Significant Encounters with God Through Scripture in Worship

Significant encounters with God through Scripture in worship are understood as moments where individuals experience God's presence and truth, often facilitated by the reading and proclamation of the biblical text. These encounters are not merely intellectual exercises but involve a spiritual engagement that transforms the worshiper ^[8].

The Bible itself describes various forms of access to God. This access is consistently presented as originating from God, mediated through Christ, and enabled by the Holy Spirit ^[1]. For instance, Jesus states, "I am the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). The Apostle Paul further elaborates that through Christ, believers "have access by one Spirit to the Father" (Ephesians 2:18). This access is obtained through faith ^[1]. Reconciliation with God, achieved through Christ's atoning work, precedes and enables this access ^{[4, 6]}.

Worship, in its various forms, provides a context for such encounters. Prayer is a primary means of converse with God, described as "the intercourse of the soul with God" ^[2]. It can be oral or mental, formal or spontaneous, and is characterized by "beseeching the Lord" or "pouring out the soul before the Lord" ^[2]. The sanctification of things, including worship, occurs "through God's Word and prayerful intercourse" ^[3]. The Psalms frequently depict individuals and communities drawing near to God in prayer and in His temple ^{[1, 2]}. For example, Psalm 73:28 states, "But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works."

The reading and proclamation of Scripture are central to worship, providing the content through which God reveals Himself. The "testimonies" or "Scriptures" are considered "wonderful" because they testify of God, His will, and His works, including creation, providence, and miracles ^[11]. True worship involves encountering God's truth as revealed by His Spirit ^[8]. This is why believers pray for "a door for the word" to be opened, so that the mystery of Christ can be spoken ^[5].

Encounters with God's glory often evoke a profound response, such as falling on one's face, as seen in various biblical accounts (e.g., Isaiah 6:5; Daniel 8:17; Revelation 1:17) ^[9]. These experiences frequently occur in significant locations, such as mountains, which are often depicted in Scripture as places of divine encounter ^[10]. However, the New Testament emphasizes that God's presence is not limited to physical locations but is accessible through Christ and the Spirit ^[1].

The concept of "communion with God" is closely related to these encounters. This communion is with the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit ^[6]. It is promised to the obedient and is experienced by saints in meditation, prayer, and the Lord's Supper ^[6]. The Lord's Supper, a central act of Christian worship, was instituted by Jesus during the Passover and is a means of communion with Christ ^{[7, 6]}.

