Pursuing a God Dream

Brenden Bridges

Sermon • Submitted 5 years ago

0 ratings

· 337 views

Notes

Transcript

Handout

Sermon Tone Analysis

Emotion

Language

Social

View more →

Good Morning, we are in our series, “Our Mess His Masterpiece,”

Harvard psychologist and researcher Daniel Gilbert opens his best-selling book Stumbling on Happiness with what he calls "The Sentence."

"The Sentence" begins with these eight words: "The human is the only animal that …." Gilbert argues that every professor needs to finish that sentence.

We have been tracking this Epic story of of Joseph... which is filled with twists and turns and just when you think that Joseph is down and out he comes back ...

How did Gilbert finish The Sentence? What is the defining feature of our humanity? Gilbert is a secular psychologist, but his answer is insightful. He said,

these reversals of fortunes.

Charles Spurgeon said that Joseph is just like a Cork every-time you push him down he comes back to the surface…

Today we are going to be talking about “Pursuing a God Dream.”

which is filled with twists and turns… ups and downs…and reversals of fortunes. Today we are going to be talking about “Pursuing a God Dream.

The human being is the only animal that thinks about the future …. [Human beings] think about the future in a way that no other animal can, does, or ever has, and this simple … ordinary act is the defining feature of our humanity.

Good Morning, we are in our Sermon series, “Our Mess His Masterpiece,” and we have been tracking the life of Joseph which is filled with twists and turns… ups and downs…

Today we are going to be talking about “Pursuing a God Dream.

The average adult spends 12 percent of the day thinking about the future, roughly one of every eight hours.

We can imagine events years into the future …. If more than several minutes are involved, no animal can keep up with us.

Let’s start with a quick recap..

The story of Joseph begins with Joseph being favored by his father Jacob.

When Joseph is 17 years old, he is given the coat of many colors a symbol of prominence that represented the inheritance. The coat becomes a sore point for his brothers..

Joseph is 17 years old and spoiled by Jacob and given the long sleeved coat of many colors that signified prominence and inheritance.

Then Joseph has two dreams where is brothers.... *and then his father. surrounding him and bowing down before Him… the dreams are to much and they cause his brothers to hate him even more...

Which causes jealousy among his 11 brothers.. Joseph has a dream of his brothers one day bowing down before Him and this causes them to hate Joseph even more...

.This causes jealousy among his 11 brothers.. Then Joseph has a dream of his brothers one day bowing down before Him and this causes them to hate Joseph even more...

Good Morning, we are in our Sermon series, “Our Mess His Masterpiece,” and we have been tracking the life of Joseph which is filled with twists and turns… ups and downs…

Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations Dreams—giving insight

Elias Howe once dreamed that a hostile tribe threatened to kill him if he didn’t produce a sewing machine: he would die by spear thrust. The images of spear tips being hurled at him inspired the concept of a needle carrying thread in its tip. Struggling to understand the structure of benzene, German chemist Friedreich Kekule dreamed about six snakes in a circle, biting each other’s tails. On awaking he realized that the hexagon represented benzene’s molecular structure.

Samuel Coleridge wrote Kubla-Khan after a dream, Frankenstein came from Mary Wallstoncraft’s nightmares, and The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde came from Robert Louis Stevenson’s dreams. Beethoven and Donizetti based some of their most famous symphonies on their dreams, and Albert Einstein saw his famous formula E=Mc2 in a dream.

God’s hand was upon Js

Joseph has had these reversals of fortunes…

The story of Joseph begins with Joseph being favored by his father Jacob. Which causes jealousy among his 11 brothers..

His brothers threw him into a pit and sold him into slavery and taken to Egypt… When he is in the house of Potiphar God’s hand is upon Joseph and God gives him favor and success.

Which causes jealousy among his brothers.. Their Jealous led to Joseph being thrown into a pit and sold into slavery… Joseph is carried off to Egypt and sold to a man of influence, Potiphar the captain of guard.. Because the hand of God was upon, Joseph the house of Potiphar is blessed because of Joseph.. Potiphar has no worries..

Their Jealousy led to Joseph being thrown into a pit and sold into slavery… Joseph is carried off into Egypt and is sold to the house of Potiphar

that causes extreme jealousy of his brothers.. this led to Joseph being thrown into a pit and sold into slavery… Joseph is carried off to Egypt and sold to Potiphar where God prospers Joseph and he becomes the overseer of Potiphar’s house…

During this time the hand of Lord is upon Joseph and everything that Joseph touches, prospers… and Potiphar whole house is blessed on account of Joseph....

sold to a man of influence named Potiphar the captain of guard.. Because the hand of God was upon, Joseph the house of Potiphar is blessed because of Joseph.. Potiphar has no worries..

Everything was going smoothly until P-W takes a fancy to Joseph - and makes sexual advances towards Joseph… which he refuses and he ends up Pharoah’s…

when Pharaoh’s two trusted advises his Butler and Baker are thrown into prison…and Joseph interprets their dreams that come to pass..

After 11 years ...

Pharaoh’s two trusted advises his Butler and Baker are thrown into prison…

made sexual advances towards Joseph and he ends up in the Prison of Pharoah… Joseph finds himself again at the bottom… but again he trusts God…

They both have disturbing dreams one night... which Joseph interprets and they come true .. On Pharaohs birthday they are both released…the Butler is allowed to live and the Baker is executed..

Joseph begs the Butler to remember him when he serves before Pharoah.... but the Butler forgets....

So there is lots of drama in the life of Joseph… But what is amazing....

Joseph is still standing…he is still believing.... he is still trusting… Joseph never quits---

that Joseph is still standing… still believing.... still trusting… Joseph never quits--- If you are struggling this morning… Joseph life is speaking to you… Joseph’s life says to us Never Give up…Never ever Give up..

If you are struggling this morning… Joseph life is speaking to you… Joseph’s life says Never Give up…Never ever Give up… you can trust God with whatever you are facing or going through… If you find that the rope you are holding to is falling apart and fraying - tie a knot and hold on… God is still faithful. God is not done yet!!

Joseph never quits--- If you are struggling this morning… Joseph life is speaking to you… Joseph’s life says to us Never Give up…Never ever Give up..

Just like Joseph experienced the stedfast love never fails … so God will be faithful to you..

There are two things sustaining Joseph…The first is the presence of God...

What has been sustaining Joseph is the presence of God and the Dream that he had been given 11 years before...

