"Do Not Let Your Dreams Die!"-Joe Riddle

Here is a summation of the sermon last night, It was totally great and I don’t want you all to miss out on the challenge and growth that can come from it.
A little entry on this, Wednesday morning I read the parable found in Matthew 25:14-30. I thought of the talents given to the workers as literal "talents" and or "gifts" to use and multiply. I was mellowed with the realization that many a "talent" was buried in my life, hiding for fear of being snatched away. How strange to think I may lose something if i never used it? How human...blind. So then the sermon played right along the same alley, take a look:

"How fresh and real are your dreams? God is able to take your dreams and empower them! Do not let your dreams die! When you carry a dream you carry life! We're going to talk about how you manage your dreams."

"The waiting game is what your doing while your waiting for tomorrow" Here Joe pulled out a passage in the bible that really meant a lot to him, "Isaiah 66:8-10 says, 'Who has ever heard of such a thing? Who has ever seen such things? Can a country be born in a day or a nation be brought forth in a moment? Yet no sooner is Zion in labor than she gives birth to her children. Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?' Says the Lord. Do i close up the womb when i bring to delivery? Says your God. Rejoice with Jerusalem and be glad for her, and you will love her; rejoice greatly with her, all you who mourn over her." Here Joe makes the point that the time of waiting is like being pregnant, waiting upon delivery, sometimes a woman will go past her due date and be like "why wont this thing get out!!" Its the same as waiting for our dreams to become reality. But just as it says in this passage, God will deliver! He wont spark dreams in your heart just to make you carry them in the depths of you and never see them come to life! Unless of course you allow them to die. "Maybe you have a dream you already let die. Gods ready to take your dreams and breath life into them!"

"Carrying a dream is a process because the first moment trouble comes people allow dreams to die. Living pregnant with Gods vision will cost you everything! Turn your waiting game into something EPIC!" (at this point joe was fired up and began spitting as he spoke...a point well worth the spit :) ) Romans 8:18-19 "I consider that our present sufferings’ are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed"!! Here Joe mentions how Christ considered the cross "nothing". In light of the glory that will be revealed! How many sufferings do we take with joy, as they bring glory to God!? Here’s how ordinary waiting becomes an epic.

"1. Focus living is NON-NEGOTIABLE you become what you behold, the things you stare at are what you become. God knows what’s in the way of your dreams. We cant look at what’s wrong we have to look at what’s going to be. Don’t stare at the cause and not the cost." Hebrews 12:2 "Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Here we see how Christ scorned the cross, considered it nothing!

"2. Success is NON-NEGOTIABLE
Its life or death, the choice is yours, Jesus is asking you, will you take my gift?"

Joe charged us, you, me, with this message about Gods desire for our lives. He gave us dreams, dreams that he wants us to fallow through and see come alive! But, we cannot, simply cannot see those dreams birthed unless we put forth the faith and effort required! What dreams do you have? Have you let them die? This life is short and time is of the essence! Get focused on the RIGHT things and believe full heartedly that God will see them birthed. DONT LET YOUR DREAMS DIE!!!


(all the above was a summation of notes taken at the wave church in Virginia beach with my comments in-between, on a sermon preached by Joe Riddle. The words were conveyed through Joe, than myself, but ultimately it was God who spoke and I glorify Him for speaking to Joe as I am sure these words are of great encouragement.!! I urge you to take hold of your dreams!! Ask me if you see me if I am doing likewise.) If you have anymore questions about the sermon, just zap me a comment here or an email. In Christ’s love,

leah