The following is a sketchy recollection, with adaptation, of LIVING THE DREAM as preached by Bishop Dale Bronner at City Harvest Church on 25 June 2016 for your refreshing.
"Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” Genesis 37:9 (NLT)
The sun, moon and stars are all sources of light (and in the context of this verse they connote Joseph's parents and his eleven brothers). Even before the sun, moon and stars were created on the fourth day, light already existed for God Himself is the true source of all lights. God called light into existence on earth on the very first day. "Then God said, "Let there be light'; and there was light." Genesis 1:3 (NKJV)
The Word of God gives us light for our path. "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105 (NKJV)
You dream in living colours. Interestingly, a spectrum of light consists of seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV).
A dream is caught (not taught). When an idea or Word comes from God, we gotta pay attention and register it in our being. Moses took notice of the burning bush. Samuel heeded the Voice of God when he was just a boy.
A dream is carried. Just as in pregnancy, there is a gestation period; your dream needs time to grow. You don't become successful overnight. That so-called overnight success is a result of hours and possibly years preparation.
Don't skip (or despise) the carrying stage of your dream before it can be conveyed or delivered. Joseph kept his dream alive even when he was sold into slavery by his brothers.
A dream is conveyed. The blessing of God is carried before it can be realised. It depends on your capacity to carry. If the blessing of God poured on you is all 3 litres and your capacity is 1 litre, you will retain that amount which you can carry. The problem is fixed in size, but you have the capacity to grow. Have a growth mindset; not a fixed mindset. You can improve with effort.
Dream preplays our future. Memory replays our past. Don't just live on memories and wake up to a nightmare. Live your dream regardless of your age. Catch a new dream. You are only as old as your last dream.
Preparation is the key to make your dream a reality. It's the idea that starts the money and not the other way round. Money follow vision. Tell it well to sell it well. You always sell from your heart. Tell it in such a way that prospects could see that you believe in the dream that you are articulating and be moved to support your dream.
Dreams are the substance of all achievements. God's answer to every problem is a person. That person is one who is at the right place at the right time doing the right thing.
Step out in faith and stand on the Word of God. The faith is worthless without the faithfulness to stick it out! "But Jesus quickly spoke to them, “Have courage! It is I. Do not be afraid.” Peter said, “Lord, if it is really you, then command me to come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” And Peter left the boat and walked on the water to Jesus." Matthew 14:27-29 (NCV)
Hope is the blueprint (big picture of your dream) and faith is the building materials. People may steal your building materials, but you can replenish them. Don't let anyone steal your blueprint; guard it well.
There are three types of dreamers:
1. Those who wish for it.
2. Those who wait for it.
3. Those who work for it.
Has God asked us to do anything that was easy?
God brought life out of frustrated womb. Consider Sarah giving birth to Isaac, Hannah giving birth to Samuel and Elizabeth giving birth to John the Baptist. These were miraculous births made possible by the spoken Word of God. Don't let your dreams frustrate you; hold on to your hope.
The Word of God came in a vision to Abraham and proclaim that God is his shield, his exceedingly great reward. "And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one shall not be your heir, but one who will come from your own body shall be your heir.” Then He brought him outside and said, “Look now toward heaven, and count the stars if you are able to number them.” And He said to him, “So shall your descendants be.” And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness. Genesis 15:4-6 (NKJV)
According to scientists, there are about 10 sextillion stars and 5 sextillion grain of sands. God showed Abraham the full magnitude of his promised son in the heavens as well as down here on earth.
Faith is the vision of God. You show what you are waiting on by what you are working on. Dream requires risk; risk requires faith; faith requires the Word of God; and the Word requires your undivided attention. Dream in living vivid colours; the clearer the dream the better so that your whole being can align with it. Your mind cannot differentiate between a dream and reality. When we are asleep, the unfolding events in a nightmare is as if they are real to our brain.
Bishop Bronner drew two revelations from his granddaughter's broken crayon. Firstly, you got nothing to share unless you have been broken. Secondly, there is still as much efficacy in a broken crayon; broken crayon still colour.
Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our life of faith. Let's keep our hope, our dream alive in vivid colours. It may have been broken along the way, but broken crayon still colour the same. Keep standing on the promises of God and work with Him as you keep pursuing your dream.
[Feel free to check out The Ink Room, if you are interested to purchase a CD copy of this sermon.]
