Throughout the conference, the unifying theme of social justice was evidence that God is not only working and speaking to the Churches of Singapore but He is speaking to His universal Church as a whole, the Church of Jesus Christ. It's amazing to see different speakers from different parts of the world coming together and sharing the same heart despite being thousand of miles apart in their daily lives. It was helped by the fact that whatever that the 40 days of fast booklet was emphasizing on that week.
When i first heard God say go for Hillsong Conference at the beginning of the year, i was excited as i thought God was finally sharing His heart with me about worship. I continued to seek God throughout the months and as it draws closer to the conference, God was moving in a different way and during our Family Camp in Melaka, God started speaking to me about His heart and my serving. God was again stirring my heart for ministry. I followed and continued to seek Him through the busy month of June. In the week that i was preparing to leave, i was asking God what He wants me to learn in Hillsong Conference as i have a feeling that He's not going to bring me all the way to Australia (considering all the finances needed just to make the trip) just to teach me about worship. All i got was this, "
Go and keep quiet... Hear My heart..." So in my heart i was thinking, "oh, He ready to share His heart of worship with me" I left Singapore Airport with that understanding.
I arrived in Sydney on Monday afternoon, after a short transit in the Perth Airport, with much excitement. (reason being that this is my first trip to Australia!) I met up with my conference team and before long, we were in the Acer Arena for the opening session. It was in the second opening session that night that God started speaking. Judah Smith was the speaker of the second session and He brought the message of embracing the identity of a son of God with the passage from Luke 15 on the Prodigal Son. The punch line that night "
son not by worth but son by birth". I had to leave that place with tears in my eyes embracing a new identity and a new understanding of who i am in the Family of God.
Over the next few days, God continued to share His heart for His church and His people but more importantly, He was preparing me for the season ahead. God used 5 different sessions to form the basis of the next season for me. Joel Houston, Paul DeJong, Joyce Meyer, Marcos Witts and Judah Smith were the speakers.
Joel Houston - Basis of worship leading and social justice
Paul DeJong - The prophetic voice
Joyce Meyer - Transition from serving to leading
Marcos Witt - Being strong in my weaknesses and serving through my weaknesses
Judah Smith - Being His instrument
Despite Hillsong Church being known for their worship, i must say that the amount of worship that i learnt compared to the heartbeat of God is miles away. 10% worship and 90% His heartbeat sums it all up for the learning process. Nonetheless, the worship in that place was fantastic, majestic and professional yet God-led. Imagine seeing the Hillsong Team, Israel Hougton and Leeland on the same platform, the atmosphere was amazing.
Although hearing people sharing that how much of the worship in that is due to hype but being there to experience it, it was not hype but an expressed expressiveness of the excitement towards God in people's heart. I believe this is what God is calling His Church to be, to live out in physical the excitement towards Him in our worship time and our lives.
After the conference, i had 2 days to roam around Sydney before heading down to Melbourne on a overnight train ride. I thank God for giving me a opportunity not just attend Hillsong Conference but also to have a break in Australia. I had an enjoyable time in Melbourne and was able to visit Vicky in Tasmania. (I have uploaded all my photos into my facebook account, please feel free to go and take a look at the things that i did in Australia.)
An episode with God.
While i was in conference, i started having pain and later swelling in the right side of my mouth. I couldn't eat for 4 days as i wasn't able to open my mouth to put the food in and water was all i could muster. I started complaining to God and then He spoke to me. The pain that i felt was the same pain that the poor felt. Many times when the poor walk around the streets and seeing people with food on their table but none on their own, that was what they felt. It was the same pain that the Father felt when He sees His children having food on the table while the poor have nothing. Straight away, i knew i had to stop complaining and started to dialogue with Him. I said to Him, "Papa, so what should we do?" He said,
"Feed the poor". There and there i know God is turning my eyes to the poor and the needy. Later that night, He gave me a test immediately.
I was walking back to hostel after conference and i saw this backpacker sitting at the junction of the road with a sign, "Need help for a room and a hot coffee" In my natural mode, i would normally walk away and not think about it, but as i walk and walk and walk, the Holy Spirit just kept saying, "
Hello! Hello! Poor and needy" I knew i couldn't ignore it, i walk back to the junction and gave the fellow money enough for 2 nights and meals. This is just how God teaches me. Giving me a opportunity to put into actions what i learnt. Faith with works and works without faith accumulate to nothing.
James 2:20 - 24
20You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless[d]? 21Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. 23And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. 24You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone.
