Have you heard the story about the man who scrimped and saved to go on a cruise? He barely had enough to go on the cruise but he made it on the ship. For the entire cruise he only ate the little bit of bread and water that he brought with him. He did not have any more money to buy any of the food on the boat. Eventually the man ran out of the bread and water he brought with him and asked the ship’s captain to give him some food. The man begged for anything, even if it was just scraps from the table. The ship’s captain asked to see the man’s ticket. The man showed him the ticket. The captain pointed to the ticket and said you don’t have to ask for any food because all your meals are included.
We are just like this man. Asking all of the wrong questions. We are satisfied to just be on the boat, but don’t realize all that we have access to. We are steady just surviving off of bread and water when God says we can have it ALL! We could be sitting at the buffet having our pick of whatever we want! This entire time we could have had access to so much more, but we are not asking the right questions.
God brought me to some beautiful truths about who He has made us to be.
In Jeremiah 1:5
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart. I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.”
He chose us and set us apart even before we had a chance to sin! Even knowing that we would sin and disobey and doubt Him, He still appointed us to be prophets to the nations! That is not a small calling! That is greatness!
In Ephesians 1:4-5
4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—
He chose us in Him BEFORE creation! He chose us to be blameless and holy (without a spot or blemish). He predestined us to be adopted into His family! He was so excited about this adoption as well. There is no accident! God meant to do this because He did it even before we were on this Earth.
In John 15:16
“16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.”
We are stressing about our futures. Caught up in the ‘what ifs’ of life. We have been asking the wrong questions for far too long. God has already predestined, appointed, and chosen us to bear fruit! Not just any fruit either, but fruit that will last! So instead of asking “if” we will be successful or “if” we will have the money to make that move, we should be asking “when” and “how”. It is not a question of “if” because God has already said it will be so.
Wow, before we even had a chance to decide if we wanted a relationship with God, He already decided that He wanted one with us. It didn’t matter if we would choose Him or not, He has already chosen us! He chose us to do great things to bear fruit! And not just any fruit but fruit that would last! Fruit that would never spoil. Fruit that is eternal! The work we will do for Him is anointed to last ever long after we are dead and gone from this Earth! That is the kind of destiny we have!
But since we are chosen by Christ, since we have been appointed to go and bear lasting fruit, anything we do for Christ will be blessed by God. If we need money, food, space, power, authority, open doors, a Visa (help me Lord), to do His will then it will be ours. Why? Not because we chose God, but because He chose us!
All meals are included.
Here we are wondering if things will work out in the end. Baby, things are already worked out! The plans are already in place. God has ordained it even before you were a ‘you’! It is not a question of if but how and when! At what magnitude will we do great things for Christ? At what level? When will these things come to past? I already know that they will, I have already been preapproved!
Just a personal testimony of how God is faithful in showing this in my own life this week. This past Sunday, during worship at my church the Holy Spirit gave me a visual of this magnificent table. It was dressed in the finest of linens and china. There was food to appease even the pickiest of appetites. There was enough food to feed nations on this table! Then the Holy Spirit dropped in my spirit that I can have anything on the table! There is no limit to what I can have. All I need to do is ask. It is not a question about if I can eat from this table or even sit at this table, but how much and when. In fact, the Holy Spirit showed me that I have a reserved seat at this table. My name is on a place card to reserve my space. So instead of questioning if I am fit to be at this table, I should be asking how much and when!
How much do you want to eat? How much do you want to feast on?
When can I eat? When can I partake in each course?
These are the questions we should be asking God, not if. God has told us over and over we are predestined, chosen, appointed, set apart! It is already done. We are asking the wrong questions.
Then a manifestation of this prophetic word came only five days later! I was asked to be the guest speaker for Kingswood College Junior school end of term dinner (pictures below). Yeah, still can’t believe they wanted me?! But God is good! So this was a very formal dinner for the school. The headmaster of the school was in attendance and several other staff and teachers from the private school. When I arrived at the hall, the tables were decorated with the finest of linens and china. There was wine and other beverages laid out on the table. Whatever you wanted was available. I sat down at the table and looked in front of me and saw a place card with my name on it! If I was in doubt about my place there, I opened the program and next to the words guest speaker was: Ms Sarah Williams.
I didn’t have to ask if they would have space for me or if they knew I was coming. That was done in advance! It was preordained I would be in attendance!
God wants us to start asking better questions. He has already predestined us for greatness! It has already been done. So stop stressing and worrying about your future. We must start asking how and when. But first we must come into the understanding that our futures are already ordained and predestined. Greatness is our destiny.
All meals are included!
21 Days of Surrender: Tips for a Successful Fast
5. Praise and Worship is essential! Everyday be sure to include praise and worship. Whether it is listening to some of your favorite praise and worship songs or making up your own, spend lots of time in praise and worship!
See Psalm 150:1-6; Psalm 96:1-9; Psalm 146:1-2
Adventures of a School Teacher 