Dream Again - 4

Dream Again - 4

Subject: Excuses that are Dream Killers

By Rick Welborne

Proverbs 13:12 (NLT)
¹²  Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a dream fulfilled is a tree of life. 

Psalm 105:17-21 (NLT)
¹⁷  Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸  They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
¹⁹  Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character.
²⁰  Then Pharaoh sent for him and set him free; the ruler of the nation opened his prison door.
²¹  Joseph was put in charge of all the king’s household; he became ruler over all the king’s possessions. 

--Last week as we discussed our dreams we talked about “Them”, the Timing of God, and the Test.

--Tonight I want us to concentrate on the test and what the enemy uses the most to derail us from the dreams and destiny God has given us. Let’s look at family.

1. The enemy can use family as a dream killer in your life.

Genesis 37:1-11 (NIV)
¹  Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
²  This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
³  Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.
⁴  When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than any of them, they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him.
⁵  Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more.
⁶  He said to them, "Listen to this dream I had:
⁷  We were binding sheaves of grain out in the field when suddenly my sheaf rose and stood upright, while your sheaves gathered around mine and bowed down to it."
⁸  His brothers said to him, "Do you intend to reign over us? Will you actually rule us?" And they hated him all the more because of his dream and what he had said.
⁹  Then he had another dream, and he told it to his brothers. "Listen," he said, "I had another dream, and this time the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to me."
¹⁰  When he told his father as well as his brothers, his father rebuked him and said, "What is this dream you had? Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow down to the ground before you?"
¹¹  His brothers were jealous of him, but his father kept the matter in mind. 

--How many of you can agree that family, at the least, can be interesting if not just down right difficult. No family is immune from having challenges and problems. Wars and rumors of wars.

--Before you give up on families too quick, any group of people can have problems all because of one common denominator…people! Everyone comes with their thoughts, opinions, biases. 

1 Corinthians 10:13 (NKJV) ¹³  No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 

--Joseph had family, therefore Joseph had problems. He had multiple brothers and dad had multiple wives (moms and step moms). Joseph could not resist being a tattletale. He gave bad reports.

--Jacob loved Joseph more than the other brothers (trouble)…He was his fav…Dad made him a special coat…a robe with many ornaments…probably very expensive…latest fashion of the day just for the brat.

--Joseph’s brothers saw that their father loved Joseph more than them (trouble) and they hated him so much they could talk to him without being angry and bitter…be careful parents with your favorites.

^--Joseph had a dream, and when he told it to his brothers, they hated him all the more. My dad and I had a horrible relationship but when I told him my dream of ministry…He hated me more. 

--Joseph told his dream to his parents and they rebuked him…His family was trying to kill his dreams by how they responded to him and how they hated him. They wanted to kill him. Put him in a pit and sold him.

--For many of us the dream would be over because the rejection of family would be too great of a price to pay to fulfill our dreams…How many families will be held accountable for being dream killers?

--But here is my question…can we really use family members as an excuse for not serving God and following our God given dreams? No matter the hate, no matter the rejection, no matter the pain. Listen to Jesus:

Matthew 10:37-38 (NKJV)
³⁷  He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.
³⁸  And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. 

--Joseph didn’t, I didn’t, and you do not have the right or the privilege of forsaking your dreams because of family. Before you abandon your dreams, you better read the rest of the story. 

Joseph’s brothers end up coming to him (after he is exalted) for him to save their entire family. And yes, they bow! My parents came to Christ as I followed my dreams.

--My calling, my dream was to be obedient to God and not get distracted because family reacted or even overreacted to what God was telling me to do. Jesus is the One Who called you. Your Source!

--When I left for Bible School all I had was a call from God. I arrived at school with $17 dollars in my wallet…there was a man who said he would support me, he died!

--Every trial Joseph went thru he could have gone back in his mind to that ridiculous family who treated him wrong and that could have been his ticket to quit but he didn’t quit.

Luke 18:1 (MSG) ¹ Jesus told them a story showing that it was necessary for them to pray consistently and never quit. 

--Have you ever thought how important each decision is? One right decision and we fulfill our destinies and one bad decision (based on influence of family) our lives only become a shadow of what could have been.

Mark Batterson: Every life is defined by decisive moments, and those moments of decision often dictate the course of decades. That shouldn’t make you nervous, not if God is ordering your footsteps. It should fill you with a sense of destiny.

2. The enemy can use un-forgiveness toward our families as a dream killer.

--The day finally came…the day when Joseph had his brothers right where most of us would be glad to have them. These guys tried to destroy my life and now they are at my mercy. What would you do?

--Another one of those moments in your life that will determine your destiny and the destiny of many generations to come…kill these guys and then, send for my father. What would that do to dad?

Psalm 105:17-19 (NLT)
¹⁷  Then he sent someone to Egypt ahead of them— Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
¹⁸  They bruised his feet with fetters and placed his neck in an iron collar.
¹⁹  Until the time came to fulfill his dreams, the LORD tested Joseph’s character. 

1. It is not so much about us as it is about “them”. 2. It is about the timing of God. 3. It is about the test.

Genesis 45:1-5 (NKJV)
¹  Then Joseph could not restrain himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Make everyone go out from me!" So no one stood with him while Joseph made himself known to his brothers.²  And he wept aloud, and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard it.                                                                           ³  Then Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph; does my father still live?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed in his presence.
⁴  And Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come near to me." So they came near. Then he said: "I am Joseph your brother, whom you sold into Egypt.
⁵  But now, do not therefore be grieved or angry with yourselves because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. 

--I don’t think these brothers were feeling grief or anger as much as they were experiencing unbelievable fear. We are dead! We are going to be repaid what we deserve. This is it!

--At the moment when he was in full control and had the authority to do what he had the right to do…He did something that truly defies all human logic…He forgave them…He chose to see the big picture.

--You see, Joseph was sent before them to preserve life, the time came for his dreams to be fulfilled, and again Joseph’s character was being tested. Forgiveness or revenge?

--I have seen God orchestrate people’s lives and destinies to come to this place of reconciliation or revenge …those who chose forgiveness found new life and those who didn’t found death.

--I have even seen people come to this place with God where they felt God had been unfair to them, maybe a loved one was hurt or even died, a place of renewed relationship with God…some walk away. 

--Our forgiveness of them may just be the very thing that leads them to salvation…They get to see you be like Jesus…Father, forgive them because they do not know what they are doing.

Batterson: Yes, decisive moments are few and far between. But the ripple effects of those moments transcend time and space. Our actions and inactions have eternal ramifications. And for the record, inaction is an action. When we fail to take action, we forfeit the future. And just as inaction is an action, indecision is a decision.

3. The enemy cannot use family when we decide to work with God for their salvation.

--Joseph saw his life from God’s perspective and saw how God (thru adversity) set him up to be his family’s salvation. What about your family? Have you written them off…God hasn’t! He wants to use you.

Genesis 45:7-8 (NIV) ⁷ But God sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. ⁸ "So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God. 

--Joseph saw himself working with God…are you working with God for your family…have you forgiven them? They shouldn’t have to ask for it. Take every opportunity to share the love of Jesus with them.

--Joseph did not wait for an apology…he simply forgave because their salvation was more important than his pride.

--You know my parents received Jesus and what a glorious story that is but now my siblings, my nieces, nephews, cousins…they are part of my calling and I refuse to let the enemy have them.

--One day, I declare there will be salvation and family reconciliation…You see it is about “Them”, it is about the timing of God, and it is a test of my character especially in light of my family and forgiveness!