Dreamers and the Palace

Opening Statements/ Announcements

March 7, 2021 Appreciation Day for Health and Medical Workers

April 4, 2021 Thanksgiving Sunday

Registration for New Start Classes will open on April 2021 with Saturday classes on Saturdays with free breakfast.

Building Fund

Introduction: The Disadvantageous Life the African-American

Exercise: 1) Write down at least five problems in your life.

Exercise: 2) Write down at least five problems in your community.

There is a secret to surviving the four stages that manifest the dreams of God. it is not that we are doing anything. For, God is the only one that can manifest the dream; we only survive what happens until the manifestation. It is a process by which God matures us for what He has already destined and determined.

I had you to write down at least 10 problems, personal and communal, because I want you to understand that the third stage is about your ability to recognize.

On several occasions, I see Joseph as the African American man trying to maneuver through the hardships of racism and slavery. I credit this unction to read and interpret the Bible this way to the profound book by Esau McCaulley entitled Reading While Black.

> Explain the point of Esau’s book and encourage to purchase for personal reading and development.

One of the keys to Joseph’s life was his ability to recognize a need and seize the moment.

Genesis 40:5–8 CSB

5 The king of Egypt’s cupbearer and baker, who were confined in the prison, each had a dream. Both had a dream on the same night, and each dream had its own meaning. 6 When Joseph came to them in the morning, he saw that they looked distraught. 7 So he asked Pharaoh’s officers who were in custody with him in his master’s house, “Why do you look so sad today?” 8 “We had dreams,” they said to him, “but there is no one to interpret them.” Then Joseph said to them, “Don’t interpretations belong to God? Tell me your dreams.”

Genesis 41:14–16 CSB

14 Then Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and they quickly brought him from the dungeon. He shaved, changed his clothes, and went to Pharaoh. 15 Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I have had a dream, and no one can interpret it. But I have heard it said about you that you can hear a dream and interpret it.” 16 “I am not able to,” Joseph answered Pharaoh. “It is God who will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.”

Genesis 41:25–36 CSB

25 Then Joseph said to Pharaoh, “Pharaoh’s dreams mean the same thing. God has revealed to Pharaoh what he is about to do. 26 The seven good cows are seven years, and the seven good heads are seven years. The dreams mean the same thing. 27 The seven thin, sickly cows that came up after them are seven years, and the seven worthless heads of grain scorched by the east wind are seven years of famine. 28 “It is just as I told Pharaoh: God has shown Pharaoh what he is about to do. 29 Seven years of great abundance are coming throughout the land of Egypt. 30 After them, seven years of famine will take place, and all the abundance in the land of Egypt will be forgotten. The famine will devastate the land. 31 The abundance in the land will not be remembered because of the famine that follows it, for the famine will be very severe. 32 Since the dream was given twice to Pharaoh, it means that the matter has been determined by God, and he will carry it out soon. 33 “So now, let Pharaoh look for a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt. 34 Let Pharaoh do this: Let him appoint overseers over the land and take a fifth of the harvest of the land of Egypt during the seven years of abundance. 35 Let them gather all the excess food during these good years that are coming. Under Pharaoh’s authority, store the grain in the cities, so they may preserve it as food. 36 The food will be a reserve for the land during the seven years of famine that will take place in the land of Egypt. Then the country will not be wiped out by the famine.”

One three separate occasions, Joseph recognized problems.

One of the critical mistakes in our lives and community is the failure to recognize key problems.

It is extremely important that recognize structural and systemic problems that are hazardous to our community, family, and individual lives.

Refer to 26 Simple Charts to show friends and family who aren’t convinced racism is still a problem in America.

Three structural problems that are plaguing our community:

Economics

Education

Healthcare

Justice/ Rehabilitative Circumstances

The exercise we participated in earlier is the easy part. The more difficult problem is becoming the solution.

Joseph was able to be the solution in critical moments, which earned him the right to serve from the palace, rather than the prison.

Developing Solutions

The one thing that got Joseph out of jail was not the ability of recognizing the problems, but providing a solution.

It’s time to be come a leader [shaper].

The moment we become shapers/ problem-solvers, is the moment we cease to be slaves.

People who are great at recognizing their problems without building formidable solutions are simply slaves with knowledge of their slavery. They are not at all ones willing to get themselves out of the predicament that has stolen their power.

Jim Brown, Malcolm X, Sam Cooke, Muhammad Ali

God simply took us through the process so we might become leaders [shapers].

Genesis 47:13–31 KJV 1900

13 And there was no bread in all the land; for the famine was very sore, so that the land of Egypt and all the land of Canaan fainted by reason of the famine. 14 And Joseph gathered up all the money that was found in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, for the corn which they bought: and Joseph brought the money into Pharaoh’s house. 15 And when money failed in the land of Egypt, and in the land of Canaan, all the Egyptians came unto Joseph, and said, Give us bread: for why should we die in thy presence? for the money faileth. 16 And Joseph said, Give your cattle; and I will give you for your cattle, if money fail. 17 And they brought their cattle unto Joseph: and Joseph gave them bread in exchange for horses, and for the flocks, and for the cattle of the herds, and for the asses: and he fed them with bread for all their cattle for that year. 18 When that year was ended, they came unto him the second year, and said unto him, We will not hide it from my lord, how that our money is spent; my lord also hath our herds of cattle; there is not ought left in the sight of my lord, but our bodies, and our lands: 19 Wherefore shall we die before thine eyes, both we and our land? buy us and our land for bread, and we and our land will be servants unto Pharaoh: and give us seed, that we may live, and not die, that the land be not desolate. 20 And Joseph bought all the land of Egypt for Pharaoh; for the Egyptians sold every man his field, because the famine prevailed over them: so the land became Pharaoh’s. 21 And as for the people, he removed them to cities from one end of the borders of Egypt even to the other end thereof. 22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. 23 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. 24 And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be your own, for seed of the field, and for your food, and for them of your households, and for food for your little ones. 25 And they said, Thou hast saved our lives: let us find grace in the sight of my lord, and we will be Pharaoh’s servants. 26 And Joseph made it a law over the land of Egypt unto this day, that Pharaoh should have the fifth part; except the land of the priests only, which became not Pharaoh’s. 27 And Israel dwelt in the land of Egypt, in the country of Goshen; and they had possessions therein, and grew, and multiplied exceedingly. 28 And Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years: so the whole age of Jacob was an hundred forty and seven years. 29 And the time drew nigh that Israel must die: and he called his son Joseph, and said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, put, I pray thee, thy hand under my thigh, and deal kindly and truly with me; bury me not, I pray thee, in Egypt: 30 But I will lie with my fathers, and thou shalt carry me out of Egypt, and bury me in their buryingplace. And he said, I will do as thou hast said. 31 And he said, Swear unto me. And he sware unto him. And Israel bowed himself upon the bed’s head.

Don’t be too timid to suggest yourself!

You can do it! You have what it takes!

Conclusion: Don’t Blow It!

Many people have already counted us out! They feel that we are not smart enough, resourced enough, and simply capable to be the things that God has already said we are! Declare God’s glory by living in what God has declared about you!

Two things will help you not blow this next opportunity:

Forget.

Be fruitful.

The only way to be fruitful is to forget the things that have caused you the deepest pain.

Many of us are unable to be fruitful, because we are still holding onto the things that have hurt us!

It is important that we do not blow it, because famine is coming! God has released us for the moment that will save lives!