Dream the Impossible Dream

Joseph’s Dream Begins

An obscure verse found in Genesis 37:5 says, “And Joseph had a dream.” This full color, ambiguous, two-part dream launched him toward his life’s work.

The Two-Part Dream (Genesis 37:5–11)

Genesis 35-6-11 records the entire two-part dream. “Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers; and they hated him even more. 6. So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and indeed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf. And his brothers said to him, “Shall you indeed reign over us?”Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?” So they hated him even more for his dream and his words.

“Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. Then he dreamed still another dream and told it to his brothers, and said, “Look, I have dreamed another dream. And this time, the sun, the moon, and the eleven stars bowed down to me.” So he told it to his father and his brothers; and his father rebuked him and said to him, “What is this dream that you have dreamed? Shall your mother and I and your brothers indeed come to bow down to the earth before you?” And his brothers envied him, but his father kept the matter in mind.”

Defining “Dream”

His dream provides a backdrop for dreamers today. It has the makings of a made-for-television movie! Before I continue, however, let me define the word “dream,” as seen in Joseph’s life. A “dream” is an assignment from the Throne of God. It may or may not occur in your sleep! Dreams and prophetic words that are confirmed by mature believers are first cousins!

Dreamers See Before They See

Dreamers “see” before they see! Disneyland Park is the first of two Walt Disney theme parks built in the United States. Located in Anaheim, California, Disneyland Park opened July 17, 1955 and is the only theme park directly built under the supervision of Walt Disney.

Today, millions travel annually to his second American theme park located just outside of Orlando, Florida. Walt Disney passed away in 1968, before his second park was constructed. Mrs. Walt Disney was present at the grand opening of the Florida Park. Someone said to her, “I sure wish Walt had been able to see this day.” Walt’s widow replied, “He did!”

Dreamers are visionaries. They first see in their mind’s eye and subsequently, with their physical eyes. The world needs more dreamers! Every company, business, restaurant, supermarket, bank, theme park, church, or whatever is the result of someone’s dream.

Joseph’s Thirteen-Year Road

“Joseph dreamed a dream.” His was a two-part dream that launched him on a thirteen-year all expense paid trip to the pit, to Potiphar’s house, to prison and finally to the palace. He suffered betrayal, false accusations, lonely days, family dysfunction and more – plenty of reasons to abort his dream. However, he continued to push forward. He refused to be victimized by life’s drama.

The Cost of a God-Given Dream

Don’t think for a minute that dreaming is easy. All God-given dreams or prophetic words come with a price. Time will tell if a given dream was initiated by God or by bad pizza the night before! Dreamers must expect setbacks, misunderstandings, financial challenges, inconveniences, criticism, false accusations, hate-mongers, immature, jealous people, from inside and outside, and a host of other difficulties. Having dreams is commendable, but I think we need to quit glorifying them at the expense of denying reality. The fulfillment of any dream exacts a toll – physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, etc., but the end results make it worthwhile!

Balance the Fivefold

We enjoy Disneyland because Walt and countless others paid the ultimate price to bring it into existence. Church, can we get balanced? Let’s remember that Jesus gave five gifts to His church for the edification of the saints: Ephesians 4:11 says, “And he gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers.” Apostles send. Prophets tell. Evangelists go. Pastors tend. Teachers teach. A steady diet of the prophetic gifts means that everybody’s talking but nobody’s getting the other four gifts to balance out unmet expectations the prophetic often creates. A gross imbalance of the prophetic gifts has messed with churches and people. Joseph got a word from the Lord – a dream – but he needed a good dose of humility and instruction to go along with his big head! The worst thing he could have done was tell his brothers what God showed him! Na-na-na-na-na!

Dreaming vs. Daydreaming

The difference between dreaming and daydreaming is that one pushes through and the other never gets off the ground. Most dreams are shelved at the first hint of struggle and inconvenience. After all, who relishes pain that more often than not accompanies progress? Not me! God-given dreams begin by showing us the end result, not what we may have to endure to see them come to pass. In the meantime, faith often is taken to inexplicable depths. Ask Joseph.

