God Will Resurrect Your Dream- It’s Never, Never...
God Will Resurrect Your Dream- It’s Never, Never Too Late
By Rev. Melwyn M.
Some of you are so discouraged by unfulfilled dreams that you actually wish you were dead. I want to share with you a message the Holy Spirit gave to me early one morning when I thought my dream had died, too.
Some have dreams that are barely still alive but appear to be at the point of death. Some have dreams that have recently died. Some others believe that their dreams are not only dead but they are prepared for burial and on the way to the cemetery. Then there are those who say, "My dream is so dead that it's already been buried and is decayed and stinking."
No matter what stage of dying or death your dream may be in, Jesus wants to touch that dream with His resurrection power. Raising the dead is a light thing for the Creator of all things. I would like to show you today from the Bible that Jesus is experienced in resurrecting dreams in every stage of dying or death.
The Apostle Peter
The Apostle Peter messed up so badly by betraying Jesus, his best friend; he thought his dream was over, too. The Bible says, "... he went out and wept bitterly." (Matthew 26:75)
In the Greek language those words "wept bitterly" mean "lamentation, hard crying, wailing aloud, to violently bewail, sharp and piercing". Peter's heart was so broken by what he had done, he believed with all of his existence that his dream had ended. He thought for sure Jesus was through with him.
After he cried his eyes dry, he decided to go back to catching smelly fish. That is until Jesus rose from the dead and sent Peter a message via Angelic delivery service that said, "But go and tell his disciples -- AND PETER -- that He is going before you into Galilee ..." (Mark 16:7) Jesus told that Angel, in essence, "Mention Peter by name. I want him to know that I forgive him and that his dream is not dead. Make sure he's at the meeting. In the front row. It's resurrection time."
Jesus would tell you today if you're wishing that you were dead, too, "Hold your horses. Don't throw in the towel. It's not over 'til it's over. Keep believing. Power is on the way."
A Nobleman
In the Bible there is a Nobleman whose son was not actually dead but he was close to death indeed. This man went to Jesus with great anxiety, imploring Him to "... come down and heal my son for he is at THE POINT OF DEATH." (John 4:47) Jesus honored the man's release of faith by simply telling him, "Go your way. Your son lives."
Possibly your dream hasn't quite died but it's all you can do to hang on to it today. Your dream is at THE POINT OF DEATH. Cry out to Jesus the way the Nobleman did, expecting His intervention.
Jesus will say to you, in essence, "That's all I was looking for. I was wanting you to ask for My help by faith. Go your way. Your dream lives." Call out to Him now. He'll resurrect that dream.
Jairus, the Synagogue Ruler
Elsewhere in the Bible there is a man whose name was Jairus. His daughter had recently died while he was in the process of running to find Jesus. His little girl was not at the point of death. The Bible says his little girl was actually "dead". As soon as Jesus heard that the little girl was dead, He immediately told the man, "Do not be afraid; only believe." (Mark 5:36)
Difficult as it was, Jairus refused to get into fear knowing he could trust the words of Jesus. Within moments, Jesus was leaning over the child, speaking the words, "Little girl, I say to you arise." Immediately the girl arose from the dead and walked. (Mark 5:42)
So you say your dream has recently died? Jesus would say to you, "Do not be afraid. Only believe. Speak to your dream in My Name. Tell that dream to come forth and to be perfected in the Earth and it will obey you."
Your dream will rise from the dead even as Jairus' daughter was raised from the dead. All you must do is believe like Jairus believed. This narrative is in the Bible to give you hope. So get your hopes up. As a matter of fact, get them up as high as they will go. Change is on the horizon. This is your Time of Resurrection.
The Widow of Nain
A widow woman in the Bible was in even worse shape than Jairus. Her only son was well beyond "recently dead." This young man's body was prepared for burial when Jesus showed up, interrupting the funeral procession.
When Jesus saw how broken-hearted the widow woman was that the dream of her only son caring for her through her old age was dead and almost buried, He had great compassion on her. To the amazement of the entire procession, He reached out, touching the coffin, saying, "Young man, I say to you, Arise." (Luke 7:14)
The young man who was dead suddenly sat up and Jesus presented him to his mother. The whole crowd burst into praise even as you will when you ask the Father to resurrect your dead and practically buried dream, in Jesus' Name. He's just waiting for you to ask. I dare you to do so!
