A Close Encounter with a Loving God
Intro: As the great white hunter stalks his prey thru the sultry jungle of Africa, the prey is running for his life; but to no avail because nothing escapes the skills of the great white hunter. The prey is trembling with fear as the hunter closes in. Can you see the evil leer in the hunter's eyes as his target comes into view? Can you smell the fear and sense the hopelessness as the prey knows that the chase is almost over? Let's look closer at the prey; it's not a beast but it's a man. The Hunter laughs with a sneer and says, "This one will bring a pretty penny in the slave market in the Colonies ". The young black man is carried back to the ship that's waiting on the shore. He is thrown in the hole of the ship with the rest of his heart broken comrades. The hunter who is also the Captain of the ship looks over to the ship's mate and says, "cast off, this is going to be a very profitable trip. "
The date is March 10,1748 as the ship full of captured slaves sail on the sea the Captain of the ship, the slave hunter Captain John Newton is about to have an encounter with a living God.
The Storm
The Change
The song
The Bible tells about
Moses meeting God on a Mountain and
how
That Moses’ face glowed when he came
Back down. A close encounter with a loving
God will change your life!
Text: Acts 4:1 The priests and the captain of the temple guard and the Sadducees came up to Peter and John while they were speaking to the people.
Acts 4:2 They were greatly disturbed because the apostles were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection of the dead.
Acts 4:3 They seized Peter and John, and because it was evening, they put them in jail until the next day.
Acts 4:4 But many who heard the message believed, and the number of men grew to about five thousand.
Acts 4:5 The next day the rulers, elders and teachers of the law met in Jerusalem.
Acts 4:6 Annas the high priest was there, and so were Caiaphas, John, Alexander and the other men of the high priest's family.
Acts 4:7 They had Peter and John brought before them and began to question them: "By what power or what name did you do this?"
Acts 4:8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them: "Rulers and elders of the people!
Acts 4:9 If we are being called to account today for an act of kindness shown to a cripple and are asked how he was healed,
Acts 4:10 then know this, you and all the people of Israel: It is by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified but whom God raised from the dead, that this man stands before you healed.
Acts 4:11 He is "'the stone you builders rejected, which has become the capstone.'
Acts 4:12 Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
Acts 4:13 When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.
Peter and John
BEFORE---UNEDUCATED
NOW-THAT THEY HAD BEEN WITH JESUS
Demon Possessed at the tombs
AS Jesus and the disciples draw near we see a prime candidate for a close encounter with a loving God!
BEFORE AFTER
Among the dead 1. Among the living
No rest 2. At rest
Naked 3. Clothed
In bondage 4. Free
Suicidal 5. Wants to live and serve Jesus
Woman at the well
A Woman is coming to draw water from a well little does she know there is a close encounter with a loving God waiting for her
Before After
In adultery Free
In sin Brings revival to her town
4. Saul Paul
A man so radically changed that he changed his name Out on the Damascus A man is about to have a close encounter with a loving God
Before After
Murderer a Martyr
Hated Jesus Greatest Preacher
Woman with an issue of blood
Can you see her as the crowd draws near,she is nervous in anticipation she knows that a life-changing encounter with a loving God is about to happen. For 12 years she has suffered not only sickness but rejection because of her sickness she was called unclean and not allowed to touch anyone.
The crowd around Jesus is so thick that there is no way she could break through. The danger is real because if she gets caught it will be a rock party for her; they will stone her for touching the man of God because she is unclean. But she knows that He’s the only chance that she has,so she presses through the crowd overcoming all fear and as her heart is about to explode inside her chest she reaches out an touches the hem of Jesus’ garment ,and is made whole . All because of a life changing encounter with a loving God.
Matthew
Can you see him as he sits collecting taxes ,with his mind on how much of this money he can stick in his own pocket .Oh But a life changing encounter is walking down the dusty road as the sandled feet of Jesus nears the booth there is electricity in the air then it happens an encounter with a loving God changes a tax collector into a soul collector. Matthew a lost sinner becomes a child of God and reaches out to all the hurting people
James and Andrew
Two men busy mending their fishing nets and reflecting on the days events ,when walking down the sea shore comes that long legged Galilean that water to wine changer that man called Jesus who changes them from just plain ole every day fishermen into FISHERS OF MEN only an encounter with a loving God can bring about changes in peoples lives!
Bartemaus
8. Nicademus
A/C Like the man in the tombs we are in bondage , But our chains can’t be see . We see evidence of the chains. We try to find freedom, happiness and life but we are met with disaster, discouragement and death we need a life changing encounter with a loving God. Let him break the chains of your life .Like the man in the tombs we may not value our lives but we are very important to our Savior.
He gave his life for ours at Calvary, Would you waste your life without giving Jesus the opportunity to change your life.
WE need to desire this life-changing encounter with a loving God. Our desire needs to be stronger than fear and doubt.
