Sermon Notes

March 26, 2015

Visions and Dreams


You are needed!

No matter what season of life you find yourself in, you play a role in ushering in revival.
The church is a melting pot of not only different nationalities and cultures, but people of all ages! In this ministry, we are strong believers in creating a generational atmosphere for this reason. Every season is imperative!

“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
Joel 2:28-29

Did you know that the word revive, from which we get the word revival, is only mentioned in scriptures four times? Interestingly enough, each time is directly correlated to this prophesy.

“Your old men will dream dreams”…
We all know the story of Joseph. He was given a coat of many colors, and despised by his brothers. From the pit to the palace he has served as a pillar in the Christian faith.
His father, Jacob, was the first to experience revival. Joseph was his favorite son and in a sense, Joseph was Jacob’s dream! The son of his beloved wife, Rachel, it broke his heart when he thought he had perished. His dream was gone, taken from him! Then God sent revival.
“But when they told him all the words which Joseph had said to them, and when he saw the carts which Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of Jacob their father revived.” Genesis 43:7
His dream was alive once more, and in the latter part of his life! Let us not forget, Moses was 80 years old when God chose him to deliver the Israelite people. Eighty! Abraham, well past 100 when God made him the father of our faith!
Revival starts when the older generation get their dreams back! Let the rest of your years be the best of your years! God is not through with you yet! We need you, dreamers!
Maybe you are in your 20s, 30s or 40s. You are the visionaries with the strength to carry out the dreams of the elders.
Your young men will see visions
This is pictured so clearly in the story of Samson. The second time revival is mentioned is found in the book of Judges.
Samson was known for immense physical strength teamed with power and anointing. He was a strong and notable warrior yet he became weary. Fighting for the vision can become draining! Without realizing it, he began to turn to his gifting instead of the Gift Giver for his strength. He didn’t run out of muscle strength, but inward power!
We see this a lot! Our young men battling with burnout and defeat due to lack of inner power. This is exactly where the enemy wants to get us. Exhausted. But God is yet faithful to send revival!
God revived Samson with water out of the jawbone of a donkey. And He revives our young men with living water! When God’s anointing is teamed with the strength of our visionaries, the church is revived!
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy
There is no greater promise in the church today than our children. The enemy knows this and wants to wipe them out early. The third time revival is mentioned involves just this.
In 2 Kings 4, we read about a child has died and his mother is left broken hearted. God sends the prophet, Elisha, to revive the boy. Through him, God breathed life back into the boy. No matter what age they are, God has purpose for our Children! He will bring them life!
Our children are capable of more than we sometimes give them credit for. They are called to prophesy over the church! May we continue to equip them as such! Revival counts on it!
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.

I’ve said it before and I will say it again! The next move of God will not be with the speakers and the preachers, but with the people. Ordinary, behind the scenes people that the Holy Spirit comes upon.

The fourth and last time the word revive is mentioned in scriptures is found in 2 Kings 13. There you find a story about gravediggers that paved the way for a miracle. GRAVEDIGGERS, people!

After they dug a grave, they threw a dead man in. When his body touched the bones of an old prophet that had been laid to rest in the same place, the dead man’s body was revived! If not for the obedience of the worker, revival could not occur. What power there is in doing what is set before us, no matter the position and doing it faithfully.

What season do you find yourself in today? May I encourage you that regardless of your circumstances, you are one prayer away from being revived! It is never too early or too late. You are significant, and when personal revival breaks out in us individually, we will see our churches experience a true and lasting revival.

In essence, WE NEED YOU!

Be blessed! Be revived!

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