The Sun Will Rise...

I'm continuing a series on my blog interviewing some musicians from IHOP-KC. If you have not yet read part 1 of Cassie’s interview, be sure to read it here. Cassie is the bass player on Laura Hackett’s team at IHOP-KC and has played with Misty Edwards, in addition to being part of IHOP-KC’s nightwatch for many years. This is part 2 of Cassie’s interview where I asked her questions relating to being a prophetic musician as her full-time occupation.

Allow me to ask a bold question. Are we more in love with the idea of Jesus, the power of Jesus, or the doctrines of Jesus than we are in love with Jesus Himself?

I’ve written on this topic in these past articles here and here but I’ve been been personally convicted again lately by the way I would answer this question, because I have had a wrong understanding about what a “relationship with Jesus” is for so long.

Unfortunately we’ve made a relationship with Jesus to be something completely different than what it should be. Men are sincere but misdirected in their pursuit of intimacy and relationship with God. Intimacy with Jesus has been characterized by a nebulous, intangible warm fuzzy feeling on our hearts during a prayer meeting or worship gathering. If someone has memorized the Bible and can speak eloquently, or they have lots of “intimacy language” we often say that they “know Jesus”. With this false idea of intimacy, Jesus is not a real human to us in the same way that the people close to us like our family, friends, and coworkers are. As this wrong mindset progresses in a downward spiral, the incarnation becomes only a doctrine that we adhere to, and Jesus becomes nothing more than a fairytale-like figure that sits on a cloud in the heights of the heavens.

It’s hard to believe that the KC onething conference is over and another year has passed. Paco and I were walking into Bartle Hall the day before the conference started agreeing together that it had seemed like we were just there only a few months ago.

For those of you who were able to watch the onething conference via the free webcast, I hope you were blessed, encouraged, challenged, and provoked to pursue Jesus and give Him the preeminence in your life in a new way.

There were over 20,000 in attendance at this year’s conference and for many, it was a life-changing 4 days. The Lord in His kindness broke in and set many free from wrong paradigms, self-hatred, a spirit of fear, a religious spirit, depression, suicide, and anxiety, bringing joy and freedom, a greater love for the Word, and a passion for souls. Many experienced physical healing and manifestations of power and of the wine of His presence. The worship from Cory Asbury, Misty Edwards, Matt Gilman, and others was faith-filled and anointed. Our (Justin Rizzo’s team) set on Tuesday morning was great!

All of the conference teachings were knit together in a common theme, centered around the supremacy of Christ, His purposes, His desire, and His heart to heal and deliver. Wes Martin spoke on the centrality of prayer and the identity of the church as a praying people before Jesus returns. Corey Russell spoke on the passion and desire of Jesus towards us from His prayer in John 14-17, and how the knowledge of His love will stabilize our hearts in the midst of a shaking world. Misty Edwards examined the ultimate purpose of our life and powerfully explained that it must be centered around the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

December always turns out to be a busy month for us at IHOP because we host our annual onething conference on December 28-31. This year, we’re expecting perhaps close to 20,000 young adults to gather in downtown KC’s Bartle Hall for 4 days of worship, prayer, teaching, and ministry. As usual, I’ll be playing keyboard for several sessions – as of right now, once on the main stage, and 3 times in the prayer room (which moves from our south KC location to the downtown area for the 4 days).

The theme for this year’s onething conference is “what is the Holy Spirit saying to the church?” The emphasis of the teaching will be centered on the deception that is creeping into the church regarding holiness, God’s grace, and the person of Jesus. Mike Bickle and several of the other key IHOP leaders and teachers will be sharing at the sessions. Check out this letter from Lou Engle and Mike Bickle for more information on the conference.