Joseph’s father put a mantle of love and blessing on him
Keep taking off what God has taken off of you and putting on what God gives
Develop your capacity for dreams and visions
Joseph’s whole life was surrounded by dreams and visions (Genesis 37:5)
Dreamers and visionaries live life out of a different center: they live by a different compass
They see what can be, not just what is or what has been
God is a dream-giving God: you are created to be a dreamer, a visionary
You can have a dream or vision for your work, ministry, health, relationships, etc.
Your future is formed by the vision you carry for it
Make your decisions and choices out of the potential of your dream
A dream gives you direction, unlocks your potential, adds value to your life and work, and predicts your future
Proverbs 29:19 “Without a vision, people perish.”
We have to learn to love dreams and visions
Find people who support your dreams and visions
Develop strategic plans for your life, business, family, and ministry
Genesis 41:33-37; Joseph proposed a plan of action out of a dream
Dreams and mantles are important, but you direct your life with the plans you make
Proverbs 21:5 “The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.”
Have a dream, make a plan, take action and then course adjust
It’s all about what your plan or goal makes you become
Genesis 41:45; Joseph is named “Zaphenath-Paneah” which means “God speaks, God lives”
Joseph’s wisdom, insight, and leadership brought glory to God
Shake the dust of the past off of you
The pit, the prison, the lies, and the family drama was all part of Joseph’s training
Those experiences could have made him bitter or better
He had a dream at 17 but wasn’t ready to fulfill it yet
Genesis 50:20 “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.”
We need faith for our past as well as faith for our future
Don’t let what others have done wrong to you in the past continue to control you now or in the future
Don’t keep making decisions about your future based on protecting yourself from all the pain of the past
Romans 8:28 “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
Shake off your past and wear your mantle of blessing: people need you!
Name your future well instead of out of your pain of the past
Facilitating Discussion
What dreams and visions has God given you for your future?
