The Year of the Dreamer
NCF- recognizes importance of greater body of Christ
When a person is born-again/saved/regenerated, they are said to be baptized into Jesus Christ.
When someone is saved/born-again, they also are said to be baptized into the Body of Christ.
They become part of the Church/the family of God.
1 Cor 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. NASU
Don Lewcheski, local youth pastor …
Our salvation is a personal matter, but not a private matter.
We are made part of something bigger than ourselves.
NCF recognizes not only the importance of our local body, but also the greater Body of Christ.
Every other church is as important as we are.
We walk that out be being connected relationally …
w/other local pastors and their church bodies,
as well as being part of COTRI.
Church On The Rock International (COTRI) is a network of churches that extends outside our local area and into the nations.
Recently returned from- COTRI Pastors conference- share some thoughts from that conference.
Thoughts from the COTRI Pastors Conference
Theme: The Year of the Dreamer
John Paul Jackson- believes God wants His people to experience dreams/visions/walk in the supernatural
1 Cor 2:6-11
Too often we try to understand God through logic.
There is a logic … but it is God’s logic, not man’s.
Dreams/visions, the supernatural, cross the barrier of man’s logic and take us into the realm of the Spirit.
We talk a lot about the release of God’s gifts/callings, moving under the power of the Spirit of God.
Important-if we are going to move in the supernatural, that our character/integrity develop accordingly.
Many Christians have character issues that hinder God’s gifts and the supernatural in their lives.
God values character more than He values our gifts.
Gifts are given freely by God, but character must be worked out on a daily basis.
Phil 2:12-13
12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;
13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. NASU
John Paul Jackson talked about dreams-Mike Maiden, COTRI pastor said - God has a dream- that dream is the church.
The church is to …
take Christ to the world,
complete the ministry of Christ on earth today
If we do not get on board w/the purposes of God, He will use another generation to complete His plan.
We are living in a time when God is calling us to live beyond our natural capabilities.
A time to overcome disappointments from the past, and to rise up and become the people of God.
Act 3:1-8 Peter and John and the lame man
Much of the church is lame, have not walked, and have never experienced the victory of God.
God spoke to Joshua …
Joshua 1:2-3
God said- every place you go, I will give to You … however he had to arise/go there- cross the Jordan.
We must cross over our Jordan river and overcome all limitations and boundaries.
God is not dependent on us, but we must become fully dependent on Him.
Never say we cannot do something!
Php 4:13 For I can do everything with the help of Christ who gives me the strength I need. NLT
We must look beyond the things that have restricted and restrained us …
Man lame from birth
Woman sick with issue of blood for 12 years
Man blind from birth
Woman bent over for 18 years
As God broke the boundaries in their lives, through their faith, He will also do it in our lives.
Mike Maiden …
God is healing us from detours/delays. God’s will/purposes are not to be delayed any longer.
We need to get over the Jordan river in our lives and get past what has stopped us/others before us.
Joshua 14:10-12
Caleb was one of the two spies that came back with a favorable report about the land of Canaan.
Because of the testimony of the other spies, they could not enter the Promised Land for 40 years.
Caleb spent 40 years in the wilderness but was not willing to die until He got what God had promised.
Many of us have been trapped in our own wilderness and God wants us to complete our mission.
Every person has within them great potential.
Ron Hammonds, a COTRI pastor said …
What we are going through is ...
not punishment for our past, but
promotion for the future.
Dr. Kennedy, president of COTRI said …
Circumstances are opportunities for God to do a miracle in our lives (Dr. Kennedy).
Consider the prophet Jonah … he missed God’s plan for his life … actually he ran from it.
Jonah 3:1-2
God told Jonah- when the fish vomited him up- now fulfill the original purpose to which I called you.
God is a God of a second chance.
Jonah 3:5-6
Notice how quickly a wicked/ungodly people responded to the voice of the prophet … yet …
How long have we, God’s people, wrestled with issues that we have not allowed God to deal with.
Issues of character/integrity that have hindered us.
Jonah 4:2, 4, 10-11
Last chapter of Jonah … speaks of God’s love.
If God so loved the Ninevites, how much more does He love those that love Him.
If we are going to succeed we must remember …
It is His grace, not our ability,
His anointing, not our power or charisma,
His revelation, not our wisdom or intelligence.
Consider two men with broken dreams …
Lk 24:13-35
Their dreams were not only smashed/broken, but they had misunderstood the dream God had given them.
In the breaking of bread, in communion, not ritual, but relationship, they saw the Living Christ.
Let me encourage us to …
Recognize our limitations,
Refuse to let our limitations limit us,
Receive the grace of God,
Rejoice with thanksgiving in our heart.
Let me end with this verse out of the NLT …
Php 4:6 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. NLT
Look what Paul says …
do not worry about anything,
pray about everything,
tell God what you need, and
thank Him for all He has done.
In the words of Ron Hammonds …
There is no crown without a cross.
The cross is that place where you and I embrace the will of God for our lives.
Make God part of everything you do/think, and every decision you make, and you will be successful.
Dreams can come alive in 2005!
