Time to Encounter God

Encounters with the presence of God are seen throughout the Bible, in the Old Testament and the New. Time and time again, people set aside time to pray, seek God for wisdom and encounter Him, and he turns up in incredible ways. Moses encountered God in a burning bush (Exodus 3:2-4), and he called him to a purpose higher than himself, to lead God's people out of Egypt. When people encounter God, their lives are changed forever. The Old Testament prophets encountered God, and God gave them messages and visions that were not just for them, but changed the world around them.

He is God with us - God to be encountered...

1. The Spirit of God gives us wisdom - Isaiah 11:2 and I Corinthians 2:10-16 - The Holy Spirit guides us and gives us wisdom. James 1:5 states that if you lack wisdom, ask God and he will give it to you generously. The Holy Spirit gives us wisdom for our lives. Paul talks about the difference between the wisdom of God and the wisdom of the world in 1 Corinthians 2:10-16. We are called to walk in the wisdom of God and in the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5).
2. God gives us wisdom for today - Acts 10:1-47 - This is the pinnacle moment in the history of the early church. The church would have looked very different if Peter was not praying on a roof. This encounter with God showed Peter the bias of his heart against the Gentiles. We see in Acts 10:1-9 that God has already spoken to Cornelius and sent messengers to come and get Peter. Now we get to see the Spirit working in the heart of Peter to receive the men, accept the Gentiles and bring salvation and the baptism of the Holy Spirit to them.
3. God gives us wisdom for our future - Revelation 1:9-11 - John is on the island of Patmos, seeking God over the persecuted church. He cannot get to them, so like Paul, he writes to them. But this time, what God reveals to John is not just for his edification, for his gifting, for his encouragement but an encouragement to the churches of Asia Minor and the body of Christ across the globe, he seeks God for wisdom in his circumstances. One of the most incredible, amazing visionary text starts with 1:10 “On the Lord’s Day I was in the Spirit, and I heard…

Time and time again, throughout the Old and New Testaments, people set aside time to encounter God. He showed up, spoke, and gave them wisdom for the past, power for the present, and hope for the future. What can the Holy Spirit do when you take time to be in the Spirit, in prayer, setting time aside to encounter God?

Prayer Point: Thank you Holy Spirit for the continuing encounters as I press in to you. I ask that you will guide me in wisdom, give me fresh wisdom for my situations today and for my future.