Encounters

Encounters Ephesians 5:15-20

1. Encounters will help us to live with proper conduct as a Christian.

• Verse 15 opens that we should pay attention to how we live our lives. Straight is the gate narrow the way

• Some versions say be careful how you live. Jesus is wanting us to follow his ways he wants us to obey and seek him. Be watchful, Be Alert, Be vigilant

• We can’t just walk or do whatever we have to follow the examples of Jesus

2. Proper conduct involves wise and unwise living

• Paul feels the redeemed should live wisely not unwisely

• The Proverbs shares with us wisdom and the one not so wise Proverbs 3:35 The wise shall inherit glory: But shame shall be the promotion of fools.

• The unwise walk is in darkness The wise person has his eyes in his head, but the fool walks in darkness.

• Fool say there is no God

3. This Epistle not only shares proper conduct but the text also talks about encounters. Encounters change us:

• John Wesley had an encounter on May 24th, he found what he longed for:

• “In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s ‘Preface to the Epistle to the Romans’.? About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”

• The Apostle Paul”s encounter on the road to Damascus changed Paul from a persecutor to a believer

• Fanny Crosby wrote a song because of an encounter In 1869, Fanny J. Crosby was inspired to write “Rescue the Perishing” after she met the men who were housed in a New York City mission. She was concerned about their spiritual well-being and earnestly pleaded with the men that if there was someone “who had wandered from his mother’s home and teaching,” to please come and see her at the end of the service.A young man came up to Crosby and said that he would like to see his mother in heaven, but according to the way he was living his life, he was convinced it was not possible. After ardent prayer with Crosby and everyone attending the service, he accepted God’s justifying grace. That night, when Fanny Crosby went home, she wrote the words “Rescue the Perishing.”

• Moses encounter at the burning bush it changed him

• 3 Hebrew Children encountered the fourth man in the fire they were forever sharing their story

4. Encountering God means we get full 18?Do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, (is that which excites the soul)

• It is that which stirs up a fire inside (Something got s hold of me must have been the hand of the lord)

• Disciples encountered a filling at Pentecost. Jesus said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, Acts 2:4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit gave them utterance.

5. Paul believes We encounter God in singing

• 19?as you sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to one another, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts,

• Singing can help strengthen faith and understanding of God. “ Farther along we will know all about it tempted and tried

• Gospel music connects us with God. Gospel music can uplift and encourage others

• When we encounter gospel music it gives us hope. Enslaved people sang gospel music to express their suffering and their hope of being freed

• When we encounter an old gospel song it reminds us. of who God is and his unchanging grace

6. Those who encounter God are thankful people 20?giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

• We give thanks to God in prayers, in testimonies, and in life.

• We thank God for the Savior who died for our sins

• We thank God for His Word. God’s Word is our guide for every aspect of life,

• We Thank God for The Holy Spirit. When God ascended into heaven, He didn’t leave us empty-handed. He gave us a helper to be within us and to guide us

• We Thank God for Fresh Starts. I don’t know about you, but I make a LOT of mistakes. What a relief to know that God is always ready and willing to forgive me when I ask, and that each day is a new opportunity to make better choices

• WE Thank God for His Faithfulness. God is faithful

• WE Thank God for his peace he give peace in the midst of storms