Dream Bigger, Start Small: Faith in Action

Today’s journey through the life of Elisha is a call to dream bigger and pursue greater things, but with the humility to start small. While God places grand visions in our hearts, the path to their fulfillment is often threatened by two main adversaries: the people we allow to influence us, and the enemy of our souls, Satan. The people closest to us can either lift us up or hold us back. It’s crucial to discern who is speaking into our lives—are they encouraging us toward God’s best, or are they sowing seeds of doubt and limitation? Jesus Himself modeled how to love everyone, yet He was intentional about who had access to His inner circle.

Satan, on the other hand, works tirelessly to keep us focused on our problems, to trap us in routines, and to settle for mediocrity. But we are reminded that he is already a defeated foe because of Christ’s victory on the cross. The story of Elisha in 2 Kings 6 is a powerful illustration: when surrounded by enemies, Elisha’s servant was gripped by fear, but Elisha prayed for his eyes to be opened to the spiritual reality—that God’s armies surrounded and protected them. This is a reminder that God is always at work behind the scenes, and we are never alone, no matter how overwhelming our circumstances may seem.

God calls us to see ourselves and our situations through His eyes, not our own. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1 is that we would not just know about God’s power, but experience it firsthand—the same power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. Yet, this power is activated when we step out in faith, even if it’s just a small step. Like Elisha standing at the Jordan, we are often at a pivotal crossing point. The “mantle” we pick up is not a physical cloak, but the Spirit of Christ, empowering us to do even greater things.

The challenge is to strike the water—to take that first step, however small, toward the bigger dreams God has placed in our hearts. Whether it’s in our work, our families, or our personal walk with God, we are called to move forward, trusting that God will meet us as we act in faith. Don’t settle for “good enough.” Dream bigger, start smaller, and keep moving forward, knowing that God surrounds your enemies and is faithful to complete what He has begun in you.

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Key Takeaways

• 1. The Influence of Relationships on Destiny The people we allow closest to us shape the trajectory of our lives. It’s not about cutting everyone off, but about discerning who encourages us toward God’s best and who pulls us away from it. Limiting the influence of negative voices is not unloving—it’s necessary for spiritual growth and the pursuit of God’s greater vision for our lives. Choose friends who lift your arms when you’re weary, not those who point out your weakness without offering help. [04:52]
• 2. Recognizing and Resisting the Enemy’s Tactics Satan’s strategy is to keep us focused on our limitations, our routines, and the obstacles in front of us, tempting us to settle for less than God’s best. Yet, his defeat is already accomplished through Christ. When we feel surrounded by problems, we must remember that God surrounds our enemies, and His presence is greater than any opposition we face. [08:30]
• 3. Seeing with Spiritual Eyes, Not Just Natural Ones Like Elisha’s servant, we often only see the threats and challenges before us. But God invites us to pray for spiritual vision—to see the resources, protection, and possibilities He has placed around us. Faith is not the absence of fear, but the ability to see God’s reality beyond our circumstances and to act accordingly. [12:10]
• 4. God’s Power is Experienced Through Faithful Action Paul’s prayer in Ephesians is that we would experience, not just intellectually know, the power of God at work in us. This power is not something we earn or manufacture; it’s already present through Christ. But it becomes real in our lives when we step out in faith, even in small ways, trusting God to do what only He can do. [16:52]
• 5. Every Big Dream Begins with a Small Step Standing at the edge of the Jordan, Elisha had to strike the water before the miracle happened. Likewise, we are called to take the first step—however small—toward the greater things God has for us. Don’t wait for perfect conditions or overwhelming certainty; act in faith, trusting that God will meet you as you move forward. [19:16]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:51] - The Killers of Bigger Dreams
• [01:48] - The Power of Relationships
• [04:52] - Choosing Your Circle Wisely
• [05:35] - Four Questions to Identify Influences
• [06:16] - Surrounding Yourself with the Right People
• [08:30] - Satan’s Tactics and Christ’s Victory
• [09:19] - Elisha and the King of Aram
• [10:28] - Surrounded by Enemies: Fear and Faith
• [12:10] - Seeing God’s Protection
• [12:56] - Elisha’s Surprising Response
• [13:56] - You Are Never Alone
• [15:19] - Seeing Through God’s Eyes
• [16:52] - Experiencing God’s Power
• [17:24] - Elisha’s Mantle and Our Calling
• [19:16] - Striking the Water: Taking the First Step
• [20:15] - Prayers for Greater Influence
• [21:37] - Prayers for Family and Relationships
• [22:36] - Trusting God in Dark Seasons
• [27:25] - Striking the Water in Your Walk with God
• [28:17] - Invitation to Faith and Salvation
• [29:50] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

2 Kings 6:15-17 (ESV) — > When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.

Ephesians 1:18-21 (ESV) — > Having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.

2 Kings 2:13-14 (ESV) — > And he took up the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and went back and stood on the bank of the Jordan. Then he took the cloak of Elijah that had fallen from him and struck the water, saying, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” And when he had struck the water, the water was parted to the one side and to the other, and Elisha went over.

Observation Questions

1. In 2 Kings 6, what was Elisha’s servant afraid of, and how did Elisha respond to his fear? ([10:28])
2. According to Ephesians 1:18-21, what does Paul pray for believers to experience, not just know about? ([15:51])
3. What did Elisha do with Elijah’s cloak at the Jordan River, and what happened as a result? ([17:24])
4. In the sermon, what are the two main “killers” of bigger dreams that the pastor identifies? ([00:51])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Elisha prayed for his servant’s eyes to be opened instead of asking God to remove the enemy? What does this say about how God wants us to face challenges? ([11:19])
2. The sermon says that the people closest to us can either lift us up or hold us back. How does this idea connect to the biblical examples given (like Moses’ friends or Jesus’ inner circle)? ([04:52])
3. Paul’s prayer in Ephesians is for believers to experience God’s power. What might it look like for someone to “know” about God’s power but not actually experience it? ([16:52])
4. The pastor mentions that Satan tries to keep us focused on our problems and routines. Why is it so easy to settle for “good enough” instead of stepping out in faith? ([08:30])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to “choose friends who lift your arms when you’re weary.” Who are the top five people influencing your life right now? Are they encouraging you toward God’s best, or holding you back? What changes might you need to make in your circle? ([04:52])
2. Elisha’s servant was overwhelmed by what he saw, but Elisha prayed for spiritual vision. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to ask God to help you see with spiritual eyes instead of just natural ones? What would it look like to pray that prayer this week? ([12:10])
3. The pastor said, “Don’t settle for ‘good enough.’ Dream bigger, start smaller, and keep moving forward.” Is there an area in your life—work, family, or faith—where you’ve been settling? What is one small step you could take this week to move toward a bigger dream God has placed in your heart? ([19:16])
4. Paul prays that we would experience the same power that raised Christ from the dead. What is one area where you need to step out in faith and trust God’s power, even if it feels risky or uncomfortable? ([16:52])
5. The sermon talks about “striking the water”—taking the first step before the miracle happens. What is your “Jordan River” right now? What’s holding you back from taking that first step, and how can the group pray for you to move forward? ([19:16])
6. The pastor mentioned limiting the influence of negative voices is not unloving, but necessary for spiritual growth. Is there a relationship or voice in your life that you need to set boundaries with? What would that look like practically? ([05:35])
7. When you feel surrounded by problems or opposition, how can you remind yourself that “God surrounds your enemies” and you are never alone? Is there a verse or practice that helps you remember this truth? ([13:56])