ALL of the good things we want for our children , HE wants for us as well
HE wants to teach us , train us and build us into the children He has planned for us to be
Dreams with my Father Part II
Josh 3:1 Then Joshua rose early in the morning; and they set out from Acacia Grove and came to the Jordan, he and all the children of Israel, and lodged there before they crossed over.
Josh 3:2 So it was, after three days, that the officers went through the camp;
Josh 3:3 and they commanded the people, saying, "When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, the Levites, bearing it, then you shall set out from your place and go after it.
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It is hard to make a dream come true – especially a HUGE dream
Last week we looked at kinds of dreams and what happens when you follow the dreams God gives to you. This week in Part II of “Dreams with my Father” we will look at HOW to achieve them successfully.
The title today for Part II of “Dreams with my Father “ is
How to make the dream that God places in you a reality
Como hacer los sueno que Dios pone adentro de ti una realidad
Walls are there for a reason. They are there to keep the people out that don’t really need to get in. If we are persistent, we earn the entrance
This is the thing a lot of people don’t know. They wonder why there is rejection and they give up easily. Dogged persistence works.
Walt Disney - was fired by a newspaper editor for lack of ideas. Walt also went bankrupt several times before he built Disneyland.
Leo Tolstoy, author of War and Peace, flunked out of college. He was described as “both unable and unwilling to learn.”
Michael Jordan, perhaps the greatest basketball player of all time, did not make his high school basketball team his sophomore year.
Beethoven’s teacher called him hopeless as a composer.
Winston Churchill failed the sixth grade. He did not become Prime Minister until he was 62. His greatest contributions came when he was a “senior citizen.”
Henry Ford failed and went broke five times before he finally succeeded.
Today… we’re going to talk about reaching for your dreams and the results of persistence.
Reading this scripture in Joshua, we find that
It must have been an exciting time for the Israelites to finally enter their land of promise.
Can you think back and remember a day you waited for a long time with great anticipation and excitement? Most of us can. As a child, Christmas and birthdays were my favorite days. I would count the days till summer vacation was here so I wouldn’t have to go to school. I would count the days to my favorite rock concerts.
Depending on the nature of the day and what it might hold, such a time might also bring about a certain amount of anxiety because of the challenge you might face. For months, weeks, and days you waited, and then finally, the day arrived.
Can you imagine the anticipation and excitement the children of Israel faced as they stood before the River Jordan the evening before they were to cross over into the land?
They had been in the dessert and in the wilderness for forty years.
I have been alive for 39 years next week. It’s a long time.
It was time to move out of the desert – across the Jordan River – and into Canaan.
Joshua and Caleb, who were now about eighty years old, had waited even longer. According to the promise to the Patriarchs, Jewish anticipation went back some five hundred years. But now, Joshua tells the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (3:5).
Church, I believe that is the Word that the Lord has for you.
Consecrate means to “ Set apart”. WE need to set ourselves apart from this world so that we can grow closer to God and His will through our dreams in this life.
There had been discouragement and disappointments along the way – but it was now time!
Church , Some of you have had set backs and disappointments along your journey – BUT THE TIME HAS COME FOR YOU TO ENTER INTO YOUR LAND OF PROMISE! We need to simply commit ourselves to GODS Plan for our life. WE need to commit ourselves to GOD’s dream for our life that He has placed within us
I believe God wants to reveal this to you tonight. I believe you can rededicate Youself to accepting Gods will in your life and letting Him work through you and your dreams AMEN?
The first thing we need to remember to achieve the dreams God places within us is to:
1. Be patient
( Story ) My father was always gone working at the hospital when I was a child
He would have me stay in the operator switchboard room at Bayshore Hospital
I would roam the halls of the hospital, stay in the giftshop etc
To this day I feel at home in a hospital. I never had any patience to wait for my father. I could never stand it. But I had no choice but to be patient while he was with his patients
Church – we need to be patient for our father
He is doing something very important . My father was healing others and preparing them to grow stronger when I was a child
Our FATHER is now healing us and preparing us to grow stronger. I am not ready until HE says I am ready amen? We just need to be a little patient
Hebrews 6:12, James 1:4 (Patience)
Let patience have its perfect work- Persistence is the key!!!