…… Well there are two things sustaining Joseph…

Joseph is still hanging in… he hasn’t given up… Well there are two things sustaining Joseph…

but there are two things that are sustaining Joseph…

Spurgeon says that- Jospeh is like a cork every time you push him down he floats to the top....

What is keeping Joseph through all the troubles are two things… God hand is with Joseph and secondly...

1. The hand of the Lord is with Joseph—He is with Joseph in the pit and the penthouse of Potiphar— He is with Joseph in the Prison house and Joseph in the Palace of Pharoah..

The second thing that is sustain him..

2. Joseph has been given a dream..

Dreams and the interpretation of Dreams is a major theme…

This was no ordinary Dream....

Joseph’s Dream is what moves the narrative of Story… It’s the tension…that keeps us reading --- We wonder how Joseph is going to make it through his trial… we wonder whether or not the Dream is going to come to pass?

The tension in the story is the Dream Going to be fulfilled or not…

What makes this Story so relevant to us today… is that we have this same tension in our lives…God is the one who places a desire for him his purposes in human hearts…. this is not an individual pursuit… Paul says..

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 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

10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

there is this beautiful line in Solomons Ecclesiastes that says.....

. there is this beautiful line in Ecclesiates that says.....

It is the exact same tension that is in everyone of Our lives… God has given the desire pursue something that has eternal value and wother....

Ecclesiastes 3:11 ESV

11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.

God has put eternity into mans heart…

So just like the tension of Joseph is will the Dream be realized or not?

Joseph Had a dream about his future.. this wan’t one of those pepperoni Pizza the night before…varieties...

This was a GOD DREAM!…

Speaker’s Sourcebook of New Illustrations Dreams—giving insight

A God dream is not something comes from our imagination, but rather something that has been given by God….

It’s not the American Dream…it the Dream taught to us in a book …We God going to find in the next seminar...… But, it is from heaven itself..

When Paul stood on trial before King Agrippa he says… He tell the king…he says..

Acts 26:19 ESV

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Acts

Paul had received a vision from the Lord to take the Gospel to the Gentiles....through hardships, through difficulties, beatings, imprisonments, through shipwrecks.. through danger and toils… Paul completed that mission… The tension was resolved and the dream was met…

Joseph had a God dream and this God dream was a chief motivator of his life..

Paul had been given a God Dream..

In the same way…

Joseph’s dreams were God-given and his future was God-governed.

The life of Joseph is a picture of what it means to dream God dreams.. Joseph’s dreams were God-given and his future was God-governed.

— Joseph’s dreams were God-given

Joseph life fits into God’s bigger and broader plan of the coming of the future nation of Israel and the future coming of the Messiah and the church..

At some point we have quoted Jer 29:11

Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Joseph responsibility was to pursue the God dream..

This lots to be encouraged about in this verse...… God already knows the plans for us.. and it’s a Good plan of a future and hope..

We often apply Jeremiah’s promise to ourselves individually. “Terrific!” they say. “God knows the plans he has for me…

But, like Joseph and Paul’s vision… a God dream is not so much about you…We forget that Jeremiah is writing to a nation not an individual...

When God says he knows the plans he has for you, it is important to understand whom he means by “you.” Christians often apply Jeremiah’s promise to themselves individually. “Terrific!” they say. “God knows the plans he has for me.... We need to be careful that we don’t read the Bible individually…

But what we forge is that Jeremiah is writing to a nation not to individuals..

When God says he knows the plans he has for you, it is important to understand whom he means by “you.”

God Dreams are not so much about our individual Dreams — but pursuing God’s purposes in the world…

We often read this verse and say to ourselves Terrific God has a plan for me… individually… But in context Jeremiah is talking the nation ..

God Dreams are not so much about our individual Dreams — but pursuing God’s purposes in the world…

.. In other words the God DREAMS --- not the same as the American Dream.. It is not about that… It is tied into the Community called the Church and God’s broader plan in Salvation history...

Have you noticed that Joseph’s life is always a blessing to someone else… Potiphar is Prospering on account of Joseph… Those in Jail are being well cared for on account of Joseph.... and the Pharoah and Egypt and the know world are going to be saved on account of Joseph… Joseph is being used for God’s purposes.... In other words the God DREAMS --- not the same as the American Dream.. It is not about that… It is tied into the Community called the Church and God’s broader plan in Salvation history...

.. In other words the God DREAMS --- not the same as the American Dream.. It is not about that… It is tied into the Community called the Church and God’s broader plan in Salvation history...

This God dream was the chief motivator of his life.

Joseph’s dreams were God-given and his future was God-governed. Vision and dreams many times focus only on the end result—the advancement promised

A God dream is not something made up from his imagination, but rather something that has been given by God — Joseph’s dreams were God-given and his future was God-governed.

When Joseph thrown into a Pit

A God dream is not something made up from his imagination, but rather something that has been given by God — Joseph’s dreams were God-given and his future was God-governed.

Joseph’s dreams were God-given and his future was God-governed.

Joseph was committed to the vision for his life that he had received, and he was determined to overcome every obstacle that stood between him and the fulfillment of that vision.

We learn from the Life of Joseph that a God dream can be a powerful motivator in our Lives....

Acts 26:19-

Acts 26:19–20 ESV

19 “Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, 20 but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their repentance.

Acts 26:19 ESV

“Therefore, O King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision,

Acts

said I was not disobedience to the heavenly vision.,

What Paul is talking about was the vision that God gave him to reach the gentile world… this was a heavenly vision.... This was more than originating in the mind of man, but something that originated in the mind of God. Paul like Joseph endured many hardships… and it was his commitment to this Divine Picture… that kept him from giving up..

When Joseph was a slave in Potiphers house… it was the dream (Heavenly Vision) that was keeping Him motivated.

The big question is whether or not our goals match God vision for our lives..

We learn from the Life of Joseph the Power of a God dream..

We need to understand the power of vision and dreaming.. literally every thing that is created in the physical world began with an idea, vision or a dream… it started in the realm of the impossible and moved into the possible. We are literally standing in a building that came from a God dream… we must not underestimate the power of a dream.

We need to understand the power of vision and dreaming.. literally every thing that is created in the physical world began with an idea, vision or a dream… Creation itself began in the mind of God before he created…

it started in the realm of the impossible and moved into the possible. We are literally standing in a building that came from a God dream…

How do we get a God dream? The primary source is God word...

