The Importance of Encountering God

Imus Unida Christian Church
Gen. J. Castaneda St., Imus, Cavite

Pre-Encounter Lesson No. 3

You are now to the point in your new life in Christ where you are ready to encounter God in a very special way. You have made a decision to follow Him; you have taken the important step of being water-baptized; you are learning how to commune with the Father. Now it's time to prepare yourself for a life-changing experience that we call the Encounter.

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 by the experience.

The Scriptures show many instances of individuals who had their own special encounters with God. Consider Jacob, who after wrestling with the angel at Peniel said, " I have seen God face to face" (Genesis 32:30). After that experience, Jacob's very name was changed, noting the transforming power of his encounter, and he forever after walked with a limp as a reminder of the night he wrestled with the angel of the Lord. In the New Testament, person after person was radically changed as each came into contact with Jesus. Because of encountering Him, sick bodies were healed, tormented minds were set free, blind eyes were opened, and even the dead raised to life. There is truly no end to what can happen when a person encounters God.

In our batch, most experienced inner joy beyond compare with anything in this world. Why? Because there was indwelling of the Holy Spirit in our body releasing all of us from the bondages of sin, hatred, unforgiveness, feeling of uncleanness...and replacing them with pure love, compassion, goodness and mercy and all the fruits of the Spirit...making our hearts unspotted and white as snow by the cleansing of the blood of Jesus, our Saviour and Redeemer. There was euphoria that everyone's face seemed shining and on fire for God.

Although God is the One who initiates the encounter, you have an important part to play in the process. Make yourself available to God and to be willing to cooperate with Him in whatever He wishes to do in your life. Your attitude must be one of surrender, acknowledging Him as the potter who has the right to do with you whatever He chooses. If you will entrust yourself to Him, take the step of going on an Encounter, and maintain an open heart, you will have your own uniquely special existence with God. And just like all the people in the Bible, you will never be the same!

What are some barriers that might prevent me from having an encounter with God?

When you go on an Encounter, you must first prepare your heart so that you will be in the position to receive everything that God has for you. Many things will try to distract you from your purpose, but decide ahead of time that nothing will stop you from having your encounter with God. Here are a few examples that you might need to deal with:

• Personal relationships - Sometimes those we love the most, such as our families and friends, are our greatest hindrance in following God. You must determine to follow your Saviour, no matter what (Matthew 16:24-25). You must give Him free reign to change you and mold you into His image without worrying about what others will think of you. You must put Him first, before all others (Mark 3:31-35, 10:29-30). When you go on your Encounter, therefore, lay aside all thoughts of those you are leaving at home. The Lord will take care of them as you turn your face towards Him. If you bring the problems of home or relationships with you into your Encounter, you will be distracted from what God wants to do in you.
• Personal plans and ambition - Are you going on this Encounter with an agenda of your own? Do you want God to work in your life, but only in certain areas and ways? Are you trying to dictate to God what to do and how to do it? To truly encounter the Lord, you must lay aside preconceived ideas of what God may or may not do. You have to die to yourself (John 12:24) and be open and transparent before Him. If you will do this, God will move in powerfully and accomplish the work He wants to do. (It is better to start with a clean slate rather than with preconceived notions and ideas that will clutter your mind and distract you from receiving the full messages of this personal Encounter with God.)
• Personal possessions - The things you own can mean too much to you. Every good thing you have was given to you by God (James 1:17), however, and He is more able to take care of your things while you are away on an Encounter. The Word of God is clear. If you seek Him and His kingdom, He will take care of you and provide for your needs (Matthew 6:33). Nothing is so valuable as to be of more worth than encountering the living God. (I rephrased the verse to simply mean God saying this to you: "Deal with my concerns and I'll deal with all your concerns." And remember always that nothing is too difficult for God!)

What are the effects of an Encounter?

The effects of an Encounter are many and varied, depending on what God specifically does in your heart. You may experience a freedom that you've never known before, a new confidence in God's love for you, a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, and boundless joy in the goodness of God. But whatever happens we find that many people experience the following changes:

• 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 to. The repentance will be characterized by a change in life and attitude, not just by sorrow or emotional feelings of regret.
• New direction - (Matthew 4:18-20) - When Peter and Andrew, ordinary fishermen, encountered Jesus, their lives took a drastic new direction. They left behind all the old and familiar, and launched out into the deep waters of following the Lord. It can be the same for you. The Encounter is an opportunity for you to start on a new course, no matter what your past has been like.
• Transformed character - (Genesis 32:1-8, 27-28) - When Jacob had an encounter with the Lord, his relationship with his brother Esau changed. Even his very name changed. You will be forever changed in your innermost being if you will allow the Lord to have His way with you at the Encounter.
• Renewed love (John 21:14-19) - In the New Testament, Peter boldly declared 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 and given a place of authority. He was given a second chance to prove Himself, and prove Himself he did as mightily evidenced in the book of Acts. God will give you a second chance, too. 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.

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5:14). All the laws and commandments of God are summed up in just one word, and that is LOVE. If you love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, you can be sure that you won't purposely do anything that would displease Him even one bit...because that would strain your relationship with Him and separate you from the One you love the most. Three times Jesus asked Peter, "Do you love Me?" Peter answered, "Yes, Lord; You know that I love You." Each time, Jesus answered, "Feed My Sheep."

Jesus asked His questions to underscore the essential truth that only love for Christ would sustain us to follow His footsteps...to thread on the very path that He took...never going off the railroad track that He wanted us to go...straight from start to finish...carefully and out of love for Him.

Jesus did not ask Peter if he loved His sheep, but if he loved Him. Affection for God's people in itself will not sustain us. There would always be problems along the way...His sheep can be unresponsive, unappreciative, and harshly critical of our efforts to love and serve them. In the end, we will find ourselves defeated and discouraged.

Love for God is the only motivating factor that will never fade away, not even in the worst circumstances. Anyone who loves God so dearly will remain unspotted in this world...pure of heart and can be trusted to do the arduous, demanding work of caring for His sheep...the people's souls, the very reason Jesus was crucified and suffered tremendously on the cross of calvary. It will enable us to stay the course, to be within boundaries, to walk on the very footsteps of Jesus, never going to the right nor left but staying on track despite the hustles and bustles of life. It is the love for God that will enable us to love His children and to continue feeding the flock of God. Jesus now is asking you, "Do you love Me? Feed My sheep."