Lazarus, the Close Friend of Jesus
Raising Dead Dreams John 11
11:4 ‘this sickness is not fatal…God will be glorified in this.” Sickness= set-back, obstacle. Our set-backs can become our come-backs-this was the response of JESUS when he heard that Lazarus was in ICU!
11:6-says he stayed there 2 more days!
#1 Don’t run off half-mad everytime that there is a set-back to your dream. There is a time to respond and a time to reside. When in doubt, wait it out!
JESUS says lets go to Judea again.(Vs 6)
-all of the disciples objected-they tried to kill you last time in…why go where you are not wanted?
JESUS replies with a parable regarding “light”. What does this mean?
“Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep and I must go wake him up.” But JESUS meant that he had died.
He then begins to let them in on a bit of spiritual insight.
#2 When you know Christ, your dreams(when planted in you by God) do not die a fatal death, they simply fall asleep, lie dormant/inactive until the spirit of God comes on the scene to “raise” them up again.
In order for there to be a resurrection, there has to be a death. A death of our desires, our motives, our plan and our will.
11:17 When JESUS arrived where Lazarus was he was told that he had been dead for 4 days. Both Mary and Martha make sure that he knows how disappointed they are in him because if he would have been there, Lazarus would not have died.
Now is where it gets interesting! Read 11:33-38
JESUS was “deeply troubled” What could possibly trouble Jesus? What in the world would make our Lord cry?
When you accept the death of your God-given vision and you bury it away forever.
So how do we raise our dead dreams?
#1 Roll the stone aside[ v.39]
Hebrews 12:1-lay aside every weight and the sin….
Even at this point they told JESUS that surely he will stink for he has been in there for 4 days!
“you have already lost your chance, give it up”
“you will never be as effective as you would have been”
“you stink!”
#2 Believe! [v.40]
That God has a bigger and better plan than you could possibly come up with.
Believe that your dream can indeed live again (vs 22)
Suddenly Jesus shouted at the top of His lungs, "LAZARUS, COME FORTH." To the amazement of everyone, old dead stinking Lazarus did just that. He returned supernaturally to the land of the living. Lots of folks got saved that day in that cemetery revival service. (John 11:39-44)
#3 When JESUS says move, Move![v.43]
Come as you are…graveclothes and all!
If you obey God, and launch into the ministry that he called you to as you are right now(under the divine appointment of God); as you minister he will allow the experiences that you have to unwrap you of all of those things that buried you.
There will be no evidence that you ever gave up!
“unwrap him and let him go!” He did not unwrap himself.[v.44]
Life has a way of polishing us up and smoothing off the rough edges if we will simply stay close to God and listen to his commands.
Loose them and let them go!
You and Your Dream
Your dream may be so dried up that all you can do is wish you were dead like Peter. Maybe your dream is at the point of death like the Nobleman's son. Possibly your dream has just recently died like Jairus' daughter. Or your dream could be dead, prepared for burial and on the way to the cemetery like the Widow of Nain's. Perhaps you're as bad off as Lazarus and your dream is dead, buried and nothing more than a stinking memory.
You need to understand this. Jesus told Lazarus' sister, Martha, "I AM THE RESURRECTION AND THE LIFE." There is no pit so deep that Jesus isn't deeper still. The resurrection of your dream is a simple thing for Him, if only you'll believe. Stay out of fear. Don't believe the devil's lies that it's over.
If you have not yet asked Jesus, the Prophet, to be the Lord of your life, you can do that right now. Say, “Jesus, I choose You as the Lord of my life. Be my Lord, be my Savior, be my Master, be my Dream Resurrector.”
By praying that prayer, you became a member of God’s Eternal Family. You are now entitled to call God your “Father”. (Matthew 6:1,4,6)
Joseph was a dreamer (read Genesis 37).
He was hated for his dream. His own brothers wanted him dead. However, it was his God given dreams and his ability to believe in them that saved his family and a whole nation. We can no longer be afraid to dream. We have nations to save. I don’t care what race you are or how young or how old you are, don’t give up on your dream.
