in need of medicine as a consequence. He is emaciated, and suffering from malnutrition. He is blind in one eye having walked into a tree.

He is deep in the jungle and not in contact with Europeans for 2 years. Nor has the world heard from Him, and some are worried.

One day he is returning to his hut barely able to walk dead on his feat, he is in pain every step, and having violent bouts of diarrhea. He is in the depths of despair as he realizes he is failing his mission to find the source of the Nile. While all other traders were returning successfully, he alone has failed.

In the midst of this struggle, His journal recorded on October 3rd 1871 he has finished reading the whole bible through 4x while he was in the Manyuema region.

On October 23 he is reduced to a skeleton, and yet he hopes that as he nears his Hut and provision of stores he will be able to trade for food and get rest.

Instead, upon his arrival in a horrifying moment, he finds that all his stores including the medicine he needs for his shoulder has been stolen. He has been reduced to a beggar deep in the interior of Africa. It has been 2 years since he was in contact with any Europeans and at this point it surely must have been the blackest moment for him. His only Hope, and his best hope is his compassionate loving Heavenly father.

There have been many moments of prayer up to this point, but at this point on Nov 19 1871, He again falls down to the ground and prays. all his supplies gone, and most painfully the medicine he needed for his solder, that was a source of significant pain.

According to Carl Wesley Anderson, His Journal contains the words of his prayer. “Lord you promised that you would be with me to the until end of the age, I need that medicine.”

It was under these circumstances that he was suddenly “found” and greeted in a peculiar manner. On November 10th 1871 Henry Moreland Stanley the traveling correspondent of the New York Herald. showed up out of the jungle quite suddenly. The Herald's own first account of the meeting, published 7 months later on 1 July 1872, reports:[22]

Preserving a calmness of exterior before the Arabs which was hard to simulate as he reached the group, Mr. Stanley said: – "Doctor Livingstone, I presume?" A smile lit up the features of the pale white man as he answered: "Yes, and I feel thankful that I am here to welcome you."[23]

Essentially Henry meets Dr. Livingston and says… “I am the worlds most swaggering atheist don’t attempt to convert me.” I have been sent at an expense of more than 4000 lbs, to obtain info about you Dr Livingston. Dead or alive. and if dead to retrieve you bones back home. See, I have brought you 1000 lbs of supplies! and By The Way… I have in my bag some medicine a woman handed me before I left.

(PAUSE)

That my friends is a divine appointment. TO answer Dr Livingston's prayers God had put motion the answer year earlier start the process of voting for funds, and supplying a rescue mission - long before Dr Livingston even knew he was in trouble, or asked in prayer for this need. In this magnificent divine appointment.

God is in our tomorrow, and head of us before our needs happen. But he asks us to ASK. he knows the future, and enables answers often just in time to look like the most outstanding amazing coincidences… just so that it becomes clear he is managing things for his children.

Needless to say Dr Livingston is encouraged, and his appetite returned, and he begins to feel strong. the two explorers continue on together for about 6 months.

According to Carl Wesley Anderson, Four months later, the swaggering atheist H.M Stanley gives his Heart to Christ after seeing the living God revealed in Dr. Livingston - just before they part company. Stanley takes his maps and returns back to the states to help publish Dr. Livingston's maps and writings…

But Dr. Livingston stubbornly continues on his quest for about a year more as he approaches his 60th birthday. But sadly passing away before he finishes his mission (we will get back those final days of his life a bit later)… But for now let me shift to Mr. Stanley he had spent almost 6 months in the company of this incredible man of God Dr. Livingston.

I tried to confirm the assertion that Stanley got saved in the jungle with Dr. Livingston, and found that for the most part, Henry’s approach to life and African exploration is not nearly as soft and gentle and loving as Dr. Livingston's had been, yet there is this note I found in Mr. Stanley's memoirs that were published decades later after he died… that lent support to the fact that he had been strongly impacted by his time with him - to the point of becoming a Christian.

THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF SIR HENRY MORTON STANLEY

Copyrighted Material

ENGLAND AND COOMASSIE

pg 295

25th February, 1874. [I] Arrived at the Island of St. Vincent, per 'Dromedary,' I was shocked to hear, on getting ashore, of the death of Livingstone at llala, near Lake Bangweolo, on May 4th, 1873. His body is on its way to England, on board the ' Malwa,' from Aden. Dear Livingstone! another sacrifice to Africa! His mission, however, must not be allowed to cease; others must go forward and fill the gap. 'Closeup, boys! close up! Death must find us everywhere. '

May I be selected to succeed him in opening up Africa to the shining light of Christianity! My methods, however, will not be Livingstone's. Each man has his own way. His, I think, had its defects, though the old man, personally, has been almost Christ-like for goodness, patience, and self-sacrifice.