If you keep hitting them – it will sink!!!!
Notice that they had to wait for three days. They had been waiting for 40 years – three days wouldn’t make a difference.
This was an exciting day… This was the beginning of a covenant that had been made to Abraham about 500 years before.
Moses got to the edge of the river and never crossed over. How many of us get to the edge and never cross over?
How many of us have a chance at a new career and never take it? How many of us wonder – What if I would have just done____
God doesn’t give us a Spirit of fear – but a Spirit of power love and self control!
How many of us can see the promises but never obtain them?
Notice v.3 – “when you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God…”
“The ark” is mentioned seven times in this chapter. There must be some importance to it.
What’s so important about the Ark? It represented the person and promises of God. It pointed to the fact that as the people of Israel set out to cross the Jordan, invade, and possess the land, they must do so not in their own strength, but in God’s for it was God Himself who was going before them as their source of victory.& amp; lt; o:p>
And such is the case with all of life. As Paul cried out when contemplating the challenges and trials of ministry, “And who is adequate for these things?” But he then answered his own question with these words: “And such confidence we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are adequate in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our adequacy is from God” (2 Cor. 3:4-5).
We must keep our eyes on God. When God moved, they were to move-----When God stopped they were to do the same.
2. Don’t ever GIVE up – no matter what the obstacle
Story this last week
Former New York Giant George Martin walks across the U.S.A. for 9/11 rescue workersThe 3,000 mile walk took Mr. Martin 10 months. He lost 40 pounds and went through 24 pairs of shoes and 80 pairs of socks.IT took him 4 months longer than planned. He had to change direction due to wind storms and weather, but he stayed on track!!! Raised 2 million dollars.!
1 Samuel 17:45 (Determination, David facing Golaith)
Israel’s army say a target to large to defeat, David saw a target to large to miss.
Story – I was very affected by the story of my mother when she came to this country. She went to Venezuela first , then Miami, then Alabama and finally Kansas. All by herself and with an 11 year old child not knowing how to speak English. Not knowing ANYONE. She would hear about a Cuban person here or there and go to them.
She had to undergo tremendous obstacles and difficulties
The only skill she had and knew was how to sew as a seamstress. She was single and then she met my father by accident
My father was actually her doctor and delivered her first son from her previous marriage in Cuba – It was beyond their wildest dreams that they would meet again in another country.
How wonderous that God placed them together again in this far off place when neither of them knew they would meet again??? My father courted her and they became a husband and wife. I came along soon thereafter.
She had to leave her comfort Zone completely to find her dream. She did not give up
Not giving up may require us to leave our comfort zone.
God doesn’t want us to stay in our comfort zone. He called us for much much more than that
Israel was about to follow the Ark through a river that was over 1 mile wide. There were obstacles ahead.
Josh 3:14 So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,
They broke camp, they tore down their tents, and they uprooted their lives to follow God.
How many of us here today have had to uproot and leave our home to find a better place.??To get to the United States ?? To start over again perhaps?
To start a new job?
They went out on a limb and they finally received what they were praying for.
God did amazing things that day.
I believe God wants to do amazing things in your life today!!
Were there obstacles? You bet.
The river was over 1 mile wide and there were 2 million people who had to cross over.
· They could not build a bridge, there wasn’t enough time or materials
· they could not transport everyone over in boats,—there were no boats- not like in Cuba… They couldn’t even build one
· there was only one way around their problem and that was through – they needed a miracle
CHURCH – HOW MANY OF YOU NEED A MIRACLE TODAY? WE need to look at that problem and say – With a problem you need to face>
GREATER IS HE WHO LIVES IN ME THAN HE WHO LIVES IN THE WORLD
CHURCH WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERERS!!!!!!!!!
Aren’t you glad that we have a God that goes before us and make a way for us?
The spies came this way 40 years ago – and all they saw was the giants and problems.
