Dreaming in Alignment with God's Kingdom

 

Summary

Dreams are a profound part of our human experience, reflecting our deepest desires and aspirations. They reveal much about who we are and who we are becoming. As we journey through life, it's essential to keep dreaming, regardless of our age. Our dreams often revolve around circumstances we wish to attain, such as love, success, or happiness. However, God views our circumstances differently. To Him, they are the raw materials used to shape us into the people He desires us to be. Our ultimate dream should be to align our lives with God's kingdom, allowing His love and goodness to transform us.

Reflecting on C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters," we see that circumstances like love, health, or success are not inherently good or bad. Instead, they are opportunities for spiritual growth, moving us closer to God or further away. The key is to focus on our spiritual journey, asking whether our current path is drawing us nearer to God. This perspective liberates us from the tyranny of circumstances, allowing us to dream of becoming more like Christ, radiating His love, truth, and joy.

The Bible teaches that we are God's children, and our ultimate destiny is to be like Him. This is the dream worth pursuing, transcending the fleeting nature of worldly circumstances. As we dream of becoming more like God, we bring heaven into our present reality, regardless of our external conditions. This dream is not interrupted by aging or even death, for it is rooted in the eternal love of God.

So, what are you dreaming about today? Let your dreams be filled with the vision of God's kingdom and His transformative love. Embrace the truth that you are a child of God, and dream about the person you are becoming in Him. May this dream guide you, bringing hope and purpose to your life.

Key Takeaways:

1. Dreams Reflect Our Identity: Our dreams reveal much about who we are and who we are becoming. They are not just about circumstances but about our deepest desires and aspirations. As we dream, we should focus on aligning our lives with God's kingdom, allowing His love to transform us. [00:25]

2. Circumstances as Raw Material: God uses our circumstances as raw materials to shape us into the people He desires us to be. Instead of dreaming about ideal circumstances, we should dream about becoming more like Christ, allowing His love and goodness to transform us. [03:47]

3. Spiritual Growth Through Circumstances: Circumstances like love, health, or success are opportunities for spiritual growth. They can move us closer to God or further away, depending on how we respond. Our focus should be on our spiritual journey, asking whether our current path is drawing us nearer to God. [05:21]

4. Becoming Like Christ: The Bible teaches that we are God's children, and our ultimate destiny is to be like Him. This dream transcends the fleeting nature of worldly circumstances, offering hope and purpose. As we dream of becoming more like God, we bring heaven into our present reality. [09:11]

5. Dreaming of God's Kingdom: Let your dreams be filled with the vision of God's kingdom and His transformative love. Embrace the truth that you are a child of God, and dream about the person you are becoming in Him. This dream is not interrupted by aging or even death, for it is rooted in the eternal love of God. [10:51]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:25] - The Nature of Dreams
- [00:49] - Personal Dream Experiences
- [01:27] - Occupational Hazards of Dreaming
- [02:39] - The Joy of Speaking and Community
- [03:17] - Dreams and Circumstances
- [04:18] - Insights from C.S. Lewis
- [05:21] - Spiritual Growth and Circumstances
- [06:05] - The Complexity of Love
- [07:14] - Marriage and Spiritual Direction
- [08:10] - Circumstances as Raw Material
- [09:11] - Our Identity as God's Children
- [09:48] - Dreaming of God's Kingdom
- [10:37] - Embracing Our Identity in God
- [11:07] - Closing Thoughts

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1 John 3:1-2 (NIV) - "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is."

Observation Questions:
1. According to the sermon, how do our dreams reflect our identity and who we are becoming? [00:25]
2. What does the sermon suggest about how God views our circumstances compared to how we might view them? [03:47]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of circumstances in our spiritual growth? [05:21]
4. What is the ultimate dream that the sermon encourages us to pursue? [09:11]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the concept of being God's children, as mentioned in 1 John 3:1-2, influence our understanding of our identity and dreams? [09:11]
2. In what ways can circumstances be seen as opportunities for spiritual growth, according to the sermon? [05:21]
3. How does the sermon suggest we align our personal dreams with God's kingdom? [04:01]
4. What does it mean to bring heaven into our present reality, as discussed in the sermon? [10:03]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current dreams. How do they align with the vision of God's kingdom and His transformative love? [10:51]
2. Think about a recent circumstance in your life. How might God be using it as raw material to shape you into the person He desires you to be? [03:47]
3. Identify a situation where you can focus on your spiritual journey rather than the circumstances. How can you ensure this path draws you nearer to God? [05:21]
4. Consider the idea of becoming more like Christ. What specific steps can you take this week to embody His love, truth, and joy in your daily life? [09:11]
5. How can you remind yourself daily of your identity as a child of God, and how might this influence your dreams and aspirations? [10:37]
6. What practical actions can you take to bring a sense of heaven into your current reality, regardless of your external conditions? [10:03]
7. Reflect on a dream you have that might be interrupted by aging or other life changes. How can you root this dream in the eternal love of God to give it lasting significance? [10:51]

Devotional

Day 1: Dreams as Mirrors of Our Becoming
Our dreams are more than mere aspirations; they are reflections of our identity and the person we are becoming. They reveal our deepest desires and aspirations, often pointing us toward the life we wish to lead. However, the true essence of dreaming lies in aligning our dreams with God's kingdom. When we allow His love to transform us, our dreams become a pathway to spiritual growth and fulfillment. By focusing on becoming more like Christ, we can transcend the limitations of our circumstances and embrace a life filled with purpose and meaning. [00:25]

"For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10, ESV)

Reflection: What is one dream you have that reflects your deepest desires? How can you align this dream with God's kingdom today?


