Are you a dreamer? Something dies when dreams are forgotten. When dreams are remembered and acted upon life is revived. Douglas Remford wrote, "Those who dare to dream again are freed from the captivity of an earthbound existence. They venture into the life that is Life Indeed."

Last week we observed a holiday of a man with a dream. I am speaking of course of Martin Luther King Jr. His "I have a dream" speech was one of the sparks that ignited the civil rights reformation in the 60's. Not only did he speak of a dream, he devoted himself to helping bring about that which was at that time only a dream in his mind. As we observed the ocassion of Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday I spoke a little bit about my dream, and I would like to us focus on dreams for our lives and our church today and for several weeks. For a few moments this morning I want to think about another dreamer who lived many years ago. Joseph is one of the dreamers that comes to my mind as I think about Bible characters. In Genesis 37 we first read of Joseph when he was a lad of seventeen. It seems that Joseph, the son of Israel's old age was his father's favorite. Then we read that Joseph had a dream, and after he told it to his brothers they hated him even more than they did before. In this dream his brother's sheaves bowed down to his sheaf. Another dream followed in which the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him. To put it mildly, this did not please his parents or his brothers.

This was perhaps the straw that broke the camel's back. By this time Joseph's brothers were angry enough to begin plotting against him. As Joseph approached his older brothers far out in the field they said, "Here comes this dreamer." While the other brothers wanted to kill Joseph and report that a wild beast had devoured him, Reuben wanted him spared. When some Ishmaelite traders came by the brothers accepted Judah's suggestion and sold him for twenty shekels of silver. Joseph had been taken to Egypt and sold to Potiphar, the captain of Pharoah's bodyguard. The dreamer's dreams had been crushed. Instead of having people bow down to him, he was a slave.

The dreams I want us to think about do not to be dreams that come to you as you sleep. A dream can also be a hope or an aspiration of the conscious mind. We should also be careful that we ourselves do not get prideful, thinking persons should bow down to us. Allow God to be the inspiration of our dreams and let Him be the one to exalt one of us, if that is His plan. We later see that was the case for Joseph.

Can we dare to dream again, after our dreams have been crushed? It might seem completely impossible to realize those dreams.

Though our dreams may be very much different, we can dare to dream again:

I. When we believe that God is with us.

We read "The Lord was with Joseph, so he became a successful man." In spite of the severe difficulties Joseph had already encountered to this point and more problems that followed he still believed that God was with Him. God had not deserted him.

Joseph believed that God was with him when he was trying to be pure, resisting the advances of his boss's wife. When he was wrongfully thrown into prison God was with Joseph, and extended kindness to him and granted him the favor of the chief jailer. "It is not in me," Joseph replied to Pharoah, "God will give Pharoah a favorable answer." when Joseph was called upon to interpret Pharoah's dream. Joseph acknowledged God when his son Manasseh was born. Later when he confronted his brothers Joseph believed that God was with him.

My friends, I believe that Joseph dared to believe again because he believed that God was with him in the challenges, in the difficulties, and in the happy experiences of life. Too often I hear people in the midst of problems claim that God has deserted them. How sad. But perhaps you and I would even admit that we have felt that way. It makes the circumstances far worse. God promises to be with us. Dare you and I believe He is with us, daring us to dream again after our dreams have been shattered?

We dare to dream again:

II. When we believe that God is still in control.

After Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and inquired about the welfare of their father, he said, "God sent me," Joseph appears to be very confident that it was God who sent him to Egypt. God used the series of difficult circumstances which Joseph's brothers had begun. Joseph is focusing his attention on God's controlling activity, beyond the human characters and the tragic events.

Believing that God is in control frees us from circumstances and enables us to dream again. This does not mean that you and I will understand or like all of the problems of our lives, but God is still on the throne. The evil one has quite influence in our society today, but greater is the power of God in the lives of believers.

We can dare to dream again:

III. When we believe that God works for our good.

This affirmation is related to what I have just been talking about. Not only is God still present and in control, but God is working for our good. Joseph said, "God sent me before you to preserve your life." God had revealed to Joseph that there would be years of plenty followed by years of famine so that Joseph could be in a position to deliver people in the midst of the famine.

Later, after their father had died, his brothers were afraid that Joseph might want to pay them back for all the wrong they had done to him. He told his brothers, "You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good."

Can we believe with Joseph that God means for those circumstances that we can not understand or that may seem bad, to actually be for our good? Recall that similar words of Paul in Romans 8:28, "And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Because of this we can be dreamers, even in the midst of the troubles of life if we love God and are following His call for our lives. Be careful that you do not allow hurt, discouragement, losses, or a sense of hopelessness to rob you of the good God has for you.

We can dare to dream again:

IV. When we believe that God wants to use us.

This idea also builds upon what we have just talked about. Joseph said, "but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive." Remember this is be spoken by a man who was cruelly mistreated and sold into slavery by his brothers. He was falsely accused of wrong doing and thrown into prison for years. While in prison God used him to interpret dreams, one which allowed him to become a ruler in Egypt to deliver the people from the coming famine.

God needs men, women, and young people who will dare to be dreamers and doers for God. If you have been born again into a personal relationship with Jesus Christ you are a person whom God wants to use to bring about His purposes. The point of these messages on daring to dream again is not dreaming for selfish purposes, but God's holy purposes. It is in fulfilling God's purposes that we can find real and lasting fulfillment in our lives too.

Conclusion

We can dare to dream again:
I. When we believe that God is with us.
II. When we believe that God is still in control.
III. When we believe that God works for our good.
IV. When we believe that God wants to use us.
Dare to Dream again with me.

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