Before I talk about The Call gathering on Tuesday, I’ve to begin my story a day earlier. A dear fellow sojourner in Christ whatsapped me around 4.30pm in the office yesterday to ask me if I was going for The Call. I avoid checking my handphone when I’m at work, and so I missed her message. She then called me around 5.30pm. I could hear the constant vibrating of my handphone, which was on silent mode. I answered and told her that I would turn up. I remembered asking her whether it was too late to register and whether I would have lunch, because otherwise, I would bring some food or biscuits from home. She said: “I think so. No worries. Just bring $20. I’ll forward you the e-mail later onight.”
When work ended, I headed to Wesley and returned home only around 10.30pm. After attending to a few things, I proceeded to write my Facebook note on Seoul. As a result, I slept around 1-1.30am. When I woke up at 8.30am, my first carnal instinct was “forget it; just don’t turn up and carry on sleeping because I am too tired”. However, I remembered that my friend had said that Peter and Donna Jordan were going to be there also. I thought to myself and said that today would be one of the rare occasions to hear from the two whom I would consider spiritual giants long associated with YWAM (even though I’ve heard them only a few times). So I woke up, had a shower, booked a cab and headed to City Beach Resort.
When I reached the resort, I went to the meeting room and tried to look for my friend. I was a bit anxious because I don’t know many people there. She found me and said: “Is it okay if we sit right in front?” So the both of us sat on the second row of seats on the right side of the room. She also told me that she was to be the photographer for the gathering.
The session was restful and refreshing for me. I thanked God that I decided to turn up. The most wonderful thing to me about an YWAM associates’ gathering is that the organisers (Group of Four) will always state that there is no agenda and we will all wait on the Lord and discern what He wants to tell us. To me, this is the most perfect way of coming before His presence. In a sense, we bring nothing but an attitude of expectancy. It reminds me of how Mary sat at the feet of Jesus, waiting.
I just wanted to capture some of the things that happened or were said during the gathering that touched me deeply.
* In His presence, there is a deep rest (Exodus 33). Donna told us that there was a Korean DTS where the participants were challenged to go without technology for three months. She asked the group whether Singaporeans could do the same. This was quite revealing about our reliance on technology and the busyness of life in Singapore. Oftentimes, we are so busy that we forget to rest in His presence. We are so caught up in the “what do we do next” that we often neglect “when do we next rest in the Lord?”.
* For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. Splendour and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place.
– 1 Chronicles 16:26-27
* The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
- Romans 8:15
* When we come together in corporate humility, there is corporate unity and that leads to corporate authority – Donna Jordan
* Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise: “For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.” But we are not of those who draw back to perdition, but of those who believe to the saving of the soul.
- Hebrews 10:35-39
Additional readings: Hebrews 11, 12 and 13
* When one mentions worship, there is always the key element of lifting God up in reverence and bringing the people into His presence. I was reminded of another important element in worship – warfare – during the morning worship session. The Holy Spirit was moving greatly. At one point, a Pacific Islander moved through the room with big and loud shouts. I had my eyes closed but with each shout, I could feel my entire body tingle and that feeling that in the spiritual realm, there was a tearing down of spiritual blockages. I told God, “wow! The Pacific Islanders are really your warriors!” It is difficult for me to put down in words what I felt, but it was a timely reminder to me of the role of worship in spiritual warfare. A biblical example can be found in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, when Jehoshaphat appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, and sent them ahead of his army in the battle with the men of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah.
* The testimonies of people during the gathering were edifying to me. There are too many to mention but I was deeply ministered to and touched. A lot of them were very personal and so I won't share them here.
* But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”
- 1 Corinthians 2:9
* Give ear, O my people, to my teaching;
incline your ears to the words of my
mouth!
I will open my mouth in a parable;
I will utter dark sayings from of old,
things that we have heard and known,
that our fathers have told us.
We will not hide
them from their children,
but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and
his might,
and the wonders that he has done.
- Psalm 78:1-4
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