“Our dreams and visions begin as undeveloped pictures deep within our hearts and minds—things we can see that God wants to do in the future. The more that leaders feed on the Word of God with understanding, the more focused they become. The purpose of God becomes progressively clearer as they articulate the biblical vision” Frank Damazio

Socrates said, “We have a better chance of hitting the target if we can see it.”

Life Changing Leadership: Identifying and Developing Your Team's Full Potential 12. Life-Changing Leaders Have a Balanced Ministry

We will always move in the direction of our most dominant thought. Use your imagination—that invisible machine inside your mind that has the power to create God-given vision and high-definition pictures of destiny. Let

Whe need to know that our..

I want to give us a few workable definitions for vision..

T/s There are several lessons we learn about perusing a God dream..the first is that..

Vision is the bridge between the present and the Future...

Whe need to know that our..

What we learn from Joseph is what happens when we pursue a God dream?

Andy Stanley in his book visioneering, defines vision as, "A clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be."

1. Character is Developed in Delays.

God used visions to communicate to His

Visions may refer to the distant future or the present. A vision was valid for guidance when used along with the Law and the counsel of the elders for God’s people .

How do we prepare us for a God sized Dream?

1.Know that Delays are not Denials.

1. Character is Developed in Delays.

Most of us dont welcome delays..

We have all felt the frustration of delays!!

When Pam an i flew to Chicrgo earlier this year… we experieced delays going both directions.. tal about 7 hour delays.. One of those delays when you haved w xplored t hee

Thomas Brook

We have all felt the frustration of delays.. It could being stuck in an unexpected traffic jam… or a supermarket check out line...

300 Quotations for Preachers from the Puritans Delays Are Not Denials

You must distinguish between delays and denials. God may delay us, when he does not deny us; he may defer the giving of a mercy, and yet at last give the very mercy begged

When Pam an I flew to Chicago in June... we experienced delays in both directions - The delay on the way home was over 10 hours… We were meant to be home in at around 9:30 in the morning and we arrived after 10 at night.... Delays can be uncomfortable..

How should we view delays?

The American writer Ralph Waldo Emmerson, wrote in his essay “Prudence” - the sentence

— “How much of human life is lost in waiting! Ralph Waldo Emerson

Ralph Waldo Emerson

Six years later he wrote in his journal…

“The philosophy of waiting is sustained by all the oracles of the universe.”

I wonder what made him change his mind?

What learned from the life of Joseph is that God’s waiting room is not wasting life... but rather that God does deep work in times of delays.. God is preparing Joseph for the what lies ahead...

waiting is not wasting life but investing in personal character and the fulfillment of future hopes

“You must distinguish between delays and denials. God may delay us, when he does not deny us; he may defer the giving of a mercy, and yet at last give the very mercy begged.”

What we learn from Joseph is that when you pursue a God dream you can expect delays…

You must distinguish between delays and denials. God may delay us, when he does not deny us; he may defer the giving of a mercy, and yet at last give the very mercy begged.

. Delays can be frustrating… but we learn about God Dreams is that we can experience delays..

Joseph has faced a number of delays.

Joseph is 28 years old when he is in the Pharaohs prison… after telling the Butler that He was going to be restored to serving as Pharaoh’s cupbearer..Joseph pleads with the Butler to show kindness and remember Him…’

What happens when 3 days turns in to 2 years?

Joseph is 28 years old when he is in the Pharoah’s prison house. That is 11 years after he had received the dream..

joseph is 28 years old whe he is in the Pharoas prison house. That is 11 years after he had received the dream..

Joseph is 28 years old when he is in the Pharaohs prison house. God uses Joseph to interpret the Dream of the Cupbearer and the dream of the baker… These

What happens when 3 days turns in to 2 years?

Josephs Request to the cupbearer

In Chapter 40 joseph interprets the dreams of the

God uses Joseph to interpret the Dream of the Cupbearer and the dream of the baker… One of the dream is possitive that cupbearer

Joseph begs the Butler to remember Him… but unfortunately Joseph is going to be forgotten,

Lets look at our text....Joseph interprets the dream.. and makes his request.

Josephs Request to the cupbearer

Genesis 40:13–14 ESV

13 In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. 14 Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house.

Genesis 40:23–41:1 ESV

Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

Genesis 39:23–41:1 ESV

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. Some time after this, the cupbearer of the king of Egypt and his baker committed an offense against their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was angry with his two officers, the chief cupbearer and the chief baker, and he put them in custody in the house of the captain of the guard, in the prison where Joseph was confined. The captain of the guard appointed Joseph to be with them, and he attended them. They continued for some time in custody. And one night they both dreamed—the cupbearer and the baker of the king of Egypt, who were confined in the prison—each his own dream, and each dream with its own interpretation. When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they were troubled. So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were with him in custody in his master’s house, “Why are your faces downcast today?” They said to him, “We have had dreams, and there is no one to interpret them.” And Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Please tell them to me.” So the chief cupbearer told his dream to Joseph and said to him, “In my dream there was a vine before me, and on the vine there were three branches. As soon as it budded, its blossoms shot forth, and the clusters ripened into grapes. Pharaoh’s cup was in my hand, and I took the grapes and pressed them into Pharaoh’s cup and placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” Then Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head and restore you to your office, and you shall place Pharaoh’s cup in his hand as formerly, when you were his cupbearer. Only remember me, when it is well with you, and please do me the kindness to mention me to Pharaoh, and so get me out of this house. For I was indeed stolen out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also I have done nothing that they should put me into the pit.” When the chief baker saw that the interpretation was favorable, he said to Joseph, “I also had a dream: there were three cake baskets on my head, and in the uppermost basket there were all sorts of baked food for Pharaoh, but the birds were eating it out of the basket on my head.” And Joseph answered and said, “This is its interpretation: the three baskets are three days. In three days Pharaoh will lift up your head—from you!—and hang you on a tree. And the birds will eat the flesh from you.” On the third day, which was Pharaoh’s birthday, he made a feast for all his servants and lifted up the head of the chief cupbearer and the head of the chief baker among his servants. He restored the chief cupbearer to his position, and he placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand. But he hanged the chief baker, as Joseph had interpreted to them. Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

Genesis 40:23–41:1 ESV

23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

Genesis 39:13–14 ESV

13 And as soon as she saw that he had left his garment in her hand and had fled out of the house, 14 she called to the men of her household and said to them, “See, he has brought among us a Hebrew to laugh at us. He came in to me to lie with me, and I cried out with a loud voice.

gen 40:13-

gen 39:13-

ESV23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

Genesis 40:23 ESV

23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him.

gen 39:23-

Joseph has been in Prison..for two whole years.. About the same time as the Kings Birthday..

