Highlights of Beijing Conference - 2009

Conference Messages and highlightsGroup photo for conference participants

Guest Speaker Pastor Joseph Kingal – Main Evening Message

Guest Speaker Ps Joseph Kingal shared some profound messages that were practicality and applicable in our lives. He said the theme of the conference “Living the Power of Love” was chosen at the right time and was a powerful theme which has got so many insights to share on. Ps Kingal shared on the theme for three evening meetings.

Love records no wrong doings (First Evening) Ps Kingal with French translator

Ps Kingal Ministering to the people

"God can speak to people in many different ways", Ps Kingal shared when laying a foundation for the conference. The most common way He is speaking to the Body of Christ today is through the Word of God. The second way He speaks to you is through a prophetic message. Prophetic message for your life is not somewhere in the sky nor Heaven. It’s in the inside of you. God opens the eyes of a prophet to see the glimpse of what’s upon your life and prophesy over your life so that you will hear it, live and walk in that prophetic word. Prophetic word will carry you through even in times of challenges. The next way God speaks is through angelic visions and dreams. Another way God speaks to you is through your inner convictions.

“Nothing is impossible for God means God commits His Power to commit His word come to pass”. Ps Kingal shared. “When people come to meet with Jesus, they change directions. For example, when the wise men from the east came to meet with Jesus after He was born, they changed direction to return after they met with Him. King of kings has come and other kings like ‘Herod’ in your life will come to an end. During this conference, most of you have come because it’s your holiday period but I know that you will change direction because you will meet Jesus in this conference. You will never be the same when you go back”, Ps Kingal shared.

When touching on the theme of the conference, Ps Kingal shared “the cross of Calvary is the love of God in action (Agape Love which is unconditional)”. God sending Jesus to us is the Love in action. In life, when your enemy hates you, you can bear but how can you bear a gossip of a close friend, (Ps 55:12). Forgiving is the power of love in action.

Affectionate love that we have for our family members or between husband and wife is a failure love. Affectionate love can fail because it comes from a soul of man and is based on feelings and emotions. Ps Kingal shared based on Matt 10:37 that describes the human love.

In Romans 5:5 it says that God’s love was given to us by the Holy Spirit. We have that Love of God deposited in us. When we take part in this Love that is deposited in us, we will begin to love unconditionally. Then they will know that we are true disciples of Jesus.

Kingal shared that forgiveness is a choice and is not a feeling. You have a choice to forgive or no. Un-reconciled life is not the life of the Cross. Many of you have records of wrong doings. Love does not keep records of wrong doings. Love forgives and that's the heart of God. You have to erase any wrong doings from your memory. "Even if a close friend in the church has done wrong to you when you do not expect, how will you act in this situation?"

“Love of God cast out fear, (1John 4:12). Be bold to approach a person who did wrong to you and say that I am forgiving you. That's living the power of love. When you do not forgive, you are binding yourself and not the one you are holding grudges against”. Ps Kingal shared. “Jesus is the Love of God in action at the Calvary”.

In Samuel 23, we read that David was called a man after God's own heart. Know that God’s heart is love. In other words, David was God's own love because David had a love deposited in his heart by the Holy Spirit to love even the enemies. For example, Saul was chasing after David to kill him but David even cried over Saul's death body. Though David had a character problem but he walked in that love. Faith does not base on feelings but on the word of God, Ps Kingal shared.

Human love should proceed out from the Divine Love in us (Second Evening) Ps Kingal with the musicians for the 2nd evening message

Christian life is an exciting life but it's also a challenging life. Ps Kingal shared. Ps Kingal shared on the following titles.

1. Humans love and see the contrast between human love and God's divine love.
2. God is love and that is His nature
3. God's love extend to us through Christ
4. God's love in us extended to others.

Ps Kingal shared from Mathew 22:37-40. “We all love God and that's easy. But another question is do we love each other. There are two things: Loving God and loving each other. Some people love God and come to church but they do not love the next neighbor. Scripture is very clear that we must love God and love each other”.

1. Humans love and see the contrast between human love and God's divine love.

“Matt 10:37 talks about Human Love”, Ps Kingal shared. “This love is the affectionate love which is a failure love that exists between brothers and sisters, family members or husband and wife. This is the love that is relational and affectional among us. This is the human concept of love that you always see. It's not a divine love. In the scripture there are two kinds of love mentioned, one is the Divine love and the other is the human love. In Matt 5:43, it's so easy to pray for your friends but it's not that easy to pray for your enemies.”

