Sermon Central
-
Dare To Dream
Contributed by Paul Durbin on Feb 17, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Just as Amos envisioned that he could do more with his life, young people can do the same as they pursue God’s plan for their life.
I. Trinity shirt: Dare to DREAM
A. Joke: man dreamed of winning a pun contest - no pun in ten
did
B. Ice-cream diet
C. Bill Lee-Warner, told of a “back-woodsy” sort of guy in the
Bible who dared to dream, and was blessed by God
D. Wondered where that passage was for long time
1. Phrase not in Bible
2. Must just be a story in the Bible about a guy with
some guts
II. Amos, the man who dared to dream
A. Prophet, just not the prophet-type (describe the prophet
type)
B. Sheep herder and fig farmer
C. “I was neither a prophet nor a prophet’s son, but I was a
Shepherd, and I also took care of sycamore-fig trees. But
the Lord took me from tending the flock and said to me,
‘Go, prophesy to my people Isreal.’ Now, then, hear the
word of the Lord” (7:14,15)
1. I’m sure he was a great Shepherd
2. But, he was an anointed prophet
III. God seems to have a habit of taking us from where we’re
comfortable and sticking us where we don’t feel comfortable - but
annointing us anyway!
A. Asked to lead worship at Trinity - said no!
B. Not the talkative or pastoral type (who is?) But am one.
C. God may have laid something on your heart or someone
has asked you to try something new - be careful that you
don’t say no to hastily (Sunday School, starting a ministry)
D. Multiple Scriptural examples of unqualified people, who
thought, “well just maybe God can use me.” They dared to
dream
3. I Tim. 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you
because you are young, but set an example for the
believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in
purity.” (What?! A young person setting the
example?! How many heard that?!)
4. Tell funny illustration of man in LA who tied weather
balloons to his lawn chair
E. We resist, because we don’t realize the awesome things
that he has in store for those who step out.
1. I Cor. 2:9, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no
mind has conceived what God has prepared for those
who love him.”
2. Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,”
declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to
harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
F. If there was ever a group of people that could dare to
dream, it would be a young person who has committed his
way to the Lord
IV. Amos dared to dream a little, believe that God could use him, and
so spoke out what God laid on his heart
There’s two ways to learn form Amos
1. His life
2. His message
A. The prophecy he gave is quite applicable to the American
society
B. The average Isrealite would have cheered Amos on as he
began his prophecy
1. Pronounced Judgement on Damascus
2. Gaza
3. Tyre
4. Edom
5. Ammon
6. Moab
7. Judah (getting close to home!)
8. Isreal
a. Prophesied against his own home, but the
people did not recieve (It was fine to pronounce
judgement on Russia, etc.)
b. Read 2:6-12
c. (V. 12) we’re leading our young people into
immorality; coaxing them into things they
should not be involved in (nazarites) and
gagging our preachers (prophets)
(1) illegal in Canada to speak out against
things that are called sin in the Bible.
d. Amos’ prophecy turned out true. We have
modern day prophets predicting the judgement
of America - Much of the Christian community
is rejecting it as well.
V. Amos continues his prophecy in Chpt. 3
A. It’s getting hard to believe that everything thats taking place
in our nation is just a coincedence: Y2K, worst tornadoes,
floods, fires, hurricanes, school violence, AIDS . . .
1. Amos didn’t believe in coincedences either
a. Physics: every action has a reaction
b. Every effect has a cause
2. Read 3:2-6
3. do you ever stop and consider that maybe we’re
fighting against God and what he wants?
B. Read 3:7,8
1. Yellowstone, loudspeaker with bear growls
2. Who can’t tell that God is trying to say something?
3. Who can’t but communicate that message to others?
4. Young person, before our time, men were drafted into
war.
5. The spiritual battle is getting more intense. He’s
looking for those who will not dodge his draft, but will
dare to dream
VI. There’s a day coming in your time when the Word will be ripped
from society
A. (too ofensive for TV or radio - as it is in Canada) and the
Word of God will have to reside in you!
B. Read 8:11,12
