Church of God Pastoral Convention – Hollywood, FL
November 7th – 11th, 2012
It was a great privilege for my wife and I to attend the Church of God Pastoral Convention in 2012. I was very excited to attend four days of empowerment and fresh anointing with the Holy Spirit. I arrived in Hollywood, FL with great expectations believing that God will move powerfully. I was ordained as an exhorter by the Church of God on December 4th, 2005 and I kept a good relationship with the organization. Since then, I had the privilege to enjoy the fellowship with ordained ministers and pastors from many churches, many times. I know and believe that God provides everything necessary for us to fulfill his purpose and plan that He has for His church in this season. This convention was hosted by the local church in Florida pastored by Gelu Strimbu. The theme of this convention was focused on being empowered by the Holy Spirit. This theme really inspired and motivated us with new energy from the great power of the Holy Spirit which enabled us to fulfill our call and mission. The work of God cannot be accomplished with our own strength and power at all. We need to always be fulfilled and filled with the Holy Spirit energy to accomplish the purpose to live in a Godly way. No wonder Apostle Paul prayed for the Church in the book Ephesians.“For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man; That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love, May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height; And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God. Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.” Ephesians 3:14-21
If Apostle Paul needs to receive strength from the Holy Spirit, we also need that power to influence our human being to live in victory for God’s purpose. Even the son of God (Jesus Christ) said in the book of Luke 4, that the Holy Spirit is upon me. “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” Luke 4:18-19How much more do we need to be energized and empowered to live a Holy life; honoring God and fulfilling the call and purpose that he has designed for us? This convention was a time when we renewed our commitment to God anew in His power…“O Lord, revive thy work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.” Habakkuk 3:2
Some people have the impression that methods, money and men determine the success of missions. But all these ideas and strategies are not enough to complete God’s mission on Earth. God’s mission work can be accomplished only in God’s ways and in God’s strength and so we need to be empowered by the Holy Spirit. ..“This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, saying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” Zechariah 4:6The participants of this convention were empowered by the Holy Spirit of God for:
Empowerment for living a life under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit” Ephesians 5:18
Being under the influence of the Holy Spirit, we are changed in the way we think, talk and behave.
Being full of the Holy Spirit, we are acting empowered by an outside force that alters our behavior in good ways.
To be full of the Holy Spirit is not an option; rather it is a command.
Must be a continuing ongoing circle and not only an event in the past but a daily filling of energy.
We are motivated not to waste time but take advantage and be filled with the Holy Spirit.
When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, we are conscious about our sin, weakness and all path of life and we bring everything to the submission to the Holy Spirit.
To be filled with the Holy Spirit is the Will of God and we live at the center of His Will (which is the best for us).
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you can discern God’s will regarding personal actions and decisions.
When you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you can focus on God and live behind anxiety and worry.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit, you will receive a special enablement and energy (from the resurrected power of Jesus Christ) and you will do things out of the ordinary but supernatural because Christ is in you.
Empowerment for living a life according to the Spirit of God.
Spiritual power is the divine energy God is willing to express in and through us and the divine authority needed to carry out the work God has called us to do. “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.” Galatians 5:16-17
It is one thing to have the Holy Spirit and another to live according to the Spirit.
Empowerment to worship and praise God under the anointing.
God’s presence manifested in the midst of His people praising Him.
Praising gives us an attitude of gratitude.
Worship is submission of my nature to God’s being who quickens and activates my consciousness by His holiness and power. Nourishing my mind and informing with His truth. Purifying my imagination and opening my eyes of understanding to His beauty; opening by heart to His Love and surrenders my will to His purpose. All of this gathers up in adoration.
Empowerment to proclaim the Gospel and be a Witness.
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” Acts 1:8
Without this power, missionaries are not able to practice their mission.
Empowerment to receive and activate the gifts of the Holy Spirit.
The gifts of the Holy Spirit are not for our pleasure but for ministry. We cannot choose them as we please but as God gave and empowered us with them.
“But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit” 1 Corinthians 12:7-8
God makes us brokers of His gifts according to the needs in the mission field.
Empowerment to have strength in persecutions and assistance before courts.
The Holy Spirit will be with us and teach us what to say when we face persecutions and oppression.
When missionaries are led before human courts, the power of the Holy Spirit strengthens not to despair or be discouraged.
“Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.” Matthew 5:10-12
Empowerment to be a witness in the workplace and marketplace (of the world).
“Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.” Matthew 5:13-15
These were all the words that I was inspired by at this convention to memorize and apply to my life and ministry.
We were so excited and empowered by the Holy Spirit of God that used also Dr. Tony Lane, Wallace Sibley and Dr. Mark Williams (the Church of God General Overseer) and other speakers to bring clear messages that inspired us to embrace God. I believe God has done a great work at this convention. My spirit was so refreshed and empowered during that Sunday’s evening service that Dr. Mark Williams preaching from the whole book of Acts (I saw that this man of God had memorized the whole book of Acts and preached every chapter with such emphasis showing a real application for the church today to live in victory accomplished already by the Lord Jesus Christ. This was a practical teaching that enabled and empowered us to return to the book of Acts where the church of Christ was founded and conquered the world through the oppositions and persecutions. The whole congregation was very attentive and responsive to his dynamic preaching and quotations of the verses in Acts from his memory. It compelled all of us to memorize the scripture every day and speak the words with boldness and fire. It also sparked and ignited a passion in us to start reading the Bible in the following year with our entire congregation and renewed our commitment for memorization and meditation like it did with Joshua.“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.” Joshua 1:8
This convention has inspired and encouraged us that working for Jesus Christ with dedication and motivation will bring more joy and fulfillment than working for yourself. Nothing and nowhere will you find more joy and happiness than the Kingdom of God and His power of Resurrection. I am confident that He who started the work will continue to perfect it in us until the day of Jesus Christ.
Rev. Constantin Lupancu together with the Blessed Hope International Mission Team
