God Meets Us With Power Encounters

The Lord birthed His Church with a Power Encounter;

The Day of Pentecost was a Power Encounter

For each of the 120 who were there:

When the Day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place.

Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from Heaven

And filled the whole house where they were sitting.

They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated

And came to rest on each of them.

ALL of the were filled with the Holy Spirit

And began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:1-4)

Three thousand have a Power Encounter with God:

Peter preaches on the Day of Pentecost and tells the people to REPENT.

They are cut to the heart by the Power of God

And three thousand are added to the Church. (Acts 2:22-39)

The apostle Paul was converted with a Power Encounter:

As he [Paul] neared Damascus on his journey,

Suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.

He fell to the ground and heard a Voice say to him,

'Saul, Saul, why do you persecute Me?'

Who are you, Lord?

'I AM Jesus whom you are persecuting,' He replied. (Acts 9:3-5)

The House of Cornelius had a Power Encounter from God:

While Peter was still speaking these words,

The Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message.

The circumcised believers who had come with Peter

Were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit

Had been poured out even on the Gentiles.

For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. (Acts 10:44-46)

Philip brought a Power Encounter from God to Samaria:

Philip went down to a city in Samaria and proclaimed the Christ there.

When the crowds heard Philip and saw the miraculous signs he did,

They all paid close attention to what he said.

With shrieks, evil spirits came out of many,

And many paralytics and cripples were healed.

So there was great joy in that city. (Acts 8:5-8)

Philip brings a Power Encounter to the Ethiopian:

Philip is told by and angel to meet an Ethiopian.

Philip does so and this ends up converting the Ethiopian to Christ.

Philip is then TRANSLATED to an entirely different place. (Acts 8:26-40)

Paul and Silas bring a Power Encounter to their jailer:

Paul and Silas are praising God in prison

And this brings a violent earthquake from God.

This ends up in the salvation of the jailer and his family. (Acts 16:25-34)

Paul brings a Power Encounter to the island of Malta:

He is bitten by a poisonous snake and is unaffected.

This stuns the island inhabitants

And results in Paul healing the leading official on th island,

Which results in Paul's party being given the supplies they needed.

(Acts 28:1-10)

The message and ministry of Christ Jesus was not simply words

But a demonstration of the Spirit's Power.

It was the same for the apostles and disciples after the resurrection of Christ.

Even before Pentecost Christ Jesus sent His disciples

To demonstrate His Power, to heal the sick and raise the dead.

After His resurrection Christ Jesus told His disciples:

'Go into all the world and preach the Good News to all creation.

Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved,

But whoever does not believe will be condemned.

And these signs will accompany those who believe:

In My Name they will drive out demons; They will speak in new tongues;

They will pick up snakes with their hands;

And when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all;

They will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.'

After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, 

He was taken up into heaven and He sat at the right hand of God.

Then the disciples went out and preached every where,

And the Lord worked with them

And confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it.

(Mark 16:15-20)

The apostle Paul said:

My message and my preaching

Were not with wise and persuasive words,

But with a demonstration of the Spirit's power,

So that your faith might not rest on men's wisdom,

But on God's power.

(1 Corinthians 2:4-5)

Belonging to Christ Jesus always begins with a Power Encounter;

An Encounter where we meet Him and surrender our will to His will.

Where we are Baptized, Immersed in the Holy Spirit and with Fire,

Just as were the 120 on The Day of Pentecost;

We experience our personal Day of Pentecost; our personal Power Encounter.

Then as we testify for Christ,

Our message is not with wise and persuasive words

But with a demonstration of the Spirit's Power,

So that no one's Faith rests on men's wisdom, but on God's Power.

Today, this last day, The Kingdom of God is within us.

The Lord Jesus continues to confirm His Word with Signs and Wonders.

As is the obvious pattern from Scripture.

He has done this in every generation since Pentecost.

It is now our day to obey Him.

Today, the world is raging against God, rushing toward oblivion. (Psalm 2)

America is being ground to powder because of her SIN against God.

Save yourself from this Corrupt Generation! (Acts 2:40)

As God has written, so shall it be! Hallelujah! Maranatha!

Father, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as in Heaven!