Pre-Encounter-Teaching 1
“THE IMPORTANCE OF ENCOUNTERING GOD”
What is an Encounter? An Encounter is a divine appointment with God. It is a specific time in your life when God “shows up” on your behalf. It is marked by His presence, His power, and His deliverance. When you encounter God, you are forever changed. There are four major effects of an Encounter? First, you will experience genuine repentance — (Psalm 51:3-4). At the Encounter, most people will come face to face with their own sinfulness and need for forgiveness. All of us have sinned and need to periodically examine our hearts for any areas that are not pleasing to God. The Encounter provides the perfect time and place to get right with God in any way you need too. Repentance will be characterized by a change of life and attitude, not just by sorrow or emotional feelings of regret. Second, you will receive new direction. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things havebecome new” (II Corinthians 5:17). In Acts 9, we see how Paul the apostle encountered God. He went from persecuting Christians, to writing 2/3 of the New Testament. During Paul's encounter, He asked God the two most important questions we need to know. Who are you God & what do you want me to do? God answered both questions, & He will answer you when you make encountering Him a priority. Jeremiah 29:13 says, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Thirdly, we experiencea transformed character. In Genesis 32:1-8, 27-28, we see how Jacob’s encounter transformed His character. He went from a lying shyster to a man of God marked by humility. He literally wrestled with God until He blessed & changed His name! Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face”. After that moment Jacob never was the same! The fourth is that we experience a Renewed love. In, John 21:14-19, Peter boldlydeclared that he was willing to follow the Lord even to death, but as the story unfolds, He denies the Lord three times. Then after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was restored by the love of Jesus, and worked some of the greatest miracles in the book of Acts. If you let Him have His way with you on the Encounter, you will find yourself falling in love with Him all over again, and you will be able to walk with the fire of your “first love” into the new path He has for you. Remember, the enemy's main objective is to keep you fromseekingGod; therefore,he will try to create barriers to prevent you from having an encounter. Similarly, Pharaoh tried to keep the people of God from having a 3 day encounter by holding them in slavery. He knew, once they encountered freedom from God, he would no longer have control over them. It was only when the people of God were determined to break free from his chains by "the blood of the Lamb" did they have an encounter. Let's have the same determination and receive the benefits of the encounter. Let's declare this together, "By the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed from the power of the enemy and free to encounter God’s power"!
1. Do you need an encounter with God? Explain.
2. What are some things that would try to hinder you from encountering Him?
3. What miracles are you expecting on this encounter?
4. Would you like to ask Jesus in your heart & never be the same?