The center and heart of the gospel is Calvary and Calvary is the cross of Christ. Sometimes we think that our enemies are from outside the church but we have more enemies inside the church than outside (1 John 3:14, 15). This letter was written to the Christians. The human love is the love that takes more delight in the parents or brothers or somebody that does good to you. This is an affectional and relational love. For example, if you do this for me, I will do that for you.

Human love should proceed out of the Divine love that deposited in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. Human love has conditions attached to it. But the eternal or agape love that impregnated into our born again spirits is from God Himself. That love is eternal and is in you. Human love takes more pleasure in the family than the things of God. God's love is eternal, unchangeable and unconditional. It does not move by feelings but it proceeds from the heart of God. That love is in you and me as the believer. That’s why God knows that you have the ability to love your brother, not hate your brother. And also God the Father Himself possesses the ability to love (John 5:20). God takes delight, pleasure and rejoices when His children please Him when they walk in faith and love (John 16:27). When you please God, you make Him happy and when you make Him happy, anything can happen to you for His glory. Amen!

God's love is agape love and there is another aspect of that is, when you please Him, He gets delight and pleasure. That does not mean that God has favorites but it depends on how you come to Him. In John 3:16, the word used here is the word ‘agape’. This word means that every human race of every stature is precious in His eyes. The preciousness of every mankind to the heart of God was demonstrated on the Cross of Calvary 2000 years ago. This is the love of God that we do not deserve but it's unconditional. God held you and me very high value and precious that from the heart of God, proceeded Christ to come and die for us. When Jesus went to the Cross, He had you in His mind. You are so special.

In Jeremiah 31:3, it says, I have loved you with an everlasting love. From this, we see that God's love never come to an end. It's eternal, constant and unchangeable. When you think about it, you will focus your life to please Him all the days of your life. God's eternal love has been placed in your heart by the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). You can not say, by your strength that you have come this far. It's by the grace of God.

The difference is the Human love becomes bitter under circumstances of life but agape love exercises self control. Bible says agape love suffers long and is kind (1Corinth 13:4). When looking at the practical aspect of living the power of love, its like coming to a place where I can not do, but its You Lord. For example, a Christian brother has just come to join the company you are working with. He might be promoted in couple of months but you are still in the same position as four or five years ago. What will be your reaction? When you have the agape love, you will rejoice with the one who is promoted. Know that agape love does not envy but the human love reveals itself in envy and jealously. Agape love gives and that's why Jesus said, it's more blessed to give than to receive.

2. God is love and that is His nature

God does not have love because God is love. That is His nature because God Himself is love. 1 Corinth 13:8 says love never fails. We have failed God many times but God will never fail us. Thank God for the love of God. Roman 5:8, God commended His love towards us while we were yet sinners. This shows us the greatness of God's love. Even if we make our beds in hell, God's love will still find us there. As you follow and pursue Him, the things that are holding you back will be cut off by the power of God's love. As you focus on the heart of God, the Love of God has the power to cut of lust of flesh, pride of life or any other sin and set you free.

3. God's love extended to us through Christ

1 John 3：1-2, when God redeemed us from sin, He not only cleansed us from sin but gave us the right to become the children of God. This is God extending His love and calling us His children (John 1:12). You are His ambassadors. An ambassador is representing his own country in another country. He is a walking country. His bills are met by his country. To become a citizen in a country, you have to be born in that country. To become the citizens of Heaven, you have to be born again. You belong to your headquarters country in Heaven. The angels are Heaven’s army right behind you for 24 hours a day. The Bible is the diplomatic letter from your Headquarters in Heaven to enter into any territory of any country.

God's love is extended to us and therefore we call Him our Father. In the Old Testament, they gave God different names, but today we call Him, our Father. In the Old Testament, they called Him God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but now we can call Him our Father.

Satan does not want you to know about the love of God. He will try to use brethrens to accuse and condemn you so that you will live a struggle life. But when you come to know and really understand the love of God, these things will be broken and cut off. Thank God for Jesus for those who are in Christ Jesus are no longer under condemnation.

