Key Passage:
Psalm 133: 1-3 ‘How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe. It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.'

Additional Scripture: Psalm 27:4; Psalm 51:11; Matthew 18:18-20.

This Sunday was called 'No Fear Sunday'. Undoubtedly, we are living at a time of crisis such as we have not experienced before. It is easy to panic and to worry about what the future holds. Yet the Christian faith is full of hope even in the darkest of times. At such moments we can discover the light of God rising upon us. We can experience, as Psalm 46 says, that ‘God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way…’.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus taught that it is in the storm that you find out what your life is really built on. He said that those who follow His teaching and trust in His promises are like a wise man who built his house on a rock. At this time, we need to do all we can practically to safeguard ourselves and others. We should follow public health guidance and pay attention to personal and communal hygiene. But having done all we can practically, we should also focus on how we can become more connected with God and stay connected as a church in changing circumstances. Above all, we can know the presence of God every day and in every situation.

1. It's Important To Gather Together (Hebrews 10:25; Acts 2:46-47)
• Cell Groups
• Online Ministry
• Mini Cells Of Three (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

2. It's Important To Gather In His Name (Acts 2:42)
• The apostles teaching means that we need to read and reflect on the Word of God.
• Fellowship means that we show the love of Jesus to each other:
o Love one another, John 13:34; Be devoted to one another: Romans 12:10; Accept one another (Romans 15:7); Care for one another (1 Corinthians 12:25); Serve one another (Galatians 5:13); Bear one another's burdens (Galatians 6:2); Forgive one another (Ephesians 4:2, 32 and Colossians 3:13); Be patient with one another (Ephesians 4:2; Colossians 3:13); Comfort one another (1 Thessalonians 4:18); Be kind and compassionate to one another (Ephesians 4:32).
• Breaking of bread
• Prayer

3. It’s Important To Know That We Can And Will Experience God’s Presence
• The Lord will be with you (Daniel 3:24-25)
• The Lord will work with you and through you

Apply

When God’s people live together in unity, God’s blessing rains down on us. Unity brings the anointing to our lives. The New Testament writers put great emphasis on the need for Christians to live in unity. Despite troubles, persecutions and not having their own buildings, they grew because they stayed close to one another. As Christians we should be determined to keep meeting together, but how can we do this at a time when we may increasingly need to self-isolate as much as possible? How can the church survive and indeed thrive if for example we were not able to gather for public meetings? The answer is that we should follow a New Testament model of church (Acts 2:46-47). The early church was very flexible to whatever situation they found themselves. Let us take this opportunity to keep gathering in cells and mini cells so no one is overlooked or left alone.

When we gather together in cells or groups of two or three, we are not just having a social gathering, but a gathering focussed on knowing Jesus. This is a time when we need to read the Bible more and apply its teaching and promises to our own lives. We need to take care of each other, especially in times of difficultly and hardship. Just like the early Christians, we must pray fervently, continually and in all situations. Let us pray that God will show us His mercy and protection and remove this plague. Let us lift our hearts and voices in agreement to see the kingdom of God advance in all situations. Let us care for one another at this time and help those in need, showing that we are disciples of Jesus by sharing the love of God. Let us encourage each other not to fear but to stand firm in our faith, knowing that Jesus said in John 16:33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Key Passage: Exodus 33:12-23
Additional Scripture: 2 Chronicles 5:14; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 51:11; Judges 16:20; in 1 Samuel 2:21

The presence of God is much more than a psychic phenomenon or a psychological experience. Just as you can sense the presence of another human being, so you can experience the pure and sometimes overwhelming presence of Almighty God. It is a wonderful thing to experience the presence of God. It has been rightly said that if you really experience the presence of God you are spoiled for anything else in life. Nothing else can compare.

God wants us to live in fellowship with Him. Though Jesus we can know the presence of God not just at some times but at all times. Like Enoch in the Old Testament, we can walk with God by our side when we are young and when we are old, when we are alone and when we are with others, when we are experiencing tough times and when we are rejoicing in good times. Like any relationship our relationship with God has to be developed. From this week, our preaching series will focus on how we can live with the presence of God every day and in every experience of life.

We are to be:
1. Convinced of our need for the presence of God (Exodus 33:15; in Mark 9:36-7)
2. Characterised by the presence of God (Exodus 33:16)
3. Changed by the presence of God
• His Favour (Exodus 33:17)
• His Protection (Exodus 33:20-23)
• His Love (Exodus 33:18-20; Exodus 24:5-7a)
4. Carriers of the presence of God (Exodus 34:29)

Apply
Are you convinced of your need of God like Moses was? Are we as individuals and families and as a church conscious of how much we need the Lord with us in every area of our lives? Or do we think, like so many think in our nation, that knowing God is really no big deal: that we can get by without God. We can rely on our own efforts, our education, our intellects, our finances, our own drive and personalities to succeed in life. All of these have their place, but as Jesus said in Mark 9:36-37 'what good is it for a man to gain the whole world yet forfeit his own soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his own soul?'. If God is missing from a life, that life is fundamentally empty. The most important thing to have on earth is not a material possession, but fellowship with God, the very giver of life.

