Restoring Dreams and Honoring Our Fathers

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing the Transformative Power of the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is not just a source of emotional upliftment but a catalyst for genuine life change and transformation. This includes the restoration of our dream lives, which can be hindered by negative words, trauma, or spiritual attacks. We must be open to receiving this transformative power and allow the Holy Spirit to work within us to bring about the changes we need. By inviting the Holy Spirit into our lives, we can experience a renewal that goes beyond surface-level emotions and touches the core of our being. [48:28]

Ephesians 3:16-17 (ESV): "That according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith—that you, being rooted and grounded in love."

Reflection: What areas of your life do you need the Holy Spirit to transform? Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit into those areas and ask for His transformative power.

Day 2: Honoring Our Fathers and Forefathers

Regardless of our personal experiences, we are called to honor our fathers and forefathers for the battles they fought and the blessings they passed down. This act of honor is not just about words but involves recognizing and building upon the foundations they laid. By honoring our fathers, we acknowledge their efforts and sacrifices, and we commit to carrying forward the positive legacies they have left us. This can be a challenging task, especially if our experiences with our fathers have been painful, but it is a crucial step in our spiritual growth. [01:25:25]

Exodus 20:12 (ESV): "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you."

Reflection: Think about the positive legacies your father or father figures have left you. How can you honor them today in a tangible way?

Day 3: Stewarding Our Inheritance

Inheritance is not just about material wealth but also includes spiritual blessings and strengths passed down through generations. We must steward these inheritances well and also address any generational struggles that have been passed down. By recognizing the spiritual and material inheritances we have received, we can better understand our place in God's plan and our responsibility to future generations. This involves both gratitude for the blessings and a proactive approach to overcoming any negative patterns or struggles. [01:28:55]

Proverbs 13:22 (ESV): "A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the sinner's wealth is laid up for the righteous."

Reflection: What spiritual or material inheritances have you received from your family? How can you steward these inheritances well and address any generational struggles?

Day 4: Re-digging the Wells

Just as Isaac re-dug the wells of his father Abraham, we are called to re-dig the spiritual and emotional wells in our lives that have been blocked by the enemy. This involves removing worldly distractions, unforgiveness, and toxic relationships to allow the flow of God's blessings. By identifying and unblocking these wells, we can restore the sources of spiritual and emotional sustenance in our lives and create a better foundation for future generations. This process requires introspection, forgiveness, and a commitment to spiritual growth. [01:39:51]

Genesis 26:18 (ESV): "And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them."

Reflection: What are the "wells" in your life that need re-digging? Identify any worldly distractions, unforgiveness, or toxic relationships that may be blocking the flow of God's blessings.

Day 5: Breaking Generational Curses

We have the opportunity to break generational curses and struggles that have been passed down to us. By addressing these issues and seeking God's guidance, we can create a better foundation for future generations, ensuring they inherit blessings rather than struggles. This involves recognizing the patterns and struggles that have been passed down, seeking God's help in breaking these curses, and committing to a new path of blessing and spiritual growth. By doing so, we can change the trajectory of our family's spiritual legacy. [01:49:21]

Galatians 3:13-14 (ESV): "Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree'—so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith."

Reflection: Are there any generational curses or struggles in your family that you need to address? Ask God for guidance and strength to break these curses and create a new path of blessing for future generations.

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Today, we gathered to honor the Holy Spirit and welcome His transformative power into our lives. We acknowledged the presence of the Holy Spirit, not just for emotional upliftment but for genuine life change and transformation. We lifted the name of Jesus above all else, surrendering everything to Him. A special moment was dedicated to those whose dream lives had been shut down, inviting them to come forward for prayer and restoration. We emphasized that our dream life is a gift from God, often hindered by words spoken over us, trauma, or spiritual attacks. We prayed fervently for the restoration of dreams and the breaking of any spiritual blockages.

