Acts 9:1-9 (NIV)(See also Acts 22, 26) 1 Saul was still breathing out murderous threats against the Lord's disciples. He went to the high priest 2 and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he found any there who belonged to the Way, whether men or women, he might take them as prisoners to Jerusalem. 3 As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?" 5 "Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. 6 "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do." 7 The men traveling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. 8 Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 9 For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything.
5 Realities Concerning Encounters
1. Jesus wants to encounter us.
“Saul, Saul…”
“ITS TIME FOR A DIVINE INTERRUPTION!”
2. Encounters demand a response
“Who are you, Lord?”
Encounters provoke intimacy
To Know: ginosko: Knowledge through personal experience.
….“Lord?” The second part of that response.
“Encounters that don't lead to a greater level God’s leadership are simply educational experiences.”
3. Encounter facilitate revelation.
“I am Jesus.”
Encounters are always an invitation to have Jesus revealed.
Ephesians 1:17 (NIV) I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better.
4. Encounters carry alignment.
“Get up…”
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 (NIV) 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
5. Encounters carry assignment.
“and Go to…”
Encounters are often times a result of somebody else’s assignment….
The tension of a testimony
Acts 7:58-60 (NLT) 58 (They)and dragged him(Stephen) out of the city and began to stone him. His accusers took off their coats and laid them at the feet of a young man named Saul. 59 As they stoned him, Stephen prayed, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 60 He fell to his knees, shouting, “Lord, don’t charge them with this sin!” And with that, he died.