Leader message- August (Revelation)

Hi leaders,

I wish that we were all sitting in a room right now together- but unfortunately, we don’t get to do that for a few more weeks…so for now- this is as close as we can get…

I have 2 reasons for this video.

1st…I want to be honest with you about where we are for right now.

And

2nd…I want to speak directly to you as a leader

So first…

Where we are…

We have around 370 children registered and over 500 women if we include our leaders. That’s almost 900 women and children- from age 0- 90 who desire to study the book of Revelation with us this year. The desire to know God through His word is very much ALIVE. I’m so encouraged and overwhelmed at the desire of so many to know more about our amazing God.

However, your staff worked on group and children’s placements this week. With the leadership as it currently is…We are looking at a waitlist of over 70 children and over 50 women at minimum. These numbers are just estimate’s and do not include those who are still registering daily and will register over the next month. Previous years have told us that the bulk of those who will register will come in the next month, which means both of those numbers will most likely rise significantly in the coming weeks.

Specifically- we do not have enough Pre-school children’s leaders to even open up the number of classrooms that we had last year. This means that as we currently stand, we will have to close a classroom and children that were placed last year in our class will not be able to be given a placement this year.

As of this afternoon, I have zero leadership interviews scheduled…

If I’m being honest- I don’t like looking at numbers. Spreadsheets and numbers bring me more stress than peace. But, it’s a necessary reality as we try to plan for the coming year.

And every number represents a person. A person who was created with the purpose of magnifying and glorying God and our hearts desire is that we would be able to find a spot for every woman and child who longs to know God more in our class…my prayer is that every woman and child in our class would know that they belong here…with God’s people…hearing His words…our desire is to call every woman and child in a few weeks and say…Come and See…

Your staff can’t carry this burden on their own. We decided it was time to bring you all in and be honest about the need. I know you have been praying- but I wanted to tell you specifically how to pray…

We need you to pray...to pray diligently and specifically that God would provide in His way and His time. Pray that God would protect leadership commitments. That those He is calling into leadership would be revealed to us…that they would hear his voice...and that they would respond…

And that brings me to the 2nd reason for this video..

You.

This year as we open up Revelation- we are going to get a glimpse of the glory of God as we BEHOLD Jesus for who He is. We are going to look at his glory…

The word Glory means weight..or something substantial..

In scripture, the ocean or sea is often a symbol of chaos.

But when you drop a rock into the sea...the chaos of the waters wont stop it from breaking through the water....because it holds the most weight.

Right now- many of you are looking at your life…and all you see are waves..you see chaos and as you look at the waves surrounding you…you are afraid…overwhelmed by their size...wondering if when they hit, you will still be standing..

But I’m here to remind you that ALPHA AND OMEGA…THE ONE WHO WAS AND IS AND IS TO COME…your ROCK..the almighty…is standing in the middle of your waves…calling you towards Him…holding out his hand…reminding you to keep your gaze on Him.

The one who holds the most weight and breaks through the chaos of the waves…is not surprised by what is around you and what you are feeling or experiencing...

Satan wants you to think you are alone…He is yelling in your ear that you can’t do it. It’s too much…and in some ways…He is absolutely right..you can’t…

And God isn’t asking you to…remember Jesus’ words to his disciples in John 15:5…apart from me you can do nothing…

August is a time of transition…Summer has ended…

Everything feels like its starting…not just for those of you with kids in school... everyone is hit by the transition from summer to fall- no matter your age.

But as I hear from leader after leader…I hear the fear…I hear the worry…I hear the concern…

Your desires are good…

I hear your desire to serve God well…with excellence…wholeheartedly…and you are afraid you wont be able to because of the circumstances around you….

But God is our rock…the waves don’t concern Him…In Matthew Chp. 14- Jesus walks on water in the middle of a storm….but remember- that Jesus DOESN’T CALM THE STORM until AFTER he gets in the boat…in fact he invites Peter out into the water..into the chaotic waves..into the storm….and only when Peter’s eyes were fixed on Jesus could he break through the chaos of the waves and walk on water…the second he turned his gaze to his circumstances…he sank….his passion and desires weren’t enough…he needed Jesus…

You concerns are real…your desire to serve God well is good…and the waves around you are also very real.

but I have to ask myself….Lord- is that really you talking? Are you really causing so many leaders within a small amount of time to feel overwhelmed and potentially called out of leadership?

I don’t think so…I think this is the enemy…

And while we don’t want to ever give him to much credit- he is real..he does not like this ministry and he is certainly not happy that we are studying Revelation.

I mean come on- Revelation is about God winning and him losing. Of course he is after you…he is after your commitment… he is after our class and leadership…

Please hear my heart- if God is calling you out of leadership- he will make that clear to you and he will make that clear to me…

For those that have already stepped out and that God may call out- this is not to shame them or you…so please don’t hear it that way.

My heart here is to call out the enemies voice that seems to be reverberating throughout our leadership…to unite us together….to call us to pray for our class and for one another….

If you are feeling overwhelmed and thinking that maybe BSF leadership is the thing that needs to go then before making that decision call me and tell me that you are struggling…to those that have- thank you for being brave and making that call…thank you for inviting me to pray with you…you can’t come to that decision on your own…and you don’t have to…

If you haven’t been on your knees yet- it’s time to get there….don’t wait till leaders meeting or workshop…go now…go to throne…behold our God…who is seated there…the alpha and omega- the one who holds all things together…He is your rock…he breaks through the waves…and he will carry you…

I didn’t ask you to commit to leadership in August- because August FEELS overwhelming every …single…year..

I asked you in March…and unless things have significantly changed in your life- if he called you then..he is calling you now….

For several of you- life has changed...I know that…I hear that….and if it’s your time to go then I will not stop you…but first…take the time to pray..invite me in…invite others in…

Did you know that 10 years ago when we studied Revelation leaders felt overwhelmed…did you know that they tried to step out…did you know that the enemy apparently has no new tricks up his sleeves and is trying the same old thing over and over…

In the book of Revelation, John is writing to believers who were suffering persecution beyond what any of you have ever experienced or can probably even imagine.

How did they persevere in the midst of being thrown to lions, burned alive, and ripped apart all for Christ?

They did it because their gaze was on Christ….he was their beginning...their end...their right now...their alpha...and omega...the one who was and is and is to come..

He wins..

So in the middle...they ENDURED and PERSEVERED through suffering and hardship and overwhelming unknown circumstances...because their eyes were fixed on the exalted one...that was their hope...and today...it is ours.

As we move into another year in BSF...I have no idea what this year will bring.

I could be wrong...but I don't think it is going to be easy-

But what I do know is that if we are going to endure and persevere...if we are going to thrive instead of simply survive...

Then we HAVE to look upwards...together…

to BEHOLD Jesus for who He is...

the alpha and omega..

the one who is and was and is to come

the faithful witness and firstborn from the dead.

the ruler of the kings of the earth...

the Almighty.

So go the throne…bring your concerns to Him…invite me, your staff, and our leaders to pray for you….pray for each other…pray for the women and children longing to be in our class…pray for more leaders….

But most importantly…pray that no matter what God would be glorified through it all…

I will see you all in a few short weeks…for now…we pray…we wait…and we keep our eyes on Jesus.

See you soon…