Joel 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I

will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and

your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,

your old men shall dream dreams, your young

men shall see visions: (KJV)

Joel 2:29 And also upon the servants and upon the

handmaids in those days will I pour out my

spirit. (KJV)

Joel 2:30 And I will shew wonders in the heavens and in

the earth, blood, and fire, and pillars of

smoke. (KJV)

Prov 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish:

but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.

Eccles 3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its

time. He has also set eternity in the

hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what

God has done from beginning to end. (NIV)

1Pet 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord

Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant

mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively

hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from

the dead, (KJV)

1Pet 1:4 To an inheritance incorruptible, and

undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved

in heaven for you, (KJV)

1Pet 1:5 Who are kept by the power of God through faith

unto salvation ready to be revealed in the

last time. (KJV)

1Pet 1:6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a

season, if need be, ye are in heaviness

through manifold temptations: (KJV)

1Pet 1:7 That the trial of your faith, being much more

precious than of gold that perisheth, though

it be tried with fire, might be found unto

praise and honour and glory at the appearing

of Jesus Christ: (KJV)

1Pet 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though

now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice

with joy unspeakable and full of glory: (KJV)

1Pet 1:9 Receiving the end of your faith, even the

salvation of your souls. (KJV)

Prov 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but

when the desire cometh, it is a tree of

life. (KJV)

Prov 14:32 The wicked is driven away in his wickedness:

but the righteous hath hope in his death.

HEAVEN AND THE ABILITY TO DREAM. NOT ONLY WILL OLD

MEN DREAM DREAMS BUT THE YOUNG MEN SHALL ALSO HAVE

VISIONS ACCORDING TO THE PROPHESY OF JOEL. I USE TO

LOVE THE INNOCENCE OF CHILDHOOD WHEN YOU COULD SIT AT

YOUR DESK AT SCHOOL AND DREAM OF THE FUTURE. THERE

WERE SO MANY OPEN POSSIBILITIES AND UNDISCOVERED AREAS.

THERE WAS SO MUCH HOPE OF THE POSSIBILITIES THAT DREAM-

ING SPURRED US ON TO SET HIGH STANDARDS OF SUCCESS AND

ACHIEVEMENT. GOD WANTS TO RESTORE TO YOU AND ME THIS

MORNING THE ABILITY TO DREAM EVEN THOUGH THE TIME OF

INNOCENCE HAS PAST AND WE HAVE FACED DISSAPPOINTMENT

AND FAILURE. HE HAS SET ETERNITY IN OUR HEARTS, HE HAS

PLACED IN EVERY ONE OF US THE HOPE OF BETTER THINGS TO

COME. THAT HOPE, THAT VISION AND THE ABILITY TO DREAM

IS BIRTHED BY THE WORD OF GOD AND NOT MERE POSITIVE

THINKING AND CARNAL GOAL SETTING. GOD WANTS TO GIVE US

DREAMS THAT ARE BIRTHED OUT OF OUR RELATIONSHIP TO HIM

IN HIS WORD, IN PRAYER, AND IN A LIFESTYLE OF WORSHIP.

NOW THE GREATEST HINDERANCE TO OUR DREAMING DREAMS AND

SEEING VISION IS REMEMBERING THE PAST, ITS FAILURES AND

DISSAPPOINTMENTS.

Psalms 137:1 By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat

down, yea, we wept, when we remembered

Zion. (KJV)

Psalms 137:2 We hanged our harps upon the willows in

the midst thereof. (KJV)

Psalms 137:3 For there they that carried us away

captive required of us a song; and they

that wasted us required of us mirth,

saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.

