PREPARING FOR AN ENCOUNTER (3)

Main Text: “That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” – 1 John 1:3

Saints of God, welcome to the third edition of our series, “Preparing for an Encounter.” In the previous edition, we learned that spiritual gatherings should be approached with consecration, order, and expectation. In this edition, we want to explore the fact that though, we gather with believers, but our highest fellowship is with the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

First, permit me to tell you that it is possible to attend a powerful meeting, hear anointed preaching, sing with the congregation, and still leave without personally responding to God. Listen, physical presence in a gathering does not automatically produce spiritual fellowship. For example, John declared what he had seen and heard so that others might share in the apostles’ fellowship. He then revealed the foundation of that communion by saying, “Truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.” That is to say, Christian fellowship includes meaningful relationships with other believers, but it does not end there. Its centre is God Himself.

Friends, you must understand that we do not gather merely to see friends. We do not come only to admire ministers. We do not attend simply because a programme is popular. We gather to encounter God through His Word, worship, prayer, and the communion of the Holy Spirit. In fact, the preacher may be the vessel, but Christ must remain the focus. The choir may lead the song, but God must receive the worship. The congregation may create an atmosphere of unity, but only the Lord can transform the heart. As a matter of fact, one reason people miss divine encounters is that their attention remains fixed on human personalities. They become preoccupied with who is preaching, who is singing, who is recognised, or where they are seated. When their preferred minister is absent, their expectation disappears. But a mature believer understands that no servant of God is the source of grace.

Child of God, by God’s standard, Paul may plant, Apollos may water. But it is God that gives the increase (1 Corinthians 3:6). In other words, God uses people, but our faith must rest in Him. Ministers are instruments; Jesus Christ is the Mediator. When we exalt the vessel above the One who sent it, fellowship can easily become personality-centred rather than Christ-centred. Interestingly, Hebrews 12:22–24 gives us a profound spiritual description of the believer’s approach to God stating that, “But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem… and to God the Judge of all… and to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling.” This passage does not teach us to pursue visions of angels or attempt communication with departed saints. Rather, it reveals the spiritual privilege of those who belong to Christ. It means that through Jesus, we have access to the living God.

In essence, you and I are citizens of heavenly Zion. We belong to the assembly of the redeemed. We stand under the power of the new covenant. We approach God through the blood of Jesus. Therefore, every genuine Christian gathering should awaken your consciousness that you are not attending an ordinary social meeting. You are drawing near to God through Christ. For purposes of clarity, I can confirm to you that those who made a difference in Scripture encountered God personally. For instance, Abram met the God of glory and left his former life to pursue divine purpose. Joshua encountered the Captain of the Lord’s host and received direction for battle. Isaiah saw the Lord, recognised his uncleanness, and surrendered to God’s call. Paul met the risen Christ and moved from persecuting the Church to preaching the faith he once tried to destroy. In all, their encounters were not religious entertainment. Each encounter produced revelation, repentance, obedience, and a new assignment. That is to say, a genuine encounter should not merely make you feel excited; it should bring you into deeper alignment with God. To this extent, if you must participate in a genuine encounter, you must fix the following.

1. Fix Your Attention on Christ: Listen beyond the personality of the speaker. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal Jesus through the Word.
2. Worship with Understanding: Do not merely sing because others are singing. Direct your heart consciously toward God.
3. Receive the Word Personally: Avoid assuming that every correction is meant for someone else. Allow the Word to examine your motives, attitudes, and conduct.
4. Respond in Faith and Obedience: An encounter is incomplete until it produces a response. Act upon what God reveals.
5. Refuse Distractions: Conversations, phones, unnecessary movement, and excessive attention to people can prevent the heart from discerning what God is saying.

Most importantly, the theme of this Feast is “Making a Difference.” But before you can make a difference in your sphere or sector, your fellowship with God must make a difference within you. Moses descended from the mountain with his face shining because he had been with God. Peter and John were recognised as men who had been with Jesus. The early Church influenced cities because believers continued in the apostles’ doctrine, fellowship, prayer, and the breaking of bread. In all, it is safe to say that Kingdom impact flows from communion with God. Crucially, I can tell you that the world does not merely need people who have attended another conference. It needs believers who have met with God and returned carrying His character, compassion, truth, and power.

Above all, as you participate in this Feast, do not stop at the crowd, the minister, the music, or the programme. Look beyond the vessel to Christ. Listen beyond the human voice for the instruction of the Holy Spirit. Approach God through the blood of the new covenant. Come ready to receive, repent, obey, and be transformed. Because, though our fellowship is with one another, but its deepest reality is fellowship with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. May you leave this Feast not merely saying, “I attended,” but confidently declaring, “I met with God, and my life will never remain the same.”

Prayer Points

1. Father, deliver me from every distraction that prevents me from focusing on You.
2. Help me to look beyond human vessels and encounter Christ through every session of this Feast.
3. Open my heart to hear, receive, and obey Your Word.
4. Let my fellowship with You produce visible transformation in my character and conduct.
5. May I leave this Feast empowered to make a difference in my family, Church, community, and generation.

Daily Reflection
When you attend a spiritual gathering, is your attention centred on human personalities or are you consciously seeking fellowship with the Father and His Son?