4. God's love in us extended to others.

1 John 4:12, when we love each other, God's love is made complete in us. In John 14:15, Jesus said, “if you love Me, keep My commandments”. Love of God will cause you to obey Him. God's love in you will cause a desire to obey Him. When you obey God, His favor will be upon your life and you will experience mighty things unfolding in your life. Walking in Love is walking in the Word. Taking His word seriously and be the doer of the Word. The love of God will sustain you in any nation. When you obey the word of God, God will manifest in and through you. 1 John 5:3, His commandments are not burdensome. 1 John 4:21, he who loves God loves his brother also. Dwell and live in the love of God. In John 15:10, Jesus said, if you keep My commandments, you shall abide in My love. Abiding in His love and obeying His commandments go together. Jude 21 says; keep your selves in the love of God. We move by faith to obey and abide in the Love of God. Keeping the commandments of God is taking God at His word, Amen.

Give proper meaning to pain for the love of God will see you through (third evening)

Ps Kingal with French Translator

Ps Kingal praying for people after the 3rd evening message

Sharing from Genesis 50: 18-21, Ps Kingal said Joseph was a man of destiny. “Because of his dream, family members wanted to remove him. Joseph went through many problems just because of a dream. Dreamers will always encounter problems. A dream will attract problems. However, a man with a dream and a vision sees a way out of a pit. Joseph saw a dream and that gave him problem. When you encounter problems, guard your heart and walk in God's love”. Ps Kingal shared.

“Obeying God does not exempt you from problems. You will face your Gethsemane. When Jesus faced His Gethsemane, He gave meaning to the pain. He saw a resurrection and accession. He saw millions and millions of people are saved and populating Heaven. He saw you and I becoming the children of God. Jesus said, I laid down life in order to take it back.”

“Give proper meaning to pain for God is in control of your life”, Ps Kingal shared. “When you give proper meaning to the pain, a new chapter will dawn in your life. To be refreshed, give better meaning to pains, trials and challenges you are facing”.

While quoting from Palms 66:10-12, Ps Kingal said “Be joyful when you are in pit because PIT is a place where Preachers In Training. You have a testimony to testify of God's goodness when God sees you through to the other side because of His agape love in you, (Ps 105).”

“Family members sold Joseph, but God sent him (Genesis 50:2). He was sold to be sent.” Ps Kingal shared. “When you go through pains, remember 4 Ps. Pit, Potiphar’s house, Prison and Palace where he ruled. Joseph's own brothers sold him to Egypt and it was like a bus fare to Egypt. The location does not matter, but trust in God and He will bless you. Your pains and trials are like bus fare to move from the place where you are now to get closer to God”.

“Even at the lowest position of your emotions, someone will come with problems and they will be added up to the current pains. Then, what is your heart's character? For Joseph, 12 years in pain was changed in just one touch from God. Give a good definition to the pain and be faithful with the dream in trails for the love of God will see you through to your palace. AMEN!

Dr. Emmanuel Decker – Opening Message Dr. Emmanuel (front left) with worship leaders

Dr. Emmanuel who is also the elder of the Shenyang International Christian Fellowship and one of the pioneers of the international believers conference gave a sound key note speech at the opening of the conference that laid a firm foundation for the entire conference.

“According to the theme “Living in the power of Love” Dr. Emmanuel said some of God’s attributes are Holiness and Love. “Elohim is first to be mentioned in the Bible than holiness and that means our God is a loving and caring God. God mentioned Elohim first because He wanted us to know that He is a loving and caring Father”. Dr. Emmanuel shared. “We look at what the love of God can do:

1. God draws us to Himself because of His loving-kindness, Hosea 11:2

2. Because of His love that our sins are forgiven. He sent Jesus Christ

3. Knowing God helps us to get up and serve God even when we fall. For example; Peter and Judas both denied Jesus. But Peter was confident of Jesus’ love for him. Another biblical example will be David. His Palms were songs of God’s love over his life.

4. IF we know God’s love, then and only then we know how to love others. This is the second commandment.

5. Knowing God’s love will enable us to effectively minister to others. For example Jesus was moved by compassion because of His love for the people.

6. Knowing God’s love helps us to forgive others as God forgave us.

7. God’s love will give us going, even when going gets tough. Knowing God’s love will make you keep moving even pressures, challenges criticism, etc, come on the way, Eph 3:16-19.”

Elder Byron Brenneman - Bible Study – Book of Colossians (Chapters 1&2) Elder Byron with a French Translator

Overview

BICF (Beijing International Christian Fellowship) elder Byron shared on the first two chapters of the Book of Colossians. “Paul never visited the city of Colossae which was situated some 100 miles inland of Ephesus, and near to Laodicea, in what is now Turkey. “It is likely that the church came into being as a result of Paul’s lengthy stay in Ephesus while on his second “missionary journey” where he was there preaching and teaching for over two years”.