Psalms 137:4 How shall we sing the LORD's song in a

strange land? (KJV)

HEARTS. YES THEY AND THEIR PARENTS HAD MADE SOME

TRAGIC MISTAKES BUT THE STORY WASN'T OVER YET. HERE

THEY SAT BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON AND WEPT WHEN THEY

REMEMBERED HOW GOOD IT WAS IN THE PAST. HERE WERE

PEOPLE WHO WERE LIVING THE PAST TODAY AND HAD ABORTED

THE FUTURE. THERE ARE PEOPLE HERE TODAY WHO HAVE

FORGOTTEN HOW TO DREAM. YOU'VE LOST YOUR VISION OR

YOU'VE LOST YOUR DREAM AND GIVEN UP. YOU'VE LET

DISCOURAGEMENT, DOUBT, FEAR, THE PASSAGE OF TIME,

HURTS, DISSAPPOINTMENTS ABOUT WHAT GOD DESIRED TO BIRTH

THROUGH YOU, KILL YOUR HOPS AND DREAMS. "BY THE RIVERS

OF BABYLON WE SAT DOWN" THEY GAVE UP AND BECAME IN-

ACTIVE AND THEY WEPT AS THEY REMEMBERED ZION. THEY HAD

NOTHING TO SAY, NOTHING TO DECLARE AND THEY WEREN'T

GOING ANY WHERE. THEY SAT DOWN AND BECAME INACTIVE.

THEIR GIFTS BECAME INOPERABLE AND INACTIVE. THEY HAD

NO JOY, THEY COULD NOT SING A SONG--THEY WERE A BUNCH

OF CAPTIVE PEOPLE WHO WEPT OVER THE PAST.

CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP WAS ONLY 2 1/2 MONTHS AGO. THINGS

SEEMED TO BE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND THEN ALL

OF A SUDDEN ONE OR TWO FAMLIES LEFT AND HALF THE CHURCH

FOLLOWED. DISSAPPOINTEMNT HAD SET IN MY HEART WHEN I

REMEMBERED THE PAST AND THE POSSIBILITES. IN A SENSE,

MY DREAM HAD DIED WHEN SO MANY HAD LEFT. IT WAS NOT

UNTIL TUESDAY OF THIS WEEK THAT GOD BROKE THROUGH THE

DOWNWARD SPIRAL OF GRIEVING OVER THE PAST WITH THE

ABILITY TO DREAM ONCE AGAIN. WE ARE TOLD IN 2COR.7:10

THAT GODLY SORROW WORKS REPENTANCE BUT THE SORROW OF

THIS WORLD PRODUCES DEATH, DESPAIR AND HOPELESSNESS. I

HAD ALLOWED THE REMEMBERANCE OF THE PAST TO ABORT MY

HOPE OF THE FUTURE. I WAS TRYING TO DO RIGHT THINGS IN

PREACHING AND LEADING IN WORSHIP BUT EVEN IN LAUGHTER I

HAD SORROW. YOU SEE I WAS GRIEVING OVER THE APPARENT

DEATH OF A DREAM OR A VISION THAT GOD HAD BIRTHED IN MY

HEART TO PLANT A CHURCH IN ABERDEEN WHERE HE WAS FREE

TO DO WHATEVER HE WANTED. THAT GRIEF WAS JUST A REAL

AS THE GRIEVING OF A LOST LOVED ONE AND MAYBE EVEN MORE

REAL AND DEVASTATING. SOME HOW, GOD IN HIS MERCY HAS

BROKEN THROUGH AND BROUGHT CLOSURE TO THIS TIME OF

GRIEF IN MY LIFE. NOW I KNOW THE REALITY OF THIS

BECAUSE AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD ON TUESDAY

AFTERNOON I BEGAN TO DREAM ABAOUT THE POSSIBILITY OF

AN ITENERATE MINISTY AND THERE WAS A RELEASE OF JOY

THAT BEGAN TO BUBBLE UP OUT OF MY HEART THAT BROUGHT AN

EFERVESENT SIMLE ALL OVER MY FACE. I HAD BEGUN TO

DREAM AGAIN, THERE WAS HOPE, THERE WAS POSSIBILITY OF

ACCOMPLISHING GREAT THINGS FOR GOD AND IT WAS ALL

BIRTHED BY A DREAM.

