Embracing New Dreams: Aligning with God's Vision

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound simplicity and power of the prophetic, which is not about strange rituals or mysterious practices but about aligning with God's intentions and seeing glimpses of His plans. The prophetic is about understanding God's intentions, not necessarily predicting the future. It's about seeing what God sees and bringing those visions to life. This morning, I shared three distinct visions for our church community and a personal word for each of you.

The first vision was of a new track of ground, initially barren and rocky, but transformed by God's team into fertile land ready for a great harvest. This symbolizes the planting of a new campus in an area overlooked by others, a place where God sees potential despite its current state. The second vision was of dry gardens springing to life, representing a once-fruitful Christian community that has become desolate but is poised for revival. The key to this revival is not forming the perfect team but choosing those with surrendered hearts who carry the grace and kindness of God.

The third vision focused on the internal workings of our church, where disciples equipped with the Word of God are being prepared for greater responsibilities. This speaks to the need for growth and the emergence of new leaders who can handle the Word with wisdom and authority.

On a personal level, I encouraged everyone to "dare to dream again." Whether your dreams have been unfulfilled or you are currently living them, God is calling you to dream anew. The prophetic is about catching a glimpse of what God has already done and bringing it into our reality through faith and obedience. It's not about striving but about positioning ourselves in intimacy with God, listening to His voice, and allowing Him to plant new dreams in our hearts.

As we approach 2025, it's crucial to let go of past regrets and disappointments and embrace the new dreams God has for us. Our rally cry should be "hear and obey," as we position ourselves to receive God's prophetic intentions for the next chapter of our lives.

Key Takeaways:

1. The Simplicity of the Prophetic: The prophetic is about seeing God's intentions and aligning with them. It's not about predicting the future but understanding what God desires to bring into reality. This requires a heart open to glimpses of His plans. [01:02]

2. Reviving Dry Gardens: God is calling us to bring life to desolate places, not by forming perfect teams but by choosing those with surrendered hearts. The focus is on carrying God's grace and kindness into these environments. [04:57]

3. Dare to Dream Again: Whether your dreams have been unfulfilled or are currently being realized, God invites you to dream anew. The tomb of disappointment can empower your dreams, giving them authenticity and credibility. [09:59]

4. Hearing and Obeying God's Voice: To dream again, we must separate ourselves from the busyness of life and listen to God's voice. It's about positioning ourselves in intimacy with God, allowing Him to speak fresh dreams into our spirits. [14:26]

5. Unity in Dreams: Our dreams should align with those of our brothers and sisters, creating a powerful synergy. This unity in dreams positions us for greater things, as we work together to fulfill God's purposes. [28:05]

Youtube Chapters:

- [0:00] - Welcome
- [01:02] - Understanding the Prophetic
- [02:22] - Vision of New Ground
- [03:06] - Crossing the Waters
- [04:03] - Reviving Dry Gardens
- [04:57] - Choosing the Right Team
- [06:05] - The Olive Branch of Hope
- [06:53] - Disciples with Swords
- [08:08] - Timing and Leadership
- [09:03] - Dare to Dream Again
- [09:59] - Empowered by the Tomb
- [11:02] - Living the Dream
- [13:01] - Hearing God's Voice
- [14:26] - The Threat of Momentum
- [16:09] - The Call to Dream Again
- [20:32] - Preparing for 2025
- [28:05] - Unity in Dreams
- [29:46] - Hear and Obey
- [33:06] - Closing Prayer

Study Guide

### Bible Study Discussion Guide

#### Bible Reading
1. John 5:19-21 - Jesus speaks about doing what He sees the Father doing.
2. Genesis 11:31 - The story of Terah and his journey.
3. Jeremiah 33 - God's word to Jeremiah in the court of the prison.

