Category: Seeing Jesus

Let’s read aloud together from Philippians 3:7-11, 13-14 (NIV):
⁷ But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. ⁸ What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ ⁹ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. ¹⁰ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, ¹¹ and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead… ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Pray this prayer aloud: “Lord, increase my passion for you and your kingdom, and fill me with endurance to run this race. Help me to press on and desire nothing more than you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let us worship to the song “Touch of Heaven” by Bethel.
(Click Here)

-GW

NT Wright describes Saul’s encounter with Jesus this way:
“We call this event a ‘conversion’, but it was more like a volcanic eruption, thunderstorm and tidal wave all coming together.  If the death and resurrection of Jesus is the hinge on which the great door of history swung open at last, the conversion of Saul of Tarsus was the moment when all the ancient promises of God gathered themselves up, rolled themselves into a ball, and came hurtling through that open door and out into the wide world beyond.” [New Testament for Everyone: Acts, 142]

What a vivid image of the power of salvation through a supernatural encounter with Jesus!

“Our task as witnesses is to lead people to Jesus so that they will encounter him as their Savior and Lord. We may discuss religion, argue for the truth of it, and seek to persuade people about its relevance and power. But the end that we aim at is to introduce people to Jesus… However we do it, our aim is to lead them [to an] encounter with Christ.”  [Fernando, The NIV Application Commentary: Acts, 306]

Prayer: “Lord, may you increase your Spirit’s activity in and around me so that I, together with the church, can minister to others in supernatural power and love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let us worship to the song “Fall Afresh” by The Belonging Co. (Click Here)

-GW

Acts 9:17-19 (NIV) – Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul… something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.

“We never hear of Ananias again.  We don’t know how he became a follower of Jesus. We know nothing about him except this passage, and it’s enough: that he was a believer, that he knew how to listen for the voice of Jesus, that he was prepared to obey it even though it seemed ridiculously dangerous, that he went where he was sent and did what he was told.  And he did it with love and grace and wisdom.  You can’t ask for more.” [NT Wright, New Testament for Everyone: Acts, 143-44]

God is constantly at work and he orchestrating things beyond your human comprehension.  Visions and dreams give us a glimpse of what he sees and what he’s doing.

Prayer: “Lord, as we see visions and dream dreams, may your Spirit fill me with trusting obedience to follow your leading, even if it doesn’t make human sense. May I yield to and trust in your ways more than my own. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “Fire Never Sleeps” by Martin Smith.
(Click Here)

 

-GW

Psalm 34:3-4, 8-11 (NIV)
Glorify the Lord with me;
let us exalt his name together.
I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
he delivered me from all my fears.
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his holy people,
for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.
Come, my children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

Jesus appears to us in many ways.  Truly and unequivocally, all believers experience him in our hearts when we accept him as Lord and Savior.  And in Scripture and Christian history, we also see Jesus encountering people beyond just the confines of cognition and emotions and through visions, dreams, audible voice, or a tangible sense of his immediate presence.  In fact, God invites us to “taste and see” his goodness because mere mental understanding is not enough.

Prayer: “Lord, open my heart to you. Help me to ‘taste and see’ your joy, hope, and life-giving goodness today. Stir up a greater passion for your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “Consuming Fire” by Tim Hughes. (Click Here)

 

 

-GW

Let’s read aloud together from the Cape Town Commitment (Part 5):
“The Spirit fills the Church with his gifts, which we ‘eagerly desire’ as the indispensable equipment for Christian service. The Spirit gives us power for mission and for the great variety of works of service. The Spirit enables us to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel, to discern the truth, to pray effectively and to prevail over the forces of darkness. The Spirit inspires and accompanies our worship. The Spirit strengthens and comforts disciples who are persecuted or on trial for their witness to Christ… Our engagement in mission, then, is pointless and fruitless without the presence, guidance and power of the Holy Spirit… All we do in the name of Christ must be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit… There is no true or whole gospel, and no authentic biblical mission, without the Person, work and power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray this prayer aloud: “Lord, open my heart to receive afresh the supernatural gifts of the Spirit.  May your visions, dreams, audible voice, or real tangible presence come upon me as I pray, worship, and seek you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “Open Heaven” by Hillsong. (Click Here)

 

-GW

Let’s read aloud together from the Cape Town Commitment (Part 5):

“The Spirit fills the Church with his gifts, which we ‘eagerly desire’ as the indispensable equipment for Christian service. The Spirit gives us power for mission and for the great variety of works of service. The Spirit enables us to proclaim and demonstrate the gospel, to discern the truth, to pray effectively and to prevail over the forces of darkness. The Spirit inspires and accompanies our worship. The Spirit strengthens and comforts disciples who are persecuted or on trial for their witness to Christ… Our engagement in mission, then, is pointless and fruitless without the presence, guidance and power of the Holy Spirit… All we do in the name of Christ must be led and empowered by the Holy Spirit… There is no true or whole gospel, and no authentic biblical mission, without the Person, work and power of the Holy Spirit.

Pray this prayer aloud: “Lord, open my heart to receive afresh the supernatural gifts of the Spirit.  May your visions, dreams, audible voice, or real tangible presence come upon me as I pray, worship, and seek you today. In Jesus’ name. Amen.”

Let’s worship to “Open Heaven” by Hillsong. (Click Here)

-GW