Do you think all your spiritual experiences will occur in church? Your fellowship with your fellow believers is a rich and essential part of your faith. Yet there are other experiences that contribute as well. Do you recall my wilderness experience? Do you recall that I was led there by the Spirit? This was not a rejection of human fellowship but it was important for me to spend some time alone. There may be some times when this is necessary  for you too. In some faith traditions this is a common practice.

Are you familiar with the Great Commission? I commanded my followers to preach the good news of the gospel message to every creature. You refer to this work as evangelism. What aspect of it do you think is most important? Do you place the most emphasis on apologetics? On having your doctrine correct? How important do you think this is to those you encounter? Is that their primary concern? The people you meet are lost in darkness and starved for love. This is something you can give them right now, and will draw them to me.

How strong is your identity? Have you noticed people who must prove themselves right in all their choices, starting with their church and political opinions, and even down to their tastes and preferences? This may seem like a strong identity, but if you craft it for yourself it will inevitably be weak, and therefore need a strong defense. Have you encountered other people who don’t feel the need to prove themselves right? Don’t they seem to be more secure and stable in their identity? If you know that you are held in the palm of my hand you can relax.

As I turned from being focused on theology to being focused on story, I soon recognized that the heart of the story is God touching our lives. In the Garden of Eden, He touched by walking with Adam and Eve in the Garden in the cool of the day. When Jesus taught, He touched by laying on hands and healing as He ministered in the streets. In revivalist healing crusades, it is the touch of the Holy Spirit that draws the soul to Christ and heals and transforms the body. So it is time for me to add to any theologically-focused teaching the opportunity for people to encounter Jesus directly by being touched by Him.

Is that not what the Toronto blessing is all about – being touched by the Holy Spirit? Is this not what Kathryn Kuhlman's and Oral Robert's healing services were all about? Is the same not true concerning John Wimber's, Bill Johnson's, Billy Graham's and Reinhard Bonnke's meetings, along with so many others which I could mention?

It is time we change our focus from studies about God to encounters with God! We do this by walking and living by the Spirit (Galatians 5:25). This provides continuous ongoing encounter with our Heavenly Father. Not thinking about Him, but encountering Him. Remember, this is the COMMANDED LIFESTYLE, to live and walk by the Spirit. This is the way we are to live. This is the heavenly design. All else is a dead work (Hebrews 6:1,2).