#### Observation Questions
1. What does the sermon suggest is the true nature of the prophetic? How does it differ from common misconceptions? [01:02]
2. In the sermon, what are the three visions shared for the church community, and what do they symbolize? [02:22]
3. How does the sermon describe the role of a surrendered heart in reviving dry gardens? [04:57]
4. What is the significance of the phrase "dare to dream again" as mentioned in the sermon? [09:03]

#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does John 5:19-21 relate to the concept of the prophetic as described in the sermon? What does it mean to see what the Father is doing and act accordingly?
2. In Genesis 11:31, Terah stops short of his destination. How does this story illustrate the danger of settling and losing sight of God's ultimate plan? [16:51]
3. The sermon mentions the need to "hear and obey" God's voice. How does this principle apply to the idea of dreaming again and pursuing new visions? [29:46]
4. What does the sermon suggest about the relationship between unity in dreams and the fulfillment of God's purposes? [28:05]

#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt drawn to a situation that seemed illogical. How did you respond, and what might God have been showing you through that experience? [02:22]
2. Are there areas in your life that feel like "dry gardens"? What steps can you take to bring life and revival to these areas, focusing on a surrendered heart? [04:57]
3. Consider a dream you once had that did not come to fruition. How can you reframe this experience to empower new dreams, as suggested by the story of Lazarus? [09:59]
4. What practical steps can you take to separate yourself from the busyness of life and listen more intently to God's voice? [14:26]
5. How can you align your personal dreams with those of your community to create a powerful synergy? What might this look like in practice? [28:05]
6. Identify a past regret or disappointment that you need to let go of to embrace new dreams. What action can you take this week to release it? [28:57]
7. How can you position yourself to be open to God's prophetic intentions for your life as you approach 2025? What changes might be necessary in your current lifestyle? [20:32]

Devotional

Day 1: Aligning with God's Intentions
The prophetic is not about predicting the future but about understanding and aligning with God's intentions. It involves seeing what God sees and bringing those visions to life. This requires a heart open to glimpses of His plans and a willingness to act on them. The prophetic is a call to intimacy with God, where one listens to His voice and allows Him to guide their steps. By aligning with God's intentions, individuals can participate in His divine plans and witness the transformation of their lives and communities. [01:02]

"For the Lord God does nothing without revealing his secret to his servants the prophets." (Amos 3:7, ESV)

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to seek God's intentions more clearly? How can you position yourself to hear His voice today?

Day 2: Reviving Desolate Places
God calls us to bring life to desolate places, not by forming perfect teams but by choosing those with surrendered hearts. The focus is on carrying God's grace and kindness into these environments. This vision of revival is about seeing potential where others see barrenness and trusting in God's ability to transform. It requires a community of believers who are willing to step into challenging situations with faith and hope, knowing that God can bring about renewal and growth. [04:57]

"The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus." (Isaiah 35:1, ESV)

Reflection: Is there a "dry garden" in your life or community that needs revival? How can you bring God's grace and kindness into that situation today?

Day 3: Dreaming Anew
God invites us to dream again, whether our dreams have been unfulfilled or are currently being realized. The prophetic encourages us to catch a glimpse of what God has already done and bring it into our reality through faith and obedience. This is not about striving but about positioning ourselves in intimacy with God, listening to His voice, and allowing Him to plant new dreams in our hearts. As we approach new seasons, it's crucial to let go of past regrets and disappointments and embrace the new dreams God has for us. [09:59]

"Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." (Isaiah 43:19, ESV)

Reflection: What new dream is God planting in your heart today? How can you nurture this dream through faith and obedience?

Day 4: Hearing and Obeying God's Voice
To dream again, we must separate ourselves from the busyness of life and listen to God's voice. It's about positioning ourselves in intimacy with God, allowing Him to speak fresh dreams into our spirits. This requires intentionality and a willingness to quiet the noise around us to hear His gentle whisper. By doing so, we can receive God's prophetic intentions for the next chapter of our lives and move forward with confidence and purpose. [14:26]

"And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 'This is the way, walk in it,' when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left." (Isaiah 30:21, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take today to quiet the noise in your life and listen for God's voice? How might this change your perspective or direction?

