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Appointed For A Purpose
Turn to someone around you and ask them this question, “Why are you here?” (Not, why are you here at the community center, but why are you here on earth?)
This is what you would call a loaded question!
This question opens up Pandora’s Box so to speak, because when you ask the question, “What am I here for?” questions such as, “Is there a reason for living?” “Am I here to accomplish something?” “What is that something that I am supposed to accomplish?” The list goes on and on…
But I have come to you today with the answer for this plaguing question! The source of this answer is given by Him who knows what life and death is all about…
This is the third part of a four part series about the Purpose of Life. We have already answered the questions? Who am I? And why have I had to endure the bad things that I’ve been through in my life? If you missed those, you have got to get the CD’s.
I have come to you this morning to preach to you this burning message in my heart… Appointed for a Purpose!
Genesis 3:9-15 (NKJV)
9 Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, “Where are you?”
10 So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.”
11 And He said, “Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree of which I commanded you that you should not eat?”
12 Then the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I ate.”
13 And the Lord God said to the woman, “What is this you have done?”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
14 So the Lord God said to the serpent:
“Because you have done this,
You are cursed more than all cattle,
And more than every beast of the field;
On your belly you shall go,
And you shall eat dust
All the days of your life.
15 And I will put enmity
Between you and the woman,
And between your seed and her Seed;
He shall bruise your head,
And you shall bruise His heel.”
· Eve had been given a promise
· She was told the end result of her promise. She wasn’t told how, or where, or when, she was just told that “You’re going to win this battle, but you are going to come out with some battle scars.”
Genesis 4:1-2 (NKJV)
4 Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain, and said, “I have acquired a man from the Lord.” 2 Then she bore again, this time his brother Abel. Now Abel was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of the ground.
Eve’s name meant – life or living
“Eve your promise will come through your giving life to your children.”
Cain’s name meant – possession
Cain was Eve’s prized possession…
Abel’s name meant – Vanity
When God gave Eve her second son she perceived Abel birth as being in vain. “I already have my prized possession, why do I need another son. Why do I have to care for two sons, when I only need one to see my promise come to pass? This extra burden is in vain!”
What Eve perceived as a burden God saw as provision for the future!
How many times have we wondered why God has given us so much to do, or so much to take care of?
We say, “God why is it my responsibility to see the lost people on my job come to know you? Isn’t it a big enough responsibility to see my own family saved?” (Giving to missions, we are trying to build a church ourselves.)
But I feel that God is looking down on us today, and saying what you perceive as a burden, I perceive to be provision for the future!
Genesis 4:8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.
Cain’s name has a second meaning – Spear
Do you know what happens when you combine a spear with a possession?
You get a wounded/broken possession.
If I was to give a nick-name to Cain it would be this: Broken Promise
Eve thought Cain to be all that she needed, and though Abel to be a burden.
Because of her incorrect perception of both of the gifts from God, both of them were taken from her…
When I read this scripture, there is one question that haunted me, which I wanted to ask Eve.
“What can you do, when God promises you life, but hands you death?”
What can you do when God promises you financial blessing, but all you receive is a pink slip from your boss?
What can you do when God promises you healing, but all He hands you is pain and suffering?
Genesis 4:25 (NKJV)
25 And Adam knew his wife again, and she bore a son and named him Seth, “For God has appointed another seed for me instead of Abel, whom Cain killed.”
Seth’s name meant – appointed
How many here have ever had an appointment? Doctors, Dentist, Job Interview?
When that nurse or secretary asks you what time you want to come in for you appointment they write it down and it is settled. At 10 AM two weeks from now you will have that Doctor’s undivided attention to you and your needs. That will be your time. Nobody else can come in and take your appointment from you. You have a set time!
I’ve come to answer your question this morning. Why are you here? It’s because you have an appointment!
Since before you were born God has written down in his book, that on so and so day at this time, I have an appointment for <name of someone in the service>.
Ephesians 1:11 (NKJV)
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
You are appointed for a Purpose!
Once you have made the appointment, you are then deemed appointed!
You can walk out of that Doctor’s office and wake up the next day, and everybody you come in contact with can cuss you out, put you down, speak all kinds of doubt, fear, and lies about your situation, but you can know, that I’ve been appointed.
Not only do you have an appointment, but that makes you appointed. You’ve got to live everyday of your life knowing that you are appointed for a purpose!
No matter what comes your way, you’re appointed for a purpose!
Habakkuk 2:2-4 (NKJV)
2 Then the Lord answered me and said:
“Write the vision
And make it plain on tablets,
That he may run who reads it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time;
But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.
Though it tarries, wait for it;
Because it will surely come,
It will not tarry.
4 “Behold the proud,
His soul is not upright in him;
But the just shall live by his faith.
I’ve come to tell somebody in this place today, Write it down! You’re appointed for a Purpose!
Though it tarries, wait for it! You’ve got an appointment!