It was different now – they had to look to God. He was saying, “Follow me… I have a plan…”& amp; lt; /FONT>
Church – that’s what God wants us to do – Look to HIM
The greatest joy I have as a parent is when my CHILDREN ASK me for help AMEN? My daughters call me for advice or because they are worried and my whole world lights up!!!
I wish they would call me more
Josh 3:15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest),
But there was a catch in this plan-----the water would not part until the priests who were carrying the Ark stepped into the water.
In other words–it took a step of faith for them. Their miracle wouldn’t happen until the “priest” began to lead in faith!
Isn’t that the way with us? We must step out in faith in order for God to move!
Ephesians 3:20—“Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all at that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us”
God m ade them a path through the water that allowed a couple of million people to pass through quickly and safely.
Church , God is making a path to Heaven for our city- Pasadena must be saved for Christ!!!! We need to reach this city – God has a plan – we just need to step out in FAITH!!!!
This was a miracle of God. Remember… this was during the flood stage – not in the low season of drought. Pasadena is in a flood zone. We are in a season of drought
3. Stay close to the Father
Stay under the CLOUD ( covering )
Ex : Linus - Peanuts
John 15:16 (Abiding with Christ) (We are sent ones, we follow the Lord)
The people did not cross the Jordan until the priest’s and God (The Ark of the
Covenant) were in the Jordan first. (They were still being led by the cloud)
The wilderness was filled with graves where dreams had died and were buried, but Canaan was filled with promise, dreams, and destiny.
The great walled cities were opportunities for Israel to go over, not go under. God is always taking us to HIGHER places.
If the dream be God, then let it be big:
Israel dreamed of freedom – God told Pharaoh “Let my people go.”
Israel dreamed of crossing over – God opened the Red Sea.
Israel dreamed of provision – God gave them manna, water from a rock, made bitter waters sweet, made their clothes and shoes last 40 years.
Israel dreamed of worshipping God – God had them build The Wilderness Tabernacle and then He filled it with His glory.
Now, here is Israel dreaming again.
Their dream, claiming their inheritance.
The obstacles are great, but the Dream Giver is greater.
Dream makers stay under the cloud.
The cloud caused Joseph to be despised by his brothers, thrown into the pit and sold into slavery, be lied upon and wrongly imprisoned, but in the end it caused him to be relocated.
Joseph went from the prison to the palace.
Sometimes God will ask you to do things that are not easy. Things that you don’t want to do. Unless you are connected to Him – you will be connected to the world and will not understand or want to do them
He who loves the world does not love me.
We need to pray and find daily time to read and study our Fathers instructions.
Jesus spent every day in prayer communicating with His Father- He pleaded with Him sometimes – He even said “ Let this cup pass from me”
Word of God is living and active – sharper than any double edged sword
There will be other options that look easier open up in front of you. Stick with Gods options only – Pray read the Bible Ask the Holy Spirit for Discernment!!!
No matter how deep your problem you are facing – You can get through it to the other side!!!!!
In Closing
CHURCH, Nothing will happen until you step off the riverbank of your life. It is a step of faith. GOD IS WITH YOU.
STAY CONNECTED and CLOSE TO THE FATHER AMEN?
STORY OF KITE in SKY ( Illustration) Boy cant see the Kite because it is hidden in the clouds but tells man who asks him that knows its there because He feels it tugging on him- God tugs on our heartstrings when we stay close to HIM We feel HIM tugging at us and WE feel HIM in our lives
Joshuas story is all about Faith They show that crossing the Jordan and dispossessing the enemies (as in all aspects of our salvation and sanctification) is the work of God. The things we do in consecration are not works of righteousness that merit God’s favor or overcome the enemies. Rather, the acts of consecration, like confession, remove the barriers to God’s power, to fellowship, and so prepare our hearts to receive God’s grace: they build our faith so we will put our feet in the water, cross over, and go up against the enemy. Lets pray right now to remove all barriers to God’s Power in our lives. Let us dream the dream God places in us and cross over to our promised land.