Day 5: Unity in Dreams
Our dreams should align with those of our brothers and sisters, creating a powerful synergy. This unity in dreams positions us for greater things, as we work together to fulfill God's purposes. When we come together with a shared vision, we can accomplish more than we ever could alone. This requires humility, collaboration, and a willingness to support one another in pursuing God's plans. By fostering unity in dreams, we can build a stronger, more vibrant community that reflects God's love and grace. [28:05]

"Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind." (1 Peter 3:8, ESV)

Reflection: How can you align your dreams with those of your community? What steps can you take to foster unity and collaboration in pursuing God's purposes?

Quotes

1) "The prophetic is not weird. I don't come eating locusts and wearing camel's hair. Gave that up a little while ago. All the prophetic is, is that being in spirit, you see what Father sees. And it's really not complicated. And he gives you glimpses of his intention. Prophetic is simply his intention. It's not automatically what will happen. It's his intention for things to happen. And so that's what this morning is about, me seeing glimpses and bringing them to you." [01:02] (45 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2) "The dry gardens will spring to life. Again. So this is very different to the first picture because this is a picture of that which once was a garden. That which was full of fruit. It was a very fruitful place. But for some reason, although it had once flourished, it had become dry and desolate through neglect. And it speaks of about an existing Christian community. A community with a history of fruitfulness, but a present reality of dryness. And they're going to reach out. And I see that you're going to go into that situation and bring life in a very real terms." [04:03] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3) "Dare to dream again. The emphasis was on the word again. Dare to dream again. And I'm speaking to two different groups of people here this morning. The first group are those that have had dreams, but they didn't come to pass. So you're discouraged because of that, obviously, and disappointed. And that makes you a little bit reticent to believe again, to go again, because it was disappointing last time. You understand?" [09:03] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4) "If you've been given a God-given dream, the tomb, the dream does not die in the tomb. It's empowered by the tomb. That which seems to cancel it will one day give authenticity and credibility to it. Dare to dream again. The second group is less obvious, but in actual fact is the primary focus of what I'm about to say in the next 20 minutes. And I want to speak to those that have dreamed. I want to speak to those that have dreamed dreams and they have come to us. Or are currently now. You're living the dream. It is happening." [11:02] (48 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5) "How does he do that? He, the Holy Spirit, simply takes over your imagination and breathes the intention of God into your Holy Spirit-controlled imagination. Your imagination can serve the devil, serve the flesh, but it can also serve the purpose of God when it's surrendered to the Holy Spirit and he breathes God's intention into it. So that's all the prophetic is, actually, is the Holy Spirit speaks to you and you see something." [11:50] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6) "Your faith and obedience can't create anything. Your faith and obedience simply draws that which he's already done into the world of your reality. You simply discover what Father already created when he spoke the word to you. Now, he is a word. He is a creator by voice. When he speaks, whatever is said is created by the very virtue that he spoke. But your faith and obedience discovers that." [13:01] (37 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7) "The greatest threat is funny because it's a gift from God, but when out of kilter, becomes the enemy of God. And that's momentum. We need momentum to get anything done. But if we don't take time out from it to stand, lay beside God in still waters, and listen, listen, listen, how are we ever going to dream again if we can't listen? Hear clearly and obey boldly. Not once. It's not an event. It's a lifestyle." [15:21] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8) "Position yourself to dream. Get yourself prepared to dream dreams. Some of you, some of you on God's agenda, are called to do things indescribably greater than your present reality, than your present ability, than your background would suggest. You are called to something beyond your capacity that only He can do. But the dream, dream, must be placed first into a hungry heart. What kind of dreams? Unconditional dreams. Miracle margin dreams." [28:05] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9) "Our dreams must compel us to be positioned in 2025. Now, my friends, maybe you need to let go of yesterday because the heart that's going to conceive, the heart that's going to dream is one that's been set free of regret. Give regret the boot. Free of regret, free of offense, free of disappointment, free to abandon. Free to obey. I'm going to put on the screen what has come in our ministry for the last 30 years or so, our rally cry. It's hear and obey. The simplicity of living a successful Christian life. That's it. It's so simple. Pay the price to hear his voice and then have the courage to do what he says. And I believe hear and obey should be your rally cry for 2025. Position yourself to dream again." [29:46] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

What was the most surprising thing in this sermon?

Were there any personal stories shared?