Encountering God: Changed by the Spirit

By: Pastor Terrence Sobers

“A New Life”

Main Points:

• The Damage of a Deceived Heart (Error in Ignorance)

• The Impact of an Encounter with God (A moment of Discovery)

• Explore and learn from what Occurs (Choose to Engage)

• An Encounter is Personal (The change to you is most important)

• An Encounter can be Destabilizing (Change is not always straight forward)

• In Divine things there are Destiny Helper (Nothing Divine is ever done Alone)

• Change is a Double-Edged Sword (Growth has Challenges)

• Spiritual and Natural Change (Revelation and Growth)

• Restore-Strengthen-Learn (Choose to Develop)

• God Gets Glory (your encounter should have an impact)

• Change will be Opposed (resilience is required)

The Damage of a Deceived Heart

(Error in Ignorance) 

Acts 9:1-2 NKJV Then Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest 2 and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.

• Zeal is a great gift of God but when applied in error can cause great damage to the thing or One whom you are seeking to Honor

• Parents, spouses, friends, Christians all with good intention but in ignorance can cause great hurt to the ones they are seeking to Bless or honor

• It is critical to seek to ensure you are correct before you act

The Impact of an Encounter with God

(A moment of Discovery) 

Acts 9:3 NKJV 3 As he journeyed he came near Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. 4 Then he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?”

• Divine Encounter - Paul met God

• Change usually starts with an encounter. You have a new experience, meet someone else, and are exposed to new information

• Where nothing changes…nothing changes

• Insight and awareness, are key to any change that occurs in our life

Explore and learn from what Occurs

(Choose to Engage) 

Acts 9:5-6 NKJV 5 And he said, “Who are You, Lord?” Then the Lord said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. [a]It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” 6 So he, trembling and astonished, said, “Lord, what do You want me to do?” Then the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

• Divine Purpose - Paul was given instruction from God

• Seek to understand what you are experiencing. Having a new experience and not engaging deep enough to benefit is pointless

• An encounter without engagement is an opportunity lost

• Use the opportunity to find out how your life can change or improve as a result

• God always is seeking to get our attention and direct us towards better, but He is usually waiting for an engaged Heart.

John 4:23 - "But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such to worship Him"

God is seeking those who are genuinely interested in Him and His purposes

Jeremiah 29:13- 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.

This speaks of an intentional, active, persistent process

2 Chronicles 16:9(a) For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

This is an instance where the seer Hanani had to remind King Asa, that dependance on God was better than dependance on man. His dependance on the King of Seria was an affront to God.

An Encounter is Personal

(The change to you is most important) 

Acts 9:7 NKJV 7 And the men who journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice but seeing no one.

• Do not expect everyone to fully understand what’s happening to you, you yourself may not fully understand

• If you have a genuine encounter, people should notice some difference even if they don’t comprehend everything that is happening

An Encounter can be Destabilizing

(Change is not always straight forward)

Acts 9:8 NKJV 8 Then Saul arose from the ground, and when his eyes were opened he saw no one. But they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. 9 And he was three days without sight, and neither ate nor drank.

• Sometimes things seem to get worse rather than better when you have an encounter with God

• You may have to lose things you treasure

• You may need help in ways you didn’t before

• It may cause a change in how you function for some time

• But it is all apart of transitioning to better

In Divine things there are Destiny Helper

(Nothing Divine is ever done Alone)

Ananias Baptizes Saul

Acts 9:10-12 NKJV 10 Now there was a certain disciple at Damascus named Ananias; and to him the Lord said in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” 11 So the Lord said to him, “Arise and go to the street called Straight, and inquire at the house of Judas for one called Saul of Tarsus, for behold, he is praying. 12 And in a vision, he has seen a man named Ananias coming in and putting his hand on him, so that he might receive his sight.”

• When your encounter is genuine, you often need helpers to get you to your next stage

• God works best in community; we do not do it all alone

Change is a Double-Edged Sword

(Growth has Challenges) 

Acts 9:13-16 NKJV 13 Then Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much [b]harm he has done to Your saints in Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on Your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen vessel of Mine to bear My name before Gentiles, kings, and the children[c] of Israel. 16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.”

• All will not accept that you have changed based on your history

• The change can expose you to new levels of life, opportunity and authority

• Change will bring new responsibilities and challenges and often pain and pressures

  
  

Spiritual and Natural Change

(Revelation and Growth)

Acts 9:17-18 NKJV 17 And Ananias went his way and entered the house; and laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord [d]Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you came, has sent me that you may receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 Immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he received his sight at once; and he arose and was baptized.

• You will be embraced by those who understand, not everyone will understand

• Divine Revelation- Encounters can cause physical and spiritual change. Paul was delivered from spiritual and natural blindness

• Encounters require a response. Paul got up and was baptized. He became committed to God

Restore-Strengthen-Learn

(Choose to Develop) 

Acts 9:19 NKJV 19 So when he had received food, he was strengthened. Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus.

• Just because God Has Changed you or created opportunity. It doesn’t mean you are fully ready for the journey or know all that is necessary

• Take time to develop in the way God is leading you

• Seek to become stable, before seeking to expand

• Be humble enough to learn from others

God Gets Glory

(your encounter should have an impact)

Saul Preaches Christ

Acts 9:20-22 NKJV 20 Immediately he preached [e]the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God. 21 Then all who heard were amazed, and said, “Is this not he who destroyed those who called on this name in Jerusalem, and has come here for that purpose, so that he might bring them bound to the chief priests?” 22 But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who dwelt in Damascus, proving that this Jesus is the Christ.

• Paul preached Christ boldly- Active Service

• Genuine change always produces fruit and Glory to God

• It is usually testified by others, if no one notices the change is questionable

• Consistency breads development and increased impact

Change will be Opposed

(resilience is required) 

Acts 9:23-25 NKJV 23 Now after many days were past, the Jews plotted to kill him. 24 But their plot became known to Saul. And they watched the gates day and night, to kill him. 25 Then the disciples took him by night and let him down through the wall in a large basket.

• Divine Empowerment - Paul persisted despite attacks and persecution

• All will not approve your change; many will resist it and reject you

• Resilience and Dependence on God and often other is Essential

Declarative Prayer:

• We Declare that we will seek Divine Encounters

• We Declare that we will accept Divine Direction

• We Declare that we will fulfill Divine Purpose

• We Declare that we will depend on Divine Empowerment

IN JESUS NAME

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