THE FUTURE IS NOW

Jacob had a Dream

Our guest minister Pastor Roy was reading from Acts chapter 2 as I took notes and edited his sermon for today:

 Acts 2:16-18 New King James Version (NKJV) But this is what was spoken by the prophet Joel: ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy; Your young men shall see visions; Your old men shall dream dreams.  And on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days; And they shall prophesy.

Looking back at Moses on the mount of Sinai, there was fire, smoke and a voice from heaven and the delivery of the Torah.  God formed them into a new people to become a new nation. 

The Passover was God’s liberated Word.  On the day of Pentecost there was fire, smoke and voices of men speaking the Words of God.

The crowd that accumulated did not understand and many eyebrows were raised at the strange happenings that day. 

Peter began to explain as he quoted the above passage from the Prophet Joel, reminding them that prophesy is natural and not weird.  It is not predicting the end of the world but is a declaration of how God sees His world.   It is words of peace, hope, how to treat your neighbor right, and to show your love. 

Each one of us as Christians are called to declare the Good News.  We are NOT prophets of doom and gloom but we bring Good News. 

Sinai ends and the future is NOW; God’s new reality.  What do the “Last days,” look like?  Will there be a burning up and destruction?  No - -

Peter quoted the Prophet Joel and said in the last days there will be dreams and visions and prophesy.  Dreams and Visions to see what God can and will do in this generation.

We are never too young or too old to start dreaming.  Today is a time for God’s fresh presence to be established in this place.

Our city exists now.  May we not push everything to the future?  May we not be guilty of saying “One of these days?”

Just when is it that God’s presence will be manifested?  When we dream, imagine and envision it.

As we scan the news each morning it usually is bad news.  Instead let us grasp a proper perspective and reflect on the Scriptures to begin our day.

It seems human nature to tend to be morbid, but rather might we rejoice in God’s blessing and not put a damper on what He is doing.

We are called to participate in God’s dream.  Swing wide from those who are negative and pull you down.

We are in the Last days when God’s reality begins in the NOW.

Go out and proclaim yes prophesy and speak the reality as God sees it.

Committees are quick to tell all that is wrong with a proposal.  Instead let us see the reality of God’s grace breaking out and celebrate God’s goodness.  Good things are happening.  Speak it out and be prophetic. 

We are not experiencing a complicated religious touch, but allow the Holy Spirit to work through us.

Martin Luther King said, “I have a dream.” 

Begin to see reality differently and declare with our lives and words “Reconciliation.”

May I challenge each and every one to pursue to dream and prophesy as we allow God to become fresh and alive in us to see a different reality at all times to all people and to know the future is NOW.