It’s a kids ministry Revolution baby!

Hi guys

Here is a brief summary of what I spoke about at our recent winter retreat. I hope it makes sense!

The topic of my session was on gaining personal Revelation and Vision from God.

I believe that God has a perfect position and purpose for each one of us, and has designed us with unique characteristics and skills to fulfill that purpose. He desires to reveal to each one of us his plans and purposes for our lives, and give us wisdom and understanding on how to live, solve problems and interact with others. As it says in 1 Corinthians 12: 18-19  (NIV)

“God has arranged the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be?” 

He uses everybody, and the purposes he has for us differ from one person to the next, just as the parts of a body differ.We are not all skilled in the same areas, and I therefore believe we must ask God to reveal to each of us the things he has designed us, and desires us to do, because if we are not living in his plans then we are not living in our kingdom calling.

Vision and revelation are powerful weapons that God gives us. Courageous Leadership by Bill Hybles defines Vision as – a picture of the future that produces passion. God has designed us in a way that each of us feels very deeply about something. We need to ask God for revelation, and when he gives it to us we must get it into our hearts, as it procduces passion in us , and grunt that can’t be taken away from us. We must speak it over our lives and desire to seek it from him.

When God gives us revelation we need to pray about it, and ask him to clarify it and give us understanding as to what it means. I believe that God desires to reveal things to us, and we must therefore be connected to him, through regularly reading his word, praying and listening to him so that we can walk in the plans he has for us.

I encourage you to seek God and ask him to reveal what he has for you, because when we are walking in his revelation we will be most effective and are fulfilling our important position in the body of christ.

I spoke at our winter retreat about what we, as leaders, can learn from Proverbs 30:24.  I have tried to put together a condensed summary for the blog, although I realise it is still quite long!

Carly

IF I COULD TALK TO THE ANIMALS

If we could talk to the animals, what would they say?  Perhaps our pets they would laugh at how easily we fall in love with them! Or perhaps they would share with us a little part of their world.  Proverbs 30:24 says

“There are four things on earth that are small but unusually wise;

Ants:        they are not strong, but they store up food all summer, 

Hyraxes:  they are not powerful, but they make 
                            their homes among the rocks, 

Locusts:  they have no king, but they march in formation,

Lizards:   they are easy to catch, but they are
                            found even in king’s palaces.” 

ANTS

Ants teach us the importance of vision.  There is a famous cartoon which shows a line of ants walking and an ant near the middle says ‘I hope the first ant knows where he is going.’  As leaders in children ministry it is our job to be seeking revelation and vision from God so that we can lead in the right direction.  If we don’t know where we are going, then neither will the leaders below us, nor the children in our ministry! 

HYRAXES (ROCK BADGERS)

Rock badgers understand their strengths and their weaknesses.  They are small and slow movers; they are no match for an eagle.  When an eagle flies across the sky they run into the shelters in the rocks.  Their strength is not in what they can do, but in what the rock can do for them.  Why do they choose rocks to run to?  Rocks are strong, solid, never changing, great foundations and good hiding places. 

Think about how many bible verses you know that talk about God as a rock!  We need wisdom like the rock badgers to know where our security lies: in God our rock. 

LOCUSTS

A single locust is not much of a threat, but when a swarm of locusts unite and demonstrate the power of community, what they cannot do alone, they can accomplish together.  Similarly, the power of Christians is in community.  Our unity is our strength.

I love the words on the Hillsong United We Stand CD insert: “United we stand, it’s not supposed to be a clever slogan or a fancy title.  This is way bigger than that.  It’s a statement, and it’s a call to action for the church, it’s a call to action for us.” 

LIZARDS

Lizards are often quite small, yet they still manage to find themselves in the most amazing places on earth.  There are two things to learn from the lizards.  Firstly, like the lizards, we should not limit ourselves or others.  Let’s look beyond outward appearances, attitudes, and circumstances in others and ourselves in order to see what God sees: the beauty and potential of everyone.  Secondly, some lizards can change colours to blend into their environments.  When we are challenged, do we reflect our environment or do we reflect God?  Do we hold onto God’s promises and act accordingly?  Or do we react the way the world expects us to?