Thanksgiving and prayer (Col 1:1-14)

“Gospel is a message of love”, Byron shared. “The medium of the Gospel to travel is people. God used people for the transportation of the Gospel and God can use you too.” Byron said in vs10 of chapter one, Paul prayed for believers to live a worthy life. This reminds us of how we depend on prayers and prayers of others. He challenged us to thank God for some one whom you know is flourishing in God because of his/her faith in God. Paul did this regularly and it is our Christian duty to do that. The action part is, begin to think of ‘faith & love’ folks and thank God for each of them by name. Pause and take a moment and begin to pray Paul’s prayer for someone else. Make a habit of doing this daily for the rest of your life. Pray for believing brethrens to be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, spiritual wisdom and understanding.

The Supremacy of Christ (Col 1:15-23)

“When you come to know and make a list of Christ attributes – everything that He is and everything that He does, you will come before Him with a heart of worship”. Byron shared. “God reconciled us to Himself through the death of Christ Jesus, Vs22. A reconciled soul will be holy, without blemish and free from accusations. Holiness is to be separated from something to be part of God. Set apart and perfect complete.”

Verses 24 – 28 to chapter 2 talks about Paul’s labor for the Church and his relationship with the Church. He suffered and struggled for believers in the Body of Christ. Byron challenged the conference participants to have that type of attitude to complete the race.

Pastor Jon Davis – Book of Colossians (Chapters 3&4) Ps Jon Davis

Ps Jon Davis of Beijing International Christian Fellowship (BICF) shared a profound message on “Rules for Holy Living” based Col 3:1-4:18. “As human, most of the time, we struggle with our old nature. I have followed the Lord for long time but I know that the old nature tries to rise up within me. There are times I think thoughts that I should not think. I do things that I should not do. I focus on earthly things at times rather than on heavenly things.

Putting on a new self and being dead to the old nature and live to the new is something that we need to practice in our lives every single day. Jesus told us that except the grain of wheat falls onto the ground and dies, it will abide alone. If we are willing to die to our old nature then is the fruitfulness of God in us begins to take over. We see people that have followed Jesus for long time and they say they are Christians but we do not see any fruit. Perhaps we need to ask ourselves too that have I been fruitful in my life for God; that is fruit of the Spirit. And if there seems to be a lack of Spiritual fruit, we need to ask ourselves, have we really died to the old nature.

In this book, it tells us not keep our mind on earthly things but rather on the things that are above. And these all things that you used to do and those things that are most important to you; leave them behind. Put on a new self (vs10). 2Peter1 we read the importance of having knowledge of God’s promises. If we want to have God’s divine nature operating in our lives, is not enough just to pray, is not enough just to worship, is not enough just to believe, but these two books (Col & 2Peter) tell us that we must have a knowledge of God’s word of promises in order for us to be renewed and have God’s divine power operating in our lives. Having knowledge of Jesus Christ (Col 1:15) and His promises are ingredients to have God’s power operating in us with faith, prayer and worshipping God.

As I begin to have the knowledge of who Jesus was, I begin to have strength, faith and renewal in my spirit. In Col 3:10 it says, put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. In vs12, it tells us what this new self will look like; clothed with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. These are the fruit of the Holy Spirit. Paul is saying allow the Sprit to clothe you with these fruit to set you apart and make you so different than others you meet. In vs13, it tells us to forgive each other. If we hold resentment within our hearts, we may not become a man or woman that God wants us to be. If we hold bitterness in our heart, we will not be able to respond to the calling that God wants us to be. May the Lord give you and me the ability to be quick to forgive, that we can put any thing that is hindering us aside and walk forward in the new self.

In vs14, put love over all these virtues. Kindness is good, humility is good, gentleness is good, and patience is good. But take all these good things be put together in perfect unity and allow love to be predominant and key focus. Faith, hope and love but the greatest of all is love. In vs15, it says let the peace of God rule in you heart. When the enemy comes and tried to bring worry or anxiety, let the peace of Christ rule in your heart.

