Encountering the Incredible Pt. 4

This post continues the series Encountering the Incredible. This post is about the last Element of an Encounter we see in Acts 26, which is responsibility. 

Acts Ch.26 V. 16b Responsibility

• You become a Servant and a Witness of the Incredible.
• As a servant you have a responsibility.
• You can only be a witness to what you have encountered.

Paul immediately started preaching after his encounter.

 He didn’t know much—but he had had an encounter.  He couldn’t talk about the grandiose theology of justification, and predestination, but he could tell others what God had done for him.  It shouldn’t be hard to testify, you don’t have to know much, but you just have to tell others what God has done for you. The message of the cross then has a new meaning to you when you have encountered the Risen Christ. It is more than a story it is an experience, an incredible encounter.

The Responsibility of an Encounter with the Incredible…

Encountering the Incredible Pt. 3

Continuing with the Encountering the Incredible post series. You can read the other posts to catch up with the message from Acts 26 about the Apostle Paul’s Encounter with the Incredible. Today we discuss a couple more of the Elements of an Encounter

Elements of an Encounter continued:

Acts Ch.26 V. 14,15 Voice of God

• Jesus spoke in Hebrew or Aramaic so that Paul/Saul could completely understand that.
• If Jesus has to speak English, Ebonics, or text message he will.
• If he needs to shoot you an email, or facebook, or myspace God will speak to you.
• Jesus was so serious about getting Paul that he came and visited him himself. He is also concerned about your experience.
• He will send somebody to be his voice.
• The Voice asks a question, “Saul, Saul why are you persecuting me, don’t you know that its hard to kick against the pricks.”
• Ox goad—The ox goad was a long sharp iron tool used by farmers to cause an ox to move forward; however, the animal would typically reply by kicking against the tool, which actually would drive the goad in harder hurting the animal more than ever.
• Similarly, God is calling you to a higher place and His Voice is eternally echoing in your being, and your resistance is only hurting you.

V. 16a, 18 Elevation of Mind

• Though the glory knocked him down, Jesus still calls Paul up.
• God is still lifting us despite our shortcomings, his grace is till available to a wretch like us.
• An elevation of mind causes us to see things the way God sees them.
• Paul thought that Gentiles were not apart of God’s covenant community; however, God charged him to see things the way He sees them.
• Similarly God is calling us to look at sin and life the way He sees them. (e.g. God wants us to concentrate less on Flo Rida’s song and tasting the sugar of the lady’s lips, but tasting and seeing that the Lord is good and blessed is the one that trusts in Him!”)

Have You Encountered the Incredible?…

Encountering the Incredible Pt. 2

Continuing with the message. When Paul was on the Road to Damascus he had an Encounter with the Incredible. Acts 26:12-18 show the Elements of an Encounter, and the next couple of days we will discuss them.

Ch. 26 V. 12-18 Elements of an Encounter

1.    V.12  Location

• I want you to realize that Paul was not en route to worship service or to perform a good deed.
• God has a way of capturing our intention, we are not even truly thinking about Him.
• When we are doing wrong, God has a way speaking to us.
• Location does not have to refer to a physical geographical place, but it can refer to abstract places like, health, finances, and family.  

        2.    V. 13  Enlightening Experience

• God gives Paul an experience that knocks him off his feet, and God wants to give you an experience that knocks you off your fee.
• This is a bit of paradox, because it is in knocking Paul down that he was able to see God better. It is in our being knocked off our feet and falling back that draws us closer to God.
• The Glory of God makes you cognizant of your real status.

                     Paul was blinded physically to demonstrate his spiritual blindness.

                     God manipulates our circumstances so that He can demonstrate His strength being made perfect in our weaknesses. 

Encountering the Incredible….