Capturing Your Dreams by Chasing Your Purpose The Story of Your Life Capturing Your Dreams by Chasing Your Purpose

“All has been heard; the end of the matter is: Fear God [revere and worship Him, knowing that He is] and keep His commandments, for this is the whole of man [the full, original purpose of his creation, the object of God's providence, the root of character, the foundation of all happiness, the adjustment to all inharmonious circumstances and conditions under the sun] and the whole [duty] for every man." Ecclesiastes 12:13 AMPC

The purpose of this series is to help us… To better recognize the God given dreams in our lives, To pursue the proper course in life that stimulates dream fulfillment, To become comfortable with taking the risks required for birthing any dream. To make significant steps closer to seeing the dreams fully realized in our lives.

Dreams are given to us by God to inspire us, to give us direction, and to establish an unbreakable resolve in our hearts. We’re not called to chase the dream, but to believe God for its fulfillment. God expects for us to embrace the dream, but pursue our purpose. Pursuit of Purpose always leads to Dream Fulfillment.

Dream (vision) is our life’s picture Dream (vision) is our life’s picture. The culmination of what we’re being prepared for. It’s the reflection/image of the final destination, the graduation date. Live with the BIG PICTURE in mind. Purpose is our life’s assignment. The daily routine that gives our life significance. It’s the roadway/highway, the daily class work. It’s very clear, uncomplicated, and succinct. Stay focused on your purpose. Gifts/Talents are our life’s tools. The utensils and instruments that are instinctive and unique to us. They are the vehicles that transport us, the equipment we possess to pass every test. Use gifts to enhance your purpose.

“Soon after this, Joseph’s brothers went to pasture their father’s flocks at Shechem. When they had been gone for some time, Jacob said to Joseph, “Your brothers are pasturing the sheep at Shechem. Get ready, and I will send you to them.” “I’m ready to go,” Joseph replied. “Go and see how your brothers and the flocks are getting along,” Jacob said. “Then come back and bring me a report.” So Jacob sent him on his way, and Joseph traveled to Shechem from their home in the valley of Hebron.” Genesis 37:12-14 NLT Don’t allow your dreams to distract or derail you from your purpose. The dream is not given to take you off purpose but to give something for your purpose to point to. Joseph’s purpose in life was simple; to be a son who brought honor and glory to God and his parents.

Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt Now Joseph had been taken down to Egypt. And Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh, captain of the guard, an Egyptian, bought him from the Ishmaelites who had taken him down there. The LORD was with Joseph, and he was a successful man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian. And his master saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand. So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority. (Genesis 39:1-4 NKJV)   Although, you may consider yourself to be far away from realizing the dream in your heart, be faithful to your purpose in the place in which you find yourself.

Can you be true to your purpose and preparation in tight, rigid, restricting circumstances? Your efforts may seem fruitless, but God never wastes a prepared life!

The purpose is not the destination, but find peace in knowing that you’re on the right road and that your efforts are demonstrating God’s goodness to others.

So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field. Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate. Now Joseph was handsome in form and appearance. And it came to pass after these things that his master's wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, "Lie with me." But he refused and said to his master's wife, "Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. "There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?" (Genesis 39:5-9 NKJV)

Poverty is not the lack of money, but the absence or neglect of purpose. If we are chasing a dream rather than our purpose, we are stuck in a poverty state (mentality); thinking the achievement of a dream is going to bring happiness, but really it’s the regular mundane pursuit of our purpose that produces this. “In the meantime, the disciples pressed him, “Rabbi, eat. Aren’t you going to eat?” He told them, “I have food to eat you know nothing about.” The disciples were puzzled. “Who could have brought him food?” Jesus said, “The food that keeps me going is that I do the will of the One who sent me, finishing the work he started.” John 4:31-34 MSG

Joseph in his best day could have never gotten himself in the position to be the ruler of Egypt, but by being faithful in his purpose to bring honor and glory to God, God used the ingredients of his faith and honor to seize an opportunity while he was enslaved and imprisoned to cook up the fulfillment of his dreams.   “He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth. He is [earnestly] mindful of His covenant and forever it is imprinted on His heart, the word which He commanded and established to a thousand generations,” Psalm 105:7-8 AMPC

Next Steps: BE PURPOSE-MINDED: Everyday this week intentionally do something that brings honor and glory to God. Record what you do and at the end of the week share your experiences with someone else letting them know the joy you have in living out your purpose. Have Questions about God or your Relationship with Him? Join us for Growth Track Step One: “Know God” and get your questions answered. Today at 11:20 a.m. – noon in Auditorium #1.