Every camp, conference, “revival” service etc. that I get a chance to be a part of I am ALWAYS challenged by the same thought. That thought isn’t any different while at the Ascent pastors conference I find myself at this week. They announced that there were pastors from over 40 states present at this conference. We’ve experienced AMAZING worship and INSPIRING Word delivered by some GREAT speakers. I’m saddened by the fact that many pastors (I know because I’ve thought this way before) leave thinking, I wish we had God at our church like they have at theirs. I want to grab them by the shoulders, look them square in the eye and say “YOU DO! The SAME GOD that you experienced at that conference is waiting for you back home. You just refuse to experience Him in your own setting.”
As a youth pastor I had so many students say “I wish God was at youth group like He was at camp.” Did God change or us? It wasn’t God. I’ve heard church people say similar things about other churches, other personal experiences or some of our own experiences at church. SURE, there are times God rains down an unusual outpouring of Himself, but typically, we become enamored with the moment, the surroundings, the EMOTION and we aren’t enamored enough with GOD. I truly believe that if we enamor ourselves with the GOD OF THE AGES, we will experience Him in ways that we would describe “conference, camp or revival” like. I hope we leave this conference NOT with a new greed and jealousy for the THINGS that seem to create a movement of God, but with a genuine HUNGER and EXPECTATION for GOD HIMSELF. We need to remember, this church started with NOTHING and STILL experienced God. When people HUNGER AND THIRST for God, all these things will be given unto them. I hope my hunger for God is NEVER replaced by my hunger for the experience.
Challenged,
Jeff
