Encounter is an unexpected meeting with something or someone that yields an uncommon result that leaves the person in question in awe.

Even from the physical perspective, when you have an encounter with something you have never seen before, it is still registered in your mind. I remember my wife seeing a bear for the first time roaming around the street, and every time she passes through the same place, it is still fresh and she still looks around as if she will see the bear again.

However, in the midst of every encounter we might have seen, known, or heard about, there has never been an encounter that leaves an eternal impact like that of God in someone’s life, because no matter how much an encounter wants to leave a scar or goodness in your life, there will be at least a minute or a day that you will not think of what that encounter has done to you.

But the encounter that is divine leaves a forever impact in our lives, starting from the time of Adam to Abraham, to Moses, to Joshua, to Gideon, to Manoah, Samson’s father, and the rest of the folks in the Old Testament, and also in the New Testament. When Jesus manifested, after 40 days and 40 nights, He had an encounter that made Him fulfill His purpose.

And since then, every encounter that is a godly encounter had to go through the consent of Jesus or Jesus revealing Himself to us, just like He did to apostle Paul.

And from the history of those who encountered Jesus, those who encountered Jesus were able to declare boldly the efficacy of God’s power that follows the encounter they had. First, their lives never remained the same. Second, they became testimonies by declaring everywhere the transformation they received through their encounter with Jesus.

Such is the case of Peter and the other disciples of Jesus. Peter’s personal encounter with Jesus made him and the other disciples manifest in the same manner just as Jesus did, for the Bible says in Luke 9:1-2 that Jesus gave them power and authority to cast out demons, cure diseases, preach the kingdom of God and heal the sick – and in the name of Jesus, healing took place everywhere.

Hence the reason Peter was bold to talk about his encounter with Jesus to the household of Cornelius, stating how God anointed Jesus with Holy Spirit and with power, doing good everywhere He went, healing those who were oppressed by the devil because God was with Him.

Until you have an encounter with Him, and see the demonstration and the efficacy of His power, the name will not be sweet enough in your mouth to declare to the world. The name will be like every other name that we call but won’t carry power in our mouth.

One day, in the course of waiting on God, a spirit walked into my room and began to dialogue with me, and after jinxing me for a while and wanting to go ahead with its operation, I remember telling that spirit that you have come to the wrong person and Jesus is the one it should talk to.

In the state of the jinx, I was able to call the name of Jesus and was delivered and woke up to life.

Your encounter is what would make you have what it takes to confront your fear, your panic state. Your encounter is what would give you the boldness to confront the devil, their father. It will give you deliverance from any power that wants to hold you bound.

It is what would give you the audacity to tell others about Jesus. It is what will make you stand on your two feet singing “I have decided to follow Jesus – no turning back, no turning back.”

Perhaps the reason you have not been doing well in your work with God is that you have not encountered Jesus. Perhaps the reason you are yet to walk in your purpose is that you have not encountered Jesus.

The reason you have not been walking in Jesus’ way is that you have not encountered Jesus, but the good news is that He has promised us that we who seek Him will not seek Him in vain.

For He has not called the seed of Jacob to seek Him in vain.

Beloved, your presence here today must have a positive impact, the type that will clear all doubt of what Jesus is capable of, the type that will make you not mince words again when people ask you what you stand for.

Jesus is ready to make you ready so that in the midst of your readiness, He may encounter you. Because your heart is precious to Him, your life is, your home is, just release yourself to Him and He will encounter you.

I said on Friday, we should stop being churchy and work on our relationship with Him.

Cornelius released himself and his family to Him and they encountered Him even when Peter did not lay hands on them. For the Bible says that while Peter was still speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word that came out of the mouth of Peter.

I know you have been going to church, but the question is, how long would we go to church and still remain the same?

That yoke can only be broken when we release ourselves to Him. That heart of stone can become a heart of flesh when we release ourselves to Him. Let your heart be ready to encounter Jesus today.

One thing about Jesus is that He will not show partiality. Those who are ready, irrespective of their status or their shortcomings, Jesus will pay them a visit and their lives will never remain the same again.

How many people are ready for an encounter this morning? I can assure you that Jesus is here to have an encounter with you, just like He did with the paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda in the book of John 5.

He is ready to have an encounter with you just like He did with Zacchaeus on the tree. He is ready to wipe away your tears just like He did to the woman with the flow of blood in Luke 8:44.