God Encounters–The Point of it All

We have been talking in the last few post about God Encounters (If you have not read them I encourage you to click back and check them out) and today I really want you to get the point of it all.

Meeting with God in His presence will change your life. Jacob, as we will see next week, limped away after his encounter with God which was an outward reminder of his meeting with God and inwardly the limp was a reminder to walk humbly before God. Moses had a face that shone after his encounter with God which was a reminder to him and to everyone else of the ways God worked in Moses life. Saul became Paul and was called to ministry and Peter was given a new commission as we will see later. You will be changed – that is something that all of us need – we need to be changed by God! God wants to change each of us – will you allow him to do it?

Here is probably one of the most important things in talking about God encounters and that is there will be many things about our encounters with God that we will not understand. God encounters are mysterious and they are and will be different for all of us.  They are mysterious and wonderful and disturbing – all in a good way.

To go along with the mystery, we need to recognize that we still have a sin nature that blinds us spiritually to some of the things happening around us. Paul remind us of this in 1 Corinthians 13:12 when he said,  For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I also have been fully known. There is a mystery in every encounter with God. Maybe part of the mystery is that God will not explain everything that’s happening around us in the encounter because He is testing our faith. Maybe He wants to know if we will trust and obey Him when His presence comes in and points us in a direction that is uncomfortable or that we in ourselves do not want to go. The point to this is found in these verses we all know – Proverbs 3:5,6 – Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your paths. I am reminded also of these verses – Isaiah 55:8-9  “For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.  “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways And My thoughts than your thoughts. Regardless, God’s ways are right and we need to follow them but will you do it? Will you have an open heart to allow God to encounter you?

What is one thing you have trusted God with recently that you have not ever trusted Him with before or that you had taken back but now have given back to Him?

(This series of post has been inspired by the book – God Encounters by Elmer Towns)

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