1 Pet 1:23 Being born again, not of corruptible seed,

but of incorruptible, by the word of God,

which liveth and abideth for ever. (KJV)

BY DIVINE INTERVENTION. ALL THE DREAMS THAT GOD BIRTHS

IN YOUR HEART WILL COME TO PASS BECAUSE THOSE DREAMS

WILL BE BIRTHED BY THE WORD OF GOD WHICH LIVES AND

ABIDES FOREVER. WHAT THE ENEMY TIRES TO PERPETRATE IN

OUR HEARTS IS THAT THESE DREAMS WERE NEVER FROM GOD BUT

ONLY THE FABRICATION OF OUR IMAGINATION. SO WHEN DELAY

COMES OR DISSAPPOINTMENT COMES WE BEGIN TO QUESTION THE

WORD THAT GOD HAD DROPPED INTO OUT HEARTS. YOU SEE

THIS IS WHERE A VISION, A DREAM AND A GOAL BEGINS--WHEN

GOD SPEAKS HIS WORD TO OUR HEARTS. NOW LET'S LOOK AT A

COUPLE BIBLICAL EXAMPLES.

Acts 7:20 In which time Moses was born, and was

exceeding fair, and nourished up in his

father's house three months: (KJV)

Acts 7:21 And when he was cast out, Pharaoh's daughter

took him up, and nourished him for her own

son. (KJV)

Acts 7:22 And Moses was learned in all the wisdom of

the Egyptians, and was mighty in words and in

deeds. (KJV)

Acts 7:23 And when he was full forty years old, it came

into his heart to visit his brethren the

children of Israel. (KJV)

Acts 7:24 And seeing one of them suffer wrong, he

defended him, and avenged him that was

oppressed, and smote the Egyptian: (KJV)

Acts 7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have

understood how that God by his hand would

deliver them: but they understood not. (KJV)

Acts 7:26 And the next day he shewed himself unto them

as they strove, and would have set them at

one again, saying, Sirs, ye are brethren; why

do ye wrong one to another? (KJV)

Acts 7:27 But he that did his neighbour wrong thrust

him away, saying, Who made thee a ruler and a

judge over us? (KJV)

Acts 7:28 Wilt thou kill me, as thou diddest the

Egyptian yesterday? (KJV)

Acts 7:29 Then fled Moses at this saying, and was a

stranger in the land of Madian, where he

begat two sons. (KJV)

Acts 7:30 And when forty years were expired, there

appeared to him in the wilderness of mount

Sina an angel of the Lord in a flame of fire

in a bush. (KJV)

Acts 7:31 When Moses saw it, he wondered at the sight:

and as he drew near to behold it, the voice

of the Lord came unto him, (KJV)

Acts 7:32 Saying, I am the God of thy fathers, the God

of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God

of Jacob. Then Moses trembled, and durst not

behold. (KJV)

Acts 7:33 Then said the Lord to him, Put off thy shoes

from thy feet: for the place where thou

standest is holy ground. (KJV)

Acts 7:34 I have seen, I have seen the affliction of my

people which is in Egypt, and I have heard

their groaning, and am come down to deliver

them. And now come, I will send thee into

Egypt. (KJV)

BONDAGE. IN ONE INSTANT A DREAM CAN BE BIRTHED, BUT IT

MAY TAKE A LIFETIME TO BE FULFILLED. WHEN GOD SHOWS US

THAT HE IS GOING TO USE US WE USUALLT TEND TO THINK

THAT WE ARE GOING TO SEE THIS THING HAPPEN IN A WEEK OR

TWO. WHAT OFTEN HAPPENS IS THAT IT IS A LONG TIME

BEFORE GOD GETS AROUND TO USING US IN THE WAY HE IN-

TENDED.

