Who are you going to listen to when you are squeezed between the people and what seems impossible?  

The Executive Vice President of Hillsong College, Lee Burns, continued his three-part series at the start of the month by bringing an encouraging, yet challenging message, to our global student body.

From the beginning of worship, right through to a student sharing their ‘Walking with God’ testimony, this chapel service created a sense of expectancy for all our college campuses and anyone else tuning in.

“As a leader, do you listen to the people, or do you listen to God?” quizzed Lee, “Because people need leadership! The question is who are you going to listen to when you are squeezed between the people, and what seems impossible?”.

Lee framed his message around Exodus 14:15-18. In this scripture, Moses is caught between the Red Sea before him, and the Israelites behind him.

“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people of Israel to move on.’” Exodus 14:15 (NIV)

From this passage, he highlights “everything that is of God, will always move you forward. Even if it looks impossible, you will always go forward with God”.

“As for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea and divide it, and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land. “As for Me, behold, I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians so that they will go in after them; and I will be honoured through Pharaoh and all his army, through his chariots and his horsemen. “Then the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD, when I am honoured through Pharaoh, through his chariots and his horsemen.” Exodus 14:16-18 (NIV)

Lee goes on to outline three instructions that God gives Moses from this passage of scripture, applying them to our own circumstances, as we navigate the leadership squeeze during this current season:

1. RISE UP IN AUTHORITY

God asked Moses to “lift up his staff”, a symbol of authority in the Ancient Near East. What God said to Moses, and now to us today, is to rise up in his authority. Authority comes when you SEE how God acts, SAY what God says and DO what God does (ref. Acts 2:22;40).

2. STRETCH OUT IN FAITH

God asked Moses to stretch out his staff in the direction he wanted the Israelites to go. Faith always requires an element of risk. It will determine what you walk into and what you don’t walk into; what you go after and what you retreat from.

3. WALK IN GOD’S PATH (the Way)

Just as the people of Israel were asked to “move on”, we too must continue to move forward in the things of God; to come around His Word, in order that His Word would flow out of us.

Lee concludes by reminding us that the authority, faith and path we choose, determines our ACTIONS, DIRECTION and our DESTINATION. As we remain firm in our FAITH, we can also be firm in our AUTHORITY, firm in our CIRCUMSTANCES and firm in our FUTURE.

We invite you to hear this inspirational message from Lee by joining Hillsong College online in the link below. Remember to grab a notebook and pen and be expectant for this strengthening and powerful word that has been prepared for us all today.

Click here for The Leadership Squeeze Part 1