The selfish and wooden-headed world requires mastering, as well as loving charity ; for man is a composite of the spiritual and earthly. May Livingstone's God be with me, as He was with Livingstone in all his loneliness. May God direct me as He wills. I can only vow to be obedient, and not to slacken.

That shows he had been strongly impressed by the nature of Livingston's life if favor of the Gospel!

The power of a divine appointment.

Holy Coincidences

This is another voice of God… the bringing forth of amazing coincidences that are time too perfectly to be accident and point to the will of God in our lives.

Demonstrating Gods love.

divine appointment = divine love!

Can we have faith for those appointments?

Divine Coincidence

Acts 8:36 ESV

36 And as they were going along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “See, here is water! What prevents me from being baptized?”

The New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations Coincidences

A coincidence is a small miracle in which God chooses to remain anonymous.

Author unknown

The New Encyclopedia of Christian Quotations Coincidences

Coincidences are spiritual puns.

G.K. Chesterton

10,000 Sermon Illustrations When We Pray, Coincidences Happen

When We Pray, Coincidences Happen

“The leaders of the Clapham Sect of British social reformers such as William Wilberforce, daily gave themselves to three hours of prayer and organized Christians throughout the country to unite in special prayer before critical debates in Parliament. William Temple replied to his critics who regarded answered prayer as no more than coincidence, “When I pray, coincidences happen; when I don’t, they don’t.”

David Watson, Called & Committed, (Harold Shaw Publishers, Wheaton, IL; 1982), p. 83

Charles Spurgeon recalls…

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Mere Coincidences! (Acts 17:27)

In my own personal experience, I have met with numbers of singular and special tokens of God’s working in providence, some of which I would scarce dare to tell because they might seem incredible. I remember preaching at Halifax in a huge timber building that was erected for the purpose. During the previous day the snow fell heavily, and it lay deep on the ground. Nevertheless, the people came in their thousands and thronged the enormous edifice, and gratefully do I remember how they went away to their homes in safety. They had no sooner cleared the building to the last man than it fell in one gigantic ruin.

Why had it not fallen when the crowds were there? In my joy that no one was harmed I thought that God was there, and I praised his holy name. Was that a piece of superstition?

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon Mere Coincidences! (Acts 17:27)

Mere coincidences, they tell me! Mere coincidences!

The other day I met with a series of similar “mere coincidences.” I set out by railway to a certain town, and the train went on until we came to a junction, and I was bidden to change. By a strange coincidence another train had drawn up, and was going in the direction I desired. I had only time to cross a platform and take my place, and off it went. A few miles further again I heard a voice, saying, “Change here!” I changed a second time, and by another coincidence a train was just starting for my destination. When I reached the end of my railway journey another coincidence was in store for me for a well-known friend was waiting with his carriage, and he took me to his house, where, by another coincidence, a dinner was ready. At the dinner there happened to be a dish on the table intended for a person who did not eat flesh meat. Was not this a special coincidence for me? I went to the chapel to preach, and I found it crowded with people anxious to hear—another coincidence, of course!

A divine Coincidence! to encourage him that God was with him and he was on track with God’s purposes.

Divine Coincidences can be…

confirming signs - Open windows closed doors. Used to reveal Gods plan and desire to love and support and move with his People.

Confirming Signs and Faith

Gideon and the fleece.

Previously Gideon is approach by an the angel of the LORD that th serves food to, and as a sign the angel causes fire to consume the meal that is placed on a rcok. then the angel vanishes… this is a powerful sign but he is not yet sure what to do.

that night God speaks to him (somehow), it is not clear what form of communication God used. and Gideon is faithful to follow the instructions. and leads some men into a minor battle and wins. Gideon has been obediant.

But now the enemies band to gether to attack Gideon. Judges 6:33 “33 Now all the Midianites and the Amalekites and the people of the East came together, and they crossed the Jordan and encamped in the Valley of Jezreel.”

So Gideon need to know now when he is to do in this next phase - as his simple strike of obedience against the enemy only stirred up the hornets nest.

the Holy Spirit encourages him “clothes Him” He sounds the trumpet to sends word to get the men of Israel to rally to his cause. Them men come.

so now he is responsible for their lives and he needs to have an understanding from God if he is to continue. So he prays and ask for a Divine coincidence for an answer.

Gideon is having doubts. perhaps. but is seeking direction I think more than having a moment of unbelief.

Judges 6:36–40 (ESV)

36 Then Gideon said to God, “If you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said, 37 behold, I am laying a fleece of wool on the threshing floor. If there is dew on the fleece alone, and it is dry on all the ground, then I shall know that you will save Israel by my hand, as you have said.”