Reverend Jesse Diop Ngangombo – Workshop Topic – The Power of the Gospel Reverend Jesse Diop Ngangombo making a point

Rev Jesse shared a profound message of the Power of the Gospel. “Gospel is the missionary of God”. “Salvation is available to everyone but it’s only effective for those who receive the salvation. Build your life on Jesus Christ (Christ in Greek, Messiah in Hebrews) because Messiah is unshakable. If you build your life on money, you will be shaken when there is no money. Build your life on the Chief Corner Stone. Gospel has impact on the lives, (Mark 4:26-32, Luke 10, 19:22, 1Corinthians 4:20

The triple power of the Gospel are

(i). The power of Re-creation (Rom 8:16-23). The Gospel has the power to re-create.

(ii). The power of Transformation (1Thes 5:23-24).

“The formula for Transformation is I+I = T. Information (receive) + Integration (receive & respond) = Transformation. Transformation is to transform the body of sin (flesh) to Holiness. Transformation from the life of failure to the life of the victory, 2Corin 3:16”. Rev Jesse shared. “We have to transform from a caterpillar to butterfly and not from a snake to a snake”. For example, a Christian boy has a non-Christian girlfriend. But they do things that are not permitted. Later, the boy leaves the girl and finds a Christian girlfriend because he wants her to pray. But this time, they are also doing the things which are not permitted outside of marriage even though both of them are Christians. It does not make any sense. It is like transforming from a snake to a snake. It’s not transforming from a failure to live a victory life like butterfly’, Rev Jesse shared.

(iii). The Power of Unction. The gospel of the anointing to heal, deliver and to the power to save souls for the Gospel is the power to those who are saved.

Pastor Charlie Powell – Workshop Topic – Godly Maturity Ps Powel making a point

Ps Powell shared a meaningful message on the True Christian Spirituality. While defining the Mature in True Spirituality, Ps Powell said, “So a person of true spirituality would be someone who sincerely seeks or welcomes Biblical truths from God and lives by it as best he understands it. To be mature spiritually would be to grow up into full adulthood in this pursuit.”

The pursuit of true spirituality is God’s idea and not men’s. Paul was a man with a purpose, a calling, Phil 1:21. He kept his eyes on Jesus despite innumerable difficulties in his career as a missionary and a minister of the Gospel.
A true spirituality would do like Paul did:

(i). In prison, he did not see himself as a prisoner of Rome, but he said he was the “prisoner of Christ”, (Eph 3:1).

(ii). If he had chains on his feet and wrists, he called them “my bonds in Christ” (Phil 1:13)

(iii). In the trial courts, he did not see them as reasons to be ashamed, but that he was making “set for the defense of the Gospel” (Phil 1:17)

(iv). No one stood with him at his first defense. Everyone deserted him, but “the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength”, (2Tim 4:16).

(v). He did not see Christ through the circumstances and hindrances to his work, but he looked at his circumstances through Christ. “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the Gospel” (Phil 1:12). This changed the way he looked at everything.

Note: The workshop topic on Receiving and Giving forgiveness by Ps Jack Snell is not included here but available on DVD and auto CDs

Some of the Highlights of the Conference Central Steering Committee Chairman Mr. John presenting a gift to Guest Speaker Ps Joseph Kingal.

Regional Steering Committee Executives (L-R) Nebart (Prayer Coordinator), Dominique (Secretary), Jeffers (Chairman), Hellen (Treasurer), Julie (CSC Financial Secrtary)

People of different cultures come together to worship the Lord

Jesus, you are always with me

I will follow You all the days of my life, Lord

We are hungry for you, Jesus

Yesu, you are our Lord

I worship you, Jesus

Ps Kingal (sitted center) with Baptism class students

Hungry for God

Worshpping: You are my God, Jesus

Song leaders from Tianjin International Fellowship

Holy Spirit moving among the people

Ps Kingal praying for beloveds

Ps Kingal presenting Baptism certificates

Song leaders Beijing International fellowship

Ps Kingal with sisters who wanted to be baptized

Ps Kingal with brothers who wanted to be baptized

Burying the old nature in Baptism during the conference

Item presentation

Song leaders from Shenyang International Fellowship

Awesome moments

Lovely to worship God with all family members

Participants worshping God

Participants Praising God

Participating in group discussions

Conference participants enjoying meal

Ps Kingal (second from right) with PNG students plus staff from the PNG Embassy

NOTE: The messages shared during the conference will be made available in DVD and audio for conference participants only. Showers of Blessings and abide under His love. AMEN!