What is your dream? Look deep into the hidden corners of you heart. What have you given up on? What are you afraid will never come to pass? What is bothering you that you keep ignoring? What have you been talked out of? What have you been robbed of? What have you stop believing in? Is it to have a family? Is it to own multiple businesses and provide jobs for thousands of people? Is it to help kids? Is it to be a missionary? Is your dream to become a Pastor? Do you want to be a doctor? Do you want to help people transform their health and their lives? Is it to write books? Is it to speak before thousands of people in order to encourage them? Do you want to sing? Do you want to write songs that make the whole world sing? Do you have an idea that will change the world? Do you want to create foundations that will fund life changing causes?
What is it? I dare you to dream.
Even if you have tried and seemingly been unsuccessful before, dream again. Don’t let fear keep you from stepping out. Don’t settle for life as usual. You DO have what it takes to accomplish your dreams! Don’t believe the lie that says you don’t!! Let me state that one more time. Don’t believe the lie that says you don’t have what it takes to accomplish your dreams! God has put inside of you everything you need to do accomplish everything He has called you to do!! The real problem is we find it easier to believe God for everyone else but ourselves. It is now time to believe that God will fulfill your dreams as well!
Allow the Spirit of God to resurrect your dream. Take the limits off of God and off of yourself. Don’t be halted by the haters? Don’t be stopped by criticism or doubt. Don’t be ruled by fear. Don’t give up because the last time didn’t work out. Get your dream back. Fight for it! Know that you were created to change the world. You were created for greatness! You had better know it. Remember that you have a God who is able to do exceeding abundantly, above all that you can ask or think. I dare you to know who your God is. For those who know their God shall be strong. Those who know their God shall do great exploits (Read Daniel 11:32). Dream. Do great exploits. The world needs what you have on the inside of you. Your God inspired dreams will change your world. Let God resurrect and fulfill your dreams! It is time. Are you ready?
GOD WILL HELP US ACCOMPLISH OUR DREAMS IN HARMONY WITH HIS WILL
A. Finally, here is the lesson. It is found in vs. 12. Caleb says, "Give me this hill country that the Lord promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there & their cities were large & fortified, but, the Lord helping me, I will drive them out just as He said."
We aren’t giant-killers, people. But God specializes in killing giants.
ILL. God helped a stuttering Moses to become a deliverer of the people of Israel.
ILL. God enabled Gideon, with only 300 soldiers armed with pitchers & trumpets, to defeat the armies of the Midianites.
ILL. God enabled young, untrained David, with only a piece of rawhide & a smooth stone, to defeat Goliath.
ILL. God enabled the apostles, armed only with the good news of the Gospel, to overcome the Roman Empire & turn the world right side up.
B. And I’m convinced that God will help us, too, if we’re willing to make the effort. He tells us, "I won’t leave you alone. I’ll help you accomplish your dreams."
C. Just remember, we are not alone.
„Noah waited 120 years for the rain to fall!
„ Abraham was told he was going to be the father of a great nation and waited until he was 99 to have his son.
„ Moses wandered 40 years in the desert.
„ Joseph went through the pit and the prison to get to the palace.
„ David was anointed as a young man as king and waited many years till he actually sat on the throne of Israel
He loves turning crucifixions into resurrections!
D. What do we do then? We must dream some more. We must not be satisfied with the current dream. God is bigger than our dream which is to say that He has more dreams for us to fulfill.
E. God loves the dreamer. Don¡¦t limit God in your life. Go to a BIG GOD with a BIG DREAM and watch Him bring it to pass.
F. Ask a BIG GOD for the HARD THINGS!
Now, pray this prayer out loud.
"Father, I thought it was all over until I read this Word-based message. I see now that it's never too late. I believe You can raise my dream from the dead. I'm dealing with the Most High God, the Creator and Giver of life. Now, by the authority vested in me through the Gospel of Jesus, I say, like Jesus said, 'Dream, come forth and live, in Jesus' Name.' Thank You, Father, for restoring my hope and resurrecting my dream, in Jesus' Name."
Be blessed as you watch God breathe His life into your dream once again.