Putting God In Your Dreams

Tomorrow we celebrate the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. When we think of Dr. King most of us remember his “I have a dream” speech delivered during the March on Washington in 1963. There have been a few memorable speeches made on the shores of America. But the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. will linger on for many years to come. He dreamed of a day when racial justice and equality would be the rule of the land. So we remember today not only the dreamer but the dream itself. The dream has not yet been realized, but we are further along than we were because of dreamers like Martin Luther King, Jr. Martin Luther King, Jr. had a dream.

But have you ever stopped to think that God had a dream too? God puts his dreams into people who will carry out his dreams. I believe God‘s dream for the country was the same as Martin Luther King’s. In a real sense God gave His dreams to him. God is the source of all dreams for the betterment of human society. On the eve of the birthday of Martin Luther King, Jr. and at the beginning of a brand new year, our thoughts may be turned toward dreams, goals, aspirations, and resolutions. You should have a dream. Dreams involve purposes for living. Without a purpose for living our lives are drab and dull. Without a purpose for living we lose all hope for life. But as you ponder your dream today, I want to invite you to put God in your dreams. Some of our dreams are frivolous and foolish. Some dreams lack reality and substance. Some people dream of winning the lottery. Considering the odds, that’s a pipe dream. I read about a movie called Hoop Dreams, about some high school kids dreaming of playing in the NBA. For most of them that dream is unrealistic. They are living in a dream world. Their dreams have failed the test of reality.

But God gives us dreams which can be accomplished because they are the products of his desires, dreams that spring from his plans for our lives. Consider if you will, the story of Joseph in the Book of Genesis. Joseph was a dreamer. You will remember the story of Joseph and his dreams. Joseph had a dream from God that one day his family would bow low before him. In fact, God gave him two dreams of the same kind. After the second dream there was no doubt that the dream had come from God. God was in the dreams of Joseph. Put God in your dreams. How do you do that?

In the first place, ask God to show you His dreams for your life. I am convinced that when God gives you a dream it is for your benefit and the benefit of others. God gives his dreams to men and women who will work to put those dreams in action. The great accomplishments of the world have come from dreamers that God had chosen. God is the source of all truth and wisdom. God dreamed that His people needed to read his word. So he gave John Guttenberg the dream of the printing press. God had a dream that his people needed to have light shown in the dark places of this world. So God gave Thomas Edison the dream of the electric light bulb. God had a dream that human kind needed a better mode of transportation than the horse and buggy. So God gave the dream of the automobile to Henry Ford and others. God had a dream that humans needed to span the great distance separating them. So God gave the dream of an airplane to the Wright Brothers. I believe God gives dreamers dreams to further the comfort and well-being of his people. Talk about your intelligent design! God put intelligent design in the minds of dreamers to bring his dreams to fruition.

God gave Joseph the dream that he would be the means of saving his people. The purpose of the dream was not that his father and brothers would bow before him. The purpose of the dream was that Joseph would be instrumental in saving his people from starvation in Canaan by bringing them to Egypt where there was plenty of food. Ask God to show you His dreams for your life.

Maybe God still has great dreams for this church. This great church is about to call a new pastor. The days of the former pastors are over. God is ready to do a new thing in this church. Let God put his dreams in you for the advancement of this church. Do not be lulled into complacency by the accomplishments of the past or the status of the present. Complacency is the enemy of dreams. You are the largest church in the Presbytery, one of the largest in the denomination, and one of the most prestigious. You have dozens and dozens of activities and ministries for all members of the church. Take a look at the bulletin and the newsletter and see all the many programs and activities of this church. Your outreach extends to the heart of West Philadelphia and beyond. Yet God still has dreams for you and your church. God has dreams that you can be even a better church. God may not yet be through with this church. God does not allow us to rest on our laurels. God is constantly pushing us forward to bigger and greater achievements. It’s dream time! Ask God to show you his dream for this church. Ask God to use you in bringing his dream to realization.