Sources

Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Access to God — Is of God -- Ps 65:4. Is by Christ -- Joh 10:7, 9; 14:6; Ro 5:2; Eph 2:13; 3:12; Heb 7:9, 25; 10:19; 1Pe 3:18. Is by the Holy Spirit -- Eph 2:18. Obtained through faith -- Ac 14:27; Ro 5:2; Eph 3:12; Heb 11:6. Follows upon reconciliation to God -- Col 1:21,22. In Prayer -- See Prayer. De 4:7; Mt 6:6; 1Pe 1:17. In his temple -- Ps 15:1; 27:4; 43:3; 65:4. To obtain mercy and grace -- Heb 4:16. A privilege of saints -- De 4:7; Ps 15:1; 23:6; 24:3,4. Saints have, with confidence -- Eph 3:12; Heb 4:16; 10:19,20. Vouchsafed to repenting sinners -- See Repen”
Easton's Bible Dictionary “Easton's Bible Dictionary: Prayer — Is converse with God; the intercourse of the soul with God, not in contemplation or meditation, but in direct address to him. Prayer may be oral or mental, occasional or constant, ejaculatory or formal. It is a "beseeching the Lord" (Ex. 32:11); "pouring out the soul before the Lord" (1 Sam. 1:15); "praying and crying to heaven" (2 Chr. 32:20); "seeking unto God and making supplication" (Job 8:5); "drawing near to God" (Ps. 73:28); "bowing the knees" (Eph. 3:14). Prayer presupposes a belief in the personality of God, his ability and willingness to hold inter”
I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (LITV) — for through God's Word and prayerful intercourse, it is sanctified.”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Reconciliation With God — Predicted -- Da 9:24; Isa 53:5. Proclaimed by angels at the birth of Christ -- Lu 2:14. Blotting out the hand-writing of ordinances is necessary to -- Eph 2:16; Col 2:14. Effected for men By God in Christ. -- 2Co 5:19. By Christ as High Priest. -- Heb 2:17. By the death of Christ. -- Ro 5:10; Eph 2:16; Col 1:21,22. By the blood of Christ. -- Eph 2:13; Col 1:20. While alienated from God. -- Col 1:21. Without strength. -- Ro 5:6. Yet sinners. -- Ro 5:8. While enemies to God. -- Ro 5:10. The ministry of committed to ministers -- 2Co 5:18,19. Mi”
Colossians “praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; -- Colossians 4:3”
Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Communion With God — Is communion with the Father -- 1Jo 1:3. Is communion with the Son -- 1Co 1:9; 1Jo 1:3; Re 3:20. Is communion with the Holy Spirit -- 1Co 12:13; 2Co 13:14; Php 2:1. Reconciliation must precede -- Am 3:3. Holiness essential to -- 2Co 6:14-16. Promised to the obedient -- Joh 14:23. Saints Desire. -- Ps 42:1; Php 1:23. Have, in meditation. -- Ps 63:5,6. Have, in prayer. -- Php 4:6; Heb 4:16. Have, in the Lord's supper. -- 1Co 10:16. Should always enjoy. -- Ps 16:8; Joh 14:16-18. Exemplified Enoch. -- Ge 5:24. Noah. -- Ge 6:9. Abraham. -- Ge 18:33. J”
Smith's Bible Dictionary “Smith's Bible Dictionary: Lords Supper — The words which thus describe the great central act of the worship of the Christian Church occur but in a single passage of the New Testament-- (1 Corinthians 11:20) + Its institution .--It was instituted on that night when Jesus and his disciples met together to eat the passover, (Matthew 26:19; Mark 14:16; Luke 22:13) (on Thursday evening, April 6, A.D. 30). It was probably instituted at the third cup (the cup of blessing) of the passover [see on [821]Passover], Jesus taking one of the unleavened cakes used at the feast and breaking it and giving it t”
John (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on John 4:24: 4:24 in spirit and in truth: One Greek preposition governs both words (literally in spirit and truth) and makes them a single concept. True worship occurs as God’s Spirit reveals God’s truth and reality to the worshiper. Jesus Christ is the Truth (14:6; cp. 14:17; 15:26).”
Matthew (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Matthew 17:6: 17:6-7 Such a response is typical for encounters with God’s glory (e.g., Isa 6:5; Dan 8:17; 10:9, 15-19; Rev 1:17).”
Revelation (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Revelation 21:10: 21:10 a great, high mountain: In Scripture, experiences with God frequently take place on the mountains (cp. Ezek 40:2; see also Exod 3:1; 19:10-25; Deut 34:1-4; 1 Kgs 18:20-40; 19:8-18; Matt 5:1; 15:29; 17:1; 24:3; 28:16). • the holy city . . . descending out of heaven from God: God’s presence and eternal life cannot be reached by human effort but are received as a gift (Eph 2:8-9; cp. 2 Cor 5:1).”
Psalms (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Psalms 119:125: PE.--The Seventeenth Part. PE. Thy testimonies are wonderful,.... The Scriptures, which testify of God, his mind and will, are wonderful both with respect to the author of them, the things contained in them, and the use and advantage of them. They give an account of the wonderful works of creation; of their author and matter; of the manner, order, and time of their being wrought: they relate many wonderful events of Providence, both in a way of mercy and judgment; they declare several surprising miracles, wrought by Moses and others, and exhibit many marvellous t”

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