Worship - continued

This has been a very rich week for me. At times pastors have all the fun, but sometimes I wonder how our wives get replenished. There are so few times when wives can get away to enjoy the same conferences we pastors enjoy, especially if they work outside the home.

Anyway, let me be selfish and talk about me and my experiences. I began (this time Linda joined me) with the worship described in my previous blog - our time with the Singing Men of South Texas. Each song washed over us like the balm of Gilead. Then came Monday. Monday, I picked up "my pastor" Bob Wiles, and the two of us journeyed north to Pilgrim Pines Conference Center. For the next 3+ days we spent in prayer, worshipping our God. At times there was confession; other times we gathered around another pastor for prayer; still other times we broke off in small groups praying for specific needs each one of us had.

I remember my first Prayer Summit way back in 1991. There I met God in a most wonderful, liberating experience. I bawled like a baby, raised my hands in wonderful worship, and experienced the healing of anointed prayer by my brother pastors. This Summit was like revisiting that memorial altar. Another brother felt the same way. He was at a point of transition, just like he was back in 1992. Then he had the brothers pray over him, and this week he made sure the hot seat was exactly where it was so many years ago. Wow - the power of memorial altars.

During some quiet time in prayer I was struck by our inability to do anything of consequence for God; it was totally dependent on his empowerment, breathing into his work his Spirit. I wondered what that meant - why wasn't there of a more positive message. That afternoon session provided the answer. Someone mentioned the power of Christ's name. We work in his name; we don't have silver and gold, all we have is the name of Jesus and that is enough. That spread over the pastors like a powerful wave. One after another picked up on that, and then it dawned on me - we have authority, we have the name of Jesus. We do ministry NOT in our own power, but in the power of the name of Jesus. It is not magical; it is the person of Jesus through his Spirit who accomplishes spiritual ministry. if I want to do something it must be in the name of Jesus, not words but in his authority. WOW.

This past Sunday began with the Singing Men of South Texas; my week was spent in prayer with fellow pastors; now this Sunday Gavin and Glenda Williams will join us for a Sunday afternoon tea, sharing their training mission to India, Africa and Romania. What a luck guy I am!