Do you go about the daily business of life without prioritising your relationship with the Lord? Christians frequently make decisions, sometimes very big decisions, without really seeking to know if God is with them in those decisions. Moses knew how much He and the people of God needed God to be with them. The presence of God among the people of God is what makes the church unique. The Israelites were distinguished from others because they lived with God's supernatural favour and protection, and that's why Moses prayed to God 'If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.' How much do you depend upon the presence of God in your daily life? Do you rely on His presence to guide you in every decision?

When did you last truly experience the presence of God? His presence will change you, and you will receive help, hope and healing. By His presence you will reflect His love, purity, gentleness, humility, goodness and grace. In order to see your home, workplace, community and country changed, determine today be a carrier of the presence of God. From today, make it your priority to develop and practice living in His presence.

Ministry means to serve God. As Christians we are blessed to receive God’s goodness but we also need to give out to build the church and change the world through God's love. As Jesus declared in Matthew 28:19-20, we are each called to share the good news of the gospel and train up committed followers of Jesus known as disciples. God’s plan is to mobilise all the church in this task and for every Christian to fulfil their calling in the ministry, and to do this, we must first receive God's dream for our ministry.

We find an example in the Bible of a man whom Jesus told would have a great ministry. Jesus gave him a great vision of what God would do through him, despite his past mistakes, fears and failures. After receiving his calling to minister the love of Jesus to the multitudes, Peter became a great leader in the early church. He not only did amazing miracles by the power of the Holy Spirit, but spoke to huge crowds to share the gospel, with thousands becoming Christians as a result of his ministry.

1. Confidence (Acts 2:4, 14-41)
2. Conviction (Acts 2:37-38)
3. Compassion (1 Peter 3:8-9; Psalm 112:3-5)

Apply
Do you believe God has a great ministry for you? Have you received God's dream for what He wants to do through you in the ministry this year? You may not see yourself as having leadership potential, but God can do great things in you and for you and use you to have a powerful ministry. After being "filled with the Holy Spirit" on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:4), Peter went from being a violent and fearful man (e.g. cutting off a man's ear in the Garden of Gethsemane and denying Jesus three times) to a new identity as the Apostle Peter, full of confidence in the Lord and conviction in his calling to share the gospel wherever he went. This kind of turnaround only happens when we are transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit. When we have a genuine encounter with Jesus, He transforms our hearts and minds and empowers us. Ask the Lord to stir a new passion in you so that just like Peter, you will feel compelled to share the gospel.

Do you believe the mistakes of your past have disqualified you from having a fruitful ministry in future? You may have felt that you have made such bad mistakes that God could never forgive and use you. No matter what wrongs you have done, God promises to forgive you and make you useful for his kingdom. He wants to give you a fresh start and a new dream for your ministry so that you can share God's great love and compassion to others.

So often we are told to get qualified, get a job, get a house, then work hard so that we can retire early and enjoy a few years at the twilight of our life. This is often the default approach to life and work, but the Bible teaches how empty this can be; there is more to life than this. In this message, we look at how we can ask God to show us a dream to have more than an ordinary life; more than just a job; more than racking up achievements or a sense of accomplishment. We can have a dream from God and be walking in God's purpose in every area of our lives — in our personal lives, family lives, and personal calling. 

To find an example of this counter-cultural approach, we learn from someone in the Bible who was used in a powerful way to achieve the purposes of God and lead the people of God to flourish and become established. This man was also successful in the arts, in industry, and in government. He started at the bottom and rose to the very top. We are looking at the life of David as told in 1-2 Samuel, Kings, and Chronicles. The shepherd boy that became the greatest king of Israel, and a man after God’s heart.

1. Identity; Knowing Who You Are (1 Sam. 16:1, 12-13)
2. Variety; Discovering Your Gifting (1 Sam. 16:18)
3. Creativity; Reflecting Your Creator (1 Sam. 17:37-40)
4. Destiny; Living With Purpose And Direction
(1 Sam. 23:4, 30:7-8, 2 Sam. 2:1-4, 5:3-5, 21:1)
5. Legacy; Having A Lasting Impact (2 Sam. 7:8-13)
6. Intimacy - keeping close to God (2 Sam. 22:2-7, 17-20, 29-37, 47-51)

Apply
Have you allowed the world to define your potential and the size of your dreams? Have you prioritised the things of this world and realised the ways of the world lead to a dead end? We are told in scripture to "not conform to the pattern of this world but to renew our minds" (Romans 12:2) and when we have renewed our minds in Christ and asked for His purpose for our lives we will discover that "all things work for the good of those who love God and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). Don’t label yourself or let the world label you; allow God to reveal your purpose to you in your whole world, not just those things which are considered spiritual. Decide today to walk in that purpose and flourish in the path God has prepared ahead of you. 

