|  Youth
Bible School Blessings
by Mollie Jo
Cassidy
God is so good to me! A dream
was fulfilled and prayers answered this month when mom, Hannah
and I went to Charity Ministry’s annual Youth Bible School.
The three of us and a friend went with four other youth from
MO. There were over 600 students enrolled. The Bible School
was held at Ephrata, Pennsylvania. We had a wonderful trip,
and I want to share with you some of the great things God did
while I was there.
I can never put my head in the
sand again! There is a spiritual war going on, and I’m involved
whether I want to be or not! Satan has many goals for the Christian’s
life: to steal God’s glory, to render me ineffective, to entice
me to sin, to lead me to deeper and deeper bondage, and to totally
destroy, devour, kill and steal my life. As a Christian, I am
to glorify, love and honor God and prove His marvelous grace.
We learned that the devil has a ball and chain for every Christian;
this is no time for a pity party! Through Christ we have the
potential of tremendous victory and every wounded prisoner can
be liberated.
We heard a lot about bondage.
There are three paths to bondage: the world, the flesh, and
the devil. All three elements were present in the temptation
of Jesus, our Savior and Brother. At Bible school we were told,
“For the love of God: ENDURE! For the love of God: RESIST!”
We have authority in the name of Jesus! The Bible says to not
give place to the devil. “Satan knows how to keep you down,
so you can’t get up!” Bro. Mose taught us how to be protected
by keeping on our armor.
Bro. Denny gave the steps to breaking
chains of bondage: repent, renounce, believe the victory is
mine (with humility). Yield completely under God’s authority,
rebuke/resist the devil, and finally, REJOICE. He also gave
two messages on specific bondages such as bitterness, witchcraft/occult,
rebellion, wrong music, immorality and eating disorders.
On Sunday morning, Bro. Denny
concluded with the message of victory. We learned about some
of the rules of the spiritual war we’re waging: humility, brokenness,
love for souls, holiness, self-denial, and freedom from sin.
“This is a war where, in you’re heart you’re on your feet, but
you’re really fighting on your knees.” Some of our weapons are:
the blood of Christ, the name of Jesus, prevailing prayer, and
fasting. Our simple secret to victory is abiding in Christ.
One night, during the revival
message by Roman Kauffman, I was particularly burdened for two
girls. But at the same time I felt like God really wanted me
to trust their souls to His keeping, and not get anxious and
let my flesh get in the way. So, I prayed for them during the
service. After the message, one of these girls went up for the
altar call! I went up to her and told her I had been praying
for her.
God really met with us there up
front and gave her the victory as she confessed her sin of man-fear
and believed the victory to be hers in Christ. This was such
a faith-building experience for me too, because I had the opportunity
to take a risk for Christ and launch out on His Word alone as
I shared with this near stranger. After she and I both prayed,
she said she still didn’t “feel” free. I told her that as a
Christian, Christ had already won the victory, and I quoted
a scripture or two about freedom to her. I encouraged her to
not go by feelings, but by faith. (This was a step in faith
for me!) She was willing to do this. Then she said, “I FEEL
FREE!”
After this, I cannot tell you
the peace and joy that flooded my soul. I think it was that
night that I said I felt like I was on cloud 10. I wrote in
my journal, “Oh, imagine the joy that thrilled our souls and
of the love of Jesus that bound our hearts together....when
I left her I felt my heart could not be made happier by anything
else. The joy of a soul receiving the freedom of Christ far
surpasses any earthly happiness.”
I had a personal breakthrough with God on Thursday.
At this point in the week, everything had started to catch up
with me and I was physically pretty tired. But more than that,
I was burdened in my spirit. I had been struggling with issues
like doubting God’s love for me, discouragement, fear and pride.
When it came time for our prayer group to meet, all of this
was heavy on my heart, and I was at the point of breaking. I
gave a general request for prayer with my group, and as they
prayed for me, the tears just flowed.
After the girls left, my prayer group leader
stayed behind to counsel me. I shared my heart with her, explaining
my struggles. She zeroed in on this sin of doubting God’s love.
Yes, it is a sin. My prayer group leader took me by the hand,
so to speak, and showed me from the Holy Scriptures what kind
of tender, loving, Heavenly Father I have. I am graven upon
His hands. Those scars in the hands of Jesus remind Him of me.
God commendeth His love for me, in that, while I was yet a sinner,
while I was even doubting His love for me, Christ died for me!
God delights and rejoices over me!
God met with us there, and brought me to the
place of repentance. My perspective on unbelief and discouragement
is changed. These things are sin; if I choose to succumb to
them, then I am responsible before God. I don’t have to be in
bondage to either one. I expressed to my prayer group leader
that I think many people would be shocked to hear how she talked
about discouragement as a sin. I used to succumb to these things,
excusing them as part of my personality. She replied “Yes, but
I’m willing to be a radical Christian.” Her statement really
stuck with me. But, I think it really takes being a “radical”
Christian to survive in this battle for the souls of men!
My prayer group leader really encouraged her
team of eight girls to love the Lord with all our hearts. She
said something I hope I will never forget: “Make much of Jesus.”
It is my desire to look for Him in everything. The Bible promises
that when Jesus is lifted up, all men will be drawn to Him.
This was so true at Bible School. Jesus was lifted up, and so
many, many students found salvation and liberty.
One of the biggest thrills for me at Bible
School was to join in the rejoicing and praise to Jesus when
a soul was saved or delivered from bondage. There were many
who experienced deliverance from serious bondages or who were
saved. Whenever someone was saved and came out of the counseling
room, the youth would gather around that person and rejoice,
lifting their hands and praising God for the victory. The new
convert would be welcomed into God’s family by the youth. The
love and rejoicing I saw there was so thrilling and life changing
for me. What could be more fulfilling than this? The joy and
presence of Jesus was so real. There was one song that we sang
almost every time someone came to Christ: “Jesus signed my pardon,
this I surely know! Took my place on Calvary so I don’t have
to go. All my life I give Him, He gave His for me, when He signed
my pardon, there on Calvary!”
Also, one night, when we were singing over
a new soul brought to Christ, one of the male prayer group leaders
said, “I know there’s been a lot of rejoicing over the souls
that got through. But, right now, there are souls who haven’t
gotten through. We need to pray for them.” At that moment we
had a spontaneous prayer meeting and crying out to God. I learned
something... there are young people out there who know how to
pray, and those prayers get answered. Two of the young men who
traveled with us were saved, and many other souls made right
with God.
Do I want to go back next year? You don’t even
need to ask! My life was changed, and I hope I never go back
to any level of complacency in my walk with Christ. For a whole
week I was surrounded with powerful messages and anointed times
with God as we prayed, sang praises and rejoiced. I also got
to see a group of youth, a part of God’s remnant, who are willing
to sell out for Him.
I came home with lots to think about, lots
to apply, the tapes from the sessions (to review!), and my Bible,
as not only my love-letter from God, but my sword against the
attacks of Satan. I don’t want you to think that my time at
Bible School was a bed of roses. Satan was at work too and the
days were long and full. But Christ was victor. I got a glimpse
of Christ as the lover of my soul, and the One who alone can
satisfy me. His work of bringing souls to liberty is indeed
glorious. At Bible School I saw that. Nothing could be more
rewarding than to fight with Him in this battle for the souls
of men. Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost.
He SAVES, KEEPS, and SATISFIES.
I could write more as my heart has been overflowing
since Bible School. But, I will close here.
The Blessing Corner Part 2: The Blessing of Obedience
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