We are told that Joseph has been in Prison..for two years...

Joseph is now 30 years old and he is still in Pharaoh’s prison.. The scripture is silent on what happened in these two years... but you can imagine that it wasn't easy...

knowing that Pharaoh’s trusted advisor the Cupbearer was standing everyday before Pharaoh... and didn't give Joseph a second thought...

he is still there... The scripture is silent on what happened in these two years... but we can imagine that it wasn't easy... knowing that Pharaoh’s trusted advisor the Cupbearer was standing everyday before Pharaoh... and didn't give Joseph a second thought... Not easy to feel forgotten...

The story begins with Joseph in Prison.. after two years... he is still there... The scripture is silent on what happened in these two years... but we can imagine that it wasn't easy... knowing that Pharaoh’s trusted advisor the Cupbearer was standing everyday before Pharaoh... and didn't give Joseph a second thought... Not easy to feel forgotten...

Not easy to feel forgotten...

ESV23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

After Joseph gives the dream.. he repeats a number of times don’t forget me! When you before Pharoah remember me! I can imagine that in his moment of crisis… of cause I would never forget!! But.. this is a very human story isn’t it?

What is most surprising about this part of the story is how was it possible for the butler to forget Joseph!

Some of you might remember where you were when you heard about John F. Kenedy’s assination.

Or who

Or how about September 11th 2001… 911.

The sights and sounds of 911 will forever be etched on the minds of those of us that experienced and witnessed the horrors of that day… We will never forget? it was really the day when we lost our innocence.. we lived in a world where these kinds of things didn’t happen.. well at least in the United stares.. unfortunately since then we have mass shootings and acts of violence that has desensitized us a bit..

R\\

How about on August 31 when Princess Diana died in that car accident...

These kinds of event are etched in our minds…but here we have

How about when Pinces Diana died on

We will never forget?

it was really the day when we lost our innocence.. we lived in a world where these kinds of things didn’t happen in our world..

well at least in the United States.. unfortunately, since then we have mass shootings and acts of violence that has desensitized us a bit..

Yet the Butler when escaping his own death… and witnessing dramatic hanging of the Baker…Forgets...

You would think that it would be forever etched on the mind of the cupbearer...

How was it possible for the Cupbearer.. to forget?

Gen 41:

The Cupbearer Forgets

It is only after two years…when

Genesis 41:1 ESV

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

Genesis 40:23–41:1 ESV

23 Yet the chief cupbearer did not remember Joseph, but forgot him. 1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile,

The Butler receives God‘s mercy - and God’s Grace.. both undeserved and unmerited favor..

Gen 40:23-41:

Before we get to hard on the cupbearer.. it is easy to Forget the grace and the mercy of God that we have receive in salvation..,it is easy to put the God dream on the back burner..

But still Forget the God’s grace and the mercy..

What did the delay mean for Joseph? It meant that he continued to remain Faithful to those in prison..

Thomas Brooks the puritan preacher said..

“You must distinguish between delays and denials. God may delay us, when he does not deny us; he may defer the giving of a mercy, and yet at last give the very mercy begged.”

What do yo think this quote means? Why are delays so difficult for us?

What a great lesson… Delays don’t mean denials… Man may forget, but God never forgets! His delays don’t mean denials!

God may seem silent but that doesn’t mean He has walked away. He is actually at work in the background.

Like a building going up behind a wall, we can’t always see the progress. But that doesn’t mean nothing is happening. God’s good plan is being carried out and this set of circumstances is needed to prepare you for those plans

What we learn from Joseph in Prison is that Joseph… Kept on looking for opportunities, Kept on being faithful… Joseph kept on using his gift… Instead of Joseph’s confidence being diminished it increased.

How do we pursue a God Dream?

Whe need to know that our..

How do we pursue a God Dream? We understand that...

How do we pursue a God Dream?

1. Character is Developed in Delays.

2. Crisis provides Ministry Opportunities

We living are a time in our world that we are witnessing huge crisis… around the globe… Just this week when US troops step aside…which made room for Turkey’s invasion into Syria is causing a huge humanitarian crisis…

This is constant in our world… This time last year.. we witnessed the “Paradise fire” wipe out a whole community…

According to scripture ..These kinds of events are not going to simply end.... the Bible tells us that they are going to increase.. Just read through and read the signs of the End of the age…

There are going to many more difficulties.. wars, false teaching, nation will rise up against nations., Divisions, families, natural disasters... this is not the end but signs..

At the same time there are going to be huge opportunities..

Matthew 24:14 ESV

14 And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matt

The Director General of the British news service... BBC, Sir John Reith, once said: ‘I do not like crises; but I like the opportunities which they supply.’

The Book of Acts — we read about the persecuted church… yet it is in the book of Acts that we see might outpourings and displays of God’s power...

all that the early church went through: Every crisis is an opportunity to watch the Spirit work! This is precisely where faith comes in

Every crisis is an opportunity to watch the Spirit work!

The Director General of the British news service... BBC, Sir John Reith, once said: ‘I do not like crises; but I like the opportunities which they supply.’

What we learn from the life of Joseph is that crisis’ provide opportunities for God to work..

It has always been like that… read the story of the book of Acts… and see how God moved powerfully in times of crisis.

The death of Lazarus brought a crisis to Jesus, and he was glad, because it gave him the opportunity to demonstrate in the most amazing way what God can do. For us, every crisis should be equally an opportunity.

What brings Joseph into his calling is really a Crisis in Pharoah’s Oval Office..

The Story of Joseph is carried along by these prophetic dreams… It begins with Joseph’s own dream… which carries the tension of the whole story…followed by the dream of the butler and the baker… then climaxing with the dream of Pharoah.

In the story of Joseph there are these.. repetitions in the narrative. You have three sets of two dreams.... You have two sets of dreams that need and interpretation... Joseph tells Joseph his two dreams are one and the same thing...Exactly, the same as his dream that he received...of the moon and the stars all bowing before his star... and the stalks of wheat bowing down before.. his stalk...

