Prophesy, Dreams and Visions

Scripture Reading: Joel 2: 28 (NIV)
And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.
Message: Prophesy, Dreams and Visions
Where we are - already, not yet…
In our belief system, we find ourselves in the already-not-yet space
On the timeline of our lives are in this in-between space of significant events of faith that has already happened and significant events of faith that is still to come…
We share this space of already-not-yet
We are all free - because the price was paid on the cross: Jesus died, but He is also risen
We can do well in reminding ourselves of our freedom - so that gratitude may flow from it
We are also not in heaven yet - the new Kingdom of God is still coming
We are part of this happening - we are included in what is coming
We still pray: Thy Kingdom Come
We are yearning for more in this space of already-not-yet
We are yearning for God in this space
Imagination - prophesy, dreams and visions
In this space of yearning for God, God sends his Spirit - “I will pour out my Spirit on all the people”
And it is his Spirit that turns our focus towards the “not yet”… towards what is still to come… towards the future
The Spirit always makes us look towards the future
That is why we cannot be stuck in the past
We need to look ahead - to the “not yet”
It is the “already” that empowers us to look ahead
The prophet Joel shows us what looking ahead entails
Prophesy, dreams and visions…
Why is it that we have become so depleted of prophesy, dreams and visions?
I believe that God wants to stimulate our imagination for what is yet to come…
It is my prayer that God will, through his Spirit, bring out new energy in us for what is yet to come
I have a dream…
I reading up on Christian leadership at the moment and came across the challenge of an author called Tod Bolsinger
He says that every minister should share his/her dreams for ministry with their congregation from time to time
So, without further ado - here is my dreams for DPC:
I dream of a church that is not ashamed to use the name “Jesus”
I dream of a church that is a worshipping church
I dream of a church that is serious about faith and not so serious about religion
I dream of a church that loves the Bible
I dream of a church that prays out of heart, not from poem
I dream of a church that touches the community with the love of Jesus
I dream of a church that is truly welcoming to everyone
I dream of a church that is a family of faith - a place to feel safe
I dream of a church that is free from the worries of finances
I dream of a church building that is gathering place for the community
May the Spirit open your mind for what is yet to come!
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