“If you can dare to dream and apply or follow the laws and principles that it requires for it to be actualized, you have found the path to dominion.”

 

What is a dream? Why are dreams so important? And what role does it play in the birthing, emergence, or manifestation of great destinies? Dreams are very important and the role they play in the manifestation of great destinies cannot be over emphasized. A dream is a cherished aspiration, ambition, or ideal. A dream could also be said to a strongly desired goal or purpose. So, dream brings purpose, in fact dream and purpose are inseparable.

 

As much as there could be men who dream and would want to live out their dreams, there are also men who do not dream or who do not have a dream. This means that there is a difference between not dreaming and not having a dream and there is a difference between I once had a dream and I have a dream. These statements could be interpreted depending on context, but in relation to the context of our discuss, ‘I once had a dream’ talks about not believing anymore in what you used to believe. I have a dream means you are pursuing, what you have believed with determination and doggedness, by the virtue of your persuasion and inclination.

 

Having said that, one could say I have a dream. But the question is; who gave you the dream? And I want you to know that there are dreams that could either be given or crafted. A given dream is a divine picture or an idea of the future not just the future, but what you should be doing, where you should be doing what you are doing per time. But a dream that is crafted is a function of fantasies, self-aggrandizement, with zero purpose or zero interest of God in it.  Crafted dreams are characterized by two things; they are either not fulfilled, or there is no satisfaction or fulfillment on the part of the dreamer although they are actualized. (Think about this.)

 

So, when the word emergence or manifestation are mentioned, they are simply talking about the action or fact of showing something. So, every man on the earth ought to be doing one or two of these two things; manifesting Gods dream, or have become God’s dream being manifested. What is the meaning of these two statements? You are either making Gods dream a possibility or you are becoming one who will make God’s dreams and purposes a possibility, or you are frustrating the possibility of making God’s dream a possibility.  Those who frustrate the possibility of making God’s dream a reality, are those who craft their own dreams.

 

The earth has been designed to allow for the manifestation of only the dream that is permitted or given from above to become a possibility. I know this because what is given from above is above all. God’s purposes ultimately superimpose and would have the preeminence. So, manifesting or living out your dream is simply a function of becoming one with the original plan of God for your life.

 

I would like you to join me consider and explore together certain verses of Genesis chapter 37, there are lessons there I find so apt and indispensable to our leadership and emergence. But before then I would like you to read with me Genesis 42:9. The Bible says; - "And he remembered the dreams he had had many years before." The reason I am beginning with this verse of the Scripture is because it provides a clearer perspective into this subject matter.

 

I implore you to read patiently through this article because as sensitive and as complex this subject matter could be, I trust the Holy Spirit to balance it and teach us in its simplest of terms something new that the knowledge would be applicable and beneficial to our lives and leadership.

 

Let me begin by introducing you to the person or the character this verse is talking about. His name is Joseph. He was having a conversation with his brothers. If you are familiar with this story, you will discover that at this point his identity was still hidden or concealed from his brothers. And at this point, he was already a prime minister.

 

Having remembered the dreams, he had had many years ago, verse 10 says; “But they said to him, No, my lord, but your servants have come [only] to buy food.” I want us to note those words; they said “no, my Lord but your servants have come to buy food”. See the careful selection of the words used here; lord and servant, buy and food. Verse 6 says; Joseph’s [half] brothers came and bowed themselves down before him with their faces to the ground.

 

You will recall that he came into Egypt as a slave not willingly but by the conspiracy of his brothers. Yet it was all a ground plan for the dreams he had had to come into manifestation. The Bible says; He sent a man before them—Joseph—who was sold as a slave. ¹⁸They hurt his feet with fetters, [a]He was laid in irons. Until the time that his word came to pass, until his dreams came to pass, the word of the Lord tested him. (Psalm 105:17-19) But having gotten into Egypt, although a slave, he didn't have a slave mindset. Although he served, yet he knew who he was, He knew where he was coming from, and he knew where he is going. He was not ignorant of the plan of God for His life. Dreams brings a man to a consciousness of where he is, where he is coming from and where he is going. These indices are not fer-fetched from a dreamer.

 

So, a dream is a pictorial representation of God’s future plan for you. When God says I know the thoughts that I think towards you, they are of good and not of evil to give you a future and a hope. That becomes your dream; you carry it in your consciousness; in whatever you do, where ever you go, in whatever situation, whether prison, pit, wilderness; you know that the picture of the word that has sat deep into your spirit will not fail. Although your coat of many colors was removed, you still know the future is brighter, more colorful and better than the coat. Looking at it from this perspective; your vision is your dream and your dream is your vision. Which we could say it is the mental picture of the future that you have.  

 

I am sure when Joseph began to dream or see the picture of the future, he must have been wondering, how shall these things be? Considering the fact that in all the factors, he was disadvantaged. Mary asked the same question. “How shall it be since I do not know a man.” This was how God made it possible; The Bible says and the angel said to her the Holy Spirit will come upon you and the power of the highest will over shadow you. After wards the Bible says and the word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory as of the glory of the Father. So, dreams are fulfilled by the help of the Holy Spirit. The Bible says it is not by power, nor by might but by My Spirit.

