All Scripture quoted in this lesson is from The Bible by Jesus unless otherwise noted
A. What Does It Mean To Touch/Encounter God?
1. You intentionally meet or encounter God.
2. In a time of great need.
3. Through unexpected circumstances.
4. When God reveals something about Himself (or His plan to you).
5. So, you learn something about yourself that will change (transform) yourself.
6. To prepare you for a specific task.
7. Even when you don’t fully understand all the mysterious elements of the encounter.
B. Who Touched/Encountered God?
1. Salvation, Adam and Eve. “There will be hatred . . . between her offspring and yours (satan). Her seed will give you a crushing head blow, even as you bite her heal” (Gen. 3:15).
2. Service, Noah. “I am going to destroy all people . . . build a large boat . . . you, your wife, sons, and their wives will be safe in the boat” (Gen. 6:13-14; 2:18).
3. Intimacy, Abraham became a friend of God (Is. 41:8). “I appeared to Abraham” (Gen. 18:1; 15:5). “So, I told Abraham, ‘I have heard the pleading prayers . . . in Sodom and Gomorrah . . . I am going down to see . . . Abraham approached Me in intercessory prayers’” (Gen. 18:20-21, 23).
4. Experience God, Moses. “I will . . . intercede for you. Perhaps God will forgive you” (Ex. 32:30). “Moses requested, let me see your glory” (Ex. 33:18).
5. Become a warrior, Gideon. “I, the LORD, appeared and said to Gideon, ‘I am with you mightily warrior” (Judges 6:10). “Gideon . . . you can rescue Israel; therefore, I am sending you to do it” (Judges 6:14).
6. To break discouragement and receive a task, Elijah. “Go stand before Me in the mountain . . . a windstorm hit the mountain causing a landslide. But I, the Lord, was not in the wind. Then there was a fire, but I, the Lord, was not in the fire either. Then Elijah heard a soft whisper . . . the voice asked, “Why are you here Elijah?” (1 Kings 19:11-13).
7. When dreams collapse, Isaiah. “Isaiah saw Me, the Lord, sitting on a high throne and My robe filled the temple” (Is. 6:1). “Whom shall I send as a messenger for Me?” Isaiah said, “I’ll go” (Is. 6:8).
8. Salvation and service, Paul. “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting” (Acts 9:5). “Preach My name before Gentiles and kings, and . . . suffer much for My name sake” (Acts 9:15-16).
C. What Does “Touching God” Mean?
1. More than contact or shaking hands, as in greetings.
a. Not custom.
b. Not accident.
c. Not function.
2. To touch God is an experience, an encounter, or meeting God.
3. Several things happen to you:
a. You know in your mind God is the one you are touching.
b. Your emotions are stirred i.e., excitement, anticipation, fear, awe, worship and fear.
c. Your will is yielded to God, i.e., submit, obey, surrender,
d. Self-perception, you realize you are experiencing God.
e. Self-direction, you change course to follow God.
4. People in all conditions experience God.
a. Lost.
b. Christ-hater.
c. Rich and upper class.
d. Hermit.
e. Poor and outcast.
f. God-follower.
g. Educated.
h. Uneducated.
i. Both young and old.
j. Women (Mary Magdalene, Hannah, Deborah).
5. Some encounters lead to dedicated life, others one-time task (Jonah).
6. An encounter reaches different types of people for different purposes resulting in different tasks, at different times in their life.
D. Who Did Jesus Encounter?
Matthew – tax collector, Andrew – fisherman, Blind man –beggar – Nicodemus – religious leader, Samaritan woman – five men, Martha – widow, Cornelius – military.
E. Motivation For People Touching God.
Jacob – family problems; Isaiah – death of his role model; Gideon – for deliverance; Ezekiel – refuge; Jeremiah – youth; Cleophas – confused; Nicodemus – searching; Jonah – coward running away from God.
F. Seven Lessons:
1. You can encounter God in times of great personal need.
2. You usually encounter God through unexpected circumstances.
3. An encounter with God is intended on God’s part and your part.
4. God will reveal something of Himself in an encounter.
5. You will learn something about yourself in an encounter with God.
6. God has a purpose for you.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
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Dr. Towns' email is ELTowns@liberty.edu
Dr. Towns’ web address is www.elmertowns.com