Day 2: Circumstances as Divine Tools
God uses our circumstances as the raw materials to shape us into the people He desires us to be. While we often dream of ideal situations, it is through the challenges and trials that we grow spiritually. By viewing our circumstances as opportunities for transformation, we can focus on becoming more like Christ. This perspective allows us to see beyond the immediate and embrace the eternal, trusting that God's love and goodness are at work in every situation. [03:47]

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness." (James 1:2-3, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a current circumstance that challenges you. How can you view it as an opportunity for spiritual growth and transformation?


Day 3: Spiritual Growth Through Life's Challenges
Circumstances such as love, health, or success are not inherently good or bad; they are opportunities for spiritual growth. How we respond to these situations can either draw us closer to God or push us further away. By focusing on our spiritual journey, we can evaluate whether our current path is leading us nearer to God. This mindset liberates us from being controlled by our circumstances and empowers us to pursue a life that reflects Christ's love, truth, and joy. [05:21]

"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." (Romans 5:3-4, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a recent success or challenge. How did it affect your spiritual journey, and what steps can you take to ensure it draws you closer to God?


Day 4: Our Identity as God's Children
The Bible teaches that we are God's children, and our ultimate destiny is to be like Him. This dream transcends the fleeting nature of worldly circumstances, offering hope and purpose. As we dream of becoming more like God, we bring heaven into our present reality. This dream is not interrupted by aging or even death, for it is rooted in the eternal love of God. Embracing our identity as God's children allows us to live with confidence and joy, knowing that we are part of His divine plan. [09:11]

"Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is." (1 John 3:2, ESV)

Reflection: How does knowing you are a child of God influence your daily decisions and interactions with others?


Day 5: Dreaming of God's Kingdom
Let your dreams be filled with the vision of God's kingdom and His transformative love. Embrace the truth that you are a child of God, and dream about the person you are becoming in Him. This dream is not interrupted by aging or even death, for it is rooted in the eternal love of God. By focusing on God's kingdom, we can live with hope and purpose, knowing that our dreams are aligned with His divine plan. [10:51]

"But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (Matthew 6:33, ESV)

Reflection: What is one way you can actively seek God's kingdom in your life today? How can this pursuit transform your dreams and aspirations?

Quotes


We can never stop dreaming, no matter how old we become we cannot, must not stop dreaming and what we dream about says a lot about who we are and who we will become. [00:25:19]

To God, our circumstances are the raw material to be used in our becoming the persons that God wants us to become. And that's actually what we are to dream about. That's the best dream is to dream of God and His kingdom. [00:27:36]

Nothing matters at all except the tendency of a given state of mind in given circumstances to move a particular patient at a particular moment nearer to the enemy or nearer to us. [00:54:56]

Am I in this moment moving nearer to God? I can be, you can be right now. God help me, God guide me, God love me, God forgive me, God be with me. [00:57:12]

I don't want to spend my life primarily dreaming about entering into circumstances that I think will be pleasant because I do not even know what impact that those circumstances are likely to have on me, let alone other people. [01:12:59]

How great the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God, for that is what we are. Beloved, we are even now the children of God, and what we shall be we do not yet know, but when we see Him, we will be like Him. [01:44:39]

You're going to dream about something, not circumstances, not youth or age, not being in love, not war, peace, not sickness or health, but God and His goodness and His love and the possibility that one day I might be like Him. [01:54:32]

That truth and courage and love and joy and faithfulness might radiate from me because of course, of course, of course, if all those things are inside me then wherever my circumstances are I will be bringing heaven to it. [01:59:12]

What are you dreaming about today? Just take those words, how great the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called the children of God. I'm a child of God, and so are you, and what we shall be has not yet been made known. [02:04:16]

So dream a little today about what you shall be, which nothing, not aging or death itself, can interrupt. Dream about that. God may it be so, move us in that direction. [02:09:12]

Reflecting on C.S. Lewis's "Screwtape Letters," we see that circumstances like love, health, or success are not inherently good or bad. Instead, they are opportunities for spiritual growth, moving us closer to God or further away. [00:43:28]

The Bible teaches that we are God's children, and our ultimate destiny is to be like Him. This is the dream worth pursuing, transcending the fleeting nature of worldly circumstances. [01:49:44]

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Transcript
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