Close Encounters Of The Best Kind

“Suddenly, the glory of the God of Israel appeared from the east. The sound of his coming was like the roar of rushing waters, and the whole landscape shone with his glory. This vision was just like the others I had seen, first by the Kebar River and then when he came to destroy Jerusalem. I fell face down on the ground.” – Ezekiel 43:2-3 NASB

Encounters with God. We read about an encounter with God in Ezekial 43. In response to the encounter, Ezekiel fell on his face before God. He realized that God was greater than anything He could imagine.

Encountering God is a really important part of life for Christians. Encounters with God are not about special feelings. Encounters with God are encounters with the person of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit wants to build a two-way relationship with us. When He encounters us, it’s because He wants to build that relationship and to help us become more like Jesus. Once we have a real encounter with God, it has the power to transform the rest of our lives.

God was working in your life long before you began working with Him. The Lord knew you before time began, and He knew what He wanted to do with your life. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.” Before the apostle Paul’s conversion experience on the road to Damascus, Jesus already knew Paul and had a specific assignment for him. But Jesus only revealed this assignment after Paul’s conversion. “But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel.” (Acts 9:15) God encounters us in order to reveal what He is doing and to invite us to become involved in His work. An encounter with God requires us to adjust ourselves to the activity of God that has been revealed.

Don’t allow the things of this world to keep you from experiencing encounters with God. Start by spending quality time with Him. Seek Him through times of intimacy. Talk with Him. Listen. Read and study His Word.

But it is your choice if you want to encounter God. It’s your choice to welcome the Holy Spirit to meet you and to be open to what He wants to do. It’s also always your choice for what to do after you’ve encountered God. If you’re looking for your life to be transformed by the presence of God, you must allow Him to work in your life on an ongoing basis.

Discussion Questions:

What is your definition of an encounter with God?
What encounters have you had with God?