Dare to Dream Again
Attention: What did you want to be when you grew up?
Need: What can I do when my dreams are crushed?
Text: Gen 37:5-27
I. Joseph Has Big Dreams
a. Importance in his dreams
i. He would rule over his family
ii. Universal need for significance
b. Impact of a dream
i. Sickbed
ii. Persecuted church
c. Internal nature of dreams
i. Sometimes its best not to tell everything you know
d. Immediate fulfillment expected?
i. “in the field” (v. 7)
1. 13 years between Potiphar’s and prison
ii. Value of waiting on the Lord
1. Contrary to current culture
II. Joseph’s Big Dreams Become Barren Dreams
a. Lonely
i. Sold by brothers and would not see his father for 22 years
ii. Sold to people who did not speak Joseph’s language
iii. Man created for relationship
1. His own family was the source of his pain
2. God created woman for a reason
3. “Just Jesus and you”…yes, but no
iv. Be patient – continue in well doing. We will reap in due season
1. Joseph refused Potiphar’s wife
b. Disappointed
i. A risk when you have a dream
ii. How will you CHOOSE to react?
1. Joseph’s example
2. Dr. G. Campbell Morgan tells of a man whose shop had been burned in the great Chicago fire. He arrived at the ruins the next morning carrying a table. He set it up amid the charred debris and above it placed this optimistic sign, "Everything lost except wife, children, and hope. Business will be resumed as usual tomorrow morning."
c. Reactions of those without God
i. Despair
ii. Suicide
iii. Drugs
iv. Sleeping pills
v. Sexual sin
d. We do have God
i. No matter how lonely
ii. We CANNOT despair!
1. For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. (Rom 15:4)
e. God has not left you
i. Problem free life promised = a LIE
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. (Heb 12:1-3)
ii. God has left you = a LIE
III. Joseph’s Barren Dreams Become Birthed Dreams
a. Joseph’s dreams of glory came to pass
i. Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life. (Pro 13:12)
ii. Like our time on earth when we get to heaven
iii. Like the pain of labor when the child is born
iv. And Joseph called the name of the firstborn Manasseh: For God, said he, hath made me forget all my toil, and all my father’s house. And the name of the second called he Ephraim: For God hath caused me to be fruitful in the land of my affliction. (Gen 41:51-52)
1. Manasseh – cause to forget
2. Ephraim – I shall be doubly fruitful
b. The blessing of broken dreams
i. By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (Rom 5:2-5)
ii. Humility – dependence
1. Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility. (Pro 18:12)
2. Sorrow teaches
3. Jesus learned obedience through suffering
The Great Chicago fire left huge gaps in the landscape of downtown Chicago. Those barren spots made room for some of the first skyscrapers
Reiteration:
I. Joseph’s Dreams Were Big
II. Joseph’s Dreams Became Barren
III. Joseph’s Dreams Were Birthed
Appeal: Keep your dream! Don’t let it go. Be faithful in the place where you find yourself presently. You may be working toward the birth of your dream.
