PRE-DE PART 1

Pre Divine Encounter: Part 1

What is a Divine Encounter?

It is An encounter with God, meeting Him personally, face to face. It is a time when God, through the shed blood of His Son Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit deals with our past and present so that we can have a meaningful life today.

Jacob, after wrestling with the angel of the Lord at Piniel said, “I have seen God face to face” (Gen. 32:30).  After that experience, Jacob’s life was transformed. His name was changed from Jacob (deceiver) to Israel (prince of God).  After that encounter he forever walked with a limp as a reminder of the night he wrestled with the Lord. He became a broken man (yielded and surrendered to God).

PAUL HAD TO ENCOUNTER THE LORD JESUS CHRIST

Saul of Tarsus: The Protector of Judaism

1. He thought the right way to protect his religion was to eliminate all Christians. (Acts 8:3)

2. He became an executioner of all who believed in Jesus.

3. He dedicated every second of his existence to the destruction of Christianity. (Acts 9:1a)

What are the things that you cannot easily give up and by all means will protect in your life?

Saul in Damascus: The Personal Encounter

“And while he was journeying, he came near Damascus; and suddenly he saw a light from heaven shining round him. And he went down on the earth, and a voice said to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you attacking me so cruelly?’ 5 And he said, ‘Who are you, Lord?’ And he said, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are attacking: 6 But get up, and go into the town, and it will be made clear to you what you have to do.’” Acts 9:3-6

1. He experienced a complete transformation in his life, which led him to defend the very doctrine he once condemned. (Galatians 6:14)

2. He had a revelation of the Cross.

3. He realized that the only true foundation was Christ.

May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. - Galatians 6:14

Are you willing to have a Divine Encounter with Him by surrendering your heart to Him in order to experience a complete transformation in your life?

He let go of that which most people yearn to have. The Revelation of the Cross. Phil. 3:7-11

His desire was to feel what Jesus felt while He was on the cross. He wanted to suffer the same agony that Jesus suffered during His crucifixion. Gal.2:20

7 But those things which were profit to me, I gave up for Christ. 8 Yes truly, and I am ready to give up all things for the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, which is more than all: for whom I have undergone the loss of all things, and to me they are less than nothing, so that I may have Christ as my reward. 9 And be seen in him, not having my righteousness which is of the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: 10 That I may have knowledge of him, and of the power of his coming back from the dead, and a part with him in his pains, becoming like him in his death; 11 If in any way I may have the reward of life from the dead. - Phil. 3:7-11

I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. - Galatians 2:20

TRUTH THAT SHOULD BE EXPERIENCED AT A DIVINE APPOINTMENT (ACTS 26:13-18)

1. To have a vision of the Cross - The vision of the crucified Christ

“.. to open your eyes ..” Acts 26:18a

2. A true conversion from Darkness to Light

“from darkness to light” Acts 26:18b

“Bears fruit worthy of repentance” Matthew 3:8

3. Taken from Satan’s control to the Lordship of Jesus

“and from the power of satan to God.”

Acts 28:18c

4. Forgiveness of sins through faith in Jesus Christ.

“so that they may receive forgiveness of sins..” Acts 28:18

5. Enjoy the privileges.

“an inheritance among those wacho are sanctified…” Acts 28:18e