 

 How did God make it possible for Joseph? Psalm 105 verse 16 gave that insight. It says; “Moreover ‘He’; talking about God. He called for a famine in the land; He destroyed all the provision of bread.” Having done that, He put the key to the store house of food and grain in the hands of Joseph. If you look and compare the trajectory of your life and the dreams of the future that God has showed you, you will appreciate the process, the path and the journey God is taking you through. It doesn’t take God anything to bless or establish a man. It doesn’t take God anything to change a man’s story. All He has to do is to create a problem, and route a solution through that man.

 

So, while there was scarcity in Egypt and all over the world, the key of abundance and surplus was put into the hands of Joseph. When God wants to bless a man, He makes surplus to that man what is scarce to the generation of that man. Who would have taught including Joseph that the whole world will come to Egypt for bread. The Bible says while the word was scare in Israel it was so that a Samuel will be established as the prophet of the Lord. (1 Samuel 3:20) Emphasis added.

 

The Bible says Jesus although a son, He learned obedience by the things he suffered. Why? Because there was a joy, there was a dream that was set before Him. What produces that joy in a dreamer is the nature of the future that has been revealed to him by God via the word, via dreams or visions. So, Jesus having found Himself in the likeness of a man, having come to the earth, just like Jospeh got to Egypt; He humbled himself. So, he was found among his disciples as one who serves.

 

So, Joseph entered into Egypt with something that may not be seen on his hands, as a matter of fact his hands and feet were chained, yet he entered Egypt with something bigger than Egypt. What did he enter Egypt with? He entered with a dream. And this is a similitude of God’s intention for every man coming into the world. You didn’t come into the earth empty- handed, you came with a dream. And this is the reason why I said so.  

 

Referring back to verse 5 of Genesis 37, it says; Now Joseph had a dream, and he told it to his brothers. Verse 9 of chapter 42 says and he remembered the dreams he had had many years ago. What was the dream he had? Verse 6 of Genesis 37 says; “So he said to them, “Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: ⁷ There we were, binding sheaves in the field. Then behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and in deed your sheaves stood all around and bowed down to my sheaf.”

 

So, as at the time he had the dream in chapter 37, he was a nobody, but by the time he remembered the dream he was a man who had risen to power, he had become the governor of Egypt. Only in regards to the throne that pharaoh was greater. So, there was a difference or transition over time. Why did I say Joseph entered into Egypt as a slave but his mind was not that of a slave? The reason is simple; Because he had a dream. Your dream will not make you consider your present circumstance, it makes you focus on the joy ahead. Jesus also had this disposition. This is the reason why this mind must be in us even as it was in Christ. Apostle Paul speaking concerning Him said who for the joy that was se before Him, He despised the shame and endured the cross.

 

That verse says “he remembered” I’m sure you will agree with me it takes a sound mind to remember and it is produced by the Holy Spirit. So, that dream was imprinted on his heart. It followed him wherever he went. Whether in the pit, or in the wilderness, or in the prison. The Bible says let this mind be in you which was in Christ Jesus. There was a kind of mind he entered Egypt with. It was a mind that compelled the laws that confers leadership to walk in his favour. Is there a mind that must be in you? A mind that has the capacity to produce extraordinary results? I don’t know about you but I desire it. Take a few minutes to pray and say Lord I want to have the mind of Christ. Bible says God has not given us the Spirit of fear but of love, of power and of a sound mind. The mind of Christ is the Spirit of wisdom and excellence fully finding expression through a vessel. The Bible also said he who lacks wisdom, who lacks dreams and visions should ask from God who gives liberally and upbraided not. Go ahead and ask Lord. In Jesus mighty name.

 
Welcome back! There is something I found so interesting about Joseph. He was the son Jacob, the son of Isaac the son of Abraham. By covenant blessing God prospered his father Abraham in cattle, when it came to Isaac God prospered and multiplied the seeds he had sown even in the time of famine and drought such that he prospered, until he became exceedingly prosperous. What about Jacob? By the virtue of that covenant, he prospered in the house of Laban such that his cattle where numerous in numbers. But when it came to the sons Jacob, I couldn't see that continuity. Beginning from Abraham to Isaac and to Jacob they had dreams, encounters, visions, the word of God, the promises of God, they built alters for God. But the sons of Jacob didn't trap that in their consciousness except Joseph. Although the preordination factor played out, but one dream, vision or encounter given from God can utter a man’s destiny.

 

What keyed Joseph to the covenant and the blessings of his fathers was because he knew that laws, principles and values are built upon dream as the foundation. Dreams amongst many things produces hope, faith, enthusiasm; it reminds you of your purpose, it looks like the prize that you must attain, it looks like the prize that you will receive, so you run with endurance with your eyes fixed at it.  So, you have something to live for. The Bible says they hurt his feet with fetters of iron. The beginning of the journey to greatness begins with a dream. It may start very little but the latter end shall greatly increase.

