“Keep Dreaming”

I want to share about the dreams and destiny that God has for your life!

I believe God has great things for your life!

Even if you’re here tonight and you’re not sure what God’s plan is for your life, it doesn’t mean He doesn’t have a great destiny for you.

I believe God wants to speak to you tonight and He wants to shift some things in your life for your future.

Speaking of dreams… When I was a young teen my dream was to be with this girl called Chloe…

I wrote her a song and changed the lyrics to Justin Bieber’s ‘Baby’,

Instead of “Baby, Baby, Baby, Oh”

It was… “Chloe, Chloe, Chloe, Oh”

“I just want you to be mine, mine”

Posted it on FB + tagged her in it.

I had so many voice cracks…

Brutal comment section:

“my ears are bleeding”

“please make never sing again”

Grandma comments, “bro delete this.”

Chloe commented:

“It’s cute Josh :) and I guess I am lucky to have you, as a friend.”

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After that, God spoke to me about His plans for my life

His plans weren’t for me to marry Chloe…

I was given a PROPHETIC WORD AT A CHURCH SERVICE WHEN I WAS 13:

Josh, you’ll be influential, speak God’s word, impact people powerfully.

Then I was told that I’d be like Joseph from the bible.

Heartache, difficulty and challenges, BUT GOD would use those times in a POWERFUL WAY!

THAT WORD WAS SO SIGNIFICANT FOR MY LIFE, AND JOSEPH’S STORY HAS BECOME MY FAVOURITE IN THE BIBLE.

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Joseph the Dreamer

17 year old who has a gift of interpeting dreams

10 brothers who hated him and were jealous

Jacob’s (DAD’S) favourite

God gave him a dream that he’d be a ruler over his family - so he tells his bros and they HATE him even more

Genesis 37:18-21

One day his brothers were out in the field doing work and Joseph went out to them… “18 They saw Joseph from afar, and before he came near to them they conspired against him to kill him. 19 They said to one another, “Here comes that dreamer. 20 Come now, let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits. Then we will say that a fierce animal has devoured him, and we will see what will become of his dreams.”

Whenever there’s a dream, there’s opposition.

The enemy hates when you have a dream that you go after.

He’ll do everything in his power to stop it.

Through people’s words and actions, through your own insecurity, or discouragment from unexpected outcomes.

Joseph’s bro’s don’t kill him, but throw him into a pit and sell him as a slave to Egypt.

IMAGINE HOW THAT WOULD FEEL…

You’d feel so discouraged… The dream is OVER.

Story of my dad.

I dreamed to have a relationship with my dad.

I’m even seperated from my brother and sister.

I felt chained to discouragement most of my life.

CHAINS ANALOGY

The enemy knows God’s got big things for my life…

The enemy knew Joseph had a great destiny…

He knows you have a great destiny…

1. With God… The Enemy Can’t Stop Your Destiny

Just because the opposition we face is hard, doesn’t mean that our dreams are over!

Jacob is told by his sons that Joseph is dead.

Gen. 37:35-36

“35 So his father wept for him. 36 Meanwhile, the Midianites sold Joseph in Egypt to Potiphar, one of Pharaoh’s officials, the captain of the guard.”

Jacob thought he had just lost the thing he loved the most (Joseph), but the narrative tells us “meanwhile” that very thing was still alive.

Joseph, sold as a slave to Egypt, would have thought that his dream was over… but MEANWHILE, his dream was still alive.”

IF THE DREAM ISN’T DEAD, KEEP DREAMING!

EVEN WHEN YOU FACE OPPOSITION!

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Joseph was taken to Egypt as a slave, he was purchased by Potiphar, captain of the guard for Pharaoh, the king of Egypt.

Gen. 39:6-10

“6 Now Joseph was a very handsome and well-built young man… (TIMOTHY CHALAMAT). 7 And after a time his master’s wife cast her eyes on Joseph and said, “Lie with me.” 8 But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “… you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” 10 And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her.”

CHAINS OF TEMPTATION

The enemy will bring temptation into your life to distract you from your dream.

God is testing your character to see if you can handle the blessing He has for you.

Joseph says no and is then thrown into prison, unfairly because Potiphar’s wife lies about Jospeh…

2. With God… Your Surrender Brings Divine Favour

Gen. 39:21-23

“21 But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him steadfast love and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison. 22 And the keeper of the prison put Joseph in charge of all the prisoners who were in the prison. Whatever was done there, he was the one who did it. 23 The keeper of the prison paid no attention to anything that was in Joseph’s charge, because the LORD was with him. And whatever he did, the LORD made it succeed.”

God’s love and favour was on Joseph because he lived a life of faith and surrender.

Even in the darkest moments of life you can still succeed… that’s called the favour of God!

1. Joseph then helps someone get out of prsion.

But then he’s forgotten about for another 2 YEARS!!!

2. Pharoah then has a dream and nobody can interpret his dream, so then Joseph is remembered.

3. Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt to survive the famine.

Joseph’s brothers eventually apologised to him and beg for mercy.

Gen. 50:19-20

“19 But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? 20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”

God takes what the enemy intends for EVIL and He turns it for GOOD.

3. With God… Your Chains of Discouragement Become Chains of Grace

TAKE OFF THE CHAINS

Joseph’s chains of discouragement became chains of grace.

SO DID MINE - God’s used my story to help people forgive and see healing in their lives.

Romans 8:28

“And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

A LIFE SURRENDERED TO GOD REMOVES THE CHAINS OF…

Discouragement, hurt, rejection, depression, guilt, shame, trauma, insecurity…

Luke 1:37

“For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

Mark 9:23

“All things are possible for one who believes.”

IF GOD DID THE SEEMINGLY IMPOSSIBLE IN JOSEPH’S LIFE, HE CAN DO IT IN YOURS!

If GOD took what the enemy meant to harm my life and turned it for GOOD, He can in yours as well!

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Altar Call

Close your eyes + bow heads

If you want a fresh start with Jesus… lift your hands on the count of 3

3. Everyone stand to your feet and if you made that decision please see the leaders at the back flashing the lights

4. Let’s cheer them as they head there, then let’s WORSHIP

Song ‘Holy Spirit’:

Chains hit the floor

Dreams are restored

Purpose is found in your presence