Do you look at your season today and feel that the future is bleak? Do you feel like you’ve tried to follow God’s purpose, but your current circumstances don’t match the dream? We can learn from some of the great heroes of the Bible that there are many seasons in life, and God’s path for us is often not that obvious or conventional one. We heard in our message about Family Dreams of Joseph’s life; how he went from family reject, slave, house help, and prison administrator to leader and finance minister of a world superpower. David’s journey to becoming king was also hugely varied, with some of the steps outlined below. Study the scriptures and see how David trusted God in all seasons — good and bad, easier and more difficult. Choose to seek first the Kingdom of God (Matt. 6:33) and let Him lead you in the right path.

1. Shepherd - 1 Samuel 16:12
2. Musician - 1 Samuel 16:18
3. Part-time Courtier - 1 Samuel 16:21-22
4. Caterer - 1 Samuel 17:17-18
5. Entrepreneur - 1 Samuel 17:25-26
6. Private security operator - 1 Samuel 17:32-34
7. Successful Soldier in the IDF - 1 Samuel 18:5
8. Ran a rehab & training organisation - 1 Samuel 22:1-2
9. Was an outlaw - Israel’s most wanted - 1 Samuel 26:1-2
10. Mercenary - 1 Samuel 27
11. Search & Rescue - 1 Samuel 30:7-8
12. The King/Head of State - 2 Samuel 2:4 & 2 Samuel 5:3
13. Worship leader - 2 Samuel 6:14-15
14. Writer - The Psalms

Your family has a destiny. God wants to bless you and every member of your family. God’s promises of blessing to Abraham were not only for him but for each generation of his offspring (Genesis 12, 17, 21). Through Jesus, we are called heirs of these same promises. God plans to make your family great. For us to have great countries and great churches, first we must have great families who are secure in who they are and who are strong in their love for God and for one another.

In this message, we look at the life of someone who survived a lot of pain and dysfunction in his own family. He was a young man of great promise, but as a teenager, his family nearly wrecked his life. He went through many difficult experiences in his 20s because of how his family had mistreated him. He could have become a very bitter and vengeful man, but he ended up as a great leader who brought great blessing to his family and the world. His name was Joseph.

#1. Joseph has a dream for his family (Genesis 37:5-7, 24:3-4, Joshua 24:15, Isaiah 54:13, 3 John 1:4)
#2. Joseph was badly treated by his family (Genesis 37:11-35)
#3. Joseph was blessed despite his family (Genesis 39:1-5, 39:20-23, 42:6-9, Psalm 27:10, 13-14)
#4. Joseph was reconciled with his family (Genesis 42:9, 43:30, 45:1-15, 46:29, Romans 8:28)
#5. Joseph blessed his family (Genesis 45:11)

Apply The Word
What obstacles are in the way of your family’s blessing? As we know all too well, there is a great spiritual battle raging over families. The disastrous effects of dysfunctional and broken families, marriages, and relationships are seen everywhere. From spiralling depression, abuse, personality and relational disorders, fears, and insecurities, to crime and violence. The Bible says that Satan is a thief who wants to rob and kill and destroy. Jesus, however, has come to bring life and love and show us how to build our lives and families on a rock-like foundation. Whenever a society or even a church is going to be built or rebuild, the family is where it all starts. You must take stock of any spiritual darkness that is coming against your family and be determined like Joshua to say that you and your household will serve the Lord (Joshua 24:15).

How many days, weeks, months and years have you wept because of pain and sadness that you have experienced in your family? How much grief are you carrying over broken dreams and broken relationships? How much do you wish it would have all been very different with what has turned out with members of your family? Despite all the bad stuff that Joseph had known at the hands of his family, he discovered that God is in the business of restoring relationships – and He wants to do so in your family too. God can bless your family from this moment in greater ways than you can imagine. Nothing is too broken to be restored.

We can also know this because Joseph is an archetype of Jesus. When Jesus, the beloved Son of God, came to rescue us, he was rejected by his brothers, stripped of his robe, betrayed and abandoned, and given over to death. By our sin, we took part in this. Without God, we failed. But Jesus suffered and rose again and now rules with authority; giving us access to all that we need from His Kingdom of plenty. Make a decision today to pray for your family every day and pursue restoration to God’s plan for you. First repent, then forgive, and finally be restored and reconciled to walk in the great blessings God has for you in your personal life and family life.

