Well it’s back to “normal” – the holidays are over and another year of possibility begins:
Do you ever wonder what Mary was thinking?
- Jesus was one week old… the fane fare is over.
- This afternoon is his circumcision… not really looking forward to that –
- Joseph is out of work, we’re miles away from home and maybe this was all just a bad dream.
It seems as though dreams and external circumstance contend for our affection. One provides a hopeful expectation, the other provides a harsh dose of 'reality'.
It is in the tension between what we have been promised and what is currently taking place that can cause us to doubt the dream provided by the LORD.
What kept a 15 year old girl motivated to deny the reality of her circumstances and continue to embrace Jesus? Think about it:
- Her external circumstances included; donkeys, camels, hay, cold…
- I would imagine that she flashed back to Gabriel and his proclamation; “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”
· What does that mean? Of His kingdom… he’s a baby… and this certainly does not look like an environment to raise a ‘king’… I'm sure Mary thought, ‘yeah, it was probably just a far fetched dream’.
However she might recall… there were those shepherds that came a week ago – what was it they said, “Fear not for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
So the question is; What are we to do when our dream? How do we manage a promise that we have received from the Lord? Where do we find the strength to overcome when the dream does not match up with what we see in our current circumstance?
First, it is necessary for us to begin to understand the “dream weaver” – His methods, what He thinks is important, His perspective, His primary intent in providing us life and liberty.
So today, do you have a dream? Here is what the world would ask in determining how you should dream:
- What have you always been good at?
- What makes you feel most fulfilled?
- What do you love to do?
- What have you felt called to do?
“Most of the church is waiting for the next big command from God… God is waiting for the church to begin to embark into their dreams.”
Dreams are written about in the bible. A few of those are: Abimelech, Jacob (Israel), the cupbearer, (interpretation) Joseph, Solomon… and so on. Dreams in the bible refer to a literal occurrence ie. ‘someone had a dream’- in which God revealed something to them.
Job 33:15 reveals that when speaking about a dream it is when individuals are sleeping – “In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, in slumbering upon the bed.”
For the sake of time let's consider Jacob’s Dream, we find is in Genesis 28:10-22
Here are some poiints to consider about dreams in the bible.
- Dreams required a redesign of the physical surroundings.
- The dream was a place of promise and encouragement.
- The disclosure required a response (acceptance or a denial of the promise).
- The dream is a foreshadowing of possibility and destiny.
- That destiny asks that we embark upon revelation.
Dreams go beyond our current reality and ask that we contend for a reality beyond our physical limitations or emotions. Dreams ask that we believe for something that is not in our current reality. But when you think about it - That is why we are called “believers” – not feelers.
I'm often asked, "Does God still ‘communicate’ through dreams?" The answer is yes, as a matter of fact Joel declares that in the last days dreams from God will be a regular occurrence. but, at this point I have not been prompted to embark into the realm of interpreting dreams – but who knows.
Rather, I want to concentrate on what the world calls “a dream” that is usually determined by what our personality, personal desire or ‘gut’ tells us we are to be or do.
Since the bible sets the precedent for our understanding – the bible deals with dreams in the sense of a revelation from God… therefore, when I refer to a “dream” I am speaking of a revelatory prompting from the LORD…
- So what does your heart cry out for?
- If $ were not an option what would you do?
- What makes you feel most fulfilled?
Now consider what you have in mind for your 'dream' and what we know about God’s nature. “Would God move you into an existence where you ‘feel’ most comfortable in your own talent and ability?” The answer is 'no'. Because if your dream is something that you could accomplish with your own ability and talent you would not need God.
To the world a “dream” is that of some altered life in which we imagine ourselves being happy, peaceful and provided for (according to the world’s standards). A fantasy reality conjured up in our heart – the trouble is that although the heart is the seat of faith… it can also lead us astray into a fantasy world that removes us from being content in today – Jeremiah 17:9 – “the heart is deceitful above all things…”
Consider the life of Jesus; does anyone really believe that his life was what he ‘dreamed’?
How is it that Jesus’, who could have had anything as a ‘dream existence’ chose to embark into a ‘dream’ that ultimately lead to His crucifixion… did anyone write that down, “My dream is to live in such a way for God that I am crucified and mocked by the world.” Yet… in Jesus, all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell (Col 1:19).
Jesus embarked into a realm of existence that we are asked to follow – and might I tell you… not many enter.
Matthew 7:13-14 – “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”
Jesus’ provided the model of living in the dream weavers plan every day – He accepted “this” world – with an understanding of “that” kingdom.
A dream is the intrusion of God into a settled life – that creates restlessness, which is intended to motivate that life to advance the Kingdom of God.
- It’s not your dream… it’s His.What would God dream for your life?
No comments:
Post a Comment