we need to take heed to how we drink - being the Gideons of today

This is the first Winter School of Truth that I am with the young people, and hence I got to attend every meeting. In the previous years, I was on practical service(s). The highlights of my enjoyment and realization are as follows:

Getting into the truth with the young people

I enjoyed getting into the messages together with the young people, including the memorizing the footnotes (e.g. 2 Cor 4:16 note 1 – the life of the soul must be denied but the faculties of our soul must be renewed and uplifted by being subdued so that they can be used by the spirit, the person of our inner man) and quotation (on God’s economy) with the YP girls in my group. (I will leave the sharing of the content of the messages to others).

Getting to know the issues YP are facing

From listening to the conversations of the Young People in our group, I realized the issues/problems they are facing in their human life. However, in the midst of their issues/problems, I realized that generally our young people have a heart for the Lord, despite the temptation in the world and school though they feel that they are helpless. O Lord, how we need more prayers for them so that they would be aggressive gospel seed wherever they are.

Gideon – Judges 6-7 – We need to take heed to how we drink!

In Judges chapter 6 and 7, we see that Israel was facing two types of enemies – the Midianites and the Amalekites (typifies the flesh). The Midianites came and destroy everything that is growing. The Lord needed a group of people to destroy these enemies.

Out of 32,000, 22,000 were afraid. Therefore, they were sent home. Then out of the 10,000, only 300 were chosen, these were those who drank from cupped hands, lapping like dogs (Judges 7:6). How does this apply to us today? We must be vigilant in how “we drink the worldly water”.

For example, some YP in my group shared how easy it is to waste so much time on the Internet (e.g. Facebook). Though I do not have much time to be on the Internet when I am working in the day time, it does sometimes happen to me outside of work if I am not vigilant.

The point is this: We believe that “the earth is the Lord’s” (1 Cor 10:26), but what about the cyberspace? Satan has usurped our time through the cyberspace. Cyberspace is the Lord’s too! Young people, use it for the Lord!

Being filled economically/outwardly as long as we are willing to be used by the Lord

I have never paid much attention to the outward economically filling (plethoo, Gk) of the Spirit, though I knew of its existence. I only pursued inward filling (pleroo, Gk.) of the Spirit. However, in this winter school I realized that as long as we are WILLING to be used by the Lord, we can be filled by the Spirit economically (outwardly).

I did have some resistance in my being especially with regards to the cost I will have to pay (not necessarily in monetary terms) but I prayed, “Lord, make me willing“. If I am not for the Lord and His interest, then what is the meaning of my human life? “It is God who operates in you both the willing and the working for His good pleasure” (Phil 2:13). Lord, operate in us the willing and working for Your good pleasure!

I Refreshed my consecration to the Lord to be His stepping stone for His return

The first time I consecrated myself and my future (specifically my education, my career, my going to the full-time training) to the Lord was at the age of 15. I was told that I need to renew my consecration everyday by the serving brother who spoke the message regarding consecration.

As time passed, somehow l slacked. It’s so good a young brother (O.M.) initiated this declaration/consecration. This prayer and declaration is still resounding in my being daily since 30th Dec 2011:

Lord, I am willing to be used by You. Make me Your stepping stone. Do not pass me by.

It will be a shame if the Lord has to go to another group of people to gain what He wants. Why not us? Why not now?

Burden and Prayer

I have a burden to pray for all the Young People – and for all of us – to have a personal time and relationship with the Lord (minimum “7 minutes” on calling, praying, pray-reading, confession, consecration, thanksgiving, and petition), to have companions/clusters, to be Gospel seeds, and make them stepping stones for the Lord’s return. Also, I am burdened to contact YP to shepherd them by phone/email/FB. Lastly but not the least, I want to get together with other serving ones to pray and care for them!