 

So, what are the benefits of a dream that is given from God?

#. It gives you perspective and understanding of the times, thereby aligning you to the intention of God per time. This means that it helps you recognize uncommon pathways. Joseph in his interpretation said there would be seven years of plenty and seven years of famine. And Egypt began to prepare it was looking strange at that time but it was an alignment to position correctly for the next seven years. With your dreams, you are not afraid to stand out, to champion a course and it demands nothing but make you the standard. Jesus became our standard and model, we look unto Him because He went through and aligned with every of God’s will. See what Genesis 37:6 says; “So he said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed.” He was simply sharing with them God’s plan, God’s will; what will become of the earth in years to come. Bible says the sons of Issachar had understanding of the times and the seasons.

 

#. Dreams are a pathway to dominion. See what the brothers of Joseph said in Genesis 37 verse 8 – “And his brothers said to him, "Shall you indeed reign over us? Or shall you indeed have dominion over us?"  Joseph simply shared a dream and they responded with a question; shall you indeed have dominion over us? They knew dominion and reign comes from dreams and vision. Dreams is like the foundation that prepares for the building blocks and the capacity of the mind to imagine, synthesize or process certain information that are beyond this realm. Spectacular things, attaining to certain heights are a function of dreams. This is why it is often said that we are in a dreamer’s world or dreamers rule the world. If you can dare to dream and apply or follow the laws and principles that it requires, you have found the path to dominion.

 

#. Dream infuses in a man energy and passion. And these two talks about enthusiasm, determination and hope, patience and endurance, love and partnership. Genesis 37:9 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." He had another dream, I thought he would have kept it to himself because he didn’t have an audience that love to listen to dreams, but the Bible says he told it to his brothers. He shared the dream with them. Someone once said the brothers of Joseph failed to realized that they were also stars.

 

Dreams bring you into partnership and association. If kings have not come to you or sent for you or give you attention, it is because you are either not dreaming or you are not sharing your dream. When it was time for pharaohs dream to bring to fulfillment the dream of Joseph; Interpretations to Pharaoh’s dream were not given according to the things taught or learnt. They were a function of inspiration from the Holy Spirit. And when he was brought into that partnership with Pharoah, energy and passion drove to accomplish much for the king.

 

#. Dreams demands responsibility by placing the burden of leadership on the dreamer. If you are not willing to lead, don’t dream, but if you begin to dream, it confers on you the burden of leadership. Effectiveness in leadership and how far you will carry the burdens of leadership is a function of dreams or vision. The Bible speaking about Jesus, it says and the government shall be upon His shoulder. If there was no joy-dream set ahead of Him, He wouldn’t have endured the cross or despised the shame. For any process to be endured, for any shame to be despised a joy or dream must be set ahead of the leader otherwise although capacity is available, the willingness might be missing.

 

#. Dream demands undivided loyalty and allegiance on the part of the dreamer. When you are serious about actualizing your dreams, it will leave you with no middle ground or options. It is either you attain or you must attain. There is no room for compromise or short cuts. Your dream helps you to have a clear-cut perspective in regards to knowing the difference between good, disposable and perfect opportunities.

 

How then can one have/find a dream

#. Habakkuk 2 verse 2 says; Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision.” But before this vision came, before he found his dream, there was a posture he took. Verse 1 says; “I will stand my watch and set myself on the rampart, and watch to see what He will say to me.”

So, how do you find a dream? You must stand upon your watch and set yourself on the rampart. What does it mean? You must ask the Lord in the place of prayer, becoming restless, pressing in the place of prayer with expectations until the revelation comes.

 

#. Revelations 1 verse 10 says; I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day, and I heard behind me a loud voice, as of a trumpet, ¹¹saying, [g]“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last,” and, “What you see, write in a book and send it to the seven churches.”

It is one thing to press in the place of prayer, it is another thing to be in the Spirit. Because, dreams are spiritual, you must be in the Spirit to receive them. This means that you have to be sensitive and discerning.

 

#. Genesis 28 verse 16 and 17 says; “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and he said, “Without any doubt the LORD is in this place, and I did not realize it.” ¹⁷So he was afraid and said, “How fearful and awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gateway to heaven.”

I want you to note the statement that Jocob made. He said “This is none other than the house of God.” And I realized two secrets from this verse. Number one: the house of God is the gateway to heaven. Number two: The house of God is known to be a holy place. Now this is the secret. You will have or find dreams and visions if you have a burning alter and a covenant relationship with God. This means that because, you have allowed your body to be the temple of the Holy Spirit, because you have allowed your body to be the house of God, the heavens will be opened and you will see visions of God. See what Jecob said; This is none other than the house of God. When you separate yourself and wholly set yourself apart to God, dreams and visions becomes a regular occurrence in your life.

Thanks for the gift of your time, I am Apeh Francis Abah!

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