Dream Versus Desire

Dream Versus Desire

Genesis 37: ⁵ Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. ⁶ So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

 

⁸ And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dreams and for his words.

 

⁹ Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.”

 

¹⁰ So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” ¹¹ And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.

 

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“Now Joseph had a dream” is the beginning of a turn of events that would shape the world. Joseph told his brothers the dream and they hated him even more than before. He then had another dream and told it to his brothers.

 

My Observations:

• Israel may have told Joseph about the vision he was given by GOD when he saw angels ascending and descending a ladder.
• Joseph was not in control of the dreams, rather they came from GOD.
• Israel and Joseph’s brothers misinterpreted the dreams as Joseph’s desire versus GOD’s prophecy.

 

GOD spoke to Joseph in dreams versus a vocal conversation. HE gave Joseph a prophetic view of the tribes of Israel bowing to him. This dream sounded like Joseph wanted his brothers to respect him because they would one day bow to him. Israel even questioned the dream.

 

Israel said something strange during his response to Joseph. He said “Shall your mother and I.” Wait. Rachel was Joseph’s mother and she was dead. This shows Israel’s belief in the afterlife. Israel also considered that GOD may be involved in this dream, so he “kept the matter in mind.”

 

I believe Joseph was trying to tell people that GOD gave him a vision, but since GOD chose to not disclose HIS plan, Joseph could only say what he saw. His brothers would not believe, even if GOD gave Joseph a clear vision with specific directions, because of their hatred.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about how HE spoke to Joseph through dreams?
• Has GOD given you a dream that has not come to fruition?
• Are you encouraged by the fact that GOD has a specific plan for you and HE is working it all out in HIS time?

Can, Will and Does

 

Can, Will and Does

Romans 9: ¹⁴ Shall we say, then, that God is unjust? Not at all. ¹⁵ For he said to Moses, “I will have mercy on anyone I wish; I will take pity on anyone I wish.” ¹⁶ So then, everything depends, not on what we humans want or do, but only on God's mercy. ¹⁷ For the scripture says to the king of Egypt, “I made you king in order to use you to show my power and to spread my fame over the whole world.” ¹⁸ So then, God has mercy on anyone he wishes, and he makes stubborn anyone he wishes.

 

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Hearing how others had “gotten away” with stealing. I tried my hand at it. I didn’t have enough money to pay for the pants and I really wanted to join the organization that required all of us to wear the same thing.

 

I lingered around the pants for what seemed like hours but it was probably minutes. I gave the pants to another person who was also joining the organization and he walked out the door. The deed was done.

 

• There were times when I thought I was getting away with something.
• There were times when I thought I was in control.
• There were times when I thought I could do my sins in secret and pretend to be innocent.

 

Paul gives some hard medicine to swallow. GOD takes mercy on whom HE wishes. On the contrary, GOD makes stubborn anyone HE wishes. Is there any hope? Yes! HE gives me choice.

 

• GOD wants me to surrender my stubborn will so HIS mercy can be shown through me.
• GOD wants me to say “I need JESUS as my Savior” so HIS mercy can be multiplied on me.
• GOD wants me to believe that JESUS is the only way to have an eternal existence with HIM.

 

All seeing, all powerful and everywhere is GOD. HE can do, HE will do and does anything HE pleases. The part of me that gets angry at that statement is the sin that fights against HIM. I mean, there is a part of me that wants to be GOD. That is the part of me HE hates.

 

HE still decided to show mercy on me. Mercy means I know I am guilty and fully aware I deserve the consequence of my actions, but the forgiver throws away my sentence and says I am free to go. Looking back, I can see an incredible amount of grace and mercy HE has shown to me. I can only say thank YOU.

 

• Are you fighting GOD thinking you will win?
• Do you think your stubbornness is a good quality?
• Will you surrender your life to the Most High GOD, by believing you need JESUS as your Savior, so HE will not harden your heart any further?

Led

Led

Acts 8: ²⁹ Then the Spirit said to Philip, “Go near and overtake this chariot.”

³⁰ So Philip ran to him, and heard him reading the prophet Isaiah, and said, “Do you understand what you are reading?”

³¹ And he said, “How can I, unless someone guides me?” And he asked Philip to come up and sit with him.

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Watching the pins fall, I was amazed at the bowler. Strike after strike, I watched in awe. “Can you show me how to do that?” I asked. I paid for lessons. Every word spoken to me was like gold. I was thoroughly interested and absorbed the information like a sponge in water.

