July 20th 2021 – Youth Evangelical Fellowship HQ began their first hybrid summer retreat today with 16 joining onsite and 30 joining online for the first day. Members and bible students from Africa, Southeast Asia, Asia Pacific, South Asia and North America were able to join during this time.
The retreat began with an opening message given by General Secretary Danielle White looking at Psalm 4-5 and 8.
“I sought the Lord, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him.”
“Taste and see that the Lord is good;” Danielle begins, “this is a psalm David challenges those reading to ‘taste and see’. It’s easy to listen to the good the Lord has done and it’s easy to know, but can we say we’ve really ‘tasted this and seen this’? Do we live lives of testimony that challenge others, “Just taste this and you will see; you’ll see the faithfulness of God”. This is David’s testimony; this is his faith.”
With the main messages of Romans 5-8 being the core of this retreat, the pastor challenged participants to taste and see the heart of what the Holy Spirit was saying through Apostle Paul.
Apostle Paul indicated that Jesus was delivered up for the trespasses of many. This is the Great Exchange. Many may have a question, “Was the death of Jesus Christ really for me? Does it have anything to do with me?” Yes, with death means everything to each person, actually. And if this is received by faith and if this love is accepted, what will happen?
“Once we believe Him, once we receive Him, we become the children of God. We get justified by faith. It’s salvation by faith. This the very same salvation that took place for David to write Psalm 34. He wrote this Psalm to praise God, for delivering him from the Philistines. He sought the Lord and by faith, he was delivered. He believed in Him and by faith He was rescued. So there is this word “faith”. The key to open Romans 5-8 is faith.”
Psalms 34:5
“Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
Looking to Isaiah 60:1-5, the same phrase is seen, ‘Look and you will be radiant’. After the thick and desperate darkness described in Isaiah 59:9-10, this is the glorious rescue from the Redeemer. Light has come, so God tells His people to respond to it, and to arise and shine. Within the main verse, David has looked; he has tasted and seen.
“And for us, we must turn our eyes.”
Romans 1-4 talks about the deep darkness of Mankind’s sins. The Book of Romans has life changing truth but it must be approached with effort and determination to understand what the Holy Spirit said through the Apostle Paul. Romans is different than many of the other letters Paul wrote churches. Other New Testament letters focus more on the church and its challenges and problems. The Letter to the Romans focuses more on God and His great plan of redemption.
After the opening message, there was a quick orientation by S. Anu Samuel and two bible studies on Romans 5 and 6 by P. Eunice Choi and P. Anderson Kim. Rani Reid presided the retreat.
After the messages, those participating shared their grace for being able to come to the YEF HQ to feel peace and receive deep Romans study in succession. The some online participants also shared some grace. Soon the group will have YEF prayer meeting led by prayer trainee and YEF North America Rep., S. Rani Reid.
Please continue to pray for abundant outpour of grace.