Encountering God: Unity, Worship, and Miracles

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in Building God's Kingdom

Description: Building the kingdom of God is a collective effort that transcends individual congregations. It involves linking arms with other ministries and churches to spread what God is doing. This unity is essential for the growth of the body of Christ as a whole. By focusing on the kingdom rather than just our local church, we can achieve greater things for God’s glory. This approach encourages collaboration, mutual support, and a shared vision for advancing God's work in the world. [02:27]

Ephesians 4:3-6 (ESV): "Eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call—one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."

Reflection: Think of a local ministry or church that you can partner with to advance God's kingdom. How can you reach out to them this week to start a collaborative effort?

Day 2: The Power of Testimonies

Description: Sharing testimonies of God’s miracles builds faith within the community. Whether it’s healing, provision, or unexpected breakthroughs, these stories remind us that God is actively involved in our lives and that prayer works. Testimonies serve as powerful evidence of God's love and power, encouraging others to trust in Him. They also create a sense of expectancy and hope, fostering a culture of faith and reliance on God's intervention in our daily lives. [04:03]

Psalm 66:16 (ESV): "Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul."

Reflection: Reflect on a recent miracle or answered prayer in your life. How can you share this testimony with someone this week to encourage their faith?

Day 3: Entering God’s Presence

Description: Worship is about entering God’s presence with a prepared heart. It’s not the worship team’s job to get us ready; we should come ready to honor and celebrate God. This mindset shifts the focus from us to Him, allowing us to experience a deeper connection with God. Preparing our hearts for worship involves personal reflection, repentance, and a genuine desire to encounter God. When we come prepared, our worship becomes a true offering to God, filled with sincerity and reverence. [05:37]

Psalm 100:4 (ESV): "Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name!"

Reflection: How can you prepare your heart for worship this week? What specific steps will you take to ensure you come ready to honor and celebrate God?

Day 4: Face-to-Face Encounter with God

Description: Just as Moses and the elders of Israel saw God and ate in His presence, we are invited to have a face-to-face encounter with the living God. This invitation is for all believers to experience a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. Such encounters transform our lives, drawing us closer to God and deepening our faith. They remind us of God's holiness and majesty, encouraging us to seek His presence continually. [07:41]

Exodus 33:11 (ESV): "Thus the Lord used to speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. When Moses turned again into the camp, his assistant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, would not depart from the tent."

Reflection: Set aside a specific time this week to seek a face-to-face encounter with God. What will you do during this time to draw closer to Him and experience His presence?

Day 5: Praying in the Spirit

Description: Praying out loud in the spirit, in our prayer language, is a powerful and unifying practice. It may be controversial in some regions, but it is scriptural and edifying to the body of Christ. This practice helps us connect more deeply with God and each other, fostering spiritual growth and unity. Praying in the spirit allows us to express our hearts to God in a profound way, transcending our limited human language and understanding. [09:17]

1 Corinthians 14:15 (ESV): "What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also."

Reflection: If you have the gift of praying in the spirit, take time this week to practice it daily. If you do not, consider asking God for this gift and seek prayer support from others in your community. How can this practice enhance your spiritual life and unity with others?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good evening, everyone. Despite some technical difficulties, we are grateful to have you all here tonight. I am Kara, and I have a few announcements before we dive into our time together. Next week, we have the Five Conference, which promises to be a Christ-encountering, empowering, and life-changing event. It’s not just for our church but for everyone, as we aim to build the kingdom of God, not just our congregation. Invite your friends, pastors, and anyone who needs a spiritual boost. We also have our Sunday service at 10:10 AM, so make sure to invite people to that as well.

We’ve witnessed some incredible miracles this week, and it’s important to share these testimonies to build faith within our community. Zach Shreve has made it to the world championships for bull riding despite a knee injury. Susan Burkett’s second surgery was successful, and she is on her way to recovery. Emily’s mom, who was expected to stay in the hospital for a long time, is going home today. Rachel Raines’ health has turned around, and Elijah Darda fixed a car that was deemed unfixable in just five minutes. These miracles remind us that prayer works and that God is actively involved in our lives.

Tonight, we are here to honor and celebrate God. It’s not about us or our gifts but about entering His presence and giving Him the praise He deserves. We should come prepared to worship, not relying on the worship team to get us ready. I want to share a passage from Exodus 24:9-11, where Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and 70 elders of Israel climbed the mountain and saw God. They ate and drank in His presence. Tonight, we are invited to have a face-to-face encounter with the living God, just as they did.

