Divine Encounter

We have encounters everyday, whether it be with Family, Coworkers, Clients Friends or an interaction with someone at the grocery store.

Our lives are full of them. The reality is nothing more than an unexpected or casual meeting with someone.

The way we respond to a situation is generally determined on a previous experience.

How could someone have so many moments with Friends and Family and still feel lost, empty and confused?

We live in a world where folks wants to be expected, many of which are in the church (body of christ).

Facebook. Instagram. Snapchat - All great tools to connect those around the world. But could that tool now be exploited to introduce you encounters that God never intended for you to have.

I believe such like encounters prohibit us from experiencing “divine encounters”,

Psychologist call it Ina.ttent.ional blindness - and this happens when we don't notice something in our visual field because we are busy focusing on something else. Researchers believe the phenomenon is linked to our attentional abilities, but others suggest it might also be connected to memory.

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Psalmist wrote a song, I need just a little more Jesus. The truth is we need more than a little.

The Gospel of Luke is the only gospel that records our text of two disciples on the road to Emmaus.

By this time the crucifixion of Jesus and resurrection has just taken place. The stone is rolled away and the Body of Jesus is no longer there.

The same Jesus that the prophet Isiah said the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

Maybe - Do not read scripture

Luke 18:35–42 KJV 1900

And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. And they told him, that Jesus of Nazareth passeth by. And he cried, saying, Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And they which went before rebuked him, that he should hold his peace: but he cried so much the more, Thou Son of David, have mercy on me. And Jesus stood, and commanded him to be brought unto him: and when he was come near, he asked him, Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.

Luke records, a blind man in the 18th chapter who cries out “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me”

Romans 10:13–15 ESV

For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

You've got to know who you’re calling - there is power in the name of Jesus

power to heal addiction

power to heal physical infirmities

power to break generations strongholds.

Philippains 2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

The Lord ask him a question What do want me to do for you? and he says “Lord, Let me recover my sight”

Jesus Speaks a word over his life “recover your sight; your faith has made you whole”

What do you do when your in the midst of a divine encounter and you’re not able to recognize him?

Hebrews 11:6 KJV 1900

But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

You cant want to please him and on the other hand not believe

faith-leaper ….. the joy of the lord is your strength

you have to have faith and believe - help keep faith leaper joy

Luke 24:13–16 KJV 1900

And, behold, two of them went that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was from Jerusalem about threescore furlongs. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. And it came to pass, that, while they communed together and reasoned, Jesus himself drew near, and went with them. But their eyes were holden that they should not know him.

I. In our text, we see two disciples walking together discussing all the things that have happened.

I. As they are speaking, they are reasoning , this translates to “disputing” They are disputing the resurrection.

II. While they are disputing the facts amongst themselves Jesus, Drew near. and went with them.

I. To follow Jesus, means trust him at his word. God’s Word is true and sure.

He never fails to do what He promised. You can trust His Word absolutely. We all make promises, but none of us have ever kept 100 percent of the promises that we have made in our lives.

we serve a God has kept every promise.

wGod has kept t God has never failed men. God is full of righteousness and justice – He never lies and His Word never lies.

Matthew 20:18–19 KJV 1900

Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him: and the third day he shall rise again.

He was crucified, whiped humiliated with you in mind

we can’t afford not to praise the price paid was too great. This is the least

III. because 2 men reasoned, disputed that which they should have known, their understanding was arrested or seized.

Application: When God speaks, you can cant afford to second guess. Why? you wont see opportunities sitting front of you .

II. Luke 24 17-19

Luke 24:17–20 KJV 1900

And he said unto them, What manner of communications are these that ye have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answering said unto him, Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not known the things which are come to pass there in these days? And he said unto them, What things? And they said unto him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people: And how the chief priests and our rulers delivered him to be condemned to death, and have crucified him.

Explain: Jesus is invested and interested in there dialogue. Although they are sad - he does dung

Illustration (analogy): Out of ignorance, we got the nerve to ask the lord “where are you?” while talking to him.

Romans 5:8 KJV 1900

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

In your ignorance, sinful state. He loved you enough to die.

Application: Because christ died, and saw fit to come see about you. What is your response?

Luke 24:21 KJV 1900

But we trusted that it had been he which should have redeemed Israel: and beside all this, to day is the third day since these things were done.

Here it is again - Talking to Jesus, “BUT We trusted”

Some of us Know jesus through association - but no intimacy.

Lets look at Jesus’s response in verse 25.

Luke 24:25–27 KJV 1900

Then he said unto them, O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken: Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and to enter into his glory? And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, he expounded unto them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself.

Explain:

The disciples lacked the intellectual acuity to understand, that that which they were sad about was at there door. The Scripture has been fulfilled

They knew they needed the messiah but didn't know they were talking to the messiah.

Illustration: You are closer to your deliverance than you think, but the lack of faith

Argumentation: Jesus has enough patience with the disciples to go back to the beginning and expound on the scriptures.

Genesis 3:15 KJV 1900

And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.

Genesis chapter 3 verse 15 is the first prophecy found in the Bible: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” It is addressed at the devil, but it even extends beyond the person of Satan himself because it speaks regarding the offspring of both the serpent and the woman.

Application: Aren’t you glad? The prophesy was fulfilled?

1 Peter 5:8 KJV 1900

Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

The devil only has a roar. He has no power because the prophesy was fulfilled.

you now have power to keep going - because of jesus.

Power to start and finish what you’re faced with.

The answer is in

Hebrews 12:2 ESV

looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

LOOKING TO JESUS….

Luke 24:29–31 KJV 1900

But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

Explain:

Once you’re fixated on jesus, he Must abide.

John 15:7 KJV 1900

If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

Notice after Jesus has taught, they received the word, They want him to stay,

illustration: take jesus with you. Once you’ve got him don’t let him go. He wants to abide.