The Rock Church - A contemporary church in Asheville, North Carolina

As we’ve followed the Wizard of Oz, Dorothy dreams of a world beyond Kansas, The Scarecrow want a brain and the Tin Man desires a heart. The Cowardly Lion dreams of courage.

This series has been about awakening the dreams inside of you. Sometimes the circumstances surrounding you doesn’t line up with the dream inside of you. Sometimes it takes courage to fulfill your dream. 

Your dreams are heaven’s hints of your purpose. The fulfillment of your dream is directly impacted by the quality of your thinking. The fulfillment of your dream is also directly impacted by the condition of your heart.

2 Kings 6:24 – 25

In this passage in 2 Kings, Israel is in a terrible set of circumstances. The economy is a mess. Circumstances are terrible.

2 Kings 7:1 – 9

Four lepers find themselves in the middle of desperate circumstances. They make a decision to make a move. They have a defining moment, and ask why should they just sit there and die?

They go to the city of the Arameans and find it deserted. In a day, their circumstances change. They are given good news.

There are defining moments in our lives when you’re going to have to make a decision. Will you get married to that person, go to college, start the business or start the new business?

These are moments that require courage. To not do anything is a decision, just as the decision to get up and get going. Why sit here and do nothing?

You will never discover what God has prepared for you if you don’t make your move.

God had already cleared the camp out for the lepers. There was a significant wealth transfer just waiting for them. But they never would have known if they would have just sat there.

They had every excuse in the book - the economy was rotten, they had leprosy and the enemy could kill them. Instead they saw the sliver of light and stepped out to see what God had waiting for them.

Even though they didn’t know what was on the other side.

It takes Courage to pursue your dream.

Almost 20 years ago, Suzette and I had a dream to start a life-giving church and came to Asheville.

The circumstances were against us. We didn’t know anyone here; we had no money, no equipment, no experience and no real backing.

If we would have waited until things were perfect - we would still be waiting. Twenty years later, we have seen thousands give their life to Christ.

We found what God had for us when we made our move. And that wasn’t the last time we had to find the courage to move:

It took courage to buy land and build a building.

It took courage to go to the nation and go on TV

It took courage to launch a big marketing campaign for Easter.

It takes courage to trust again and forgive.

It takes courage to choose right when wrong is easier.

It takes courage to go against the flow.

It takes courage to share your faith.

It’s all risk.

Five years ago, all hell broke loose on and in our church. I remember the day when it all broke.

Major staff people were having affairs. People who had sworn a life time of allegiance to us began to bail. Momentum started to shift against us as people we loved and helped began to turn on us.

There were days it took everything to simply not get crushed by it all. I began to ask God to take me to another place.  I wondered if He was done with me. Quitting would have been easy.

I say this to say that I know what it means to see your dream start to unravel.

Sometimes it takes courage to stick with the marriage, to stay in school, and stick with your assigned post from God. It takes courage to stick it out.

Sometimes you need the courage to make a move - Sometimes you need the courage to stay with it.

You have a dream, born of God.

Your thinking. Your heart. Your courage.  They are all so important. But the most important thing is the touch of God on your life.

You were born with a dream. The dream may feel like it’s on pause. I hope you can hear God saying that in a moment, things can change.

Why sit there and die? God’s hand is on you. Keep moving. Get under God’s hand because He loves you and believes in your dream. Be courageous.