What is an Encounter?

            

An Encounter is a divine appointment with God.  It is a specific time in your life when God “shows up” on your behalf.  It is marked by His presence, His power, and His freeing power.  When you encounter God, you are forever changed by the experience.

            

The Scriptures abound with many instances of individuals who had their own special encounters with God.  Consider Jacob, who after wrestling with the angel at Peniel said, “I have seen God face to face” (Genesis 32:30).  After that experience, Jacob’s very name was changed, noting the transforming power of his encounter, and he forever walked with a limp as a reminder of the night he wrestled with the angel of the Lord.  In the New Testament, person after person was radically changed as each came into contact with Jesus.  Because of encountering Him, sick bodies were healed, tormented minds were set free, blind eyes were opened, and even the dead raised to life.  There is truly no end to what can happen when a person encounters God.

            

Although God is the one who initiates the encounter, deciding the “when, where, and how” of it, you have an important part to play in the process.  Your role is to make yourself available to God and to be willing to cooperate with Him in whatever He wishes to do in your life. 

 

Your attitude must be one of surrender, acknowledging Him as the potter who has the right to do with you whatever He chooses.  If you will entrust yourself to Him, take the steps of going on an Encounter, and maintain an open heart, you will have your own uniquely special experience with God.  And just like all the people in the Bible, you will never be the same!

 

What are the effects of an Encounter?

            

The effects of an Encounter are many and varied; depending on what God specifically does in your heart.  You may experience a freedom that you’ve never known before, a new confidence in God’s love for you, a fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit, and boundless joy in the goodness of God.  But whatever happens, we find that, in particular, many people experience the following changes:

 

Repentance-(Psalm 51:3-4)-At the Encounter, most people will come face-to-face with their own sinfulness and need for forgiveness.  All of us have sinned and need to periodically examine our hearts for any areas that are not pleasing to God.  The Encounter provides the perfect time and place to get right with God in any way you need to.  The repentance will be characterized by a change in life and attitude, not just by sorrow or emotional feelings of regret.

 

New direction-(Matthew 4:18-20)-When Peter and Andrew, ordinary fishermen, encountered Jesus; their lives took a drastic new direction.  They left behind all the old and familiar and launched out into the deep waters of following the Lord.  It can be the same for you.  The Encounter is an opportunity for you to start on a new course, no matter what your past has been like.

 

Transformed character-(Genesis 32:1-8, 27-28)-When Jacob had an encounter with the Lord, his relationship with his brother Esau changed.  Even his very name changed.  You will be forever changed in your innermost being if you will allow the Lord to have His way with you at the Encounter.

 

Renewed love-(John 21:14-19)-In the new Testament, Peter boldly declared that he was willing to follow the Lord even to death, but as the story unfolds, He denies the Lord three times.  Then after Jesus’ resurrection, Peter was restored and given a place of authority.  He was given a second chance to prove himself, and prove himself he did as mightily evidenced in the book of Acts.  God will give you a second chance, too.  If you let Him have His way with you on the Encounter, you will find yourself falling in love with Him all over again, and you will be able to walk with the fire of your “first love” into the new path He has for you.

 

What practical preparations should I make to get ready for my Encounter weekend?

 

In the days preceding your Encounter, you will, of course, take care of those ordinary things that we all have to deal with.  You will want to make sure that you leave your families on the right note.  Leave your home in order, with all details taken care of.  It is important that family members understand where you are going and why and are prepared to take care of themselves in your absence.

            

Most importantly, do not leave home angry with a family member.  Resolve any problems before going on your Encounter so that you will be free to concentrate on what the Lord wants to do in you.  You want to do everything within your power to make sure that you arrive at the retreat center free of worry, anxiety, or unresolved issues concerning your family.

            

You have a divine appointment, and don’t let anything distract you from that purpose.

 

How do I prepare myself spiritually for the Encounter?

            

Even more important than the physical preparations you make are the spiritual ones necessary to ensure that you have a good Encounter. 

 

The most important thing you can do to get yourself ready is to consciously develop an attitude of openness and transparency before the Lord.  In the days leading up to the Encounter, make a deliberate step of surrender to the Lord and whatever He wants to do.  Ask the Holy Spirit to remove preconceived ideas from your mind and to enable you to go as an empty vessel waiting to be filled.  Allow the Lord to stir up expectancy in you that you will indeed encounter Him on your weekend.

            

As your Encounter weekend unfolds, you will be taught the reasons why people become bound, the causes of curses and how to break them, the need for forgiveness to obtain deliverance, the role of rebellion and wrong words in bringing destruction, and many other such things.  Your prayer partner will pray with and for you, and you will experience the freeing touch of the Lord in your life. 

So, get ready!

 

     You are indeed about to

ENCOUNTER GOD!

For more information contact Debbie Marshall

 

 

 

 

 

 

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4538 Holly Grove Road

Brighton, TN  38011

Phone: 901-476-8379

e-mail:Website contact: dyerprof@bigriver.net