OTD's BSSM Weekly: An Exciting Journey
My first week in the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry
The story of my BSSM journey will always be surreal to me. Even now, in week two, I still catch myself being in awe that I am actually doing this course. I applied on impulse, without discussing it with anyone as I would normally do. Then, I almost deferred it with excuses of money and time constraint but the Holy Spirit had His way. The school is gracious and gave me a payment plan to spread the full sum across several months. I am so grateful that God is so invested in me and made sure I joined in. This is also to encourage anyone thinking of leaving something you are certain that God will have you do, don’t leave. Allow Him to guide you towards the right decisions.
Week One was wonderful. It was everything and more, and if I had built up defined expectations, it would have broken it. I remember getting the introductory video from my Revival Group Pastor (RGP) and just feeling gratitude wash over me that I chose to continue. With each class, this gratitude has only flowed better and I am thankful for the desire and curiosity to be fully participatory.
Worship has been amazing and full of beautiful moments with Jesus. The classes have opened me up to new insight and also deepened my understanding of others. I cannot convey fully through a few hundred words what all of these are but I will share a few of the things that have stood out for me.
Generally
The Bethel institution is very intentional about building a community that mirrors what they teach. One of the key things I sense the Lord has for me on this journey and this phase of my life is understanding how a community works and being intentional about its growth and wellness. I am grateful for this time.
Laughter is great! Always be in an atmosphere of gratitude.
God meets us individually to make each person like Himself, and ultimately, we’d all then be like Him.
Peace is joy in silence. Joy is peace out loud. - Bill Johnson
The Book of John!
Our Bible reading for the first two weeks is from the book of John. Gosh. I was elated! My love for John, the beloved, is BIG.
I've seen things I haven't seen before and my heart has been opened up more and more. I also found an amazing resource that's led to more resources for studying the book of John.
You can check out Tim Mackie Archives on YouTube - 1. Gospel of John - Introduction - Tim Mackie (The Bible Project). Tim is from the Bible Project, a team that produces short animated videos to explain books and themes in the Bible and show us how it is one unified story that leads to Jesus.
The Cornerstone Beliefs
God is good, and because God is good, I will dream big dreams.
Nothing is impossible with God, and because this is true, I will take risks.
Everything that I will ever need has been purchased at Calvary, and because this is true, I will trust God completely.
I am significant, and because this is true, I will serve well.
The fourth point was particularly poignant for me. The text was taken out of John 13. I love John, the Beloved, by the way. This gospel is a masterpiece in storytelling. Haha. Back to the topic.
John tells us that Jesus had just finished a meal with His disciples, then knowing that all authority on earth and in heaven had been given to Him, and knowing where He came from and where He was going to, picked up a bowl of water and a towel to wash their feet.
Go over that again. Slowly.
Jesus knew He was in charge of everything and then, did the most disgusting and degrading job in His day.
I paused here and asked myself, whose feet have I washed and who has washed my feet?
What does it mean to wash someone's feet?
Is it just helping people when they need it or is it deeper?
I think it means cleaning people's mess up. So, not just giving someone money because he is out of a job, but staying with him, feeding him, standing up in defence of his God-identity even when you know it was all his fault that he lost the job.
It's saying, you've made such a disgusting mess. I do not support it. But I won't leave you in it.
It means learning how to give someone a second, a third, a fourth, and infinite chances to come back to the Father.
But before we can do all that, like Jesus, we must be so steeped and rooted in our identity, to know who we are, where we came from, and where we are going.
There is an old message of this available on the Bethel Podcast - https://www.bethel.tv/en/podcasts/sermons/episodes/24. It starts at about 19 minutes in but it’d be fun to listen all through.
Living from heaven to earth
The timelessness of God has always fascinated me. This class was super heart opening to more of that. Three key points of the lot for me were:
The prophecies about the end time were not only about the bad things that would happen. There were also good things spoken of across the old and new testament that are yet to come to be. Why do humans fixate on the negative and get scared of being in the end time?
Jesus responded to the Pharisees that God is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. P.S: He is not a God of the dead. Meaning that these folks are still alive. Paul goes on to say in Hebrews that they all waited in faith for the promise but did not get it because God wanted them to have something better when we finish the race as He has designed. That's why they are the cloud of witnesses cheering us on! It is OUR victory when I win at the finish line! Plus, I am better equipped to finish stronger. This exposition brings a better understanding to the BODY OF CHRIST. They cannot enter fulfilment without me. We all have to enter together! Such honour and such responsibility.
This point above then made me wonder, what if I'm not the last and my children have to run? That's why I have to do all that I must to run as far as I can and train my children well enough to carry on the torch, with me or if I go to the other side of the divide to join the cheerleaders. I must live to build a legacy of kingdom builders.
These were some of the key points for me in week one.
Week two has been so good, starting with a teaching on how to study your Bible.
Looking forward to more!
P.S: I’d shared this with a few friends before and someone asked how I knew that I was supposed to attend BSSM. I’ll answer this before going into my week 2 roundup in the next post. If you have any questions at all, do feel free to ask via email or in the comments.
Love and love,
OTDamilola
For King and Kingdom