DIVINE ENCOUNTER
“For an angel of the Lord went down at appointed seasons into the pool and moved and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was cured of whatever disease with which he was afflicted.” (John 5:4)
“As Jesus approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it. He cried because He felt very sorry for the people in it…because [they] did not recognize the time of [their] visitation.’” (Luke 19:41, 44b)
“Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, ‘I have seen God face to face, and my life has been preserved; I have been delivered.’” (Genesis 32:30)
Welcome to the ninth month of the year!
Happy new month and welcome to your month of delivery. I believe that we are all moving to higher levels in all aspects of our lives. Micah 2:10 admonishes us to arise and be on the move, for where we are is not our final destination. Beloved, there is still a lot to go after—this is not the time to settle. It is my prayer that the desire to do more, to have more and to be more to the glory of God remains ever burning in our hearts in Jesus’ name.
So what is the Holy Spirit saying to us at this time? There are encounters that mark a person for life. We do not necessarily remember everyone we meet on a regular basis, but there are people whom we meet for the first time that not only leave an impression, but change the trajectory of our lives in a good way. How much more then would our lives change if the encounter is divine? In light of this, the prophetic focus for September is DIVINE ENCOUNTER. It is my prayer that we do not miss the life-transforming encounters that God has appointed for us in Jesus' name.
The Bible is full of accounts of people who either missed, nearly missed, or made the most of divine encounters. Jacob in Genesis 28:16 slept all through what would have been a divine encounter. When another opportunity presented itself in Genesis 32:24-31, he maximized that encounter. He refused to be swayed, neither was he casual. He contended for his destiny and got a change of name and a proclamation of blessing. Jesus in Luke 19:41-44 wept over Jerusalem because they could not discern the time of their divine visitation. The lame man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-7) had missed several opportunities to get his healing. He almost missed it again with Jesus right in front of him. Thank God for mercy.
It is important that we are sensitive to when God is among us. The time of an encounter may come in quietness and stillness, in the most unassuming place or session (1 Kings 19:11–12). It could also be loud and unmistakable (Acts 2:1–4). God also shows up through His Word (1 Samuel 3:21). Whatever the case may be, we must remain sensitive enough to recognize when God is present and moving among us; we must not miss the moment when the water is stirred. Like the woman at the well in John 4:10, 29, we must recognize when Jesus is right before us.
This month, the Impact ‘26 conference is another time to secure an encounter with God. Beloved, like Jacob in Genesis 32:24-26, maximize your encounters. Be sensitive—do not miss God; don’t ask for trivial things. It may be a while before the Lord manifests Himself in the same way as He will during Impact. So refuse to be present in body but absent in spirit. An encounter will require persistence and tenacity. Be like the widow in Luke 18:1-8—unwavering, insistent, unwilling to let go until God responds.
Finally, there is always proof of an encounter. After the divine encounter in Genesis 32, Jacob entered a new day with a new name and a new step—he was marked for life. It is my prayer that there will be proof that we met with God. May we step into a new day and a new season; may our encounters this month mark us for life, and our lives will never be the same again. May we be exposed to greater dimensions of God. I pray that myFather’s House will see the Face of God and experience His glory in a new way.
Our teaching series this month is Experiencing His Purpose; Experiencing His Victory (The Sound of Victory); Go in Thy Might; and Experiencing His Presence.
Shalom!