Beyond the Surface: 3 Non-Negotiable Encounters for Every True Believer
There is a vast difference between being a Christian in name only and truly knowing God intimately. In a world full of distractions, it is easy to get caught up in the "frilly things" of life and lose sight of eternity.
But what keeps a believer grounded? What prevents us from living a "flim-flam," back-and-forth faith that gets easily tossed around by the world?
It boils down to three essential encounters that every single believer must have. If you want to dive deeper into our latest message and transform your relationship with God, let’s unpack these three non-negotiables.
1. An Encounter with the Father and Jesus
Every person who walks away from the faith or pulls away from the church usually shares one common denominator: they never truly encountered Jesus.
When you have a genuine encounter with Christ, your life is completely altered. Even if you stumble or scooch over into the world for a season, there is a voice deep on the inside—the Holy Spirit—constantly wooing and calling you back home.
An encounter with the Lord introduces us to two vital realities:
The Fear of the Lord: This isn't a terrifying dread, but a deep, profound respect for His holiness. True love and true obedience flow directly from healthy respect.
A Realization of Worthiness: We cannot make God love us more, and we cannot make ourselves worthy. Jesus takes us in our unworthiness, grabs us, and declares, "I made you worthy."
Scriptures to Study:
Deuteronomy 10:12–13 (NLT): Teaches us what God requires—to fear Him, walk in His ways, love Him, and serve Him with all our heart.
John 14:15: Jesus reminds us that our love for Him is directly tied to our obedience.
John 14:8–9 & Hebrews 1:3: If you want to know what the Father is like, look at Jesus. He is the exact expression of God’s true nature.
To know the Father, we must know the Son. And to know the Son, we must know the Word.
Jesus does most of His talking through the pages of scripture. Getting into the Word isn’t about checking off a religious reading plan; it’s about falling deeply in love with the Truth.
When you know the Word, you protect yourself from deception. There are many competing voices in the world trying to pull you away, but Jesus promised in John 10:27, "My sheep hear my voice." As you study the scriptures, your ears become trained to recognize the voice of the Good Shepherd above the noise of the world.
John 1:1–4: Reveals Jesus as the Living Word who has existed since the very beginning, bringing life and light to all mankind.
Philippians 3:7–10 (NLT/TPT): Paul’s beautiful declaration that every earthly credential and achievement is "garbage" or "manure" compared to the priceless value of knowing Christ.
3. An Encounter with the Holy Spirit
The Holy Spirit is not just an abstract force, and an encounter with Him is about much more than speaking in tongues. He is the Spirit of Truth, our Guide, and our Comforter.
The Holy Spirit is the one who:
Provides supernatural direction so you don't have to rely solely on human opinions.
Anchors you through times of weakness, trouble, or financial distress (Hebrews 4:15).
Convicts and pulls you back when you make a wrong turn.
Think about the early apostles. What would cause 12 men to endure brutal beatings, public humilitation, shipwrecks, and horrific martyrdom without ever denying Jesus? It wasn't head knowledge or church tradition. It was because they had a real, undeniable encounter with the Holy Spirit and the resurrection power of Christ.
John 16:13 (Amplified): Promises that the Spirit of Truth will guide you into all truth and declare things to come.
2 Corinthians 11:22–29: Paul’s staggering list of sufferings that proves his ultimate devotion to the call of God.
Taking It Deeper This Week
True Christianity isn't a set of religious rules—it is an experiential relationship with a living God.
As you review these scriptures and reflect on the message this week, ask yourself: Where do I need a fresh encounter?
Take some time to get alone with the Holy Spirit, open up these passages, and pray this prayer over your week:
“Father, my greatest desire is to know You, to know Jesus, and to know the Holy Spirit. Open my heart as I read Your Word this week. Let truth and revelation flood my soul, and help me to walk fully in the unique plan and destiny You have written for my life. Amen.”