38 And it was so. When he rose early next morning and squeezed the fleece, he wrung enough dew from the fleece to fill a bowl with water. 39 Then Gideon said to God, “Let not your anger burn against me; let me speak just once more.

Please let me test just once more with the fleece. Please let it be dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground let there be dew.” 40 And God did so that night; and it was dry on the fleece only, and on all the ground there was dew.

Gideon had his answer, confirmed by AB testing. He knew god’s will for Him and for the men he lead. He also Knew God loved Him.

Confirming Signs and Unbelief

However, we can ask for signs out of more than some reasonable doubt but out of true unbelief.

Gideon asked for these signs and coincidences to confirming Gods plan

But when you have been told and you know, or have been given sufficient signs… it is not right to ask for more

To make God perform for your own private pleasure when you have had sufficient proof to ask for more proof is to begin moving from doubt into unbelief. this is the case for Zechariah when i failed to trust the angel.

Luke 1:5–23 (ESV)

5 In the days of Herod, king of Judea, there was a priest named Zechariah, of the division of Abijah. And he had a wife from the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elizabeth. 6 And they were both righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and statutes of the Lord.

7 But they had no child, because Elizabeth was barren, and both were advanced in years. 8 Now while he was serving as priest before God when his division was on duty, 9 according to the custom of the priesthood, he was chosen by lot to enter the temple of the Lord and burn incense.

10 And the whole multitude of the people were praying outside at the hour of incense. 11 And there appeared to him an angel of the Lord standing on the right side of the altar of incense. 12 And Zechariah was troubled when he saw him, and fear fell upon him.

13 But the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zechariah, for your prayer has been heard, and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. 14 And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth,

15 for he will be great before the Lord. And he must not drink wine or strong drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. 16 And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God,

17 and he will go before him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready for the Lord a people prepared.” 18 And Zechariah said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is advanced in years.”

19 And the angel answered him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I was sent to speak to you and to bring you this good news. 20 And behold, you will be silent and unable to speak until the day that these things take place, because you did not believe my words, which will be fulfilled in their time.”

21 And the people were waiting for Zechariah, and they were wondering at his delay in the temple.

22 And when he came out, he was unable to speak to them, and they realized that he had seen a vision in the temple. And he kept making signs to them and remained mute. 23 And when his time of service was ended, he went to his home.

Zechariah had a sign, as he had asked, but it was in the form of a chastisement for his unbelief.

would we do better than Zechariah? I don't know, but the next encounter with an angel is Mary and she does much better. asking How it can be, but accepting it non the less.

What has God clearly told you? have you begun to doubt?

Let us look to be quick to believe.

The disciples and the the people Jesus preached to were often slow to believe. - lets set our hearts before God and ask His help to believe better.

Lord we believe, help our unbelief.

What coincidences have happened in your life that have been God’s message to you?

Jesus on the Cross and Divine Coincidence

Jesus has followed God’s will each day and this last day that he finds himself fulfilling the purpose for which he came into the world… to die a sinner’s death upon a cross.

As the day is getting on, and He is hanging upon the cross struggling for breath. and is the object of ridicule.

Matthew 27:43 ESV

43 He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he desires him. For he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ”

at that point Jesus who has gotten God’s direction for every word and action says something so strange…

my god, my god why have you forsaken me?

Some read this and think that he is dis paring and giving up. we could understand if he was. But this is Jesus that has done all things well. Is he in despair? turning his back on God? No… he is doing something more!

Matthew 27:45–46 ESV

45 Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. 46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

The Godhead is in perfect unity how could could he have been fully forsaken?

There is a teaching that God is taking on the sine of the whole world at this moment, and that God cannot look upon sin, so that perhaps in a strange way there is some kind of a moment of “forsakenness” in some way. But I am doubting that very much.

These words were not so much a expression of his experience on the cross but are the perfect rendering of the the first lines lines of a Psalm that was written a thousand years earlier to be ready for this very moment.

God had gone ahead of jesus, far back into the past a thousand years to inspire David to write this Famous 22nd Psalm, so that he could begin reciting it, so those that stood at the cross that had memorized that scripture would begin to recite and remember the words of the Psalm. and then recognize the moment they were standing in.

Psalm 22 (ESV)

To the choirmaster: according to The Doe of the Dawn. A Psalm of David. 1 My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why are you so far from saving me, from the words of my groaning? 2 O my God, I cry by day, but you do not answer, and by night, but I find no rest.

3 Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Israel. 4 In you our fathers trusted; they trusted, and you delivered them.

5 To you they cried and were rescued; in you they trusted and were not put to shame. 6 But I am a worm and not a man, scorned by mankind and despised by the people.