HIS BRETHREN THEY WOULD CLAP THEIR HANDS AND SAY "WEL-

COME, WE'VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU TO COME." THE TRUTH

IS THEY REJECTED HIM BECAUSE MOSES NEEDED ANOTHER 40

YEARS OF PREPARATION ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE DESERET.

YOU SEE THE PROBLEM WITH MOSES WAS THE SAME INHERENT

PROBLEM IN ALL OF ADAM'S SEED--WE ARE TO FULL OF OUR

SELVES. SEE WHAT MOSES HAD THOUGHT IN VERSE 25:

Acts 7:25 For he supposed his brethren would have

understood how that God by his hand would

deliver them: but they understood not. (KJV)

THEM. GOD WAS NOT ABOUT TO DELIVER THE CHILDREN OF

ISRAEL BY THE POWER, STRENGTH AND ABILITY OF MOSES.

MOSES WASN'T GOING TO HAVE A HAND IN THIS AT ALL--IT

WAS GOING TO BE ALL GOD OR IT WOULDN'T BE AT ALL. GOD

WAS GONNA GET THE GLORY FOR THIS THING AND NOT MOSES

AND SO MOSES FLED EGYPT INTO THE LAND OF MIDIAN FOR 40

YEARS. NOW THIS WORD MIDIAN IN THE HEB. LIT. MEANS THE

LAND OF CONTENTION. GOD WAS CONTENDING WITH MOSES AND

HIS WAY OF DOING THINGS FOR 40 YEARS. MOSES WAS IN

PREPARATION FOR THE FULFILLMENT OF HIS DREAM EVEN

THOUGH THE PASSAGE OF TIME HAD CLOUDED OVER IT. LET'S

PICK UP READING IN EX. 3

Ex 3:1 Now Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in

law, the priest of Midian: and he led the flock

to the backside of the desert, and came to the

mountain of God, even to Horeb. (KJV)

Ex 3:2 And the angel of the LORD appeared unto him in a

flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he

looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire,

and the bush was not consumed. (KJV)

Ex 3:3 And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see

this great sight, why the bush is not burnt.

Ex 3:4 And when the LORD saw that he turned aside to

see, God called unto him out of the midst of the

bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here

am I. (KJV)

Ex 3:5 And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy

shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon

thou standest is holy ground. (KJV)

Ex 3:6 Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father,

the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the

God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was

afraid to look upon God. (KJV)

Ex 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the

affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and

have heard their cry by reason of their

taskmasters; for I know their sorrows; (KJV)

Ex 3:8 And I am come down to deliver them out of the

hand of the Egyptians, and to bring them up out

of that land unto a good land and a large, unto

a land flowing with milk and honey; unto the

place of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and

the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the

Hivites, and the Jebusites. (KJV)

Ex 3:9 Now therefore, behold, the cry of the children

of Israel is come unto me: and I have also seen

the oppression wherewith the Egyptians oppress

them. (KJV)

Ex 3:10 Come now therefore, and I will send thee unto

Pharaoh, that thou mayest bring forth my people

the children of Israel out of Egypt. (KJV)

Ex 3:11 And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I

should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring

forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Ex 3:12 And he said, Certainly I will be with thee; and

this shall be a token unto thee, that I have

sent thee: When thou hast brought forth the

people out of Egypt, ye shall serve God upon

this mountain. (KJV)

