The Bible records many men and women who had provocative encounters with God. For example, Jesus met a woman at the well and within minutes His firm, but gentle confrontation opened her eyes to a brand new life. He met a man at a pool who had been crippled for thirty-eight years and asked, “Will you be made whole?” The encounter confronted his root issues and he was instantly healed. When Jesus confronted Simon at the Sea of Galilee, He changed his name to Peter, meaning “rock.” This one encounter began the process of transforming a “wavering reed” into a “rock” of stability.
A God-encounter is more than a simple prayer and then life as usual. A true confrontation with God will change our life style, our mindsets, our identity, our associations, and our future. God meets us where we are at the level of our need. Everyone needs an encounter with God.
Revelation 2:17
“To him who overcomes…I will give him a new name.”
Practical Application and Assignments:
In the Bible the meaning of names played a significant role in forecasting destiny. A God-encounter always changes negative forecasts and predictions. Confrontation provokes you to think, to change, to challenge the status quo, and to reach beyond the norm.
- Study the encounters in the life of men and women of the Bible. What did God confront? What did God promise? What changes took place when God changed Abram’s name to Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, Jacob to Israel, Saul to Paul, and Simon to Peter? Study the meaning of each name.
- Answer the following questions: What does your name mean? Have derogatory names affected your self-esteem? Would a name change give you a new identity?
- Meet the person God created you to be. A God-encounter introduces you to yourself. Discover what God says about you. Your God-given name is God’s opinion of you.
“I will write on him the name of My God.” Revelation 3:12 (NIV)
