Joyce Meyer Conference 2009

Lois and I went to the Joyce Meyer Conference 2009 in Tulsa tonight. It was a fantastic event. Great worship, Delirious? was there performing their new songs (& we sang our heart out); great preaching from Joyce on "Obedience". It's a spirit filled evening. Many stood up to accept Christ to be born again, including a mid-age couple who sat behind us. So Lois and I touched his arm as we prayed together. Hallelujah! Thank you Joyce & Delirious?

I didn't know what would be in store for us on tonight's preaching but it turned out to be perfect for me. I have been studying/researching the subject of "discipleship" this year and a huge part of it involves "obedience". I'm just amazed once again how God feed me spiritually. It's so unpredictable and full of surprises especially in unexpected circumstances. He ties my encounters with scriptures to tell me how alive the Word really is.

Here are some highlights of what I've received tonight:

Radical in Obedience

God intends us to obey. If we do what He says, we'll be able to live the good, joyful and fulfilled life God promises us. But we have to be straight with God first, to make peace with Him. 

I have learned that when I totally give myself to Him, I am able to allow God to anoint me with gifts so we can shine. Deuteronomy 6:23-24 told us to keep His commandments for our own good. Sometimes I'm doing things, good or not so good things, from the wrong motives; the right motive is more important because God looks into my heart of who I really am, not anybody else. 

Pure in Heart

Matthew 5:8 said, "Blessed (happy, enviably fortunate, and spiritually prosperous – possessing the happiness produced by the experience of God’s favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His grace, regardless of their outward conditions) are the pure in heart, for they shall see God!" (AMP)  I have to to guard my heart from "the sin of pride - moral pride, spiritual pride, the sin of self-righteousness" because the closer I get to God, the more I realize I am nothing without Him, all the blessings are from Him. God promotes people with the right character with the right heart.

Grace is not Cheap

Grace isn't an excuse to live a sloppy life. There must be a better way then to continue the cycle of sinning and forgiving. I now realized God gives me the "grace" so I can resist temptations and live a holy life that glorify Him.

I will start by paying more attention on the little things, such as saying "I'm sorry" first to my wife regardless of who's right or wrong. Making peace in the house is far more holy and win an argument.

Once I can handle the small things correctly, then God can put me onto bigger things.

I remembered an intense discussion in my Men's group in regards to why care if God's going to forgive us. The fact is: God forgives us if we ask Him but sin still has punishment. Grace doesn't relief us from the penalty of wrong doing. Don't we want to settle for sin and forgiveness so we can move onto deeper walk with Christ?

Mercy & Just

Quite often we remember God is "merciful" but forget He is also "just."

 "Any branch in Me that does not bear fruit [that stops bearing] He cuts away (trims off, takes away); and He cleanses and repeatedly prunes every branch that continues to bear fruit, to make it bear more and richer and more excellent fruit." (John 15:1, AMP) The more I know, the more responsibility I have to bear or I will open the door wide for the enemy.

As Joyce said, "Let's us get rid of excuses and get radical to live for God's glory." Amen.

I thank God tonight.