40 YEARS. GOD HAD REDUCED MOSES TO THE TRUE LEVEL OF

HIS COMPETENCY. WHEN GOD WAS READY TO USE HIM HE SAID

IN VERSE 11, "WHO AM I THAT I SHOULD BRING FORTH THE

CHILDREN OF ISRAEL. YOU SEE IT MAY BE A GOOD WHILE

BEFORE GOD'S GREATER PURPOSE IN US CAN BE REALIZED. IT

COULD BE THAT YOU TOO ARE IN A SIMILAR SITUATION. PER-

HAPS YOU ARE OLDER AND YOU HAVE YET TO SEE GOD'S

GREATER PURPOSE IN YOUR OWN LIFE. PERHAPS YOU'VE JUST

ABOUT GIVEN UP. YOU THOUGHT AT ONE TIME THAT GOD WAS

GOING TO USE YOU. INFACT YOU WERE CONVINCED OF IT, BUT

IT DIDN'T WORK OUT ACCORDING TO YOUR TIMETABLE. GOD'S

MESSAGE TO YOU RIGHT NOW IS: THE END IS NOT YET. THE

STROY ISN'T OVER. MOSES HAD TO WAIT FORTY YEARS AND

THAT IS ALMOST A LIFETIME BUT THOSE WEREN'T WASTED

YEARS IN GOD'S EYES, THEY WERE YEARS OF PREPARATION!

LIVE, HE WOULD SPEND 20 OF THEM IN PREPARATION. YOU

SEE GOD IS DOING ONE OF TWO THINGS IN YOUR LIFE AND

MINE: HE IS EITHER PREPARING US FOR A SPECIFIC WORK,

FUNCTION, PURPOSE OF MINISTRY OR HE IS USING US TO

FULLFILL A SPECEIFIC WORK OR FUNCTION. NOTHING IS

WASTED IN THE PASSAGE OF TIME IF WE KEEP HOLDING ON AND

FIGHTING THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.

MISUSED AND ABUSED HIS DREAMS. INSPITE OF THESE THINGS

GOD WAS ABLE TO BRING HIS DREAMS TO PASS OVER A SIMILAR

PERIOD OF PREPARATION. THIS DREAMER WAS JOSEPH:

Gen 37:2 These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph,

being seventeen years old, was feeding the

flock with his brethren; and the lad was with

the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of

Zilpah, his father's wives: and Joseph brought

unto his father their evil report. (KJV)

Gen 37:3 Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his

children, because he was the son of his old

age: and he made him a coat of many colours.

Gen 37:4 And when his brethren saw that their father

loved him more than all his brethren, they

hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto

him. (KJV)

Gen 37:5 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his

brethren: and they hated him yet the more.

Gen 37:6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this

dream which I have dreamed: (KJV)

Gen 37:7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the

field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood

upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round

about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. (KJV)

Gen 37:8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou

indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed

have dominion over us? And they hated him yet

the more for his dreams, and for his words.

Gen 37:9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it

his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed

a dream more; and, behold, the sun and the

moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to

me. (KJV)

Gen 37:10 And he told it to his father, and to his

brethren: and his father rebuked him, and

said unto him, What is this dream that thou

hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy

brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to

thee to the earth? (KJV)

Gen 37:11 And his brethren envied him; but his father

observed the saying. (KJV)

THERE IS A DANGER THAT HAPPENS EVERYTIME GOD BIRTHS A

DREAM OF USING US IN SOME WAY: THERE IS THE APPEAL TO

OUR SELF-ESTEEM. ALL OF A SUDDEN WE WANT RECOGNITION

JUST A JOSEPH WANTED THE ADMIRATION OF HIS BROTHERS.

YOU SEE GOD DOESN'T COMPEL US TO DO A THING AGAINST OUR

WILL. HE MAKES US WILLING TO GO. THE WAY HE MAKES US

WILLING IS BY MOTIVATING US; HE OFFERS US SOMETHING WE

ARE GOING TO LIKE. GOD DOES THIS AS A KINDNESS TO

ACCOMODATE OUR WEAKNESS. HERE IS THE IRONY. ALTHOUGH

GOD SPEAKS TO US AT OUR OWN LEVEL IN ORDER TO MOTIVATE

US, THAT VERY SELF-ESTEEM TO WHICH HE APPEALS NEED

RADICAL SURGERY BEFORE HE CAN IN THE END ACTUALLY USE

US. WHAT WAS TRUE IN JOSEPH'S LIFE WILL ASLO APPLY TO

US TODAY. GOD WILL CAUSE US TO DREAM A DREAM THAT WILL

IN THE END COST US EVERYTHING IN ORDER FOR US TO SEE ITS

FULFILLMENT.

