Passion 2011: Main Session 1

Happy New Year!
Yes, I do realize I'm quite late but as this is the first post of the new year, it's still fitting :)
Last year, I began 2010 at the Passion Conference in Atlanta. Sadly, I was unable to attend this year but the Passion team are such sweet servants to make video casts of the main sessions available! I was able to see all of them! As with last year, I wanted to share what I learned from these clearly gifted men and women of God. The line-up, down to the order, was the same as in 2010! Once again, God's grace and wisdom abounds!
Note: These are my notes from the video cast so they may be a bit choppy but I hope the main ideas are still apparent!

Main session 1: Louie Giglio 2011 (For Louie's 2010 opening Main Session, click here!)
Ps 148 Free and Fully Alive --Making time, etc count for what matters most.
This could be the year that you change the world. Louie used the example of Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerburg, just named the 2010 Person of the Year at only 26 years old
Jesus: eliminate desire for all that doesn't matter.
Phil 1:1 First word: "Paul"
The use of Pauls name as the first word in the book announces that all things can be made knew. When the church read the letter, they knew he used to be Saul, persecutor of the church
Acts 7:54 the crowd is furious with Stephen for speaking out for Christ and gnashes their teeth at him. He declared that he could see Jesus as they approached him. As they dragged him out to stone him, witnesses laid clothes at the feet of Saul. Saul (later Paul-author of much of the New Testament) gave approval to Stephen's death. This is the same man who is writing to encourage the church. God gave him a new name, passion, mission and purpose!
Paul's name is the gospel in one word. God can do anything. God uses his enemies for the greatest things on earth. Its not unlike God to choose anyone and completely change them to be an agent of His name; to change everything about them to set life in motion for His purposes.
God changed Saul's name, identity, opened his eyes to who Jesus is and to the glory of the gospel!
Another Paul letter- Jesus is...
all things created by and for Him
Firstborn
Head of the body
Supreme
All fullness dwells in Jesus

Col 1:21
For once you were enemies of God Christ has reconciled you- Holy, without blemish FREE!
We were ALL enemies of God! Hopeless, in opposition to God
We have stepped into the friendship of God b/c of the work of God.
For He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it
Jesus will complete it! (NOT ME!!)
God is for you, committed

Phil 1:12 Paul states that what happened to him served to advance the Gospel
he was arrested for being a Christ-follower (turn of events from approving stonings of believers to being arrested for being one himself!

Ner0= Roman emperor
responsible for the worst persecution of early church believers
Rome- where all things evil originated

v 13: the whole palace guard came to an understanding that Paul was in chains for Jesus It gave him the opportunity to spread the Gospel through the palace guard
Circumstances have no power over our being free and alive Not even a Roman jail cell! God doesn't care about circumstances- they dont limit Him. Stop complaining! Will I complain or will I see the possibility that circumstances have no power and God will use it for deliverance and His glory?

We preach our own funerals You cant hire anyone to say anything other than who you were and what you lived for
Nothing - not relationships, family issues, changes of plans, roommates etc can keep you from a new start in Jesus!
God has a purpose and a plan! (Jer 29:11)
To live is Christ, to die is gain
Living in the body-Fruitful labor, purpose
Living on earth is more Jesus
No chains on me- difficult circumstances provide opportunities to advance the gospel

Doing our own thing is not freedom, it wraps a chain around our neck
Choose the chain. You'll be a slave to something
Choose Jesus= freedom (being bound to Him)
Jesus is the grace-giver, restorative power
I will chain my destiny to Jesus, let God's presence drown out desire for everything that doesn't matter

Live to the FULL- be prepared to say goodbye to this life; ready, excited to meet Jesus.