7 All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; 8 “He trusts in the Lord; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”

9 Yet you are he who took me from the womb; you made me trust you at my mother’s breasts. 10 On you was I cast from my birth, and from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

11 Be not far from me, for trouble is near, and there is none to help. 12 Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; 13 they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion.

14 I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; 15 my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws; you lay me in the dust of death.

16 For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet— 17 I can count all my bones— they stare and gloat over me; 18 they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots.

19 But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid! 20 Deliver my soul from the sword, my precious life from the power of the dog!

you can see this Psalm doe snot end in despair but hope. it’s opening lines only give voice to the pain and grief that wanted to take the heart of Jesus. But it did not get him.

By the way: we see this same tactic being used by Dr. Livingston. in the very depths of his blackest moments he records that he has completed reading the entire bible 4x since he was on that trek in just that region alone.

You can see that series of coincidences with the psalm as they are occurring just a few feat of that one cross in front of the people who had memorized that psalm to become rabbis.

The Coincidences start to mount one by one until you realize the chance of all of that happening at once at that moment is astronomical, and it is a divine sign of Gods love for His Son Jesus.

this psalm that Jesus refrences iss iron clad proof that God had planned for this moment long before it happened. (at least a thousand years) - althought ebible says he planned this moment before the foundations of the world were laid.

THe plan that Jesus the creator would be the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world.

He took on Sin, my sin your sin, in that moment, a bit later he sais, it is finished, and in that moment the Power of God was released and sealed for salvation of all that will accept it.

Summary

Dr Livingston Epilogue:

Modern writers distorted The history of Dr. Livingston, largely ignoring his bitter attacks on British policy and his defense of the right of Africans to fight for their lands. They also rarely note his constant insistence that without the help of African companions, particularly the Kololo, he could never have completed his astonishing journeys.

Dr. Livingston’s Commitment to Jesus was central in his life and his journal shows his repeated dedications of his life to God.

IN March 19th 1872, on his Birthday - a little more than a year before he draw his final breath on earth, He dedicates his life anew unto the service of God.

“My Jesus, my King, my life, my all; I again dedicate my whole life to Thee. Accept me, and grant, O Glorious Father, that ere this year is gone may I finish my task. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen, so let it be. - David Livingstone.”

Dr. Livingston dies a year later May 1 1873 about 1.5 years after after meeting H.M. Stanley. He is found in his native friends in the posture of pray on his knees at the side of his bed. He dies, In Africa, completing his task by praying for Africa - to send missionaries after him.

Are we able to commit our lives to God service completely? in the face of any difficulty?

Are we confident that Jesus will be with us always even to the every end of the age.

Matthew 28:19–20 ESV

19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Baker’s Dictionary of Practical Theology (5) Thrust into the Congo Area

(5) Thrust into the Congo area

After Henry M. Stanley, the great explorer and successor to David Livingston, had laid open the Congo territory to the world, the missionary societies were not slow in entering this jungle area. First in the field were the English Baptists who transferred the famous George Grenfell and his companion Thomas Comber from the Cameroons to the Congo in 1878. The American Baptists followed in 1884, absorbing the work of the independent Livingstone Inland Mission. Other societies, American, British, and Continental soon entered, and the Congo became one of the best staffed mission areas, divided between a legion of mission organizations, both denominational and interdenominational.

What is it that God has you doing now?

Moving to a new Town, a new neighborhood, or a boot camp?

or just more of the same?

Dedicate yourself and your life to Jesus and see his purpose fulfilled in your life.

“My Jesus, my King, my life, my all; I again dedicate my whole life to Thee. Accept me, and grant, O Glorious Father, that ere this year is gone may I finish my task. In Jesus’ name I ask it. Amen, so let it be. - David Livingstone.”

Pay attention, and the next time an amazing coincident happens. ask God, is this you? what do you want me to do?

Some things are just amazing coincidences of chance But some are much more significant and divine.

you want to see more divine coincidences in your life? pray and read the word more!.

Next Week: Jamie!

next in this series God speaks through Media. - powerful and surprising!

Time to dismiss and bless each other!

Numbers 6:24–26 ESV

24 The Lord bless you and keep you; 25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; 26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

later: Angel meetings

Acts 27:20–25 ESV

20 When neither sun nor stars appeared for many days, and no small tempest lay on us, all hope of our being saved was at last abandoned. 21 Since they had been without food for a long time, Paul stood up among them and said, “Men, you should have listened to me and not have set sail from Crete and incurred this injury and loss. 22 Yet now I urge you to take heart, for there will be no loss of life among you, but only of the ship. 23 For this very night there stood before me an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I worship, 24 and he said, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must stand before Caesar. And behold, God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ 25 So take heart, men, for I have faith in God that it will be exactly as I have been told.