Divine Encounters

-October 25, 2023-

Good morning, beloved, happy Wednesday

“So he trembling and astonished, said, ‘Lord, what do You want me to do?’ Then the Lord said, ‘Arise and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.’”

(Acts 9:6).

The Bible is full of divine encounters. God appeared to individuals in a special way, at a specific time, for a sensational result. This was the case of Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. He was vehemently against Christ and His church. He consented to the stoning of Stephen, watching over the cloaks of those who murdered him, began persecuting the believers, imprisoning them and even killing them. He got orders from the high priest to go to Damascus to round them up, but the Lord Jesus intervened, spoke to him and saved him.

Saul, who later became Paul, went on to be the greatest apostle, missionary, evangelist, teacher, and church planter. No one who has an encounter with Savior is ever the same again. Each one’s life was drastically, dramatically, and divinely changed. Paul had a tremendous zeal and commitment to Christ and preaching the gospel.

As I mentioned there are many divine encounters in the Bible. I will just name a few: Abraham in his tent; Jacob in the camp when he wrestled with the Lord; Moses at the burning bush; Joshua outside the city of Jericho before the battle of Jericho; Cleopas and another disciple on the road to Emmaus; the Samaritan woman at the well; the woman caught in adultery; and the list goes on and on. You can probably think of many others in the Scriptures.

Divine encounters are meetings arranged by God in bringing someone to Christ. The expression in the world is, “rendezvous with destiny.” Franklin Delano Roosevelt used this expression when he decided to run again for the presidency in 1936. He gave a rousing speech culminating in a call for all Americans to unite against tyranny. Heavenly encounters have an even greater importance and impact for the souls of people.

Have you had a divine encounter where God has led you to a special place, at a special time to meet a special person and point them to Christ? The Lord makes it clear. This happened to Philip with the Ethiopian eunuch on road from Jerusalem to Gaza. He spoke to him from the prophecy of Isaiah chapter 53, which the eunuch had been reading and led him to Christ. He then carried the gospel back to his country.

Have a blessed day being sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit for a divine encounter for an eternal purpose. Stay safe and healthy.

God creates the opportunities for heavenly encounters with eternal results; let’s take them,

Dean