And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.  2 Corinthians 3:18 

1 Thess 1:1-8

Recurrent Thought

Christ-devoted followers grow from glory to glory. However, this is proportional to the intensity of one’s hunger for experiences with God.

Spiritual encounters are significant experiences that change our perception of the truth of God that arrests our lives at that moment or in that season. It illuminates or heightens the significance knowledge of God in our lives to the end that it may sound totally new to us, albeit it is the same word of God. By the Grace of God, Paul most times would claim that whenever he preached the gospel to his hearers, his goal was that they experience transformation by the Word and the experience with the Holy Spirit. 

Background

In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were arrested, set in Prison but when the earthquake opened the prison, and Paul informed the leaders he was a Roman Citizen, they were released. He then went to Thessalonica where after his typical ministry at the synagogue some people believed (Acts 17:4). The ministry was so powerful such that Jews stirred up a riot to drive Paul out. They arrested Jason the one who hosted them and accused him that he worked with the people the “turned the world upside down.” Within a short time an assembly is formed, Paul left for Berea (17:10-15) and then he traveled to Athens (Acts 17:16-34) and later to Corinth (Acts 18:5). It seems while in Berea Timothy and Silas went back to Thessalonica for Paul travels alone to Athens and they rejoin with him only in Corinth. It seems he wrote this letter from Corinth on this second apostolic journey, if so, then some scholars think this was the earliest of the letters he wrote. 

The Reasons for writing seem to be three fold. First, he writes to defend him against unnamed opponents who are slandering him. Based on his defense in chapter 2, these opponents claim Paul has no divine authority and used the local church to enrich himself. Second, Second, although Timothy gave an “encouraging report” (1 Thess. 3:6-10), he also seems to have reported on a few issues in the church. It is clear that in 4:3-8 Paul dealt with sexual immorality, and encouraged people to control themselves and live in an honorable way. He also deals in 4:9-12 with the need for believers to live a “quiet life” and to work to provide for their own needs. Third, he addresses some concerns about the return of the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-5:11).

Structure is typical of Paul. He has indicates his authorship and the people he is with him, to whom it is addressed and the Salutation to God. He then mentions his prayers for them and in Chapter 2 deals with the reason for writing and later in Chapter 5 a small section with short introductory issues on doctrines. I have jumped Ch. 1: 3 on importance of the Three Primal Life Forces of Faith, Hope and Love. I will come back to this later. Today’s urgent message is to understand the need for constant spiritual growth that is necessitated by spiritual Encounters. Here are some following truths about encounters

1. Word and Deed (Spirit) Encounters (Ch. 2:5)

   • Paul constantly desired in his preaching the Gospel it was to set a platform for both a Truth & and Power Encounters; Paul clearly states that the Conveyors of Spiritual Encounters are platforms of  Truth and Power Encounters
   • Truth encounter is when people are confronted by the Word of God carried under the unction of the Holy Spirit igniting a transformation of life
   • Power Encounter is any outward demonstration of God's sovereign power used to advance the kingdom of God.
   • The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the Word and truth that confronts human minds in the Truth Encounter
   • Both encounters are necessary despite that only truth encounter ushers in the Transformation of the heart. 
   • Read Romans 15: 18-20 ;1 Cor. 2: 1-5
2. Spiritual Lives are Shaped and Changed by Encounters 
   1. Paul clearly shows that due to this Truth and Power Encounter people’s lives were changed. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you (1:5b)
   2. Spiritual Growth is a Product of Encounters
3. Spiritual Encounters help to Produce Convictions
   1. Convictions are strongly held believe that drive action
   2. A man with strong convictions is more reliable than one without
   3. Convictions are demonstrated practically (1: 5b)

Results of Encounter

When you encounter the Lord, varied results occur depending on what God aims to work in our lives. Some people may experience the following changes:

1. Repentance and Deep Contrition (Psa.51:3–4) Most encounters forces us to come to have another level of understanding with our own sinfulness and need for forgiveness.  
2. New understanding, Knowledge and Direction.  (Matt 4:18–20) Every spiritual encounter, ushers newer illumination of the word (knowledge) that takes you to another level of understanding the revelation of God and ultimately demands a new direction in life. 
3. Transformed character (Gen. 32:1–8, 27–28) Character change is inevitable. When Jacob encountered God, his relationship with his brother Esau changed. 
4. Fresh and Renewed love for God and His Will  (John 21:14–19) We realize we have more chances to establish our love for him. When Peter had an encounter with Jesus at the Shore of Lake Galilee after having denied him, he had a renewed love for God

If encounters are essential and mark our shifts into new levels of living, how do I then get ready for one? A Christ devoted follower must 

1. Always develop an attitude of openness and transparency before the Lord 
2. When the Lord speaks, surrender to Him and seek to do whatever He wants to do in you,
3. Be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Wait before him 
4. Have hunger and expectancy 

Principle on Spiritual Growth 

Believers have little growth because they have less encounters with the Word and the Spirit and the absence of encounters is directly related to the level of hunger to have an experience with God (Psalm 42: 1-3; 2 Cor. 3: 16-18)

Conclusion

Hunger is the prerequisite for Word and Spirit Encounters