Drc2026 Pre-convention Encounter Service by Dr Paul Enenche: MP3 Download & Sermon Notes

The power of a divine encounter.

The goal of a convention such as we have gathered for is to experience a divine encounter. There are two things to understand: first, the power and value of a divine encounter; second, how to position yourself for one.

What a Divine Encounter Does

Genesis 32:24-28 — And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh. And Jacob's thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel. For as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Number one, a divine encounter locates and diagnoses a person's life and destiny. When God encountered Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, the first thing he asked was: Adam, where are you? This is very important for every one of us on the face of the earth. Where are you in God's plan and purpose for your life? Where are you on your journey of destiny? Are you on course or out of course?

Moses had a call of God and God located him at the backside of the desert. Moses, what is that in your hand? Moses, what are you doing with what we talked about 40 years ago? Location is important, and the diagnosis is important, so that life can receive needed treatment and adjustment.

Number two, a divine encounter brings restoration to life and destiny. If the person is wrongly located or following the wrong direction, he is brought back to where he should be. He restoreth my soul. The burning bush showed that Moses had lost vision 40 years before. He went to the energy of the flesh, got into opposition, and ran from the vision for 40 years until the burning bush brought him back to the same vision.

So a divine encounter is necessary so that what God wanted to do with your life does not perish. Does not get lost. Does not end because you face opposition. It is necessary to bring restoration of vision, passion, intimacy, and relationship with God.

Number three, a divine encounter changes the direction of a person's life for good. Moses had been tending the flock — that was his current direction. All of a sudden, the encounter said: today marks the end of your tending of flock. From this day forward, you are going to bring my people from the land of Egypt. Exodus 3:1-10. One encounter changes the direction of a man's life. That happened to Peter: Master, I have toiled all night and have caught nothing. Nevertheless, at thy word, I will let down the net. That happened to Paul on the road to Damascus. He was on the way to persecute the church, and suddenly he had an encounter that gave his life a 360-degree turn.

Number four, a divine encounter opens up a new chapter in a person's life's journey with God. When Moses had the encounter, it was the beginning of a new chapter — a chapter of miracles, a chapter of signs, a chapter of wonders.

Number five, a divine encounter unlocks the potentials of a person's life. Moses carried a rod and never knew that rod was the tool for deliverance until he had an encounter. He said, it's a rod. God said, no, it is more than a rod. That is an instrument of power. Moses never knew that he carried power until he had an encounter. Peter never knew that he had an apostolic and evangelistic mantle on his life until he had a divine encounter.

There are many of you here. There is an apostolic grace, an evangelistic grace, a prophetic mantle, a healing grace, an administrative grace, a financial mantle, something that you are not even aware of yet. All we need is that one encounter that unlocks it. All of a sudden people look at you and they say, is Saul also among the prophets?

Number six, a divine encounter counters the agenda of the enemy in a person's life. When Satan is at work, the encounter counters the agenda. There are many people the enemy vowed against. But one encounter broke that bad name. Your name shall be called no more Jacob. Your name is Israel. This thing that has followed you from your father's house, that had followed you from the womb of your mother, today it breaks.

One encounter on Gideon was the rescue of Israel from the oppression of the Midianites. When God encountered Gideon, he said: go and throw down the altar of Baal in your father's house. I have something I need to do with your life, but there is something in your father's house that is fighting your destiny that must come down.

Number seven, a divine encounter produces public acknowledgment and visibility of grace. The devil wants your life to be hidden in obscurity. He wants the grace and everything that God put in you to be completely locked in for your generation to be unaware. But there is an encounter that breaks that covering. When they saw the boldness of Peter and John, Acts 4:13, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled and they took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Once you have been with Jesus, your world must acknowledge you.

Jesus had one encounter, and in Luke 4:14, Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and the fame of him spread. He had not performed one miracle yet. He had not healed one sick person yet. He just came out of 40 days fasting and stepped out of the mountain. But the fame had already spread. The heavens spread his fame. It went ahead of him because he had an encounter and he carried something that the generation must acknowledge.

Number eight, a divine encounter impacts the destinies of nations and territories. One divine encounter upon one man becomes impact upon a nation, upon a territory, upon a region. Isaiah 9 — the Lord sent a word into Jacob, one person. It lighted upon Israel, a whole nation. For 430 years Israel was under Egyptian bondage until God gave one man an encounter. His name was Moses. And that encounter brought liberation and terminated the operation of 430 years.

The reason why God must encounter you is because there is a group of people whose deliverance is tied to your life. There is a generation of people that will sink if you don't rise.

The Pathway to a Divine Encounter

Number one: sensitivity to God's timing and purpose. Being sensitive to the fact that God is about to do something. In Acts 2:1, when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. The day of encounter came and they were where they were meant to be, doing what they were meant to be doing. For most people, the day of their encounter came and they were absent.

Number two: desperation for a divine encounter. I won't let you go. That was what happened between Elijah and Elisha. You can't stop me from following you. Don't you know the Lord will take your master today? I know it. But I'm not leaving him. That desperation is a magnet of impartation.

Number three: undivided focus, undistracted attention. Elijah said, if you see me when I am taken from you, you will have what you are asking. 2 Kings 2:10. The apostles were in the same place for upward of 50 days between Passover and Pentecost. They remained undivided.

In the journey of impartation, there are things you are taught and there are things that are caught. What Elisha had was not just what he was taught but what he caught. The catching is beyond the teaching. The catching requires undivided, undistracted attention.

Number four: intense supplication for an encounter. Prayer. I won't let you go until you bless me. In Acts 1:14, they continued in prayer. They continued in prayer and suddenly something dropped. You must put some pressure. You must put some force. Nothing precious comes without pressure.

Number five: sensitivity to divine instructions and directions. There are things God will say to you to do. There are steps he will ask you to take. John 2:5 — whatsoever he saith unto you, do. Master, I have toiled all night and caught nothing. Nevertheless, at your word I will let down the net.

Father, we thank you for making us a people of purpose. When you look in our generation and you say whom shall I send, you will not search for who to send where we are. And you will not have to look over our heads to look for someone else. Make us active participants in your work on the earth. In Jesus' mighty name. Amen.