My Walkabout - Day 2 - Hillsong 1st Night

I recognise Sydney like an old friend. The colours, the smells, the food, the people, and the architecture, all remind me how much I have missed her. We went to Circular Quay today for a walkabout. I enjoyed the aimless stroll we had, making decisions as we went along.

His Grace leads us so effortlessly.
Here is one instance of how He handles things. Mom had wanted to take a ride on the ferry ever since we bought the daytripper pass. (A transportation ticket that allows for unlimited rides on the train, bus and ferry services) I was against the idea because I thought that we wouldn’t have enough time to get back to Circular Quay and travel to Olympic Park station where the conference is held. So I kept refusing to go for the ferry ride. My mom went silent in disappointment. I think she was praying. I think it is true when God says He can meet all our needs. While looking at the map, my attention was diverted to the ferry services map. The words Olympic Park caught my eye. It turns out that there’s a ferry from Circular Quay to the Olympic Park. We went enquire about it at the ticket booth and found out that the next ferry would be 15 minutes later. There wouldn’t be another ferry service for at least another hour. God answered both our desires in His special way. It was a beautiful journey. The cold wind and light drops of rain were so refreshing.

His Grace stopped the rain
After the conference, we met up with Eileen and her friends and decided to all have dinner together at a restaurant near the Rocks. To make a long frustrating story short, we ended up eating at Hungry Jacks (Burger King) in Town Hall. While we were eating, it started to rain, and I mean it was pouring. We were so far from the station and it was late at night. I could feel their eyes on me, analyzing my reaction. I could feel the irritation welling up inside me as the rain came down harder and harder. It started just above my tummy, past my heart, up my chest into my throat and in my mouth, the words, “Thank You, Jesus” surfaced. I was surprised at those gracious words. But I knew at once it was right. So I repeated it over and over again. I said to my parents, “It is real.”
I was referring to His power over the weather being real. I spoke to Father God, “You have to stop it, God. We need to get back to the hotel.”

And it did.
Craig Groeschel spoke about it tonight. He was speaking about the Power of God. The thing that separates churches that thrive and grow, from the churches that simply exist. He defined it as a hunger or passion that believers have. Immediately, I was reminded of the team of young poietes, the doers, in our church and it made me excited. He could not really define it but he knew what it did to the early church in Acts 2:42-27. People could see it in operation as needs were being met.

The bible uses extreme words:
o everyone filled with awe
o all who believed were together
o they had all things in common
o giving to all who were poor
o had favour with all the people
o daily increase of those saved

This was the result of having it.

1. Churches and Ministries who have it have a LASER FOCUS
   - They know their calling. What to do and what NOT to do.
   - They reach people no one else is reaching by doing what no one else is doing.
   - They don’t duplicate what others are doing. When we start to compete with other churches or imitate blindly, we’ve lost the plot
   - If we are not making a difference, its time to re-examine why we are doing it.
   - Just because we can do something doesn’t mean we should do it
   - What are we doing that we need to stop doing?
   
2. Churches and Ministries who have it see OPPORTUNITIES where others see obstacles.
   - They are so passionate that they find a way for it to be done. They are not thrown off by hindrances or lack.
   - We must realise that God has provided everything that is needed for us to achieve what He has called us to do
   - The reason why we can’t is not because of what we lack materially or physically but because of what we lack in passion!
   - God doesn’t just guide by what He provides, He also guides by what He withholds. Acts 3:36 shows what Peter didn’t have and using what He had. The name of Jesus. Or limitations can become our greatest innovation!
   
3. Churches and Ministries that have it are willing to fail.
   - Those who play it safe will never get it. There cannot be increase without taking chances The person who plays it safe doesn’t fail but also achieves NOTHING. (Matthew 25:14-30 -> parable of the talents)
   - If we do fail, shake off failure and condemnation, sin and shame. Step up and keep going.
   - The greatest failure of the new testament, Peter, became a great preacher at Pentecost. (Acts 2:14-41)
   
4. Churches and Ministries that have it are led by people who have it.
   - You cannot copy what others have. Learn & discover it for yourself!
   - If you have it in your heart, you will start to see it in reality.

More updates coming soon!