Then you have another 2 two sets of two dre

Genesis 41:1–7 ESV

1 After two whole years, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing by the Nile, 2 and behold, there came up out of the Nile seven cows, attractive and plump, and they fed in the reed grass. 3 And behold, seven other cows, ugly and thin, came up out of the Nile after them, and stood by the other cows on the bank of the Nile. 4 And the ugly, thin cows ate up the seven attractive, plump cows. And Pharaoh awoke. 5 And he fell asleep and dreamed a second time. And behold, seven ears of grain, plump and good, were growing on one stalk. 6 And behold, after them sprouted seven ears, thin and blighted by the east wind. 7 And the thin ears swallowed up the seven plump, full ears. And Pharaoh awoke, and behold, it was a dream.

Gen 41:1-

Read Why do you think this dream bothered Pharoah? Both the dreams in the Prison (Buttler and Baker) and Pharaoh’s dream had a “crisis” of no interpretation.

How might Crisis and uncertainty be opportunity for ministry?

Almost two years to the day of Butler and bakers dream the second anniversary of the cupbearers.. The timing is no doubt significant for both Pharoah and Joseph…

We need to remember that Dreams were extremely significant in the ancient world.. .

Egyptian Pharaohs, supposedly gods themselves, were thought to live on the edge of the divine realms.

So their dreams were given special credence. And these dreams were full of importance.

Pharoah has a dream he standing by the side of the Nile.

Pharoah has a dream he standing by the side of the Nile....

Pharoah has a dream… there is no doubt that this is significant to both Pharoah and Joseph… It was believed that Kings and Pharoah’ stood very close to the divine realm, and so they are often credited with revelatory dreams in ancient oriental texts.

Another characteristic of dreams… is that when they came in pairs it brought a sense of divine fulfillment — Something was certainly going to coming to pass...

Pharoah has two bizzarre nightmares…

1 “Two full years,” i.e., about the time of Pharaoh’s birthday, the second anniversary of the cupbearer’s release and Joseph’s continued detention (cf. 40:20). Doubtless this date was significant both for Pharaoh and for Joseph. “Pharaoh dreamed.” Kings, especially Egyptian Pharaohs, stood very close to the divine realm, and so they are often credited with revelatory dreams in ancient oriental texts. “The Nile” (יאר), a word of Egyptian origin (yrw), is both the basis and the symbol of Egypt’s power and wealth.

Deep in his world of dreams he saw himself standing by the sacred Nile, where Egyptian cattle often stood almost submerged as a retreat from the heat and flies..

Pharoah’s dream is that he standing by the side of the Nile....

Pharoah has a dream he standing by the side of the Nile. Then they were seven cows came out of the Nile they were attractive and fat they were well fed on Reed grass. And then seven other cows.. ugly and thin also came out of the Nile and stood next to the cows on the bank of the Nile and then the 7 ugly thin cows ate the seven attractive fat cows... When Pharoah tells the dream to Joseph he adds a detail that as they were being consumed the they took on the form of the ugly cows.....

Genesis 41:1–9 ESV

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis 16–50 Comment

stood very close to the divine realm, and so they are often credited with revelatory dreams in ancient oriental texts.

As he watched..he saw… these 7 attractive and fat and cows emerge from the water...

Seven cows came up out of the Nile, he saw these 7 cows were attractive and fat and had been well fed on the Reed grass.

And then seven other cows.. ugly and thin also came out of the Nile and stood next to the cows on the bank of the Nile… They were scary looking Hebrew it describes them as, “evil in appearance and thin of flesh”..

They were scarey looking Hebrew it describes them as, “evil in appearance and thin of flesh”..

These 7 ugly thin cows then attacked, killed, dismembered and ate the seven attractive fat cows... Pharaoh adds some graphic details when retelling the dream to Joseph --- Pharoah describes the scene as the 7 healthy cows being consumed and digested they began to change form and look like the ugly cows....

7 ugly thin cows attacked, killed, dismembered and ate the seven attractive fat cows... Pharaoh adds some graphic details when telling Joseph, and says that as the 7 healthy cows were being consumed and digested they began to change form and look like the ugly cows....

When Pharoah tells the dream to Joseph he adds a detail that as they were being consumed the they took on the form of the ugly cows.....

This is a very vivid and disturbing dream… Pharoah wakes up …clearly disturbed… If it was the one dream… he may have just brushed it off as a bad dream and then went back to sleep… but this time he has another disturbing dream.

. He may have just brushed it off as a bad dream and then went back to sleep… but this time he has another disturbing dream.

This time he sees....

Gen 41:1-

has another dream this time they seven ears of grain also fat and healthy stalks and each of them sprouted seven ears of grain. But right after them sprouted ears of grain. Then and seven unhealthy stalks dried out by the East wind swallowed up at seven healthy stalks.

Seven “plump and good” ears of grain that were devoured by seven thin, heat-shriveled ears of grain.

The attack of the cannibal ears was again too much for Pharaoh… It was one of those dreams where you not sure if your are dreaming or it’s real life

and he awoke a second time to discover that he was dreaming.

These dreams were intense… and even though it was now day light --- He was still extremely bothered… we told that “His spirit was troubled.”… He needed to know what the meaning of the dreams were.. so..

Pharoah called for the magicians and Wise men to help him interpret the the dreams.. but there was no one who could interpret them.

Cows were more than farm animals they symbolized Egypt Itself… the number Seven in the ancient world also was a sacred number and sometimes ment fate...

Egyptian Pharaoh’s were considered to be gods themselves...

Seven in the ancient world

It was believed that Kings and Pharoah’ stood very close to the divine realm, and so they are often credited with revelatory dreams in ancient oriental texts...

Pharoah called for the magicians and Wise men to help him interpret the meaning of the dream... but there was none who could interpret them.

What is interesting is that the dream contained some definite and known symbols —

Cows were more than farm animals they symbolized Egypt Itself… Reeds also was a nation of Egypt symbol..

The number Seven in the ancient world was a sacred number and sometimes ment fate.... What is interesting is that from known about the symbols of Egypt.. these interpreters should have been able to make a good guess at the meaning of the dreams...

