When we had our last study group session, brother Ricky Acosta gave a special fellowship to the college students. He spoke about his time as a young person and the dealings they went through in his generation. When there was a difficulty in the church life, some of his companions decided to leave and go their own way in the world. He gave a very encouraging word on how our vessels need to be tightly closed whenever we come into contact with death and rebellion.
Numbers 19:15 says, “And every open vessel, which has no covering tied down on it, is unclean.” Our vessels need to be open for the Lord to flow His life into us but it must also be closed from any death and rebellion that can easily come in.
This speaking is very timely when we go back to our universities as there are ways in which the enemy can come in tempting us to touch death, through friends or environments. May we be the young people who preserve our vessels and pray that we may be cleansed for any uncleanness which is around us.
Hymn 639 (stanzas 2 & 6)
Death cannot hold the resurrection life.
Though all its force against it may combine;
Death only gives it opportunity
To show the boundless power of life divine.
Oh, may I know this resurrection life,
In every kind of death its power outpoured,
In my experience ever realise
This life is nought but Christ my living Lord
After the last message was spoken, this concluded the summer Semiannual Training. For the graduating trainees, this was their official completion of the Full-Time Training! May we pray that they continue to go on for the Lord and remain useful to Him in their normal Christian life.
Some attendees and trainees stayed behind after the message to help ‘break down’ the MCC. This meant stacking all the chairs and cleaning the place. The others headed back to accommodation. In Grace Gardens, the sisters had some corporate time in their living rooms where they could overflow their top enjoyment from the training. It was also a time to say their goodbyes and exchanged emails and contact information so we could all stay in contact with one another. We were hopeful to see some of them again at the North America College Training in Chicago, Illinois on 14th July.
Message Eleven
The Vision of the All-sufficient One –
the Divine View of God’s People
Our Enjoyment: What view do we hold? We need to adopt the divine view! All God’s people are beautiful and excellent in Christ! May we have a clear heavenly vision. If we have God’s view of His people, we will see the saints as God sees them: chosen, redeemed, enjoying Christ, and prepared by God to possess the all-inclusive Christ.
Message Twelve
The Necessity of Spiritual Warfare
and
God’s People Formed into an Army Ready for Battle
Our Enjoyment: The church must be a corporate warrior fighting the battle to gain Christ as the good land and spread the Kingdom of God on earth. Praise the Lord that He has already won the battle! We must continue to fight to maintain Christ’s victory. All the churches need to be in one accord, form God’s army, and be ready to take the good land!