MENTATION OF THE DREAM BY OUR OWN ABILITY; IF GOD

REALLY BIRTHED THE DREAM HE, IN HIS TIME, WILL BRING IT

TO PASS. WE READ IN ROM.11:29 THAT THE GIFTS AND THE

CALLINGS OF GOD ARE WITHOUT REPENTANCE: IN OTHER WORDS

THEY ARE IRREVOCABLE. WHEN GOD GIVES US A GIFT, IT IS

OURS FOREVER.

TARRY. HE WILL GIVE US THE STRENGTH OF PATIENCE, PER-

SEVERANCE AND ENDURANCE TO SEE THE THING COME TO PASS.

NOW JOSEPH WAS THROWN IN A PIT, SOLD AS A SLAVE AND

ACCUSED OF RAPE AND THROWN IN PRISON BUT GOD KEPT THOSE

DREAMS ALIVE IN HIS HEART. WHAT KIND OF DISAPPOINT-

MENT OR SET BACK AS SEEMINGLY INTERFERRED WITH YOUR

DREAMS? IF YOU STAY IN TOUCH AND IN TUNE WITH THE GOD

WHO BIRTHED THOSE DREAMS AND DO NOT BECOME BITTER,

ANGRY, HARD AND UNFORGIVING THEN GOD WILL SURELY BRING

THEM TO PASS. IF ANYONE COULD HAVE ABORTED THEIR

DREAMS IT WAS JOSEPH. IF ANYONE COULD HAVE OPTED FOR A

VICTIMS MENTALITY IT WAS JOSPEH, AFTER ALL HE WAS

FALSELY ACCUSED AND MISTREATED. WHAT BAD THINGS HAVE

HAPPEND TO YOU TO GET YOU TO SIT DOWN BY THE WATRS OF

BABYLON AND QUIT BE ACTIVE IN THE THINGS OF GOD? IF

GOD GAVE YOU A DREAM, A VISION, A WORK, A PURPOSE OR A

MINISTRY HE WILL ESTABLISH YOU IN IT. GET UP, SHAKE

OFF THE DUST AND BEGIN TO PURSUE YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH

GOD ONCE AGAIN.

BUT WHY WASN'T SOMETHING HAPPENEING. I SUSPECT THAT

THE LAST THING JOSPEH HAD IN HIS MIND AT THIS STAGE WAS

GOD'S GREATER GLORY OR THE PRESERVATION OF HIS COVENANT

PEOPLE. THE HASTY CONCLUSION THAT MOST OF US MAKE WHEN

GOD SHOWS US THAT HE'S GONNA USE US IS THAT WE THINK HE'S

GONNA DO IT FOR OUR OWN SAKE. WE ARE SO ENAMORED WITH

OURSELVES. IF GOD SHOWS US SOMETHING, IT OFTEN PLAYS

INTO OUR EGOTISTIC NEEDS AND WE SELDOM LOOK ANY

FURTHER. NOW THIS WAS TRUE OF JOSEPH AND THIS WAS TRUE

OF THE 12 DISCIPLES.

Matt 20:20 Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's

children with her sons, worshipping him, and

desiring a certain thing of him. (KJV)

Matt 20:21 And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She

saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons

may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the

other on the left, in thy kingdom. (KJV)

Matt 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not

what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup

that I shall drink of, and to be baptized

with the baptism that I am baptized with?

They say unto him, We are able. (KJV)

Matt 20:23 And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink

indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the

baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit

on my right hand, and on my left, is not

mine to give, but it shall be given to them

for whom it is prepared of my Father. (KJV)

Matt 20:24 And when the ten heard it, they were moved

with indignation against the two brethren.