We’re going to do something a bit different tonight. Inspired by a conference I attended in Tulsa, Oklahoma, we will all pray out loud in the spirit, in our prayer language. This practice, though controversial in some regions, is unifying and edifying to the body of Christ. If you don’t have this gift yet, our prayer team is here to pray with you. Let’s take a minute or two to exercise this gift and then transition into worship.

###

Key Takeaways

1. to-Face Encounter with God**: Just as Moses and the elders of Israel saw God and ate in His presence, we are invited to have a face-to-face encounter with the living God. This invitation is for all believers to experience a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him. [07:41]
5. Praying in the Spirit: Praying out loud in the spirit, in our prayer language, is a powerful and unifying practice. It may be controversial in some regions, but it is scriptural and edifying to the body of Christ. This practice helps us connect more deeply with God and each other.

### [07:41]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:45] - Five Conference Announcement
[02:27] - Building the Kingdom
[03:11] - Sharing Miracles
[04:03] - Testimonies of Healing and Provision
[05:37] - Entering God's Presence
[06:28] - Exodus 24:9-11 Scripture Reading
[07:41] - Invitation to Encounter God
[08:32] - Praying in the Spirit
[09:17] - Unifying Through Prayer
[10:00] - Transition to Worship

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What were the names of the individuals who climbed the mountain to see God in Exodus 24:9-11?
According to the sermon, what is the primary focus of the Five Conference? [02:27]
What are some of the miracles mentioned in the sermon that happened within the community? [03:11]
How does the sermon describe the purpose of worship and entering God's presence? [05:37]

Interpretation Questions

What does it mean to build the kingdom of God rather than just focusing on building a local church? [02:27]
How do the testimonies shared in the sermon illustrate the power of prayer and God's involvement in our lives? [04:03]
In what ways does the passage from Exodus 24:9-11 invite believers to have a face-to-face encounter with God? [07:41]
How can praying in the spirit, as described in the sermon, be both unifying and edifying to the body of Christ? [09:17]

Application Questions

The sermon emphasizes the importance of building the kingdom of God. How can you personally contribute to this mission in your daily life? [02:27]
Reflect on a time when you experienced or witnessed a miracle. How did it impact your faith, and how can you share this testimony to encourage others? [04:03]
The sermon suggests that we should come to worship with a prepared heart. What steps can you take to ensure you are ready to enter God's presence before attending a service? [05:37]
Have you ever felt a face-to-face encounter with God? If so, describe the experience. If not, what steps can you take to seek a deeper, more intimate relationship with Him? [07:41]
Praying out loud in the spirit was highlighted as a powerful practice. If you have this gift, how can you incorporate it more into your prayer life? If you don't, are you open to seeking it, and how can you go about doing so? [09:17]
The sermon mentioned the importance of unity among different churches and ministries. How can you foster unity within your own church and with other local congregations? [02:27]
Think about a specific area in your life where you need a breakthrough. How can you apply the principles of prayer and faith discussed in the sermon to seek God's intervention? [04:03]

Sermon Clips

1. "If you look around at the world today, we need to build the kingdom. We don't need to build the church. The church has been built for 2,000 years. Now it's time to build the kingdom and to build kingdom people. So make sure you invite all your friends, pastors. Whatever, to the five conferences next Friday at 7, all day Saturday, 9 a.m. to probably 9 p.m." [02:27] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Prayer works, guys. So if you need prayer throughout the week, we have a team that's dedicated to start praying for that miracle provision right then. Rachel Raines, that's Jared's sister. Scottie's out. New York right now. She was needing to go to the hospital, but her health has turned around in the last week, too. Been praying for her as well, so praise God for that." [04:03] (21 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "As we get started, so tonight, if you haven't been here before, if you're new to Friday Night Light, tonight is us. It's us to Him. Okay? It's us honoring Him, loving on Him, celebrating Him. It's not celebrating us. It's not celebrating our gifts. It's celebrating the Father, because He is worthy of our praise. And remember, we should walk through these doors ready to enter His presence." [05:37] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Tonight, I believe we are invited to go up the mountain. We're invited to a face-to-face encounter with the Father. Tonight, we're invited to a face-to-face encounter with the living God. As leaders of the church, as leaders in this region, ushering in the return of the bridegroom. We are invited tonight to go up the mountain. And it's biblical. It's biblical. It's right there in Exodus 24. 9 to 11. They ate and drank with the Lord in his presence." [07:41] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So when we're all praying corporately together in our own language, out loud, out loud, it's not chaotic. It is unifying. It is edifying to the body. So I know. I know it's different. We're only going to take a minute or two to do it as we exercise this gift that the Lord has given many of us in this room. And if you don't have that gift yet, we have a prayer team, John Vita Shelley. They'll come pray with you if you want that gift." [09:17] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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