TOPIC: HAVE YOU ENCOUNTERED JESUS?
MEMORISE:
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
READ: Acts 9:1-6
1 And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest,
2 And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.
3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven:
4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
MESSAGE
One can easily assume that everyone who attends church regularly or functions in a department within a church has encountered Jesus. However, in my experience, I have realized that many people are working hard in the Lord’s vineyard but haven’t had an encounter with Him. They know a lot about Him, but they don’t know Him.
Paul thought he knew God until the day he had an encounter with Jesus Christ. When you truly meet Jesus, you will become a completely new person. Before Paul met Jesus, he persecuted believers. However, when he met Him, his story changed. In 1 Timothy 1:13-16, he spoke about his horrible past as a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an injurious person, and how he obtained mercy from God. In Christ, he became a Chief Apostle (2 Corinthians 11:5) and fulfilled his destiny (2 Timothy 4:6- 7).
Peter was just another fisherman from Galilee before he met Jesus. However, when he met Jesus, he was given a glorious destiny (Luke 5:10). Even when he failed and denied Jesus, his future was still secure because of his encounter with Jesus. When a man meets Jesus, his failures and weaknesses become part of his success story because God works all things together for his good. (Romans 8:28).
Isaiah thought he knew God until he had an encounter in Isaiah 6 that changed his life. When he saw the Lord in His glory, he fell on his face and cried, …Woe is me! For I am undone; because l am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:5). After meeting the Lord, Isaiah was willing to go wherever the Lord sent Him. When you truly meet Jesus, all your excuses will be burnt away like chaff.
Beloved, if you genuinely want to meet Jesus, make it mandatory for yourself to study God’s word every day. Revelation 19:13 says that He is the Word of God. When you study the word of God, you are fellowshipping with Jesus Christ. The more of God’s word you study, the closer you will get to Him. It will be difficult at first because the devil will try to stop you, but as you keep at it, you will discover that you are being transformed because you are getting to know the Son of God for yourself.
PRAYER POINT
Lord Jesus, please reveal Yourself to me in Your word. I want to know You more and follow You for the rest of my life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Micah 1-4
AUTHOR: PASTOR E. A ADEBOYE
HYMN 2: AMAZING GRACE
1 Amazing grace! How sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch; like me!
I once was lost, but now am found,
Was blind, but now I see.
2 ’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear.
The hour I first believed!
3 The Lord hath promised good to me,
His word my hope secures;
He will my shield and portion be
As long as life endures.
4 When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise
Than when we first begun.
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