Close Encounter With God Series

God revealed himself when and where we least expected it and when we least deserved it. The Bible says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8). Jesus didn’t wait until we straightened out our lives. Jesus didn’t even wait until we acknowledged him. No! While we were still sinners, wile we were still His enemies, Christ came to die on a cross for our sins and rise again.

Now, all you need to do is trust Him to take you to heaven when you die. Now, all you need to do is “believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved” (Acts 16:32). Dear friends, if you’ve never done it before, I invite you to tust Christ with your life today. Call upon the name of the Lord and ask Him to save you from your sins. Then you too can have the assurance of eternal life and God’s protecting presence forever!

That’s the experience of everyone who puts their faith in Christ. They have the assurance of God’s protecting presence every day. For God in His grace still comes to us in times of fear. Jesus still makes his presence known often when we least expect it.

On April 25, 2003, 13-year-old Natalie Gilbert was chosen to sing “The Star-Spangled Banner” at a nationally televised NBA Western Conference playoff game. For her, it was a dream-come-true, but that dream almost became a nightmare (show video clip).

Natalie bravely stood alone at mid-court in Portland’s Rose Garden Arena, but as she began to sing before a capacity crowd, her mind went blank. She forgot the words. Closing her eyes and shaking her head, she appeared on the verge of tears.

Then, at that moment, the head coach of the Portland Trailblazers, Maurice Cheeks, walked toward her, put his arm around her and began to sing with her. As a result, Natalie regained her composure, found her voice and ended strong. (AOL News, 4-28-03; www.PreachingToday.com)

Sometimes, like Natalie or like Jacob, we find ourselves all alone in this world, ashamed or afraid, and ready to give up. That’s when Jesus comes, puts his arm around us, and stays with us until we finish strong.

GOD IN HIS GRACE REVEALS HIMSELF TO US.

He shows up when we least expect it and often when we least deserve it. What can we do but…

RESPOND TO HIM WITH GRATITUDE.

What can we do but respond with reverence and sacrificial commitment? What can we do but give ourselves wholly and completely to God?

You see, that’s what true worship is all about. Warren Wiersbe says, “Worship is the believer’s response of all that he is – mind, emotion, will, and body – to all that God is and says and does” (Real Worship). Worship is a response to revelation – giving everything I have to God, because He gave Himself for me.

The question is: What’s the appropriate way to respond to such a God? What kind of response is fitting for a God who graciously chooses to reveal Himself?

Well, Jacob shows us how to respond to a holy and gracious God. In fact, his response to God’s revelation is a prototype of Israel’s worship throughout the Old Testament and instructive for our own worship today. So how did Jacob respond?