Change: Dream Big Start Small

Do you have dreams for your life?

Do you have dreams for our church?

For the next few weeks, we are going to spend some time dreaming…of what God can do in our lives and in our church with the goal of moving us closer to God’s will and God’s way.

Before we can establish BIG Dreams we must understand where we are before we can get to where we want to go.

Obviously, we find ourselves persevering through a difficult season of life (COVID, the economy, tension over morality, wars and rumors of wars, etc.). You could say that we are in the middle of a season of testing and even judgment. So, let’s begin with a promise of God to one of the wisest and richest men in all of world history.

2 Chronicles 7:13–14 (ESV)

When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command the locust to devour the land, or send pestilence among my people, if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land.

7:13-14

5 Steps to Prepare for a Movement of God

1. Accept the reality that season of struggle will come

“When I shut up the heavens…”.

It does not matter how dark or desperate the situation may be — God’s promise of blessing can be trusted for those who are willing…

2. Find your true identity

“If my people who are called by my name”

Chosen by God and belonging to God

We want the blessings of God but we aren’t prepared to shoulder the burden of our own condition.

3. Realize your condition before God

“humble themselves”

realize their condition of brokenness

James 4:6 ESV

But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humility is a picture of brokenness and until we understand our own brokenness, we will never experience the blessing of God on our lives and our church.

Luke 18:9–14 ESV

He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

Proverbs 16:18 ESV

Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall.

4. Reach out to the Holy One, the only one who can save

“and pray”

turning toward another for help

Preaching can move the hearts of men, but praying will move the heart of God!

Psalm 29:2 ESV

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness.

“and seek my face”

pursue the pleasure and blessing of God

So…it’s time for us to seek the Lord as Hosea says (10:12).

It’s time to deliberately engage in time before God. That means setting aside things/people that distract you from God. But we must approach the throne in humble holiness.

Psalm 24:3–4 ESV

Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully.

“and turn from their wicked ways”

pursue authentic repentance

The Spirit filled life is not an optional lifestyle, not for the believer in Jesus Christ. Disobedience = sin.

Ephesians 5:18 ESV

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit,

Galatians 5:16 ESV

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh.

James 4:17 ESV

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

How do you measure up?

5. Believe in the promise and power of God

“then I will hear and will forgive and heal their land”

God is listening and waiting

Ready to redeem and restore us personally

Communal blessing is also promised

1 John 5:14 ESV

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.

1 Peter 3:12 ESV

For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

1 John 1:9 ESV

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

James 5:16 ESV

Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.

If we do…God’s promise is true…blessing will rain down.

Psalm 84:11 ESV

For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor. No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Malachi 3:10 ESV

Bring the full tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

It’s time for us to DREAM BIG!

What do you want?

What are you willing to give to accomplish the goal before you?

For us to receive the promised blessing…something has to change!

The God who gives the vision is the same God who makes provision!

Take It Home

I would like to see ___________________ happen in my life.

I would like to see ___________________ happen in our church.

Dream BIG, Start SMALL

Begin praying TODAY for God to accomplish a BIG DREAM in your life

Begin praying TODAY for God to accomplish a BIG DREAM in our church