"Vessels for Encounter”

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But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest

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and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

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Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.

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And falling to the ground, he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

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And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.

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But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Exodus 3:1-7

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Meanwhile, Moses was shepherding the flock of his father-in-law Jethro,

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the priest of Midian. He led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb,

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the mountain of God.

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There the angel

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of Yahweh appeared to him in a blazing fire from within a bush. Moses saw the bush ablaze with fire, but it was not consumed.

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So Moses thought, “I must go over and see this marvelous sight. Why is the bush not burning up?”

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When Yahweh saw that he had gone over to look, God called out to him from within the bush, “Moses, Moses!”

“Here I am,” he answered.

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“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

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Then He said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.”

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Genesis 12:7

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Then Yahweh appeared to Abram and said, “I will give this land to your offspring.

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” So Abram built an altar there to Yahweh, who had appeared to him.

Psalm 34:8

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Oh, taste and see that Yawhehis good!

Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!

I heard the Lord say, "I am the God of the Encounter. I am coming to encounter you."

Friends, we are in a season of transitions. Everything around us is shaking and we are being called out of our place of comfort and into new fields of uncertainty.

The time for predictability is over. It is time for us to not only preach the Word of God, but to experience it!

In Job 42:5, it is written “I have heard of You by the hearing of the ear; But now my eye sees You;

We live in a nation where most have simply "heard" about Yeshua. Our churches are filled with people who know "about" Jesus. But who do not "know" Him.

In fact, Yeshua himself gives us a stark warning when he says in Matthew 7,

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On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’

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And then will I declare to them, ‘I never KNEW you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

The word here for "knew" has its Hebrew root in the word for "intimacy" as in "Adam 'knew' his wife and they conceived a child.

Friends, our God desires intimacy with us. He does not want us to simply know "about" Him. He wants us to "know" him deeply.

And there is only one way to get to know Him and that is through "encounter."

As we read through the Scriptures, the men and women of old have all experienced deep encounters with the Lord which produced complete transformation in their lives. In some cases, this encounter even produced a name change!

Abram became Abraham. Saul became Paul.

These encounters changed these men and their destinies forever.

Each of the 12 disciples had a deep encounter with Messiah. This encounter is what led to them being filled with the Spirit and produced within them the power and spiritual fortitude to live out a very difficult calling.

The Father says this to you today, "I am coming to encounter you. And through this encounter you will never be the same."

Friends, the Lord is calling you into "new fields." He is opening "new opportunities" before you which are exciting and terrifying at the same time. He is calling you to do things you cannot do on your own.

This calling has left you at times feeling a but disorientated. Your mind is racing as to how you will complete the task before you. But this is what the Lord says,

"You need one thing in order to do what I have set before you. You need to encounter me."

When we encounter God, we see Him as he truly is and we are filled with passion and zeal to do his will.

When we encounter God, our anxieties and fears are destroyed in His glorious Presence and we are equipped with the faith needed to walk forward.

When we encounter God, we are able to forsake everything in order that we might gain Christ.

Friends, the time for encounter has come.

The world is dying not for lack of sermons, Christian books or Podcasts.

The world is dying because it has lost its ability to hear the Fathers heartbeat.

The world is dying because people no longer seek to encounter God.

You are called to "be" the encounter.

Beloved, Yeshua lives within you. As you allow God to transform you, you will be filled with greater measures of His Presence. And when people encounter you, they will encounter Him because He lives inside of you.

This morning, as you near completion of this 40 day fast reflect over the times of encounter you have had with God. Let these be your food. And pray that the Father sends another encounter to fuel you for your next season.

When Yeshua appeared to his disciples he gave them instructions and concluded with a promise, "I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

The promise of the Father was the Holy Spirit. And friend He says the same to you today.

An encounter with the Lord is coming that will change your life forever. Only position yourself to receive it by walking closely with Him and He will come at the appointed time.

And you will become, His "Vessel for Encounter."

And you will watch as God encounters the nations, so that in the end the Scripture will come to pass which says "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of Yahweh as the waters cover the sea."

Our Prayer

Father, you are the God of the Encounter. Speak to us as you spoke to Moses. We want to stand before the Burning Bush. We want to walk with you on the "Road to Emmaus." For our hearts burn within us simply thinking about walking with you and being in your Presence. We are dry bones apart from encounter with you. You have hidden yourself within us. Open our eyes to the Kingdom within and draw us closer to you. We want the world to encounter you so make us "Vessels of Encounter." We love you and will "go to the land that you have shown us." For you are worthy. For the glory of Yeshua. Amen Amen

A Word from Our Father

My child, I am the God of Encounter. You have encountered me before and you will encounter me again. Do not look to encounter me in the same way alone. Watch as I encounter you in new ways and in new places. You’ve encountered me on the mountaintop, but have you encountered me in the valley? I am the God of the Transfiguration. I am calling you to a place that is more than a "geography." I am calling you to a place of encounter. This is not a one time experience but a living reality given for a lifetime. You are destined to walk in the same oneness that Yeshua walked in. You are seated with me in heavenly places. Position your heart for encounter. Hold nothing back from me. Whatever sacrifice I ask for, provide it. Your keeping it only prevents the depth of encounter I desire. I am gathering my 12 once more. I am making them into "Vessels for Encounter." And I have chosen you to become one of the 12. I have spoken.

Devotional Song

Friends, to encounter the Lord we must think of Him and Him alone. Let us worship Him this morning and cry out “Father, there is none like you!”