The sermon then transitioned into a reflection on Father's Day, focusing on the importance of honoring our fathers and father figures. We acknowledged that everyone has a different experience with their fathers—some celebratory, others painful. Regardless of our personal experiences, we are called to honor our fathers for the battles they fought and the blessings they passed down to us. We discussed the concept of inheritance, both spiritual and material, and how we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.

We delved into the biblical story of Isaac re-digging the wells of his father Abraham, which had been blocked by the Philistines. This act of re-digging wells symbolizes honoring the past while preparing for the future. We explored how the enemy tries to block our wells—our sources of spiritual and emotional sustenance—through dirt (worldly distractions), rocks (offense and unforgiveness), and dead bodies (toxic relationships). We are called to unblock these wells to allow the flow of God's blessings and to create a better foundation for future generations.

In conclusion, we were encouraged to reflect on our own lives and identify the wells that need re-digging. We were invited to forgive, let go of offenses, and seek God's guidance in honoring our fathers and forefathers. The service ended with a call to action, inviting those who needed prayer or wanted to do business with God to come forward.

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Key Takeaways

1. digging the Wells**: Just as Isaac re-dug the wells of his father Abraham, we are called to re-dig the spiritual and emotional wells in our lives that have been blocked by the enemy. This involves removing worldly distractions, unforgiveness, and toxic relationships to allow the flow of God's blessings. [01:39:51]
5. Breaking Generational Curses: We have the opportunity to break generational curses and struggles that have been passed down to us. By addressing these issues and seeking God's guidance, we can create a better foundation for future generations, ensuring they inherit blessings rather than struggles.

### [99:51]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[48:28] - Inviting the Holy Spirit
[49:30] - Restoring Dream Lives
[50:48] - Breaking Spiritual Blockages
[51:19] - Power of Words and Trauma
[52:35] - Prayer for Restoration
[53:35] - Unblocking the Well
[54:22] - Releasing the Anointing
[56:07] - Father's Day Reflections
[60:09] - Encouragement for Micah
[62:21] - Father's Day Prayer
[67:25] - Announcements and Notices
[76:28] - Experiences in America
[79:11] - Importance of Father Figures
[85:25] - Honoring Our Fathers
[88:55] - Concept of Inheritance
[99:51] - Re-digging the Wells
[109:21] - Breaking Generational Curses
[114:03] - Call to Forgiveness and Restoration
[117:25] - Invitation for Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What actions did Isaac take to honor his father Abraham in Genesis 26:1-32?
According to Proverbs 13:22, what is the significance of leaving an inheritance for future generations?
How does Ephesians 6:2-3 emphasize the importance of honoring one's parents?

Interpretation Questions

In the sermon, it was mentioned that the Holy Spirit is present not just to make us feel good but to bring about genuine life change and transformation. How does this align with the biblical understanding of the Holy Spirit's role? [48:28]
The sermon discussed the concept of inheritance, both spiritual and material. How does this concept relate to the biblical passages we read? [01:28:55]
The act of re-digging wells was used as a metaphor in the sermon. What do the wells represent in our spiritual lives, and how can we identify the "dirt," "rocks," and "dead bodies" that block them? [01:39:51]

Application Questions

Reflect on your own life. Are there any dreams or aspirations that have been shut down due to negative words, trauma, or spiritual attacks? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to restore these dreams? [49:30]
Think about your relationship with your father or father figures. Regardless of your personal experiences, what are some practical ways you can honor them for the battles they fought and the blessings they passed down? [01:25:25]
Identify any generational struggles or curses that you believe have been passed down to you. What steps can you take to break these curses and create a better foundation for future generations? [01:49:21]
The sermon emphasized the importance of re-digging spiritual and emotional wells. What are some specific "wells" in your life that need re-digging, and what actions can you take to unblock them? [01:39:51]
Forgiveness was highlighted as a crucial step in unblocking wells. Is there someone you need to forgive, whether it's a father figure or someone else? How can you take steps towards forgiveness this week? [01:54:03]
The sermon mentioned the importance of recognizing and building upon the foundations laid by our forefathers. What are some strengths or blessings you have inherited, and how can you steward them well? [01:28:55]
How can you actively seek God's guidance in honoring your fathers and forefathers, especially in areas where you may have inherited struggles or weaknesses? [01:50:04]

