THE DREAM
By Pastor Jim May
Joel 2:28 says, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions..."
There are several meanings that we could put on the term "dreams" in this passage. Sometimes the dream is about some great thing that God wants to do in us. At other times those dreams can be meant to warn us of things that God sees in us, that perhaps we can’t even see in ourselves. God can use dreams to accomplish His work in many ways.
On several occasions I have had a similar dream concerning the church. At first I thought that the dream was the result of constant thoughts of what to preach or teach next that the congregation needed, or that I am always thinking of what can be done to improve our church with those who are attending without overloading everyone. I suppose that all true pastors have those thoughts.
In the past, most of the time, when this dream comes, it is short and simple. I would always find myself in the wrong place, at the wrong time, when it came time for church to start. I wouldn’t be prepared sufficiently. I knew that it would only be a few minutes until it would be time for me to stand and deliver a message to God’s people and I just wasn’t ready. I don’t know if I will ever feel truly ready. I have figured that this was just God’s way of keeping me from thinking that I have it all together so that I will seek His will on behalf of the church.
That’s not a duty that I take very lightly. It is a constant prayer, and an ongoing concern of mine that I have a fresh “Word” from the Lord. I don’t like warmed over sermons, even though there have been a few times when I felt led to preach one again.
Every once in a while a warmed over sermon actually tastes better, and seems to accomplish more the second time around. Perhaps it’s because of a change in circumstances or maybe it’s just a greater anointing upon the preacher and the listeners. But most of the time a warmed over sermon isn’t too well received.
Much like warmed over dinner, the original zest and “pizzazz” is missing. There’s just something about leftovers that leaves you feeling left out. Something is just not right. I like dinner to be hot and fresh. So must the Word from this pulpit be. None of us like to eat cold, stale, leftover pizza. We must have a word from God that is hot and fresh too.
In all of those dreams, it always seemed that I didn’t have the message ready and that I was forced to seek for a leftover sermon. It wasn’t a dream really, it was a nightmare!
On a few occasions I have dreamed that when it came time for church to start I was still at home trying to get ready. I couldn’t find my notes, or there were none. I felt so bad, so inadequate, so much like a failure because I wasn’t prepared like a pastor should be. I didn’t know what to say, and without God’s help, I never do.
I just felt terrible. Even after I would wake up, I could still remember that dream because it was so real.
I would always think, “The folks at church will wonder just why they allow me to continue being pastor. I just have to do better than this. I don’t know why I wasn’t ready, but it can’t be this way anymore.” Even though I am always striving to improve, that same dream would come again. I suppose that I have had this dream as many as 5 or 6 times. I have no doubt that God was trying to speak to me in those dreams but I am a little thick headed sometimes and He has to keep repeating it to get my attention.
Then just this past week, on Sunday night to be exact, I had the dream again, only this time it was much more emphatic and much more disturbing in several ways.
Always, in the past, I didn’t see any faces, I didn’t see the reaction of the crowd, and I was never in the church; always somewhere else. But this time it was different.
I ask you bear with me for a moment as I relate a few things about this dream and then let me tell you what I have finally discovered and come to realize that God is trying to say to me, at to you through me.
First, let me say that I don’t consider myself an old man, to dream dreams. But since there are only a few in the congregation that are older than me, and none, in positions of leadership are older, then that leaves the dreaming of dreams to the elder, which is me.
I’ve never been much of a dreamer. I was once involved in a business where we were constantly taught to dream and were pressed and motivated to dream. I can’t count the number of times that I took people out on a Sunday afternoon to just walk through new homes in an attempt to make them dream of owning one. I have taken hundreds of people through the Cadillac, Hummer and Mercedes auto dealerships, letting people sit in them, smell the leather, take them for a test drive and describe what they would want in their own vehicle when they get it. I’ve taken people through motor coaches, boats, and tried to get them to tell me every detail of what their dream vacation would be like. I have taken people through the malls, letting them look at jewelry, clothes, shoes, and just about anything to raise their dream level and give them something to work toward.
The object was to make them believe in their dream and to believe what modern psychology teaches; that “what the mind of man can believe, he can achieve”. There is some truth to that, but there is also the danger of making people forsake all to get rich.
We were taught that, “if the dream is big enough, the facts don’t count.” We were taught to put pictures of what you want on the refrigerator, the mirrors in your house, the dashboard of your car, and anywhere else where you would see it constantly. You had to visualize your dream in your mind, and create your dream in very minute detail. In so doing you would make it a reality in your own mind and, in time, the plan and actions to make the dream come true would really work.
My problem was then, and still is, that I am too much of a “Realist” and not much of a “Dreamer”. I tend to look at the cloud and not see the silver lining. I have enough of that “melancholy” personality to always think of the negative side of everything, play the devil’s advocate, or see all the reasons why something can’t happen. It’s not that I don’t believe that we achieve our dreams, I just never could find what that dream really was.
There are a few dreams that I have nailed down.
