Encounter Jesus; Encounter a miracle!
By Catrina Henderson
We launched second semester, hungry for God encounters – moments in time and place where we meet with God.
Urged on by Pastor Brian’s teachings on that topic in our weekend services, every area of college life began to focus on building a culture of God encounters…not just for us to encounter God but also for others to encounter Him through us!
As a result, classes, tutorials, chapel…and everyday life became the setting for some wonderful miracles.
Our chapel team created a place of passionate worship and powerful ministry and we began to see God meet with us in new and fresh ways.
We’ve heard praise reports of personal breakthroughs, healings, God’s provision and best of all… people finding Christ - encountering God in and through us! It’s been a great season! Encountering God and encountering the miraculous.
There are powerful God encounters in Scripture where earth encounters heaven, and incredible miracles take place. John 4:46-53, the story of a royal official, whose son is critically ill. He encounters Jesus and everything changes….encountering Jesus = encountering a miracle! There’s a few simple things I think we can learn from his God encounter… from the royal official himself… that will help us lay a hold of the miracle that we’re believing for.
1. Go to Jesus: verse 47 says “he went to Him”. If you want to encounter God, you’ve gotta be where He is! If you’re believing for a miracle, you need to be where the miracles are happening! No matter what your need, no matter who you are, no matter where you’re from we can all encounter God. It’s not just true for our initial salvation, nor is it only true for those people who walked in Jesus’ time… we can encounter Jesus today…and we can see miracles in His name! I urge you – wherever you are right now – go to Jesus.
2. Persist through the obstacles: verse 48 has Jesus seemingly rebuking the official rather than answering his request to heal his son. If your journey is anything like mine, you’ve probably prayed prayers that have been met with what seems to be at the very least a delay, and at worst a rebuke! But this man persisted… Jesus’ response didn’t phase him, the delay didn’t discourage him… he was desperate for his miracle. It’s important to know that a delay isn’t a denial and what seems to be an obstacle isn’t always. Persist. Persist. Persist.
3. Take Jesus at his Word: verse 50 says “The man took Jesus at his word and departed.” I love that! He didn’t analyze or question, he believed Jesus and did what He said…and saw a great miracle as a result. Sometimes we get so busy looking for explanations and keys and formulas that we forget the point of the God encounter – to encounter God… and then take Him at His word! The miracle in this story, took place the very minute Jesus spoke but the man only saw it cause he did what Jesus said.
I wonder how many miracles we’ve missed seeing cause we’re waiting for another confirmation, or a sign or something tangible to happen. When we encounter God we need to respond to the encounter, act on what He says because when God speaks, things happen! Like the universe being created, or the storms being stilled, or the dead being raised!! The royal official could have stayed, begging Jesus to come to his house and heal his son, and he would have missed the miracle. Instead, he encountered Jesus, heard Him speak and took Him at His word. What miracle has God spoken to you about recently? Take Him at His word and know that at “the exact time at which Jesus spoke” things changed! A miracle happened.
Whatever journey you’re on right now, I’ve no doubt that either now or sometime in the not too distant future you’re going to need a miracle from heaven. I encourage you - encounter Jesus and you will encounter your miracle. Go to Him, persist until you hear from Him and then take Him at his word. Now go, your son will live!
By Catrina Henderson - Principal City Campus
