DREAMS – Pt 2

Psalm 126:1-3 “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

Moses was a man that dreamed of delivering his nation from the bondage they were under at the hands of the Egyptians. In our last series of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we saw how God placed him on the back side of the desert while he was prepared for the ministry God had for him.

Since he had spent his early years in the household of a king, Moses probably thought that the nation of Israel would be greatly honored to know that a prince was going to take up their cause. We know that did come to pass. He had a dream but tried to fulfill that dream in his own ability.

In this week’s study we want to again emphasize the necessity of God’s work in accomplishing anything of eternal value in and through us.

I. THE DETERMINING OF THE DREAM

In this point we want to see what the Psalmist has to say about the problems faced and the victory that can be experienced by the individual. Notice verse 1 again “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.”

A. We See The PROBLEMS Of Life

Notice the word “captivity.” There are many different opinions to which captivity is being alluded to here. Some commentaries believe this to be the captivity of Babylonian or the Assyrian siege of Sennacherib. But for the application to us, we can understand it to refers\ to all manner of misfortune and trouble. Whatever is meant by the word, "captivity," we know the captivity brought about a tremendous need in the life of God’s people.

I think the first thing we need to understand is that this was a need. Is there a need in your life? I know there is in mine. At this time in the liXES of my wife and myself, there is a very important need in our lives.

Needs are everywhere, but our dream is determined by which weighs the heaviest on our heart. There has to be something that drives you in life. The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 29:18, "Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he." You need a vision or a dream to determine your focus.

Again, I ask the question about whether of not there’s a problem or need in your life? If the answer to that question is “yes,” then I’m sure there is a dream of victory over that problem or need.

We not only see the PROBLEMS of life, but:

B. We See The PRECIOUSNESS Of Faith

Notice verse 1 again, especially the phrase "When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion." If we see a problem or need that troubles us, go to God. The first thing we need is wisdom so we remember the promise found in James 1:5 "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

When you consider the problem or need in your life, ask the question: What would God have you do? What does He want? Study the Word of God, pray and seek the face of God. We must know that God is leading us. It has to be the Lord that does the work, not our own efforts. Paul said in Philippians 2:13, "For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure."

I have come to love Philippians 2:13. God is telling us something vital about needs and problems. We must allow God to work in our lives. In that verse we learn: (1) God works within us (in the person of the Holy Spirit) to give us the desire (to will) to do the right thing, which is His will; (2) God gives us the power (to do) to do what He wants in the need or problem. It doesn’t get any better than that.

God has a perfect will for the need or problem. He wants us to do His will. He wants us to know and do His perfect will, which will be revealed when He knows we will obey. He’s not playing hide-and-seek with His will for our life. Trust Him while in the problem. That may be hard but remember the preciousness of faith.

Notice what we read in Hebrews 11:6 “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”

I love the phrase “must believe that he is. . .” He is what? He’s still God. He’s not just God at certain times and in certain situations. He’s God on the mountains and God in the valleys. He’s God in the good times and God in the bad times. He’s God in the sunshine and He’s God in the rain. We have to just trust God in every need.

We see the PROBLEMS of life and the PRESCIOUSNESS of faith, but also:

C. We See The PRECEPTS Of Scripture

The third ingredient of determining our dream is the Word of God. We should never trust our own intellect or feelings. We read in Jeremiah 10:23, "O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps."

Man’s intellect and emotions are tainted because of the Adamic nature he still has. It would be good if when we get saved that God would eradicate the old nature but he doesn’t.

In discussing the battle that went on in his body, the Apostle Paul said in Roman 9:19 “For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” The old nature gave Paul some problems. He then said in verse 24 “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” Paul, probably the most spiritual man who ever lived outside the Lord Jesus Christ, knew that his intellect and feelings were not sufficient to accomplish spiritual desires and dreams.

The wise man Solomon wrote in Proverbs 20:24 "Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?" Man cannot accomplish anything of himself.

God's will is always found in Scripture. Many people get caught up in a "project" or a "cause", but fail when the emotions of the moment fade. We find the proof for this point in the our text and the phrase, "turned again." God promised the nation of Israel that He would punish their sin and reward their repentance. The Psalmist learned this from the writings of Moses that God honors His repentance.

In next week’s CHALLENGING CONCEPTS we will see THE DISPLAY of the dream.

That’s my view; how about you?