Sheryl delivers a timely message about the power of dreaming. There are 14 different dreams in the Bible and each one holds significance for God's communication to His people. Discouraged in your DREAMS being fulfilled? This will help you keep believing and trusting God in the wait.
Podcast
Show Notes
Purpose of a Dream
Give direction for your life
Can be warnings of what to do or not do
Example: King Abimelech Genesis 20:3-18
“But let me tell you, Job, you’re wrong, dead wrong! God is far greater than any human. So how dare you haul him into court, and then complain that he won’t answer your charges? God always answers, one way or another, even when people don’t recognize his presence. “In a dream, for instance, a vision at night, when men and women are deep in sleep, fast asleep in their beds— God opens their ears and impresses them with warnings To turn them back from something bad they’re planning, from some reckless choice, And keep them from an early grave, from the river of no return.” Job 33:12-18 MSG
What do you do with a Dream
1 Believe God gave you the dream
2 Write it down Habakkuk 2:2-3
3 Pray over it and ask God for clarity of its meaning
4 Does it align to Scriptures?
5 Thank God for communicating and interpreting it
6 Believe you can do the dream... with God's help
7 Wait on God’s timing to reveal and fulfill
God is more interested in who we are becoming than in what we are achieving. It’s a process to create something valuable like refined gold. He’s developing character within us. We need to learn like Paul to be content in whatever stage we are in. Trust God in the journey to shape and mold us into who we are becoming. If we rush ahead, we can miss what God was trying to teach us to prepare us for what He was going to entrust to us. Does it feel out of control? Look at Abram and Sarai’s impatience with God? We are affected today with the descendants of Ishmael, Hagar’s son - Muslims. We want quick, He wants what’s best for us.
Dreams throughout the Bible (14 Dreamers)
I) King Abimelech (warning to keep from sinning) Gen 20:3-18
2) Jacob's Dream (at Bethel) Gen 28: 10-22
Positioned on a stone where he dreamed. -> converted to a pillar; God’s house
Anointed the pillar. Gave town new name Luz ->Bethel
Promised land for him and future generations
All nations blessed by them
God is with him.
God watches over Him.
God won't leave him
3) Laban (warning to not harm Jacob) Gen 31:24
4) Joseph's Dreams Gen 37:5-11
5) The Cupbearer dream Gen 40
6) The Baker's dream Gen 40:8
7) Pharaoh's Dreams Gen 41
8) Midianite (Gideon overheard) Judges 7:13-15
God used Gideon's enemy to reassure Him of the victory, ridding fear.
Least of his family, clan weakest in Manasseh, "God called him a "mighty warrior"
Gideon's response - bows and worships God.
9) Solomon 1Kings 3:5-15
10) Prophets Num 12:6
11) Eliphaz (Job's friend) Job 4:12-21
12) Elihu Job 33:14-18
13) Daniel Dan 7
14) Nebuchadnezzar Dan 4: 4-27
15) Joseph the carpenter M+ 1:20-24; 2:13
16) Magi Matthew 2: 12
warned in a dream to not return to return to Herod
Derailers
When we believe lies of the enemy, we get discouraged, want to quit, get distracted, move on to other relationships, try new things, all to avoid discouragement, doubt our abilities, or fear failure.
Conclusion
““Look! I am creating new heavens and a new earth, and no one will even think about the old ones anymore. Be glad; rejoice forever in my creation! And look! I will create Jerusalem as a place of happiness. Her people will be a source of joy. I will rejoice over Jerusalem and delight in my people. And the sound of weeping and crying will be heard in it no more. “No longer will babies die when only a few days old. No longer will adults die before they have lived a full life. No longer will people be considered old at one hundred! Only the cursed will die that young! In those days people will live in the houses they build and eat the fruit of their own vineyards.” Isaiah 65:17-21 NLT
You are His temple! Finish the dream!