I have recently finished the last sermon that I will give at Jubilee on December 28th. The title is “Are you a Dreamer?” Paul, in Ephesians 3:20-21 (MSG) wrote, “God can do anything you know – far more than you could ever imagine or guess or request in your wildest dreams! He does it by not pushing us around but by working within us, His Holy Spirit, deeply and gently within us.”
Without a dream, you are not really living – you’re just existing. God’s dream or purpose for your life determines your destiny and defines your dignity. It’s the reason that you and I exist. Without a dream, your life lacks meaning and direction.
I don’t think there is anything more important after we become followers of Jesus Christ than to discover His dream/purpose for our lives. It’s at that point that life makes sense.
In the Bible, we have many examples of people who discovered God’s dream or purpose for their lives, and they locked in on that dream even though it wasn’t fully realized until years later.
· God gave Noah the dream of saving Noah from the flood.
· God gave Abraham the dream of becoming the father of a great nation.
· God gave Joseph the dream of being a leader who would save his people.
· God gave David the dream of building the temple.
· God gave Nehemiah the dream of rebuilding the walls around Jerusalem.
· God gave Paul the dream of going to Rome.
How can we be sure that our dream(s) are from God and not something we have conjured up?
There are several ways to make that determination.
A. God’s dream or purpose for your life will always require faith. In Hebrews 11:6, we read, “And it is impossible to please God without faith.” Anyone who wants to come to Him must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who sincerely seek Him.
B. Secondly, God’s dream or purpose for you will never contradict God’s Word.
His dream or purpose for you will never cause you to be self-centered or cheat. In Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT), we read, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.”
C. God has a custom-made dream/purpose for your life. Paul, in Romans 12:2 (NLT) wrote, “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world; but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.”
Each of us has been given a God-shaped identity:
· Spiritual Gifts
· Heart
· Abilities
· Personality
· Experiences
You are the only person in the whole world with your unique God-given shape. Don’t try to be like anybody else.
D. Dedicate all your life to God. Just say YES to God and let Him fill in the blanks. In Romans 12:1 (NLT), Paul wrote, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all He has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice, the kind He will find acceptable. This truly is the way to worship Him.”
The word ‘transform’ means to change something from the inside out. He wants to transform you by the way you think about yourself, about Him, and the world around you. Don’t try to fit into the world. Pursue becoming the person God intends for you.
In Hebrews 12:1 (NLT), we read, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.”
In Acts 20:24, Paul said, “My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it to finish the work assigned to me by the LORD JESUS.”
E. Determine to spend quality time with God, who loves you. To visualize God’s dream, you’ll have to turn off the television and disconnect from your devices. The reason you don’t hear God’s voice may be that there is always something going on around you to distract you.
In Job 37:14 (NLT), God is speaking, “Pay attention to this, Job. Stop and consider the wonderful miracles of God!”
Make sure in your time with God, who loves you, that it is a two-way conversation. He wants to hear from you, but He also wants you to hear Him. He is the God of all creation! Don’t you want to spend time with Him?
F. We can discover God’s will/dream for us by realistically considering the talents and abilities He has given us. In 1 Peter 4:10 (NLT), the Apostle wrote, “God has given each of you a gift from His great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to serve one another.”
In Ephesians 2:10, we read, “We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God has prepared in advance for us to do.”
God never gave me the ability to be much of a repairman or technician. I frequently need help with my computer and cell phone. But He has given me other abilities that are essential for a pastor. A deep love for people, insight into God’s word, ability to communicate God’s Word, the gift of counseling and listening, etc.
I am very comfortable with the abilities God has given and the ways He uses them to help others.
G. Spend time with others who are trying to understand God’s dream for their own lives. There is no such thing as a neutral friend. They will either help you to figure out God’s purpose for your life or they will hinder you, so choose your friends carefully. In Proverbs 27:17, we read, “As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.” In 1 Corinthians 15:33 b (NLT), Paul wrote, “bad company corrupts good character.”
H. As you spend time with God, who loves you, visualize what He is sharing with you, and as it takes shape, verbalize it with others. Every church I have pastored was different and unique. God gave me a dream for each church, and as it took shape, I shared it with my staff, boards, and members. My dream for Jubilee will never change, but perhaps it is a part of Jim’s dream and the leadership of Jubilee in the years ahead.
Don’t be afraid to embrace God’s dream for you.
Blessings, Pastor Leonard
