12.6.7 "Why Live the DREAM?"

"Why Live the DREAM?"

Hosea 4:1-5:15
2 John 1:1-13
Psalm 125:1-5
Proverbs 29:9-11

Each morning the "DEVO" ends with the phrase "Through the Power of the Spirit, Live the DREAM". How important is it that we Live the DREAM? What does it mean? Why is it important? Today is kind of a refresher as well as a challenge.

As you know, DREAM is merely an acrostic that helps us remember the 5 elements necessary to live the Balanced Christian Life:
-Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship represents our relationship with the Lord which is our worship. This is our fellowship with Him. The highest form of worship is obedience.
-Relationships Devoted to Unity is how we should live in fellowship with one another, completely devoted and committed to unity. Submission is the principle of unity.
-Empowered Through Biblical Training represents discipleship. The principle is Discipline. We need to discipline ourselves to the alignment of God's Word.
-Active Ministry Involvement represents our stewardship of the gifts God has given us. The principle of this is Responsibility.
-Mission to Reach our World for Christ is our Purpose. This is the aim of all we do, to draw others to Christ.

Why the refresher? Because too often the tools that God places in our hands become too "common" to us. We too easily forget the daily impact that God's word needs to have on our lives. The reality of this is brought out in Hosea 4:1-3:

"Hear the word of the Lord, O people of Israel. The Lord has filed a lawsuit against you listing the following charges: There is no faithfulness, no kindness, no knowledge of God in your land. You swear and lie and kill and steal and commit adultery. There is violence everywhere, with one murder after another. That is why your land is not producing; it is filled with sadness, and all living things grow sick and die; the animals, the birds, and even the fish begin to disappear."

Doesn't that sound like where we live today? Well the reality comes in at verse 4:

"Don't point your finger at someone else, and try to pass the blame to him! Look, priest, I am pointing my finger at you."

It's so easy for me to sit back and look at how bad the world is getting, and not realize that I need to take responsibility for it. What kind of impact do you think the church would have if believers were living the Balanced Christian Life?

Just look at Empowered Through Biblical Training. verse 6 says, "My people are destroyed because they don't know me, and it is all your fault, you priests, for you yourselves refuse to know me;"

I often use the phrase, "The world is desperate for you to be who God created you to be." What is the desperation? To know God! If they don't know God, it's because I don't know God!

I want to be careful here, and not open the door to condemnation. That's not a part of who God wants us to be. But, we do need to take Responsibility (A) for what God has placed in our hands. Our influence. Our Purpose (M).

The book of 2 John is a short letter to a woman named Cyria. He speaks of this woman in high regard: "To: that dear woman Cyria, one of God's very own, and to her children whom I love so much, as does everyone else in the church." (2 John 1:1) verse 4 says, "How happy I am to find some of your children here, and to see that they are living as they should, following the Truth, obeying God's command."

This woman is making an impact as she is becoming who God has created her to be. There is fruit.

John also encourages her in the area of unity. "And now I want to urgently remind you, dear friends, of the old rule God gave us right from the beginning, that Christians should love one another. If we love God, we will do whatever he tells us to. And he has told us from the very first to love each other." (1:5-6) This must be a priority.

In verse 9, John refers to the discipline of aligning to God's word (E). "For if you wander beyond the teaching of Christ, you will leave God behind;" Too often the philosophies of the world drive us instead of the principles of scripture.

Why Live the DREAM? Psalm 125:1 says, "Those who trust in the Lord are as steady as Mount Zion, unmoved by any circumstance." As we live our lives guided by the principles of God's word, we become stable. This is a huge need in our world today. If you notice, the court systems are losing the stability of truth. What the verdicts are showing is that "In this circumstance, the law means this.... In this circumstance, the law means that..." Instead of aligning the circumstance to truth, we align truth to the circumstance.

My heart burns with the urgency that I become who God has created me to be. God has given me this life to use for His glory. All of my energy and focus need to be to this end. I need to Live the DREAM!



Through the Power of the Spirit,
Live the DREAM!

P Greg


Dynamic Lifestyle of Worship
Relationships Devoted to Unity
Empowered Through Biblical Training
Active Ministry Involvement
Mission to Reach our World for Christ