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written by Sr. Michelle Exantus
I was fortunate once again to make it another year to Des Moines, IA annual convention. I was blessed by the messages and various spiritual songs that were given. It was also wonderful seeing the saints of God from the different assemblies some new saints and some that I am well acquainted with.
Br. Glenn Goodwin started the Friday night service showing us how there are groups claiming to be the Body of Christ, the term he used was "Identity Theft". There are groups of people all over the world that are trying to steal the identity of the Body of Christ yet their doctrines and theologies are different. He went on to say that there are many churches that become movements then mechanism (no life) and then they become monuments (stand-still). Br. Glenn was warning and informing us that the Body of Christ should never become like those churches. The Body of Christ should not and cannot compromise the word of God so that the people become comfortable and complacent. Br. Glenn Goodwin was showing us how if the ministers start to compromise with the saints just to make them comfortable that great troubles may appear not only for the man of God but also for the people of God. He showed us an example in the bible in 2 Samuel 24 where David numbered the people of Israel and God made the people suffer. Br. Glenn Goodwin was sincerely concerned and afraid that if he starts "letting down the fences" that he and the people will suffer grave consequences. He also gave us a scripture that I took to heart in Joshua 7 where Achan stole the Babylonian garment and in verse 11 it says that Israel hath sinned. He was showing us how the sin that we commit can and will affect others.
The Body of Christ is a different kind of church and we should not change for anything or anyone. God has called us to do something different. The ministers in the Body have been commissioned to preach the gospel; they must be instant in season and out of season (2 Timothy 4:2). They must continue to preach, teach, warn, and wash us with the word of God that we may be presented perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians 1:28). Some say we must have a "purpose of driven life" but as a child of God we are called to a "purpose of driven death". We must die daily; the word of God must be killing this carnal nature daily, our inner man must die while our mind is being renewed daily with the word of God. The Body of Christ is still alive though at times we are walking when we should be running we are still here. God is doing a work in the Body of Christ, we may not always see it but something is being done. "God is working, He's still working, God is working even now- Though we often don't know just how, God is working, He's still working, God is working even now!"
We were encouraged in this convention to continue to serve God not half-heartedly but with our whole heart to stay away from the things of this world that are affecting our spiritual growth. A friend of this world is an enemy of God. As a congregation we should not look at the minister as the people of this world look at them - as entertainers. However, we should accept the fact that they have been commissioned by God to preach the words of God to us so that our soul may be saved. We should not go to these conventions year after year and to no avail there is no change in our lives. But with each convention or meeting we go to we should examine or lives and make the necessary changes so that we can move on in God.
I was very thankful and blessed to be a part of the 2009 Des Moines, IA convention.
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