But we are told that there was “no one to interpret them for Pharoah” — it doesn’t mean that nobody tried… rather none of the suggestions satisfied Pharoah…

it is possible that the experts had an idea of what the dreams symbolized but didn’t want to go there. The result was that Pharaoh was left anguished and nearly frantic… Pharoah is so stunned by the dreams that the narrator uses the word BEHOLD 6 times to capture the Kings response.

the experts had an idea of what the dreams symbolized but didn’t want to go there. The result was that Pharaoh was left anguished and nearly frantic.

Preaching the Word: Genesis—Beginning and Blessing Pharaoh’s Troubled Dreams (vv. 1–8)

Likely, some of the experts had an idea of what the dreams symbolized but didn’t want to go there. The result was that Pharaoh was left anguished and nearly frantic.

There is trouble in the Oval Office of Egypt...

Here we are faced with a crisis…

Pharoah is visibly disturbed… things are getting a little unsettling in the palace..

There is nothing like a crisis to jog ones memory…

Pharaoh’s behavior must have reminded the Buttler of what happened the last time Pharoah got so disturbed.…heads literally were coming off.,.

recalls two years previously when when pharaoh was angry at him and the baker and was thrown into prison and how are young Hebrew boy interpreted their dreams with such accuracy With such accuracy

Now it seems like the first 3/4’s of Joseph’s life is on a time lapse… God is with him, but God is working in Him… then all of a sudden…

It was not good for the king to be in such a state, and certainly not for anyone who worked closely with him, as did his cupbearer

Pharoah dream is going catapult Joseph out of prison into national spotlight.... from being forgotten to being second in Charge of Egypt..

Pharoah dream is going to bring Joseph is going to catapult Joseph out of the prison into national spotlight..

and if a solution was not found quickly it would not be good himself or for anyone who worked closely with him...

If a solution was not found it would not be good for anyone who worked closely with him...

There is nothing like a CRISIS to jog ones memory…

The butler suddenly, remembers Joseph… From now on the pace changes --- Things were moving along slowly now things speed up..

The Buttler after receiving his freedom — simply forgot Joseph… There are sins of commission and sins of omissions… There are sins where we know that what we doing are wrong…

He first acknowledges His offense and then tells Pharoah about the dreams in Prison and how Joseph interpreted the dream exactly the way it had come to pass...

Joseph had interpreted the dream exactly the way it had come to pass...

Genesis 41:9–10 ESV

Then the chief cupbearer said to Pharaoh, “I remember my offenses today. When Pharaoh was angry with his servants and put me and the chief baker in custody in the house of the captain of the guard,

Genesis 41:12 ESV

A young Hebrew was there with us, a servant of the captain of the guard. When we told him, he interpreted our dreams to us, giving an interpretation to each man according to his dream.

gen 41:

gen 41:112

gen 4:11

This is a moment that Joseph had been prepared for! Everything in the narrative has been meeting to this point we he would stand before Pharaoh. It is here that's gift and is calling going to come together. Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams...

What is a little disappearing is that the Butler refers to Joseph as a “Young Hebrew” was there… The description suggests that Joseph was quite insignificant… and so it is not surprising that the butler had failed to mention Joseph… The

Joseph cleans up and no longer looks like a Hebrew boy… but looks similar to an Egyptian and cleanly shaven..

The Buttler recalls two years previously when when pharaoh was angry at him and the baker and was thrown into prison and how are young Hebrew boy interpreted their dreams with such accuracy… The Butler realises his mistake and acknowledges his sin.

We need to remember that Christ is the center of the Gospel message…

He is the center piece…

Romans 6:1–4 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it? 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Romans 6:1–2 ESV

1 What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? 2 By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?

The problem is just like the butler we can easily forget that we received Grace and Mercy… Grace is not a license to live as we wish.. rather Grace and mercy… means that we remember Christ..

Paul argues that grace is not a licence to continue in sin..

Joseph answers pharaoh and says it’s not me but God who will give a favorable answer. This is something he learned when he first began interpreting dreams. Pharaoh then and packs the dreams and Joseph then gives the interpretation.

How do we pursue a God Dream? We understand that...

1. Character is Developed in Delays.?

How do we prepare us for a God sized Dream?

2. Crises provides Ministry Opportunities

3. Confidence comes from the Prophetic Word

Have you ever thought where your confidence comes from? Confidence means trust… Do you remember the first time you tried something or learned a new skill… It was difficult… but after hours of practice you begin to gain confidence…

When Joseph was first given that Coat, I can imagine him as a 17 year just bursting with enthusiasm and confidence… The lesson that Joseph was going learn was Confidence sometimes has to be matured and developed in our lives...

During the first 3/4’s of Joseph’s life is in slow motion… There these delays

Joseph learned in the delays of life how to experience God presence… how to receive the steadfast love of God… He learned about his gift of interpreting dreams… He learned how to be faithful.. integrity… patience…faith… trust..

But it is in these delays of life that Joseph learns some valuable lessons… like... how to experience the steadfast love of God… or how to use his gift of interpreting dreams… He learned how to be faithful..live with integrity… be patience…Have faith… then to trust..

Pharoah dream is going catapult Joseph out of prison into national spotlight.... from being forgotten to being second in Charge of Egypt..

Joseph is growing in Confidence...

Confidence means learning How to trust… We see Joseph learning to Trust the Prophetic Word of God...

Isaiah spoke of God’s word going out accomplishing what God intended

Isaiah 55:11 ESV

11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isaiah 46:9–11 ESV

9 remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, 10 declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,’ 11 calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.

Is 46:

Everything moves slowly then.. all of a sudden… Pharaoh’s dream is going catapult Joseph out of prison into the Presence of most power man in the world.....

Faith is deliberate confidence in the character of God whose ways you may not understand at the time. - Oswald Chambers

Then all of a sudden… Pharaoh’s dream is going catapult Joseph out of prison into the Presence of most power man in the world.....

Joseph was not standing alone because Yahweh was with him just as he had been with him in Potiphar’s house and in prison

Genesis 41:14–16 ESV

14 Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they quickly brought him out of the pit. And when he had shaved himself and changed his clothes, he came in before Pharaoh. 15 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and there is no one who can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.” 16 Joseph answered Pharaoh, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Gen 41:14-16

Now it seems like the first 3/4’s of Joseph’s life is on a time lapse… God is with him, but God is working in Him… then all of a sudden…

Pharoah dream is going catapult Joseph out of prison into national spotlight.... from being forgotten to being second in Charge of Egypt..