One is to have my wonderful wife. That is the biggest dream of my life and one that I am very glad to have come true. Along with that dream is included the dream of a good family and God has blessed me with that dream coming true as well.
Another is this church and the ministry. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always dreamed of being a minister, an evangelist, a teacher or a pastor, and I’ve always worked in that calling. But now God has opened doors in a greater measure and I believe that He is getting ready to open even greater doors for me. All of this is a dream coming true.
Thirdly, I still have an unfulfilled dream of going to Heaven and seeing all of the wonders of that land in reality and not just by faith. That dream I also believe will come true sooner. I don’t know when, but it will be “longer than I wish and sooner than I think”.
When I was out there trying to build or create a dream, it was hard for me to do so. In large part, I am convinced that I couldn’t because my heart was never set on this of this world, and none of the things that I looked at had much meaning in the context of eternity. I believe that God had something else in mind and I thank Him that He never allowed me to get caught up in the riches of this world only to forget about Him.
I could look at all the pictures I wanted to; make all the plans I wanted to; try to believe in the dream all I wanted to; but I just never did convince myself that what I wanted was what God desired for me, so those dreams were more like a fantasy than a reality in the making.
These dreams that I have had lately, and especially the one this week, have not been those kinds of dreams. They weren’t dreams of possessions and riches of this world. These dreams felt more like a vision, or an object lesson that needed to be learned. I believe that God was trying to speak to me, and through me, to you as well.
Through this dream I believe that God has given me direction for preparing this church, and especially preparing myself, for a time of growth, and for much greater ministry that is all ready beginning. I get the sense, from these dreams, that God is ready to open the flood gates of blessings and that He wants to bring Victory Temple into a new realm of ministry. I need you to pray with me that we will know the mind of God for the days ahead.
Please, hear my heart tonight. I’m not trying to be super-spiritual, but I am convinced of what God is trying to say and I know, according the Word of the Lord, what we must do, and what we must have, before the dream can come true and the church can grow.
Let me tell you a few things about the dream. I won’t give you all the details because some of them are meant only for me to know and understand.
In this dream, I found myself in the church. It wasn’t this building. The building was laid out much differently, and the auditorium was much larger. I only saw 2 or 3 rooms beside the inside of the auditorium, and that was only as I looked through a doorway.
In my dream, I was not dressed for church. In fact, it seems that I had completely forgotten that it was Sunday and that we were having service that night. I was still sitting at my desk, writing a message, wearing my sleeping clothes, when I began to see the people come in through the foyer. From what I saw, it was as though I was living in quarters at the church and my office was next to the foyer area across from the living area.
There were some who looked familiar coming into the church, though I can’t call their names. They were the clean cut, well-dressed, family types who were coming in bringing their children and families with them. My thoughts were, “now that’s the caliber of people that we can really use to build and support the church.” But those weren’t the only ones I say coming in. The last 3 people that I saw walk in the door were some grungy, worldly, biker types. I mean no offense to bike riders, but these folks were of the worst type. They wore their black leathers and studs. One of the men came into the church with tattoos all over his arms, chest and back, and had no shirt on. None of them wore shoes or socks, and certainly they weren’t “properly dressed” for the service. My thought was, “I certainly hope that no one says anything to them to offend them, make them mad, or drive them out. They need God, and we need to let the Holy Ghost teach them how to dress in His own way.”
Their manner of dress didn’t bother me. I was glad to see anyone come in. My thoughts were, “God can use even these sinners to build His church. These are the folks we have been praying for God to send.”
The thing that bothered me most was the fact that I wasn’t dressed to stand before them, I wasn’t prepared to give them a message, and I was desperately trying to find my suit to put on. When I couldn’t find that, I rummaged through a stack of laundry, trying to find even a nice casual set of clothes to put on, thinking that I could just say that this Sunday night was “casual dress night” so I wouldn’t offend the well-dressed and make the underdressed feel at home.
Perhaps I was remembering the words of Paul in 1 Corinthians 9:19-22, "For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more. And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law; To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ) that I might gain them that are without law. To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men that I might by all means save some."
Whatever the reason for that though, I couldn’t find anything but what I was already wearing. I was desperate. My thoughts were, “This is terrible. How could I allow this to happen? Why am I not prepared? I will, through neglect, destroy that very thing that I have dreamed of and prayed for, for so long. How could I stand and be the pastor, the preacher or the evangelist to all of these people without a message or without being presentable?” It wasn’t that I wanted to make any great personal impression; it was just a matter of propriety. I just couldn’t stand there in pajamas and preach to this crowd. The message would be lost as the people laughed at my inappropriate clothing.
When I awoke from that dream, it just kept rolling over and over in my spirit. Lord, what are you trying to tell me? What’s this all about? It’s happened too many times to be just a coincidence!
I believe that God was giving me a vision in a dream and through it all he has shown me what must be done if we are going to be ready. There is no alternative but to hear what God is trying to say to us. I know that He was speaking to me and I am also convinced that I am not alone, but that He wants me to share this with you.
