1 Corinthians 2:1-5 (NKJV)
1 And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling. 4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.
I believe it’s important, in this Western, logic-driven nation, to emphasize the radical importance of living an encounter-driven life. We must know God, not simply know about God!
Knowing about God does not automatically cause one to know God, however knowing God does result in one knowing about God! Both pursuits are important, but I contend that the most efficient method of achieving both is to launch the journey from the prayer room. Then, the class room, mission field, etc. will prove exponentially more fruitful.
We see this modeled in Acts 2. In 1 Corinthians 2 we see Paul emphasizing the importance of demonstration of power ahead of excellence of speech based on human wisdom.
So often I meet people who are craving an encounter with God. They want a tangible, deep transformation in God’s presence. Yet, so few ministries are encounter-driven today. Why is this? The fear of scrutiny.
An encounter-driven life so easily causes offense in others who may not be comfortable with such a mystical, revelation-focused experience.
Throughout scripture we see radical encounters with God that result in some of the most compelling stories of deliverance, freedom, power and victory that the world has known.
We must embrace and contend zealously for a move of the Holy Spirit that results in extreme encounter!
Where is the next Brownsville or Toronto going to occur? What’s holding that back? What happened to the Leonard Ravenhill messages of revival? What about holy laughter, groanings of the Holy Spirit, bold prophetic proclamations, brokenness, passion and tears? On a Sunday morning?!
Believers in more supernaturally sensitive parts of the world are experiencing God in wild ways– and we must catch up here in America!
Passive, mild-mannered churches that avoid the offensive fire of the Holy Spirit must wake up now! Instead of toning down the environment so as to attract the crowds, it’s time to turn up the heat so as to shock the lukewarm! Giving in to a mild, lukewarm atmosphere where God cannot manifest in wild fire will have tragic results.
I contend that as churches are birthed in the presence of the Holy Spirit in the prayer room, then messages such as Peter preached in Acts 2 will become standard.
In Revelation John was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day– and he encountered God powerfully! Let’s embrace the offensive, messy, mysterious and overwhelming encounter-driven life! As the Word of God comes powerfully alive in us, we will discover Jesus in fresh new, healing and empowering ways!
Dreams, visions, deliverance, prophetic declaration, groanings of the Holy Spirit, piercing preaching of the Word, angelic visitations, advancing against the enemy, manifestations of the Holy Spirit, dancing before the Lord and other elements will enhance a Spirit-driven experience on the Earth.
I find it’s when I’m living well in this mysterious, Holy Spirit driven way that reading the Bible is overwhelmingly effective. It burns with power. God simply must be experienced, continually if we are ever to grasp the Word, live a life of love and respond in obedience. It’s the encounter of intimacy with our Lover that the church needs if it is to fulfill it’s mission.
Let’s burn hot, night and day as people of passionate prayer in the furnace of perpetual encounter with Jesus!
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