• When I seek knowledge, I look for some help.
• When I want to know something, I am open for suggestions.
• When I desire to learn, I look for a guide.

Two people were led in this passage of scripture. Philip was led to the desert and then the SPIRIT led him to the Ethiopian eunuch, who was reading the prophet Isaiah out loud.

The Ethiopian must have desired some help from anyone who would assist, because he read out loud, possibly in an inquisitive way. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” The Ethiopian requested his guidance.

• GOD wants me to be open to learn about HIM.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS ways so I can have rest.
• GOD wants me to be led by the SPIRIT to receive teaching or to give it.

Surrender is required when being taught. It is difficult or impossible to teach about GOD to someone who is not open to hearing the information. GOD sends people to me to teach me about HIM when my heart is open to hearing from HIM.

It is not just about learning. GOD wants me to take what I learned and be willing to teach someone. HE then will send me to the right person at the right time. I am grateful for the leading of the HOLY SPIRIT.

• What are you looking for?
• Are you seeking knowledge to fill your desires?
• Will you steer your seeking to learn about JESUS who loved you enough to die for you and is alive, willing to save you today?

Guided Light

Guided Light

John 11: ⁵ Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. ⁶ So, when He heard that he was sick, He stayed two more days in the place where He was. ⁷ Then after this He said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.”

⁸ The disciples said to Him, “Rabbi, lately the Jews sought to stone You, and are You going there again?”

⁹ Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in the day? If anyone walks in the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. ¹⁰ But if one walks in the night, he stumbles, because the light is not in him.” ¹¹ These things He said, and after that He said to them, “Our friend Lazarus sleeps, but I go that I may wake him up.”

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“Let’s go to this party, it’s going to be wild” someone suggested. For some reason, I did not go this time. I was partied out and was trying to graduate. “No thanks” was my strange reply. Everyone knew I would be there.

The next day, I got a report that a fight broke out and a drunk football player, wielding an ax, hit someone in the arm. They added “but it was the blunt side that he used.”

• Looking back, there were events I am glad I did not attend.
• Looking back, there were groups I am glad I did not hang with.
• Looking back, there were situations that I am glad I did not get into.

Heading into danger, JESUS tells HIS disciples that HE had to go back to Judea. Knowing the church members would stone HIM, the disciples gave a stern warning. JESUS explained what guided HIM.

• GOD wants me to be led by the SPIRIT.
• GOD wants me to have a purpose for my life.
• GOD wants me to see HE has a plan for my life that is greater than any plan a human can ever dream of.

“Half the time it is day where people can see” JESUS explains. HE used this analogy to explain living a life of purpose. Being guided by the “light” means I an enlightened by GOD to do the things HE wants me to do, otherwise I would be guided into meaningless or sinful places.

When my life is over, GOD will look at everything I have done. HE wants me to have some moments where HE values what I have done and will call it “fruit.” I am glad HE leads me to serve.

• What guides you?
• Are jobs, entertainment, lust or pleasure on the top of your mind most of the time?
• Will you allow GOD to enlighten you so you can be led by the HOLY SPIRIT today?

Both Sides

Luke 11: ³⁷ And as He spoke, a certain Pharisee asked Him to dine with him. So He went in and sat down to eat. ³⁸ When the Pharisee saw it, he marveled that He had not first washed before dinner.

³⁹ Then the Lord said to him, “Now you Pharisees make the outside of the cup and dish clean, but your inward part is full of greed and wickedness. ⁴⁰ Foolish ones! Did not He who made the outside make the inside also? ⁴¹ But rather give alms of such things as you have; then indeed all things are clean to you.

⁴² “But woe to you Pharisees! For you tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass by justice and the love of God. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. ⁴³ Woe to you Pharisees! For you love the best seats in the synagogues and greetings in the marketplaces. ⁴⁴ Woe to you, ^[n]scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like graves which are not seen, and the men who walk over them are not aware of them.”

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Mimicking was my form of learning. I mean I had no mentor to navigate me through this new stage of life. I looked at some very successful people and I started to dress like them, go to the same places they went and talk like them, no matter how crass. I wanted success so much that I was willing to lose “me.”

• There were times when I wanted to be on top.
• There were times when I wanted to be revered.
• There were times when my outside looked better than the inside.

JESUS speaks to the Pharisees after being criticized for not washing HIS hands. The criticism was more about “ritual cleanliness” than germ removal. HE saw their judgmental hearts and let them know about the CREATOR.

