It
is a disservice attending conferences sowing ridiculous amounts of money and
not having received practical spiritual information to apply daily. A
conference without workshops on successful life lessons will only raise
awareness or ignite a fire but will not be sufficient enough to show people
what to do with it while it’s burning. When a conference is planned, keynote
speakers are flown in and raise tens if not hundreds of thousands of dollars
then go back to their homes, having made little to any impact in the region.
Jobs are not created, businesses not started, practical instructions on how to
live empowered and productive lives in order to achieve goals are absent, but yet
it was a powerful meeting that required a seed. What money goes back into the
community for the use of empowerment projects? What did the people truly
receive that will jump start economic revolution that’s capable of overflowing
out of their local community into the global. The first conference Peter held
drew three thousand people to salvation. With one letter, the writings of Paul
changed nations. There wasn't a huge honorarium. They totally trusted the Lord
and He supplied their needs. Can you imagine the level of impact these Apostles
would make with the multitude of platforms and vehicles to distribute the
gospel of Jesus as we have today? Their titles were justified through the great
works they accomplished regardless of whether it was a multitude of people or
encountering just one person that desired freedom. How much progress have we
truly made? As Peter, who did not have to fast and pray because he spent three
and a half years in the presence of the Lord walking, conversing, being
educated, having dinner, or sleeping, he experienced the Lord and various
regards outside of the routine of Sunday morning worship. Because of this level
of relationship anytime Peter opened his mouth the power of the Lord filled the
environment and people experienced the glory in such a way that wouldn't allow
them to go home unchanged. As Paul and Silas offered up praises to the Lord,
being bound in a natural prison, they invoked the presence of God so mightily
that His spiritual presence brought natural liberation to their situation;
relationship did this. It wasn't a microwave, drive through service where one
would experience prayer (place an order), praise & worship (make payment),
scripture lesson (receive meal), and closing prayer (thanks for coming/have a
nice day) within a timely manner then drive off. It was quality time spent
daily or personal relationship that led to a public display of private
fellowship. The presence of God is more than just Goosebumps, a dance, shout,
emotionally gratifying song led by the most talented/popular; or well
articulated lesson that sends people home with no clue on how to effectively
apply biblical principles to their daily living. It's not about intellectualism
but most importantly relationship. Relationship on a personal level was the key
to successful ministry publicly. Today people have become accustomed to major
conferences and the run sheets of the talented, educated, and popular that they
fail to realize the level of impact it actually made in the region held. The
entire nation is in Recession, who will dare to change it or the people so that
they aren't affected? Carnality does not bring Godly change. God can and has
taken the least likeliest to show Himself strong through simply off of the
strength of a relationship. Who's willing to submit their relationship to the
Lord as a conduit for His strength to be shown? Religion and tradition always
places people in a box that God cannot and will not fit in. When all of the
walls of simply having church fall down, God will show up wherever one may be
and He will provide instructions on how to get to the place where He abides;
even showing how to lead all of His people to that place. The goal is getting
to where He is through the vehicle of relationship not getting Him to where we are
through traditional religious practice. (Sigh)