Matt 20:25 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye

know that the princes of the Gentiles

exercise dominion over them, and they that

are great exercise authority upon them.

Matt 20:26 But it shall not be so among you: but

whosoever will be great among you, let him

be your minister; (KJV)

Matt 20:27 And whosoever will be chief among you, let

him be your servant: (KJV)

Matt 20:28 Even as the Son of man came not to be

ministered unto, but to minister, and to

give his life a ransom for many. (KJV)

OWN SELF-INTREST IN FOLLOWING JESUS FOR 3 YEARS. THEY

ALL WANTED A POSITION OF AUTHORITY IN HIS KINGDOM.

THEY ALL HAD THEIR OWN LITTLE AGENDAS BUT GOD DEALT

WITH ALL OF THEM AND HE CONTINUES TO DEAL WITH EACH OF

US!

Isa 42:8 I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory

will I not give to another, neither my praise

to graven images. (KJV)

1 Cor 1:26 For ye see your calling, brethren, how that

not many wise men after the flesh, not many

mighty, not many noble, are called: (KJV)

1 Cor 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of

the world to confound the wise; and God hath

chosen the weak things of the world to

confound the things which are mighty; (KJV)

1 Cor 1:28 And base things of the world, and things

which are despised, hath God chosen, yea,

and things which are not, to bring to nought

things that are: (KJV)

1 Cor 1:29 That no flesh should glory in his presence.

1 Cor 1:30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of

God is made unto us wisdom, and

righteousness, and sanctification, and

redemption: (KJV)

1 Cor 1:31 That, according as it is written, He that

glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. (KJV)

EST IN OUR HEARTS. BEFORE WE CAN BE OF ANY VALUE TO

GOD SOMETHING HAS TO HAPPEN TO US. GOD HAS TO REDUCE

US SO THAT HE CAN USE US FOR HIS GLORY AND NOT OUR OWN.

YOU SEE GOD GIVES US A GIFT FOR HIS GLORY, FOR HIS

GREATER PURPOSE AND FOR THE BUILDINGUP OF HIS CHURCH.

GOD IS INTRESTED IN THE CHURCH, IN THE KINGDOM OF GOD

AND HIS WIDER WITNESS IN THE WORLD. THERE COMES A TIME

WHEN SELF INTREST MUST BE SWALLOWED UP BY GOD'S GREATER

GLORY. MOSES HAD TO LEARN THAT LESSON ALONG WITH

JOSEPH AND THE 12 DISCIPLES AND WE MUST LEARN THAT AS

WELL. DR. LLOYD JONES USE TO SAY THAT THE WORST THING

THAT CAN HAPPEN TO ANY PERSON IS TO BE SUCCESSFUL

BEFORE HE'S READY.

NOW YOU COULDN'T HAVE TOLD HIM THAT THEN. WHEN A GOD

ISN'T DEALING WITH A PERSON IT EASY FOR THEM TO THINK

THAT THEY ARE READY NOW. THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS

THAT GOD IS PREPARING ALL OF US FOR HIS SERVICE SO

LET'S NOT GIVE UP THOUGH THE VISION OR DREAM TARRIES.

STIR YOURSELF UP THIS MORNING, PUT YOUR HAND TO THE

PLOW AND DON'T BE SWOLLOWED UP BY THE FAILURES AND

DISSAPPOINTMENTS OF THE PASS. IF GOD BIRTHED THE DREAM

HE WILL FULFILL IT IN HIS TIME FOR HIS GLORY! ! !

Phil 3:13 Brethren, I count not myself to have

apprehended: but this one thing I do,

forgetting those things which are behind, and

reaching forth unto those things which are

before, (KJV)

Phil 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the

high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (KJV)

Hab 2:2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the

vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he

may run that readeth it. (KJV)

Hab 2:3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time,

but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:

though it tarry, wait for it; because it will

surely come, it will not tarry. (KJV)