ENCOUNTER SERIES PRE ENCOUNTER CLASS 02

Transcription

1 ENCOUNTER SERIES PRE ENCOUNTER CLASS 02 I. A MESSAGE TO THE INSTRUCTOR This second and final lesson of Pre Encounter is a critical point in the Consolidation process! Each student will need to decide whether or not they will continue to move forward in their spiritual growth and development by attending an Encounter. The purpose of this lesson is to not only provide an explanation of what an Encounter is all about, but more importantly, to motivate each student to make the commitment to participate in one. As always, minister with conviction and confidence, and allow the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do. Each student should be set up to experience a successful Encounter. The student s personal preparation is essential for this to happen. Each student starts off with their own assumptions and ideas about what an Encounter is. Satan will attempt to use misunderstandings, false expectations, and negative or cynical attitudes to undermine a student s time at an Encounter. This lesson is intended to give every student a biblical and accurate view of what an Encounter is, what they should expect, and the part they have to play in experiencing their freedom in Christ. II. CLASS OBJECTIVES The objectives of this lesson are: 1. Encourage and motivate every student to register for and attend an Encounter 2. Explain the Biblical principles behind the Encounter 3. Explain what will be taking place at the Encounter 4. Share with each student how they can best prepare themselves for their Encounter III. INTRODUCTION A. Student Icebreaker 1. Have your class break into groups of Ask each student to answer the following question, When you think about the word encounter, what comes to mind?

2 IV. LESSSON: ENCOUNTERING GOD A. Opening Illustration The great Houdini was a master magician and a great locksmith. He once bragged that there wasn't a jail cell in the world he couldn't escape from, provided he could go into the cell dressed in his street clothes and work in complete privacy. A small town in England had built a new jail, which they believed was escape-proof, so they invited Houdini to come and try to break out. Houdini accepted the challenge. They put him in the cell and closed the door. He was left alone. He took off his belt and took from it a tough, flexible steel rod. He went to work on the lock listening for the tell-tale click that indicated the latch had been released and his freedom was assured. He worked longer than it had ever taken him before and he still couldn't get the lock open! It seemed all the little tumblers were in place, but the bolt into the door frame didn't budge a bit. As time passed, he was becoming exhausted. He was stumped! Finally, after two solid hours of work, Houdini collapsed from exhaustion. He leaned against the door handle to the cell, and when he did the door swung open! It had been unlocked all the time. Houdini worked so hard to gain his freedom yet all his efforts were useless because he was already free. I wonder how many of us as Christians fail to realize the freedom we have in Christ. How many of us fail to take advantage of it and live the abundant life Jesus promised? B. You Have the Right to Be Free! John 8:34, 36 (TMB) 34 Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave 36 So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through. 1. Many Christians struggle with problems and difficulties from their pasts. Why? Like Houdini, they re frustrated with their attempts at freedom because they have yet to truly understand that the prison door is no longer locked! 2. Christ has set us free through His victory over sin and death on the Cross. However, taking personal possession of our freedom in Christ through repentance and faith is our responsibility. 3. We have the right to live free from our past and the negative habits and emotions that keep us from fully enjoying the life Christ has give us. But to exercise that right, every Christian must learn to walk by faith according to what God says is true, live by the power of the Holy Spirit, and to not carry out the desires of the flesh. Page 2 of 6

3 C. Encountering the Living God! 1. In Luke 24:13-32, we read about two men, both followers of Jesus, who were traveling together on their way toward the village Emmaus. 2. As these two men were walking on the road, Jesus Himself joins them on their journey; however, neither of these men recognized Him and thinking that He was a stranger, they began to fill Him in on the news of the past few days Jesus of Nazareth was crucified and they heard He may have risen from the dead! 3. It s amazing that two men who followed Jesus, heard His message, and could recite the facts about His death, burial, and resurrection couldn t recognize Him when they saw Him face to face. This describes too many Christians today. What they know about God and their personal experience of Him are two different things. 4. Both of these men had a head full of facts and a heart full of confusion, but after encountering Jesus, they left with a living relationship with God. And nobody could ever take that away from them! 5. The Bible s filled with examples of ordinary people who encountered God. - Moses encountered God in a burning bush! - Jacob encountered God in a wrestling match! - Isaiah encountered God in a vision! - Peter encountered God in a fishing boat! - Thomas encountered God through the nail scars in Jesus hands! - Paul encountered God in a blinding light! 6. As God stepped into these people s lives, they were transformed. Of course, they would still face problems, difficulties, and temptations, but God had become so real to them that they never went back to their old life. They learned to trust in the reality of His presence and the power of His promises. 7. [NOTE: Take the time to encourage & challenge each student to register for the upcoming Encounter.] Page 3 of 6