Sermon Clips

1. "We worship you God in this place Holy Spirit we honor you and we welcome you in this place in this place all across the room the Holy Spirit is here for you to receive for you to receive a touch of the Holy Spirit not so that you can feel good but so that that life change and transformation can happen. That comfort can be brought to your soul. That transformation of your mind and your thinking can occur." [48:28] (73 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "See, your dream life is a gift. Your dream life is a gift. And it gets shut down sometimes because of different circumstances and situations. Sometimes the words that have been spoken, the words that have been spoken over you have shut down your dream life. Right now, in Jesus' name, I come against the words and I break the power of them right now in Jesus' name and I declare restore, restore, restore now in Jesus' name." [51:19] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We are called to leave a wonderful inheritance for the generations to come. But what do we do? My question is, what do we do with the not so great that we've inherited? What do we do with the anger issues? What do we do with some of the poor financial decisions? Or the shame or the trauma or the small-minded thinking? What do we do with that stuff? And how do we honor father figures and mother figures in spite of some of the things that we've inherited?" [01:30:44] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "A well is built to sustain the people of that time. But a good well that's built sustains generations to come. See, what happened with the Israelites, what happened in the biblical times and what even happens now is in certain places it's hard to get water and so you dig a well and that well is built to sustain the people of that time. Well becomes a place of sustenance. It becomes a place of receiving and refreshing. It becomes a place of life giving." [01:34:05] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "What if the place of struggle that you've inherited from God from your father, his father, and your granddad's father before him is the place God is calling you to step into your greatest victory? What if, what if, your greatest setbacks can just be a set-up for your greatest comeback in the right hands? And those right hands are the hands of the Father. Father God, who loves you so much that he sent his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have a child. Eternal life." [01:32:53] (38 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "Sometimes history repeats itself. Sometimes things that our fathers and our forefathers have struggled with, they start to repeat in our life. Why is that? Because the stronghold, because the thing that had not been conquered still hasn't been conquered and we have the opportunity to conquer it. We have the opportunity to stop the flow of that generational curse in order to move our generations and the generations to come into the blessing that God is wanting to bring. We have that opportunity." [01:49:21] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "What wells of blessing in your forefathers has the enemy blocked up that God is calling you to re-dig? Let's actually choose today to look at the good, look at the blessings of those that have gone before us and ask the Lord, what would you have me do to honour them and honour you, God, in this place? And my encouragement to you is maybe you don't know anything about the families and generations that have gone before you." [01:50:49] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Tonight, you might find yourself wrestling with a few things, and God actually wants to unblock the wells in your life. Like, God actually wants to take you into a place of freedom and blessing in order to bless the generations to come from your life. He also wants to release assignments to people in this place. To actually extend his kingdom, but our wells are blocked up and we're too afraid to move forward." [01:52:13] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "The greatest gift that you can give yourself and your father is to forgive him, is to let go of things, is to move into freedom, is to actually partner with God in what he's wanting to do in your life, and deal with toxic relationships when it comes to father figures. Deal with the offense, deal with the unforgiveness, and actually recognize some of the struggles, difficulties that you're facing that God's wanting to set you free of." [01:54:03] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Holy Spirit, I declare that you would speak to each one of us. You would give us, I believe that there are people here God is speaking to. There are memories coming to your mind. There are moments coming to your mind. There are things that you're remembering right now. Maybe for some it's some pain that's coming up. Maybe others, it's actually joy that the Holy Spirit's revealing to you. Some amazing, joyful moments that you actually had with a father. Or father figure in your life." [01:56:09] (35 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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Were there any personal stories shared?