Day 2: Directed Encounters and Fishing Holes

Sometimes we just know where that spot is, that perfect fishing spot. Sometimes we fish out of boats, sometimes on the edge of a creek on a dock, sometimes the base of a dam, but in each place we are expecting for a fish to bite. When you are out an about during the day, do you expect to encounter someone who you may help become a fisher of men?

Directed Encounters

God can direct you to a specific house, person, store, assignment for an encounter. Don’t you believe there is a reason why you have the Holy Ghost? There isn’t just one reason, but there is one we want to highlight.

Often times we experience the amazing presence of the Holy Ghost, and we’ll leave our corporate worship, and say, “man that was an incredible presence of God!” but we often stop there, and never look to see if there is a door before us. Consider these three divine encounters.

1. Ananias had a vision Saul of Tarsus, or the Apostle Paul, while he still persecuted the church
2. Philip met the Ethiopian in the desert per the prompting of the Spirit.
3. Peter and Cornelius had simultaneous visions which drew them to each other.

Finding Your Fishing Hole

There are two ways you will find fish where you are. Before we talk about that though, we just want to toss out there that you don’t have to go anywhere special.

1. Prayer and sensitivity. If you’re not praying, its going to be very difficult for God to direct you, lead you, or give you a vision. If you are praying and not sensitive to his leading, you’ll constantly be in conflict with whether or not he is leading you to a person.
2. EXPECTATION. Do you expect for God to lead you to someone? When you fish you expect to catch so why aren’t you expecting a directed encounter? If we’re not bound by a building or specific times of service, then we can have a directed encounter anytime anywhere.

Final Thoughts

When reading the biblical devotion today, focus on the directed encounters, as well as Christian qualities that allow us to be used of God to find fishers of men.

Biblical Devotion

Acts 10:1-22  At Caesarea there was a man named Cornelius, a centurion of what was known as the Italian Cohort,  (2)  a devout man who feared God with all his household, gave alms generously to the people, and prayed continually to God.  (3)  About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God come in and say to him, “Cornelius.”  (4)  And he stared at him in terror and said, “What is it, Lord?” And he said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.  (5)  And now send men to Joppa and bring one Simon who is called Peter.  (6)  He is lodging with one Simon, a tanner, whose house is by the sea.”  (7)  When the angel who spoke to him had departed, he called two of his servants and a devout soldier from among those who attended him,  (8)  and having related everything to them, he sent them to Joppa.  (9)  The next day, as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the housetop about the sixth hour to pray.  (10)  And he became hungry and wanted something to eat, but while they were preparing it, he fell into a trance  (11)  and saw the heavens opened and something like a great sheet descending, being let down by its four corners upon the earth.  (12)  In it were all kinds of animals and reptiles and birds of the air.  (13)  And there came a voice to him: “Rise, Peter; kill and eat.” (14)  But Peter said, “By no means, Lord; for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.”  (15)  And the voice came to him again a second time, “What God has made clean, do not call common.” (16)  This happened three times, and the thing was taken up at once to heaven.  (17)  Now while Peter was inwardly perplexed as to what the vision that he had seen might mean, behold, the men who were sent by Cornelius, having made inquiry for Simon’s house, stood at the gate  (18)  and called out to ask whether Simon who was called Peter was lodging there.  (19)  And while Peter was pondering the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Behold, three men are looking for you.  (20)  Rise and go down and accompany them without hesitation, for I have sent them.”  (21)  And Peter went down to the men and said, “I am the one you are looking for. What is the reason for your coming?”  (22)  And they said, “Cornelius, a centurion, an upright and God-fearing man, who is well spoken of by the whole Jewish nation, was directed by a holy angel to send for you to come to his house and to hear what you have to say.”

Acts 9:1-6  But Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest  (2)  and asked him for letters to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem.  (3)  Now as he went on his way, he approached Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven shone around him.  (4)  And falling to the ground he heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (5)  And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. (6)  But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.”

Acts 9:10-17  Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.”  (11)  And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, (12)  and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” (13)  But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem.  (14)  And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.”  (15)  But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. (16)  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” (17)  So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

Acts 8:26-31  Now an angel of the Lord said to Philip, “Rise and go toward the south to the road that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.” This is a desert place.  (27)  And he rose and went. And there was an Ethiopian, a eunuch, a court official of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure. He had come to Jerusalem to worship  (28)  and was returning, seated in his chariot, and he was reading the prophet Isaiah.  (29)  And the Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and join this chariot.”  (30)  So Philip ran to him and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?”  (31)  And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he invited Philip to come up and sit with him.

2nd Timothy 4:2  preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.