Acts 8:30
“And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?”
This is one of the best soul-winning stories you will find in the Scriptures. Philip was preaching a revival meeting when the Holy Spirit told him to leave and go to the desert. What a strange request when God was blessing in the revival. Philip obeyed, and while he was walking in the desert he came upon a man who was reading the Scriptures. Philip asked him if he understood what he read. The man responded by telling him he needed someone to explain the Scriptures to him. Philip explained the Scriptures and this man was saved. Wow! There is nothing like having someone ready to get saved. This soul-winning experience was a divine appointment.
God regularly gives me divine appointments in my travels. These divine appointments certainly happen during my scheduled soul-winning time, but most of them happen throughout the course of my daily life. It might be someone whom God placed right beside me on the airplane, or it could be someone whose path I cross throughout the day. These divine appointments are so clear because the person is nearly asking me to show them how to be saved; however, they only happen when I’m open to the Holy Spirit’s prodding.
There is no doubt in my mind that God has divine appointments for everyone on a daily basis; however, we will never see these appointments unless we listen to the Holy Spirit. If you are sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit, you will find that He will tell you to go talk to someone about their soul. What you do when you hear the voice of the Holy Spirit will determine whether you discover your divine appointment. If you are too busy to obey the Holy Spirit’s prodding, then you will miss your divine appointment.
Moreover, divine appointments happen in different places. Philip certainly did not expect to find someone reading the Scriptures in the desert, but that is what made it a divine appointment. When the Holy Spirit speaks, you must not let the place hinder you from obeying. I have come across divine appointments many times in a gas station or checking in at a hotel. Where people are supposed to be frequently coming, I have found the Holy Spirit will keep traffic away while I witness to the person to whom He caused my path to cross.
Furthermore, divine appointments will only happen if I look for them. Philip could have walked right past this man, but his eyes were as alert to the Holy Spirit’s guiding as were his ears. All around you are opportunities to find your divine appointment. You must be careful that you don’t let the stature of a person cause you to shy away from them. Always remember that everyone has a soul that needs to be saved. Most likely you will see your Divine appointment first, and then the Holy Spirit will tell you to go talk to that person.
Before you leave your house every morning, ask the Holy Spirit to guide you to your divine appointment. Keep your eyes focused and look for that appointment, and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit when He tells you to speak to someone. Always remember that divine appointments will happen at the strangest places and in the strangest times. It won’t make sense, but God will lead you to that appointment if you will simply look, listen and obey.