Mason: ‘Have an encounter with God’

SHERWOOD - Referencing Isaiah 6, Archie Mason, pastor of Central Baptist Church, Jonesboro, challenged pastors to have an encounter with God. Mason spoke during the Monday afternoon session of the Arkansas Baptist State Convention Evangelism and Church Growth Conference held at First Baptist Church, Sherwood, Jan. 23.

MasonJust as Isaiah encountered God when he was in the temple, Mason said Christians today also need that same kind of experience with God. “We need him to do a work in our hearts,” he said. 

Mason pointed out three aspects that Isaiah encountered when he experienced the presence of God. First, he said Isaiah encountered the holiness of God at a time when his nation was in a critical point, much like the United States today. 

“I don’t know if you know this or not, but we are at a critical point in our nation,” he said. “We need a move of God in our lives – in our churches – across our nation. May we pray and ask God to meet with us today.”

Mason said God spoke to Isaiah to give him a new sense of urgency, to prepare him for a difficult ministry and to show Isaiah his sin. 

“May we pray that God would renew our sense of urgency” he said, reminding participants that people who die without Christ “spend eternity in hell.”

Mason acknowledged that those attending the conference might be in a difficult or hard ministry. “The Lord has you there and He calls you to be faithful.

Mason said Isaiah’s encounter with God changed his life dramatically. “When was the last time you saw God through His Scripture, reveal Himself to you and it changed the course of your life,” Mason asked.

“That’s what we need – that’s what folks in churches need,” he explained.

Mason challenged pastors to preach the exclusivity of Jesus Christ in their churches because there are “lost” people there.

“If we will preach Jesus and preach Him high and exalted and lifted up, people will get saved in the church,” he said.

Mason said when Isaiah was confronted with God’s holiness, he was “overpowered” with the weight of his sin.

The heaviness of the glory of the Lord pushed the sin up in Isaiah’s life. “It’s almost like you can’t breathe,” he said, asking pastors “when was the last time you met with the Lord and you got to a place where you couldn’t breathe?” 

Second, Mason said Isaiah encountered the forgiveness of God. He challenged pastors who were dealing with sins such as pornography addiction and adultery confess their sins to their families and churches and find God’s forgiveness. “We need clean hands and pure hearts,” he added.

Last, Mason said Isaiah’s encounter gave him a fresh and new call from God.

Mason said though he faced opposition from family and friends, the calling he received from God was dramatic. “He changed the course of my life,” he explained. “And it’s all for His glory.”

Comments

[Sarah]

Praise be to God!