After 50+ hours of criss-crossing the eastern seaboard of North America and much of Europe, our team reunited in Armenia having witnessed the Lord work a miracle in working out our flight schedule and becoming more aware of his sovereignty and the power of prayer. Our travel delays allowed for the Lord to show that He is in control and works out all things for the good for those that love Him. Quite the precursor for the events of the conference to follow.
As exciting as flying and traveling can be, it was good to have finally arrived and be able to settle in at the resort. There was so much anticipation built up for Armenia that a delay in our arrival by a day caused it to feel as if we were spinning our wheels. It made us clamp down and focus in on what the Lord had in store for us. Over the next couple of days, our time was spent building relationships with Pastor Arman and his family, preparing for the History Maker II conference, ministering in villages, integrating in the other internationals as they arrived, and seeing the beautiful country of Armenia, learning a bit of its history and culture along the way. We ministered in a couple different villages, bringing food along with us to give to the many in need. The people were very appreciative of the food and were so gracious to share the little they had with us. We fellowshipped with them and tried to be the hands and feet of Christ to them. We were able to share music and Christ. As Pastor Arman’s dad spoke to the people about the love of Christ and his work on the Cross, people listened, and a few came to Christ that very day. Amen!
The conference started Thursday with brothers and sisters across Armenia arriving to join with those of us at the resort. The conference started off with some great worship by Burning Bush’s worship team. Even though we could not always understand the words to the songs or recognized the music, the presence of the Lord was evident and that is what matters. When we worship in Spirit and in truth, we are united in Christ. Even if we are singing in different languages there is unity there because we were as one body lifting up the name of Jesus. Over the course of three days of the conference, team members presented powerful messages, performed skits and music, shared meals, prayed for attendees, and shared life with one another. We laughed together as we played games, danced, and joked at the dinner table. We cried together as we were made more aware that Christ truly loves us, overcame sin and hindrances in our lives, and as we said our goodbyes. We prayed together, lifting up our brothers and sisters so that they could be encouraged, refreshed, given clarity, and set free from sin and death.
Prayer was a major factor in our trip and four times of prayer really stuck out. The first was in the airport in Washington DC. Since our flight to DC had been delayed we ended up missing our international flight. After talk to the airline desk, we were told we would not be able to get on a flight possibly until Tuesday. There are NO flights; there are NO seats available the ticket people told us. Given seemingly no hope, we decided to place our situation in the hands of the Lord. We prayed and did prayer walks through out the concourse during the night. As we returned to the ticket counter in the early morning, we found the miracle we had been praying for. The ticket agents were able to get the whole team on flights that morning. God answered our prayers!
The second time was during the morning conference session on Friday. The guys and gals were split up into separate groups as purity was discussed. As the word was brought forth in a straight-forward and vulnerable way, many were touched by the Lord. I can speak for the guys as many came forward for prayer wanting to become instruments for righteousness (Romans 6:11-18). Strongholds were shattered, walls were broken, confession and forgiveness met, and many lives I believe were changed. It was great to see my brothers lifting each other up, willing to share in the hard things with each other, to be an encouragement to one another, and to remind each other of the victory we have in Christ. The third time was Saturday morning, the third day of the conference. Up to this point there had been a lot of spiritual warfare going on and we took time that morning to really tackle it head on. Again, the Lord was faithful to hear our prayers, as the Holy Spirit directed us and gave clarity as to how to fight against the attacks being waged upon us by the enemy.
Fourthly, the last session of the conference Saturday night was a time of great prayer and impartation. We were able to pray for many of the attendees, for the workers of the resort, for the worship team, and for Pastor Arman and his family. It was especially sweet to my heart to stand back and see Pastor Arman, his family, his parents, and his brothers and their families, standing together on stage. Everyone of them, from his parents down to the grandchildren, are Christians who love the Lord and are on fire for Him. It was such an awesome picture to see a family standing united for Christ. And I believe it is an encouragement for people who may be singularly walking out their faith in their families. Keep praying for those family members and close friends who don’t know the Lord. It may not happen overnight, but the Lord will hear the prayers of his people. As we walk out our faith, our families will see Christ in us and how we have changed. It will bring about change in our families, so that they can become more and more Christ-centered and that someday down the line we too can stand with generations of our family that love the Lord. I think many on our team can attest to that, as we have witnessed the work of the Lord in our own families. The introduction of Christ to our families has to start somewhere. It may start with a singular person, but that one person can be used mightily by God to bring about change.
And we worshipped together. We sang. We clapped. We raised our hands and shouted for joy. We danced and knelt before the God. We truly sought out the presence of the Lord. It wasn’t about hype or the music or about being entertained. It was simply about communing with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Watching the video of the last night’s worship, one might see it as hokey or weird, maybe even ungenuine. But it was none of that. It was the Holy Spirit touching our lives, welling up in us a sense of joy and thankfulness that we just had to praise the Lord for it, be it by singing, dancing, or playing of instruments. I really believe we were embodying the words of the psalmist in Psalm 26: 6-8. -- “I wash my hands in innocence and go around your altar, O LORD, proclaiming thanksgiving aloud, and telling all your wondrous deeds. O LORD, I love the habitation of your house and the place where your glory dwells.”
Looking back, I think many lives were changed on this trip. Many were encouraged, refreshed, and had a fire for Christ rekindled. The Lord definitely was faithful and showed that He is in control. That He is the LORD.
Soli Deo Gloria
~ Aaron Ford
No comments:
Post a Comment