When Dreams Become Reality

1. THINK BIG

• Set a goal for something so great for God that it is doomed unless He is in it

• DREAM: “A condition or achievement that is longed for; an aspiration”

• Illustration: “A woman in a home for the elderly was given a party to celebrate her one-hundredth birthday. Her pastor came to offer his congratulations. Later, the pastor said, “Her mind was keenly alert. When I arrived, she was completely caught up in the excitement of the birthday party. A reporter had come to interview her. And when he asked the high-spirited, one hundred year old woman, ‘Do you have any children?’ she replied, without hesitation, ‘Not yet!’”

• This woman had lofty dreams and a clear vision

• VISION: “the act or power of imagination; the mode of seeing or conceiving; unusual discernment or foresight; man of vision.”

• When we develop a “vision” either as individuals or as a group it threatens Satan and his work. He will do everything in his power to stop or derail the vision of the Christian

• Most Christians never venture out of their “comfort zone” in order to establish a dream or vision much less achieve it’s goals

a. Each Christian should establish personal Dreams and Visions

b. Individual Christians should come together to establish the Dreams and Vision’s of the church

c. Each Church should come together to

realize and achieve the Dreams and

Vision God has for the world

2. JOSEPH HAD A DREAM

• Genesis 37:5-8

• Joseph’s dream was: “basically that his brethren would someday bow to him.”

• This was not his desire but was God’s will

• Joseph had second dream: This dream not only included his brothers bowing down to him but that his parents would also

• Genesis 37:10 “And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?”

• VS 11 tells us that his father “observed the saying” in other words accepted it as God’s will

• But the brothers resented him harshly for this

• Often times when God gives us the vision others may not understand or may be jealous of the one who is being used or the work being done

• God will use whomever he chooses to accomplish the task at hand

• Mark 9:35 “…If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all.”

• Proverbs 6:34 “For jealousy is the rage of a man…”

• Jealousy is what drove Joseph’s brothers to first put him in the pit then sold him into slavery which eventually led him to the work in the palace

• Joseph kept the dream/vision alive…

3. THREE THINGS NEEDED FOR A VISION

 BE PERSISTENT:

• When quick results do not occur too many people give up

• I Kings 19:19-21 “So he departed thence, and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, who was plowing with twelve yoke of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth: and Elijah passed by him and cast his mantle upon him.” “And he left the oxen, and ran after Elijah, and said, Let me, I pray thee, kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow thee. And he said unto him, Go back again: for what have I done to thee?” “And he returned back from him, and took a yoke of oxen, and slew them, and boiled their flesh with the instruments of the oxen, and gave unto the people, and they did eat. Then he arose, and went after Elijah, and ministered unto him.”

• Elisha knew about the miracles of Elijah

• Increases the oil of the widow of Zarephath (I Kings 17:14-16

• Raises the son in Zarephath from the dead (I Kings 17:17-24)

• Causes rain after seven years of drought (I Kings 18:24, 36-38)

• Calls fire down upon the soldiers of Ahaziah (II Kings 1:10-12; Luke 9:54)

• Elisha knew about the power given from God to Elijah, but his dream was for more

• II Kings 2:9-10 “And it came to pass, whenthey were gone over, that Elijah said unto Elisha, Ask what I shall do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Elisha said, I pray thee, let a double portion of thy spirit be upon me.” “And he said, Thou hast asked a hard thing: nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, it shall be so unto thee; but if not, it shall not be so.”

• Elisha received his “double portion” because he was persistent in his dream