I am currently in Colorado in tbe US at a pastor’s conference. Yesterday was the first day of the conference, and it was so powerful. In the morning, we saw some caves and my daughter jumped off a cliff (she’s fine and she loved it), then off to the evening service. Meeting so many old friends before the service was just wonderful. We all need friends and peers!
The worship was so peaceful and powerful, centred on Jesus. It was so easy to focus on Jesus here. A lot of that is due to the lack of distractions, although we still are doing a little bit of pastoral care and ministry across the pond, as well as solving some logistical problems.
It’s Andrew Wommack’s fortieth pastors conference, so they played a stunning video with clips from the last forty years, beautiful to see all the old meetings, especially my precious friend and mentor Dave Duell ministering life to so many people!
Then Andrew received a powerful offering. It just made me think so much about how we believe for money. You cannot dream small on his property, just being here provokes me to dream bigger when it comes to using finances to extend the kingdom
What a glorious message was next! Andrew preached on hell, and how we have to accept the God of the Bible not the God of our imagination, which would of course be an idol.
He reminded us that there is grace (as if he has to, he taught most of us the principles of grace), then shared some powerful truths on the fear of the Lord.
We found out hell was made for satan, not us (Matt. 25.41), we discovered that if we truly fear the Lord we will hate evil (Proverbs 8.13).
Andrew warned strongly against using grace as an excuse to sin or not be disciplined, something I see a lot in the UK sadly. He then challenged all the ministers in the room to stop being offended about truth and stop being embarrassed about preaching truth. So powerful and clear. He warned that there were coming battles and that fairweather soldiers would not stand long. He challenged us to put the will of God over feeling good.
He shared his own battles with the government over the right to hold church services and it was so inspiring.
I face battles with situations, with landlords, with all sorts of people who think they know best, and last night’s message has reassured my heart that these battles are normative to anyone who wants to live for God and minister life to others and given me the confidence to keep on doing the will of God with boldness and confidence. We do not have the right to debate with God, we must step up and do what He tells us to do, no matter the cost.
One of the most powerful moments for me was when Andrew was asked by a politician who was touring his buildings, “are you proud?” and Andrew replied “proud is not quite the right word, because I had nothing to do with it, I am rathe grateful”. We really have nothing to do with the glorious things God is doing through us, and our only response can be to say thank you to Jesus and the Spirit.
Finally, Andrew said that we have to be careful with some identity teaching if it makes us forget that in our flesh is no good thing. He quoted Isaiah 51.1, which commands us to look to the rock from which we are hewn and to look to the pit from which we come from. We do need to gaze at our identity in the Spirit, and realize we are in Christ, Righteous, pure, Holy, anointed and blessed. But we must not forget to remember we are not worthy of our calling, that our flesh is still capable of any evil, so be careful to walk in the Spirit.
Again, a great remedial to the slippery approach some have to grace, thinking it means they don’t need to pray, tithe, go to church or read the Word – and a great reminder to all of us to lean on the Spirit not the flesh.
Walk with Him! Put the time in to learn from Him, and be bold about the truth.
I’ve been encouraged so much and that’s only day 1. Praise God and thank God.
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