Listen to Sermon: Imagine [7Mb]

I have a dream today.
I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will be made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.
This is our hope.   
Martin Luther King Jr.

TRUTH: God is a DREAM GIVER and wants to see the dreams He has given us REALIZED.

PROBLEM: Most dreams stay in the realm of the IMAGINATION and are never PURSUED.

Causes: Fear, Sin, Lack of Trust, Self centeredness, Doubt

6 Now the men of Judah approached Joshua at Gilgal, and Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite said to him, “You know what the LORD said to Moses the man of God at Kadesh Barnea about you and me. 7 I was forty years old when Moses the servant of the LORD sent me from Kadesh Barnea to explore the land. And I brought him back a report according to my convictions, 8 but my brothers who went up with me made the hearts of the people melt with fear. I, however, followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly. 9 So on that day Moses swore to me, ‘The land on which your feet have walked will be your inheritance and that of your children forever, because you have followed the LORD my God wholeheartedly.’ 10 “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! 11 I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. 12 Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.” 13 Then Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave him Hebron as his inheritance. 14 So Hebron has belonged to Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite ever since, because he followed the LORD, the God of Israel, wholeheartedly. 15 (Hebron used to be called Kiriath Arba after Arba, who was the greatest man among the Anakites.) Then the land had rest from war.  Joshua 14:6-15 (NIV)

What does it take to move from the realm of IMAGINATION to the realm of REALITY?

1. A realization that God can not be limited by our finite view of ourselves and Him.
2. Commitment to Jesus Christ and living our lives as His followers.
3. Being filled by the Holy Spirit and living our lives surrendered to Him.
4. A Determination to conquer new land regardless of the obstacles and seeming roadblocks.
5. A unified and committed community.

What about ME?

• Am I limiting God and His ability to work through me?
• Have I made a decision to follow Jesus and live my life for Him?
• Have I asked the Holy Spirit to fill me completely and surrendered my life to His control?
• Am I determined to do whatever it takes to conquer new land for God?
• Am I connected, committed and engaged with my brothers and sisters at NLC?