4 D. Why Attend an Encounter? 1. First, the Encounter provides you with an opportunity to experience God! Luke 10:38-42 (NKJV) 38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus' feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, "Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me." 41 And Jesus answered and said to her, "Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 "But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her." - Martha missed out on what Jesus had come to give her simply because she was too busy. Her life was cluttered with appointments, chores, and responsibilities. - The Encounter provides you with the time to step out of the traffic of life, get away from the daily grind, and make the time to focus on your life with Christ. 2. Second, the Encounter empowers you to get rid of your baggage! Hebrews 12:1 (NLT) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily hinders our progress - We ve all picked up baggage throughout our lives. We carry around guilt, shame, fear, bitterness, and hurt and take them with us wherever we go. - Some Christians are so used to carrying their baggage around that they ve forgotten it s even there. Others just don t know how to let it go or don t want to let it go because they use it as a way to protect themselves from getting hurt again. Either way, it only weighs us down and keeps us from enjoying and abundant life. 3. Third, the Encounter exposes Satan s lies and reveals God s truth! John 8:31-32 (NLT) 31 Jesus said to the people who believed in him, "You are truly my disciples if you keep obeying my teachings. 32 And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." - If Satan can get you to believe his lies about life he can control you through his deception. - As he did with Eve in the Garden of Eden, Satan tries to convince us to rely on ourselves and to try to get our needs (physical, emotional, spiritual, etc ) met through the world around us, rather than by trusting God and His provision. Page 4 of 6

5 - Some of examples of deception are: Believing you can hang around with bad company and not be corrupted (1 Corinthians 15:33-34). Believing that consuming alcohol or drugs is what will bring true and lasting happiness (Proverbs 20:1). Hearing God s Word but not doing what it says (James 1:22). [Note: Feel free to use any example of deception you feel is relatable to your class. Those listed above are only suggestions.] - Choosing the truth may be hard for those who have believed a lie for many years. But knowing that you are completely forgiven and accepted as God s child is what gives us the strength to face reality and God s truth. - How do we respond to God s Truth? By faith! Choosing to believe what God says, and rejecting Satan s lie, is a choice we can all make. 4. Fourth, the Encounter is a time of Repentance. Acts 26:20 (TMB) I started preaching this life-change this radical turn to God and everything it meant in everyday life - The word repentance simply means a change of mind or direction. It s the picture of someone walking down a road in a specific direction who decides to change his mind, turn around, and walk in the opposite direction instead. - Repentance is about turning our back on the world and embracing God wholeheartedly. - We cannot hold onto our old lives while trying to live a new one. We must make a clean break from our life of sin and living for self in order to follow Christ (see Ephesians 4:22-24). - Attending an Encounter doesn t mean that you ll automatically repent. Each of us needs to make that decision for ourselves as we re presented the truth from God s Word about our lives. Page 5 of 6

6 V. PREPARING FOR YOUR ENCOUNTER A. Value Your Encounter Mark 4:24 (NKJV) Then He said to them, "Take heed what you hear. With the same measure you use, it will be measured to you; and to you who hear, more will be given. 1. The value you give to what you hear will determine what you receive. If you see the Encounter as having little value you ll receive very little from the Encounter. However, if you see that the Word you ll hear and experience at your Encounter is very valuable you ll receive much value from it. 2. Most of us would walk by a penny if we saw one on the ground, but what if it was a hundred dollar bill? The difference is value! 3. Again, if you see the Encounter as something you have to do in order to get to Post Encounter or the School of Leaders, if you see it as something only other people need you ll receive very little. Make the decision to value this opportunity to hear from God and receive what He knows you need! B. Humble Yourself! James 4:6, 10 (NKJV) 6 Therefore He says: "God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." 10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. 1. Pride blinds your eyes, deafens your ears, and hardens your heart. Pride kills. 2. Pride says, I don t need God or anyone else s help. And attending an Encounter with a prideful heart will close your life and keep God out. C. Come with Expectation! Acts 3:5 (NKJV) So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something In Acts 3, we read the account of a man who needed a miracle. But it wasn t until he reached out with expectation that he received one! 2. It s not enough to know what you need from God you must also have an expectation that He will act in your favor. Remember, The just shall live by faith. (Romans 1:17). Page 6 of 6