This festival is always something that Singapore should be proud of. Its been on for 23 years now, given that it's the 23rd FOP this year.
And for this year, we have guests like the worship pastor of Hillsong, Reuben Morgan, and the Parachute band from New Zealand. Plus, Rev. Mark Conner would be preaching the word of God to us.
And honestly, I went to the festival tonight with an open heart. I mean, Its been awhile since our church last hosted FOP, and given thereafter, it isn't really to my expectations for the following years.
But nonetheless, I still went with an open heart, expecting to receive my fair share of portion.
And I did receive my portion, this evening. I really do.
It all went pretty awesome right from the beginning. I thought that the video played before the service begun was brilliant, and the way the lightings are done are top notch!
Reubun and his Hillsong band came out and lead us into a fantastic time of praise and worship! They even sang their latest song from their latest album, 'This is Our God'! Awesome man.
I was really in the flow, giving my everything to just worship and be still.
Then the parachute band came! I thought, wow. I've never really heard any of their songs before, and their songs are pretty interesting too! I groove along with it, enjoying myself in the presence of the Lord.
The lead singer, Omega, has a really unique voice and I thought it was pretty decent.... Until this.
I'm not sure if the following lyrics are exactly right, word for word, but yeah. It's something along this line.
"He gave and take away".
I pause for a moment right there.
I mean, I definitely know that God gives! He's the giver of all givers man. He gives more than anybody can ever give.
But God takes.... too? Wow. I never knew God take away things from us too! Hmmm. That really caught me a little.
Okay maybe that's not the meaning towards that line. I don't know man. But that's what I feel. Maybe someone can enlighten me. :)
Edited ; Okay. I finally understood the line above there in the song! It's in the bible and that line wasn't what it seem to be. Perceptions I guess.
But nonetheless, the worship was fantastic and awesome! Enjoyed it man. We were then lead into different prayers, and followed by the offering!
I'm all for giving to God man, for the offering. I know that I can never outgive God, and whatever that I'm sowing to the kingdom of God, I will reap a hundred fold in return!
And so, the pastor came out and gave a simple and short verse about offering.
As he was in the midst of his sharing, I felt that something really went wrong right there, as he was sharing.
I mean, He was sharing about Elijah. The days back then in the old testament. I'm sure we all know that the old testament is the new testament concealed. The bible only has one purpose, and that's to show Jesus to us.
But this really hit me there. He said something along this line.
"The fire of god can ONLY come upon us, if we offer something precious to Him".
With the story he shared with us, it was water that the people were offering to God.
Wow. Wait a minute. I know that the pastor there was referring the fire of God as a blessing or a manifestation.
But... It can only come upon us if we OFFER something PRECIOUS to Jesus!? Money!? Man. That's not what MY bible says man!
God's blessings will and has already come upon
us, because Christ has paid it all on the cross. The veil was torn and It is finished. It's a done deal, folks.
And I thought back in the old testament, the fire of God ain't exactly... something good? Okay. Maybe someone should enlighten me on this too. :)
Oh well. But yeah. That really caught me for a while there. I was wondering if the people out there in the stadium, are giving because they WANT to be blessed, which is kinda wrong, or to give because they know that they are ALREADY blessed via the death on the cross.
And we left halfway during the sermon.
Here's my fair share of FOP this year! All in all, it was pretty okay. Well organised I must add. Yup.
What's yours? (If you went at all)
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