First, the stack of laundry with no useful clothing to wear, speaks to me of the fact that in every life, mine and yours, there is a lot of useless time-wasting activities, and clutter, things that are inappropriate for a Child of God who is supposed to be “On Fire for God”, that are not useful to building the Kingdom of God at all.
I heard a preacher saying yesterday that we need to learn to tithe our time to the Lord. I know that most of you are already busy, too busy in fact; too busy to give God any time at all. We owe a debt to the Lord and we will be held accountable for what we do with our time. All of us have discretionary time – time when we can decide what to do without being forced to do it. Most of us spend that time watching the TV and filling our minds with trash and garbage out of Hollywood. Some spend that time shopping, working in the yard or maybe reading a book, or doing projects around the house.
I’m not saying that you have to give up all those things, nor am I saying that you must give every spare moment you have to the Lord. But we can give more than we are. We can give God time in fasting, prayer and seeking His face. That’s what it will take to have a real revival anyway. We need to get rid of some of the junk that occupies our time.
Secondly there was the fact that I wasn’t prepared. I know that God was talking to me personally in this scene, but I think it goes for all of us. I know that I need to make sure that I am clothed in Robes of Righteousness before I can really be anointed. I know that I have to be instant in season and out of season, and I can’t wait until the crowds come to get ready. I have to be ready beforehand.
I have said it before in this church, “If we don’t get prepared for those whom the Lord will send to us, then either they won’t come, or if they do come, we won’t keep them for long.” God wants to build this church, but we are the ones who are hindering the move of the Spirit. God let me see through this dream that I am hindering the move of the Spirit because I’m not really prepared and “dressed in spiritual garments” like I should be, and If I am not, then I believe that a lot of those in the church aren’t either. We all need to make ourselves ready through fasting and prayer.
We are living in the Laodicean church age. Victory Temple, we can’t allow ourselves to take on the attitude of the Laodiceans. Here’s what Jesus had to say about them.
Revelation 3:14-17, "And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God; I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:"
We might have this body of flesh clothed in the best we can afford to buy, but let me tell you that there are some naked people in this church spiritually.
We profess a holy life, and confess that we have on the Robes of Righteousness, but in reality, we don’t possess either one. Where is the “fire of the Holy Ghost”? Where is that fire shut up in our bones? Where is that sincere, heartfelt desire to be in the presence of the Lord in the House of God? Where is that hunger for more of His word?
I know that some are hungry, some are closer to God than others, but we all need to get closer to God, get more on fire for God, including myself.
We can’t afford to get comfortable. I’ve said it, and I’ve heard it said, “If God desires our church to be small like it is right now, then we will be satisfied and just go on being faithful.”
God says that we shouldn’t hate small things, but God doesn’t expect things to stay small. He created everything to grow and increase. He is a big God, with big plans and He wants us to be a part of those big plans.
Here’s what Jesus told the Laodicean church to do if they wanted to see the miracles, the great revivals and the best that God had for them.
Revelation 3:18-21, "I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne."
Do we really want revival? Do we really want to see the church move on and be all that God wants us to be? Then we must learn to visualize that growth coming though eyes of faith driven by the power of the Holy Spirit.
God wants to birth in all of us a new dream and a new vision. He wants us to make ourselves ready for what is coming. I don’t know what will drive people to the church. Maybe it will be some disaster, some tragedy, or maybe just a mighty move of the Holy Spirit, but whatever it takes, God will do, because He wants all men to be saved.
I am convinced that the dream is real. I am convinced that the message is right. I am convinced that we must make the next move. Will you join me in making yourself ready?
Will you join me in fasting and prayer, believing God for a mighty move? Souls are hanging in the balance. Our church is hanging in the balance. Victory is ours if we want it bad enough. How bad to we want it?
Let us begin by establishing a prayer and fasting schedule where we can all take part. I am asking that all of us pick a day, one day out of the week, when you will be willing to fast and pray as much as possible. I know that none of us can just kneel and pray all day long, but we can be in an attitude of prayer on behalf of lost souls and the church, and we can take moments, minutes and maybe even an hour or so to seek God’s will.
We all need to ask God for a greater presence in our heart and life. We all need to be clothed upon with that Robe of Righteousness and our spiritual armor. Will you agree with me?
A list is on the table. Just put your name on one of those days when you will be willing to fast and pray. Of course we should pray every day, but on this day, you will do your best to spend some extra time in prayer. By signing, you agree to be a part of the coming revival by spending time in prayer, whatever time you can, on that day especially, and that you will fast on that day as well, whether its one meal, two or all day, as the Lord helps you and leads you.
My name is at the top and on every day for that is my commitment to getting ready. I never want to see my dream become a reality. I want to be clothed in righteousness and prepared for what God is about to do. Will you join me in fighting this spiritual battle for lost souls?