This is a moment that Joseph had been prepared for! Everything in the narrative has been moving to this point we Joseph will stand before Pharaoh.

But Joseph was not standing alone because Yahweh was with him just as he had been with him in Potiphar’s house and in prison

It is here that's gift and is calling going to come together. Joseph had the gift of interpreting dreams...

During the past 13 years Joseph has been busy honing his gifts… God had been preparing Joseph for this meeting with Pharoah… When the Buttler and Baker were in despair because nobody could interpret the dreams… Joseph said “Do not interpretations belong to God?”

Here is this Prophetic Moment..

First… Joseph Cleans up...

he repeats that is God who is shown

When Joseph comes before Pharoah… he repeats that is God who is shown

Joseph cleans up and no longer looks like a Hebrew boy… but looks similar to an Egyptian and cleanly shaven..

Hebrew men, in contrast to Egyptians, wore beards. So in a flash Joseph was shaved, sanitized, Egyptianized, and presented to Pharaoh. The young Hebrew had gone from the pit to the palace in an instant. There handsome, well-built Joseph stood, looking more like an Egyptian than a Hebrew

2. Joseph Has confidence in the Prophetic Word…

When Joseph comes before Pharoah.. the first thing that Pharoah says… is I have had a dream ands I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it.”

There is something that appeals to our natural gifts here… You are so smart you just hear something and you are able to figure out the problem… Joseph was smart and was wise… but Joseph — dependency is in none of his natural talents..

Kinder comments and says “Joseph almost explosively disavowed this whole approach (the exclamation, it is not in me, is a single word).” Kinder

“Joseph almost explosively disavowed this whole approach (the exclamation, it is not in me, is a single word).”

Joseph used a single word of deprecation. “Not me!”—“It is not in me!” And then he directed Pharaoh away from himself to God, saying, “God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer

How did Joseph have such confidence that he would have the correct interpretation for Pharoah..

After hearing the dreams Joseph provides the interpretation.,

God had been preparing him for this moment for 13 years.. Joseph had seen how God fulfil his word… God had not only worked through ordinary situation of life… like getting him through family dysfunction… he had also seen how Spiritual gifts work.. God spoke through Dreams… God confirmed his word… and God fulfills his Word… When you have seen God’s word come to pass… it gives you confidence...

Peter reminds us that we as Christians are not following cleverly devised myths when we come to Christ.. Peter tells us that they witness to Jesus who was the fulfillment of all the OT prophecies..

He had Grown as a leader…

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Joseph a

Joseph delivered the Word of God boldly because he Had a sure Word…

When Joseph speaks to Pharoah he does so with Boldness..

Gen 41:28

Genesis 41:28–32 ESV

28 It is as I told Pharaoh; God has shown to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, 30 but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, 31 and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe. 32 And the doubling of Pharaoh’s dream means that the thing is fixed by God, and God will shortly bring it about.

Joseph is standing before Pharoah who himself was worshiped as a god… And Joseph presents to Pharoah the Yahweh the God of Israel… Joseph says God has shown you what he is about to do!!

Noticed it doesn’t say that God is going to reveal what is going to happen… but rather God is going to show you what he is going to do!

Joseph tells Pharoah that this dream is indeed from God.. God has given Pharoah a revelation of what he is about to do…

Many people would readily admit that God knows everything that is going to happen, but far fewer people acknowledge that God is in control of everything that happens.

It does not simply say that “God has told Pharaoh what will happen in the future.” It says that “God has told Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

Many people would readily admit that God knows everything that is going to happen, but far fewer people acknowledge that God is in control of everything that happens.

Walter Brueggemann explains it like this, “The future in Egypt does not depend upon Pharaoh. He does not get to decide. In fact, Pharaoh is irrelevant and marginal to the future of the kingdom.… Joseph has calmly announced to the lord of Egypt that the future is out of his hands. God has shown pharoah… God has fixed these things and God will shortly bring them about...

God has shown pharoah… God has fixed these things and God will shortly bring them about...

, is clear that Pharaoh can cause no future. Nor can he resist the future that God will bring.”

n , it is clear that Pharaoh can cause no future. Nor can he resist the future that God will bring.”5

The interpretation that Joseph gave here announced to Pharaoh and to all of Egypt that the one true God controlled their existence,..

Word Biblical Commentary, Volume 2: Genesis 16–50 Comment

“What God is about to do he has shown to Pharaoh” (cf. the nearly identical comment in v 25; cf. v 32). Joseph underlines that the dream is heaven-sent

The message is this...

When Joseph comes before Pharoah…

he repeats that is God who is shown

Kings do not make history. Rather, God uses them to effect history.

Pharoah what he’s about to do. There’s going to be seven years of plenty throughout the land of Egypt, but then after seven years of famine would come and all the plenty would be forgotten. Interesting that the word forgotten is used again. Joseph is forgotten now the land is going to be forgotten. The famine will consume the land.

Joseph tells Pharoah what God is going to do.

There is going to be seven years of plenty throughout the land of Egypt, Followed by seven years of famine and during this time all the plenty would be forgotten....

Joseph gives the solution he says it is the point overseers over the land take 1/5 of the produce land During the plentiful years and store it for the family. What is interesting is that Joseph is using but his skills as a leader and as a profit to interpret the future. 1/5 of the food will sustain sustain Israel and Egyptians during famine.

“There will come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Egypt, but after them there will arise seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Egypt. The famine will consume the land, and the plenty will be unknown in the land by reason of the famine that will follow, for it will be very severe” (vv. 29–31).

Joseph’s language was that of a prophet and anticipated the prophets who would follow..

We have a sure word… it is prophetic and it shall come to pass...

1 Peter 1:25 ESV

25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

Interesting that the word forgotten is used again. Joseph is forgotten now the land is going to be forgotten. The famine will consume the land.

Peter reminds us that we as Christians are not following cleverly devised myths when we come to Christ.. Peter tells us that they witness to Jesus who was the fulfillment of all the OT prophecies..

Joseph learned a lesson that one should conserve fuel in years. Had Joseph learned through his present experiences that one needed to be spiritually have you learned through his prison experiences that one needed to be spiritually both app built up to enjoy a difficult seasons built up to enjoy difficult seasons..The reason the word forgotten exist is because when the family hits the good years will be forgotten because it would be so severe. Joseph I can see is the significance of the pairing of dreams meaning that these things are fixed by God and was sure to come to pass. Joseph then give the solution he says it is the point overseers over the land take 1/5 of the produce land During the plentiful years and store it for the family. What is interesting is that Joseph is using but his skills as a leader and as a profit to interpret the future. 1/5 of the food will sustain sustain Israel and Egyptians during famine.

