Is It About Jesus? Or (Just) About That Conference?!

​Is it about Jesus or is it about the conference, itself? These are the things I think,  and the questions, I ask on a daily basis. People are hungry and need to hear the Living Word. Not eat of all the catered food on finely adorned tables in the house of God. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong, with being able to make your guests feel welcomed, and provide for their physical, as well as their, spiritual needs. I'm not saying that.

What I am saying is, it's not all about the glitz and glam, the finery and fancery. The hats and the shoes. The dresses and the suits. It's about Jesus. The Living Word who was made flesh. And, I'm finding out, that too often, that it's becoming less and less about Him, and more and more about other things. I too, want to go where signs, miracles, and wonders follow. The Bible says, "and these will be the signs that follow them that believe!"

The same question I asked in the title, was also posed to me, by Sister in Christ and Intercessor. She said "I like to look pretty just like the next lady, but that's not what it's all about. I want to go where signs, miracles, and wonders are. Not just somewhere to say "I went!"  I mean, IS IT ABOUT JESUS, or is it about the conference?!" End Quote. So, I'm not the only one, who's noticing this.
 
I preached an engagement a while back, that I was asked to be a part of, at the last moment. I said "yes" hesitantly, because I was still halfheartedly, trying to stay in my comfort zone, while simultaneously, trying to put my personal fears under subjection, and walk on them. That was more than a year ago and I'm doing much better with walking in the boldness that God gave me, I'm grateful for that! But anway, I preached the engagement and the Word went forth. I think many were helped by it, as was I, but I swore I would never do THAT TYPE of engagement, again.

Since I accepted at the last minute, like I said, earlier. I didn't have all of the details. There were 3 speakers, but they were not the focus. The focus seemed to be, primarily a fashion show, and the speakers were being squeezed in, in between their wardrobe changes. Yes, it was a literal fashion show, not a proverbial one. I just...(what am I even supposed to say about that. A. Fashion. Show. In. The. House. Of. God.
They had vendors there, selling purses and clothes, and they were selling food out of the cafeteria, as well. The announcements of "Be sure to go check out the purses over there in the corner, before you leave, they've been discounted" and "we have fish plates in the back for such-and-such amount of dollars" were going out in between the speakers and the fashion show.
I was like.."Is this really happening? This can't be happening! Except, it IS." It was. It was happening.  I'm laughing now, but I wasn't then. I was honestly, annoyed, angry, and saddened.

My face was saying "IS THIS ABOUT JESUS...OR ABOUT THE FASHION SHOW?! AND THE FISH PLATES? AND THE PURSES FOR SALE? chile, naw.

Let's keep the main thing, the main-thing. This is about Jesus and Him crucified, and resurrected. This is about compelling men to Christ. This is about the Kingdom of God advancing. This is about helping the lost come to salvation, exhorting the backslider to repent, and equipping the saints for service. I feel the main focus of any conference should be glorifying our Father, exemplifying faith and love in action. It should be about healing, deliverance and encouragement. It is not to strut around like a peacock, with big hats and sequins and sell your wares. If that's what it's about count me out. 

 It's time to cleanse the temple! Matthew 21:12-13 says

...Then Jesus went into the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. And He declared to them, “It is written: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer.’ But you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
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