• GOD made my body and spirit.
• GOD wants me to be brave enough to have character even when those around me do not.
• GOD looks at what is inside of me and is more concerned with growing my spirit than my ego.

Power was my primary pursuit and I did not even know it. I wanted control of my life and, in some respect, control over other folks lives. By being “successful” then I would amass a huge following. BUT GOD wanted something different.

GOD wants me to amass a huge following, but not for me, rather for HIM. HE wants my inside to shine rather than squash. The less powerful I am the more powerful HE is. HE carries me to wonderful places and adorns me with HIS love. HE cleans my inside with HIS SPIRIT.

• Are you trying to make yourself look good in front of a group of humans?
• Do you think your success is more important than GOD’s path?
• Will you ask GOD to clean your inside of bitterness, greed, control, lust, jealousy and hatred today?
• Will you also ask GOD to fill you with love, mercy, kindness, faith and grace?

Being Guided

Luke 2: ²⁵ And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. ²⁶ And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. ²⁷ So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, ²⁸ he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

²⁹ “Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace,
According to Your word;

³⁰ For my eyes have seen Your salvation

³¹ Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples,

³² A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles,
And the glory of Your people Israel.”

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“Turn right here” were the words I sensed. It was not an audible voice rather something I simply understood. I obeyed and kept driving. I had no idea where I was, let alone where I was going, all I knew was I needed an apartment in this city I was moving to.

My aching neck made me seek relief so I pulled into a gas station. As I left, I went down the wrong street. “Turn into this driveway” were the words I sensed. I obeyed and wound up on the grounds of a wonderful apartment complex. I did not know my job was only 5 minutes from this very affordable, quiet spacious place.

• The HOLY SPIRIT has led me many times.
• The HOLY SPIRIT has guided me to safe places.
• The HOLY SPIRIT has enabled the right situations to happen in order to guide me to the place I should be.

Simeon was a man led by the HOLY SPIRIT. I would suspect he did not get this way overnight, rather it took years of listening and obedience to be able to discern between selfish thoughts versus the voice of the HOLY SPIRIT.  HE was led to see GOD in the flesh and to declare the blessing on mankind.

• GOD says to me “Seek first the kingdom of GOD.”
• GOD says to me “Open the door of your heart to ME and I will come in and sup with you.”
• GOD says to me “In your weakness I AM made strong.”

Through ambiguity, fear and pain, GOD is still there guiding me to the places HE wants me to be. HE is not bribed by human money, nor is HE trying to build another earthbound kingdom of slaves to capital. GOD wants to lead me to freedom where eyes are opened to HIM and HIM alone.

• Where are you being led?
• Are you ignoring GOD’s voice and listening to yourself?
• Can you stop for a moment and ask GOD “Where do YOU want me to be” today?

Plans for Success

Proverbs 16: To humans belong the plans of the heart,
    but from the Lord comes the proper answer of the tongue.

² All a person’s ways seem pure to them,
    but motives are weighed by the Lord.

³ Commit to the Lord whatever you do,
    and he will establish your plans.

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Seated by last name I would most times end up in the back of the class. I was labeled as “The Professor” and my neighbors spied my tests with gaping eyes. One day, the teacher moved me next to the “smartest” in the class. She naively left her test uncovered. “I wonder if I should copy a few answers from her test” ran through my mind.

• Sometimes my plans were not pure.
• Sometimes my plans were not based with the right motive.
• Sometimes my plans were not innocent as they seemed.

Desire does not provide an excuse for me to do things the wrong way. I mean just because the road is hard doesn’t mean I should cut corners or slack in my plans. What should I do?

• GOD says to me “I want to bless all of your plans so put them in front of ME first.”
• GOD says to me “I can see your motives so I will bless your plans based on them.”
• GOD says to me “Give me your desire and I will make your path straight.”

My plans may not have the right motive. Instead of asking GOD for clear sight to be able to copy from my neighbor’s test, I should ask for a clear mind to prepare me for my own. In my life, GOD has never given me an easy route. It seems like HE won’t allow me to prosper when I think about stealing, cheating, lying or cutting a corner.

GOD wants me to place my plans in front of HIM and no matter how hard the situation, believe HE will guide me through the difficulties. GOD will establish my plans as long as I give them to HIM.

• Are you planning something?
• Do you have a certain picture in your mind of how things should go?
• Can you ask GOD if the way you are going is right?
• Will you ask GOD for direction, resources and fortitude to continue?