Peter reminds us that we as Christians are not following cleverly devised myths when we come to Christ.. Peter tells us that they witness to Jesus who was the fulfillment of all the OT prophecies..

2 Peter 1:19 ESV

19 And we have the prophetic word more fully confirmed, to which you will do well to pay attention as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts,

Joseph delivered the Word of God boldly because he Had a sure Word…

How do we pursue a God Dream? We understand that...

How do we prepare us for a God sized Dream?

4. Clarity is Key to Promotion.... problem of fuzzy vision..

How do we prepare us for a God sized Dream?

1. Character is Developed in Delays.?

2. Crises provides Ministry Opportunities

3. Confidence comes from the Prophetic Word

4. Clarity is Key to Promotion.

I was about 20 something when I got my first pair of glasses and I was in my junior year of college. I went home to Africa for the Summer and I was driving and realized that I couldn’t read the street signs… Everything looked fine but when I tried to focus on the sign they the signs were blurred....

A God dream can sometimes be like that… If you noticed that as you reading the interpretations of Joseph after the fact --- there is 20/20 clarity… You can see how the Buttler pouring freshly squeezed grapes before pharoah lines up with being restored… or the birds of the air earing bread from the bakers basket not a good sign…

God Dreams have a Process..

There are these three movement of the Dream in our text… There is the

Discover of a God Dream.

1. The Discovery of a God Dream.

These Dreams started out as undeveloped and then formed a full picture..

Frank Damazio in his book life Changing leadership says that..

Then there is the Interpretation -

What does that dream mean? What does it mean for us as Church to Connect with our community.. reach the next generation.. We have got to understand it.

2. Then there is the Interpretation of the Dream -

“What is theologically noteworthy is the way in which the strong predestinarian content of the speech is combined with a strong summons to action. The fact that God has determined the matter, that God hastens to bring it to pass, is precisely the reason for responsible leaders to take measures

Socrates said, “We have a better chance of hitting the target if we can see it.”

Interpretation means finding the meaning of the dream…

What does that dream mean? What does it mean for us a Church to multiply and make disciples… What does it m

Use your imagination—that invisible machine inside your mind that has the power to create God-given vision and high-definition pictures of destiny.

lastly there the Action..

Socrates said, “We have a better chance of hitting the target if we can see it.”

lastly there the Action..

There are so many churches have drafted mission and vision plans and they are sitting in a draw somewhere in draw or desk…

We will always move in the direction of our most dominant thought.

Dreams need action...

Use your imagination—that invisible machine inside your mind that has the power to create God-given vision and high-definition pictures of destiny.

Joseph concludes his interpretation of the dream with some practical advice for Pharaoh.

Joesph presents an Action Plan.

Gen 41:35-

Genesis 41:35–36 ESV

35 And let them gather all the food of these good years that are coming and store up grain under the authority of Pharaoh for food in the cities, and let them keep it. 36 That food shall be a reserve for the land against the seven years of famine that are to occur in the land of Egypt, so that the land may not perish through the famine.”

Read Is there a connection between having a God Vision and our Response to our vision. (See )? Why do you think that Pharoah chose Joseph to be second in Command?

In closing can anyone share one thing encouraged you today?

Joseph has a has a brilliant “20 percent x 7 years saving plan” was at once obvious.

The brilliance of Joseph’s “20 percent x 7 years saving plan” was at once obvious. The decentralization of the stored grain would, when the time came, allow for convenient distribution. And the storage of grain in centers of population provided for adequate protection should it be needed as the famine grew in severity. Fascinatingly, every aspect of Joseph’s plan called for dynamic action. And here is what fascinates: Joseph’s dynamic call to action was based on his knowledge of what God was about to do.

The decentralization of the stored grain would, when the time came, allow for convenient distribution.

And the storage of grain in centers of population provided for adequate protection should it be needed as the famine grew in severity.

Fascinatingly, every aspect of Joseph’s plan called for dynamic action. And here is what fascinates: Joseph’s dynamic call to action was based on his knowledge of what God was about to do.

Clarity brings Promotion

Joseph I can see is the significance of the pairing of dreams meaning e.

\Joseph I can see is the significance of the pairing of dreams meaning that these things are fixed by God and was sure to come to pass. Joseph then give the solution he says it is the point overseers over the land take 1/5 of the produce land During the plentiful years and store it for the family. What is interesting is that Joseph is using but his skills as a leader and as a profit to interpret the future. 1/5 of the food will sustain sustain Israel and Egyptians during famine.

Genesis 41:37–39 ESV

37 This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. 38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?” 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is none so discerning and wise as you are.

GEN 41:37

Joseph Clarity/interpretation brings Promotion

we told that

“This proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. And Pharaoh said to his servants, ‘Can we find a man like this, in whom is the Spirit of God?’

Joseph’s promotion contains several details that can be checked against Egyptian historical and cultural sources. The signet ring or royal seal, the linen garments, and

Joseph’s is given a prominent position second only to Pharaoh in authority ()

Joseph would be in charge of all administrative matters in the kingdom and over all of its agricultural affairs.

CONCLUSION

There are certain things we can track..

Just like Joseph experienced the stedfast love never fails … so God will be faithful to you..

For 13 years God had been preparing Joseph for this moment before Pharoah…

Where are you in your journey this morning? Are you perusing a God dream… or have you stopped...

Some of us might find ourselves in the Pit.... hang on God isn’t finished… some of us might be enjoying the benefits… of potiphar’s house.. don’t become complacent… Hold on to your calling...

How has God uniquely been doing in your life during the delays. What crisis is providing a ministry opportunity... Have you established the importance of God's prophetic word.. it shall come to pass... How fuzzy is the vision

Just like Joseph experienced the stedfast love never fails … so God will be faithful to you..

Pursuing a God Dream

1. Character is Developed in Delays.

​

1.Know that Delays are not Denials.

1. Character is Developed in Delays.

Most of us dont welcome delays..

2. Crisis provides Ministry Opportunities

3. Confidence comes from the Prophetic Word

4. Clarity is Key to Promotion.... problem of fuzzy vision..

​

4. Clarity is Key to Promotion.