Dreams and Visions

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.” – Joel 2:28

People talk a lot about dreams and visions. Sometimes, they use other words, but questions about direction and goals are fairly common. Students are asked about their dreams for the future. Businesses continually refine vision statements to help their leadership and employees keep focused in their efforts. From the, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” questions we ask our children, to the plans we make for retirement, there are numerous opportunites to discuss our dreams and visions.

Is this what the prophet Joel was talking about? Was he really declaring that God would one day send the Holy Spirit so that we could articulate a vision for our business and ponder our hopes for our future? Was the end of this great gift from God a fancy mission statement to hang on the wall, or some keen financial planning? Is it possible, that the prophet was declaring something much greater?

In the book of Acts, we find this quote from Joel shared by Jesus' disciple Peter. On the day of Pentecost, a great Jewish celebration, the Holy Spirit met Jesus' disciples in a room while they were praying and waiting for the gift Jesus said God would send. Jesus told them that it was good that he went away because the gift that was coming would be worth it. In some amazing words, he said that they would do even greater things than he did because of this wonderful gift. Clearly, Jesus encouraged his early followers to have some pretty big expectations.

After their experience with the promised gift of the Holy Spirit in that upper room, they went out into the streets to declare the good news of God's gift of love, salvation, and power to all who would listen. They were estatic, and shared their story with great excitement. Their passion was so overwhelming, that many people believed they were drunk. This is where Peter stood to say that, instead of being drunk, they were fulfilling the promise made by the prophet Joel. This was great news of God's presence with humanity in a powerful way. It was so much more than the creative words of a leadership think tank.

This morning, I enjoyed a cup of coffee and some great conversation with a coleague in my community. We come from somewhat different backgrounds, and serve in different denominations, but we celebrate that we are joined together under the name of Jesus, and by the power of his Spirit. God is clearly growing a friendship, but God is also giving birth to an amazing vision for the church and the community. Both of us share a sense of great expectation about what God is about to do here. The more we talked, sharing our dreams, the more we sensed a great vision emerging.

Our dreams and visions are far more than wishing for a few more people in attendance Sunday morning, and definately more than hoping for a little more money to pay the bills. Together, we are envisioning a comprehesive transformation of our community and region, that creates a dynamic impact far beyond our geographic location. We are sharing some God-sized dreams and seeking the vision, and direction from God's Spirit to bring them forth.

This is what the prophet Joel saw prophetically. It was a time when the Holy Spirt would help people see things from God's perspective and catch a passionate vision for what God wants to do in, and through, them. It doesn't stop there. The powerful vision of the Holy Spirit is not just for a couple of pastors in a coffee shop today, it is for all of the church of Jesus Christ. If we open ourselves to God and listen for the Spirit's leading, all of us, sons and daughters, old and young, can experience those prophetic dreams and visions. It is a promise!

What dreams is God speaking to you? What God-sized vision is coming to life inside of you, and how does God want to release it in your community and the world? Just imagine what will happen when the prophetic vision spoken by Joel is fully released in our world. Just imagine! Just envision! Just dream!

 

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