An Encounter worth Embracing

Illustration: Dodgeball

Actions attributed to a realization

That ball was a Catalyst in that boys life

something that creates or produces change in something without being itself effected

Once the little boy in the dodgeball story had an interaction and encounter with a force greater than himself…. His direction and his outcome changed

The source didn’t change but that dudes steps were for sure changed

Acts 3 - A biblical account of a man who through one interaction, which led to an encounter that also changed his outcome forever

Acts 3:1–10 (NIV)

One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.

Now a man who was lame from birth was being carried to the temple gate called Beautiful, where he was put every day to beg from those going into the temple courts.

I love this wording because it shows that this man was in a place he could not have been on his own

Someone had intentionally placed him in a place to receive something he couldn’t get on his own!

Al of us have been here right?

We all have had the desire to be somewhere so bad but truly had no way on our own to get there

So what do we do?

We catch a ride

We use maps

EXAMPLE: Following Siri into an open field

So it isn’t only what are we following but it truly is WHO is leading us!

But this man in our historical account, not only desired the right place, but He allowed the right person to lead.

When he saw Peter and John about to enter, he asked them for money.

Peter looked straight at him, as did John. Then Peter said, “Look at us!”

So the man gave them his attention, expecting to get something from them.

- This truly is one of my favorite interactions in scripture!

and probably not for the reason you think!

This dude is doing something he has done everyday

Something he has done 100 times

Something that has become so routine that he doesn’t even look up

Can I be honest....GOOD

I truly feel this is many “church people” in our world!

Raised in the church

Been to 18 camps, vacation bible schools, don’t miss a Sunday and go to church every Wednesday.....but yet it has become so routine that it is now religion over relationship!

Think about this room

It is probably safe to say that one or two in this room prayed a prayer at some point and then you were ready to take on hell with a water pistol.

Then of time, we allow people, situations, things in our lives that nothing lines up with the idea that JESUS IS KING OF OUR HEARTS.

You and I both know that something owning your heart is for sure different than something being on you heart.

The question is “WHO” owns our heart?

Then Peter said, “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk.”

Taking him by the right hand, he helped him up, and instantly the man’s feet and ankles became strong.

He jumped to his feet and began to walk. Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God.

This is NUTS!

Think about this....he had been lame since birth

How did he go from lame, to walking, jumping?

You ever tried to do something you have never done before?

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE is not an excuse for LACK OF MOVEMENT

EXAMPLE: Logan snow skiing

He had never but he left that plateau as though he had been doing it forever

By the end of the day my kid looked like a mad man

Why....he didn’t let what he didn’t know stop him from walking into all that was available

This man in our story had an encounter with the Powerful name of Jesus Christ!

This encounter radically changed everything about him.

But he had to be willing to stand

What if he had the ability to stand but chose to sit

We would all say what a clown!

By faith we move into all that God has done for us.

When all the people saw him walking and praising God,

they recognized him as the same man who used to sit begging at the temple gate called Beautiful, and they were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him.

When you have an encounter that changes your direction…. You know longer walk the same, you no longer live the same.

You should be different.

You wouldn’t leave a color war and look the same as you came. If you did what would be the point? Would anyone believe you were even a part? Your encounter changes you and leaves a mark that can’t be questioned. If you can’t “see” the difference in your life, have you really even had an encounter with the one true God.