God Shows the End—Not the Play-By-Play

When God gives us a dream or a prophetic word, He does not give us a play by play. In Joseph’s case He showed him (generally speaking) his future capacity as a ruler over his brothers; but I don’t think Joseph ever understood the full extent of his dream until he actually arrived at the palace of Pharaoh as Prime Minister. Let me say it again. The thing we need to remember about any word from the Lord is that it has to be time-tested. When most people are given a word, it reveals the final outcome. It gives the good news. But the other news is that every word has to be proven. God then takes us through a time of maturation and spiritual growth. Joseph may not have been as excited about his word had he known what was coming – and required – before he realized the outcome of his dream.

Don’t Chase the Word You Want

Joseph, I have good news and bad news. The good news is that one day you’re going to lord over your brothers. The bad news is that you’re going to endure the pit, Potiphar and prison! And Joseph may have changed his mind! Church, quit chasing a prophetic word when you don’t get the word you want. When the prophet Isaiah said to King Hezekiah, “Get your house in order, you’re going to die,” I’m sure he at least said to himself, “Is there another word?”

Prophetic Hype vs. Biblical Teaching

Much of the prophetic move into today’s church emphasizes the outcome without reminding people that it is a serious matter to receive a word from the Lord through those who minister the gospel. When the righteous requirements surrounding that word do not match up to our expectations, we become frustrated, angry and even harsh toward the one who gave the word in the first place. We may not be dealing with false prophets as much as we’re dealing with a lack of biblical teaching. We need to remind people that the final outcome of their “word” comes after a proving time. This teaching must accompany and preface the giving and receiving of prophetic words. Unmet expectations on the part of givers and receivers alike have caused individuals to become disheartened, depressed and even despondent.

From Pit to Palace—Why It Was Worth It

First, he was required to endure the pit, then Potiphar and ultimately, prison. And because of his internal drive, his tenacity in suffering, literally thousands of people escaped death by famine. His food distribution program made his thirteen-year trek to the palace worth all the pain, sacrifices and struggles. Dreamers cannot be cowards. They dare not faint in the day of adversity.. Proverbs 10:4 discourages us from citing emotional and mental weakness as the culprit. Dreamers need to possess a bulldog tenacity – holding on to their dream with a grip that cannot be pried off.

Burden + Passion

What dream has God given you? Pursue it with passion. Remember, you may have a burden to do something, but dreamers need not only to possess a burden. They need unstoppable passion!

A Personal Dream Fulfilled

Fifty years ago God gave me a dream to plant a church in my hometown. I’m not a martyr, but in retrospect, nothing has come easy. Hope Community Church stands as a fulfillment of my dream. People who are far from God are finding new life in Christ.

Time-Tested and God-Refined

Every time someone comes to faith in Christ, I am reminded that although the dream came with sacrifice, it has been worth it all to know that this God-given dream is fulfilling its purpose. And the best is yet to come! The dream inside you will be time tested. Hold on! Time and the faithfulness of God, along with your ability to “hold firm” will keep you on track during the difficult days. Your dream will surely come to pass according to God’s timetable. Along the way, He will fine-tune it, using circumstances to make you more like Jesus, so that in the end, your dream will stand as a testimony of His grace and provision.

How God Polishes Dreamers

In my life, God has used unteachable, pride-filled, Jezebels, mean-spirited, unfaithful, sometimes super-spiritual knuckleheads to polish my life, my motives and to test my righteous resolve.

Remember the Timeline

Joseph received his two-part dream at age 17 and walked through the palace doors at age 30. That thirteen-year interlude at times took him to his breaking point, but in the end his famine relief program saved entire nations from perishing. Remember, dreams are not given to build monuments to our greatness, but as a means to expand God’s plan and purpose on the earth.

Your Dream—and Your Walk with Jesus

What dream are you holding to? Have you received a word from the Lord, a promise that has yet to be fulfilled in your life?

But before we go there, what about your relationship with Jesus? Do you know Him; and if you know Him, do you love Him; and if you love Him, do you serve Him; and if you serve Him, do you make sure everyone you love knows Him in a personal way! We can talk about dreams all we want, but if we have not walked with Christ, anything we do comes up meaningless and empty. Dreams are God’s way of saying, “Walk with Me, and discover true meaning and fulfillment.

Do you know the Lord? I mean, really know the Lord?