Last weekend my church had their annual conference! It was such a fun and blessed time. This conference was called the Empowered Conference and it was focused on freedom. Let me tell you, this generation is hungry for Jesus! There was a song at the end of the conference that was sung and with everyone singing, it sounded like revival.
The conference had 3 main sessions and I just want to write down my thoughts and key points on each one.
~ Session One: The first speaker was talking about offense. We are so easy to get offended and hold onto for a while. Thoughts breed offense, which isn't good because offense closes you off from the blessings God has for us. Offense is something that has happened to us but being offended is holding on to that offense and letting it burn within us. It is against our human nature to let go of offense but forgiveness is the only thing that can heal us being offended.
~Session Two: This session had two speakers in it but they both touched on the similar things. They talked about obedience and assignment. We are called to lay our lives down for the Lord. Romans 12:1 says this, "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God- this is your true and proper worship." Our sacrifice is true worship. When we lay our lives down and pick up our cross to follow Jesus (Matthew 16:24), we are obeying what we are called to do. Obedience change things. When we obey the call that is on our lives, we get an assignment. God gives us something that we personally can do. It doesn't mean it won't be difficult but it is worth it. In the Bible, suffering for the Lord is considered a good thing. Fasting is something that is important. Pain accompanies fasting but fasting births the assignment God gives us.
~ Session Three: The last speaker talked about relationship with God. It takes God to reveal Himself to the human heart. Ephesians 1:17 is a great verse to pray when you want to get to know God better. Once we start getting to know God more, He starts opening us up to things that we may not know are dark or bad but it is something we need to remove from our lives. We need the light of Jesus to expose our hearts. We can pray and ask to know God's will for us in the certain area and He can enlighten us. We really have to surrender to God for Him to begin working in us. A very practical way to get to know God better is to talk to Him during the day. You may look a little crazy but have an out loud conversation with Him and He will answer. It won't sound like an actual conversation but He is listening.
This conference was such a great time and I learned so much to be able to get to know God better and follow Him wholeheartedly. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom! A great song about freedom that was sung at the conference is called Freedom by Jesus Culture. I would totally recommended this song, so give it a listen.
JATS