ENCOUNTER VS EXPERIENCE

MEMORY VERSE: and the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man, Acts 9:7

BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 1 Sam 19, 1 Cor 1, Lam 4, Luke 24

I shared the dream that changed my life forever with a brother and he said ‘I want such an experience so that my life will be changed forever’. The dream was just an experience, my life changed when I encountered Christ. It is not an experience that changes a fellow but an encounter. An encounter is deeper than an experience. 

In Acts 9:1-7, Saul and co were en route to Damascus to arrest believers and commit them to prison. Something unusual happened as they traveled, a bright light shone from heaven and Saul fell. A voice began to speak – Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? At the end of the day Saul surrendered, he gave his life to Christ and became one of the greatest apostles. Everyone who accompanied Saul saw the light. Do you know it was only Paul that fell? They all heard the same voice but only Saul surrendered and gave his life to Christ. Not only that, only Saul had a change of name. Saul and co had the same experience, but only Saul encountered the One behind the experience.

Many hear the same message of salvation but only a few responds to altar call, why? Everyone in the church had the same experience but only a few encountered Christ through the message. An experience may change how we process information but an encounter changes the information we process. An experience may change when we go to places but an encounter changes where we go to. An experience may change how we say things but an encounter changes what we say. An experience may satisfy our hunger but an encounter creates a deep hunger in us. When we talk of salvation, we are talking of encountering Christ not experiencing Christ. 

PERSONAL REFLECTION: from the day i gave my life to Christ, what are the things I used to do that I no longer do? What are the things I used to say that I no longer say? Where are the places I used to visit that I no longer visit? Who are the people I used to walk with that I no longer walk with? Since I gave my life Christ what are the things I never used to do that I now do? What are the things I never used to say that I now say? Who are the people I never used to walk with that I now walk with? What has changed in my life since I met Christ?

Bro Samuel – Reaching the world for Jesus

KEYWORD: An encounter brings about a change in personality but an experience only changes one’s perspective.