In this message, first shared in Bogota, Colombia to a service of over 10,000 people, Pastor Wes outlines the route that we must take to receive God's dreams for our lives and walk in the purpose He has set out for us.

You might be in a place where you're saying ‘I can’t see how my circumstances can change. I have lost my dream.’ In this overview of the return to Jerusalem, that’s where Pastor Wes begins; a people who had nearly lost their dream. But God’s word said to them and says to us; 'I have not finished with you. I have greater plans for you.’ The enemy may have attacked you, but there is hope and a future for you. There is a new beginning for you. In the darkness we can know that there is a light, and hope can be restored. Just like the people of Judah, we might be in a foreign place of captivity, but if we make the right choices today, we can be restored to our rightful place.

We can have the joy of restoration that the psalmist speaks of in Psalm 126; "When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, Lord, like streams in the Negev. Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow, will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them."

1. You must have passion; “Everyone whose heart God had moved."
2. You must prepare; “They prepared to go."
3. You must pay a price; “To go up and build the house of the Lord."

Apply The Word:
Are you fulfilling the purpose God has for you? Are you living the dream God has given you? Or have your circumstances gotten the better of you? Do you find yourself in the wrong place that feels too difficult to leave? To enter into God’s blessing for you, to follow His perfect purpose, to live the dream He has given you, you must change. No matter how far or near you feel, each day the first and foremost priority must be to be more like Jesus and walk close to Him. Make that your first priority each day and you will see your direction restored and your purpose fulfilled.

To apply the individual teaching points from this message, please review the notes from the three separate messages shared at the beginning of this preaching series.

It doesn’t matter your background, your start in life, your current trials or disappointments, nor the frustrations and limitations you’ve experienced – God has amazing plans for your life that He wants to make real to you this year. As well as being spiritual beings, we are physical beings, and God can give us personal dreams. This doesn’t mean God ‘approving’ our own dreams with His blessing, but it means receiving clear vision to see what God sees and recognising His dreams for our personal lives.

God wants to turn around lives where pain, limitation and struggle are the norm, and instead bring blessing, expansion, protection, freedom, and answered prayer. Perhaps today you feel that your life is marked by pain; in your marriage, your family, your health, your bank balance, your debt, your grief, or your loss. Maybe hurtful words have been spoken over you that you carry deep in your heart. Perhaps you can’t see how your life can change. But today God wants to reveal a new dream. A dream full of His blessing, healing, protection and provision, and one that frees you from the pain of the past. Looking at the prayer of Jabez, a man literally marked by and identified with pain, we see how this is possible.

#1. Bless Me ‘Oh, that you would bless me…’ (Gen. 32:24-28, Mark 10:51-52, Matt. 7:9-11, Deut. 28:12)

#2. Enlarge My Territory ‘…and enlarge my territory!’ (Isa. 54:2-3, John 10:10, Luke 16:10, Gen. 26:12, Eph. 3:20, Psalm 34:4-7)

#3. Let me know the presence and favour of God ‘Let your hand be with me…’ (Job 12:10, Neh. 9:19-20, 1 Chron. 29:12)

#4. Keep Me From Pain ‘…keep me from harm so that I will be free from pain.’ (Isa. 43:18-19, 53:5, 54:4, Psalm 121:5-8)

Further Scripture: Psalm 37:4, Jer. 29:11-14, 32:27, Matt. 6:33, Gen. 18:14.

Apply The Word
Are you an honourable person in your family, finances, personal life, workplace, and relationship with God? Before we approach God with our requests, we must be people of honour. Jabez ‘was more honourable than his brothers’ and when he approached God, ‘God granted his request’. We must have this same lifestyle if we want to open the doorway to God’s blessings. (Read more about God’s command to honour in 1 Cor. 6:20, Prov. 3:9, Exo. 20:12, Rom. 13:7, 1 Sam. 2:30). If you have any area of your life which you know doesn’t bring honour to God, repent and turn away from that today so that you can approach God with clean hands.

What is your personal identity? What things from your past mark you? What negative things have you accepted that shape your decisions and future? Jabez was called pain and was marked and identified by pain, but he was not satisfied or settled with living with that curse for the rest of his life. Consider those areas that are marking your personal life or the generations before you. Think of the promises of God and the Word of God and where your identity needs to be corrected with a God-given identity of blessing. Cry out to God that He will change your nature from any negative thing and instead give you His blessings.

Are you faithful with what God has placed in your hands? Do you bring the confidence of your obedience when you approach God with your requests? Jesus promises that those who are faithful in the small will be trusted with more (Luke 16:10). In every area of your life, look at what God has already given you and what you are doing with that gift. Choose today to be excellent in all of the things God has put in your hand, no matter how seemingly small they may be. While doing so, ask God to favour you as you prove yourself a faithful steward in each season.

How clear are your dreams for 2020? Continue to write down your dreams for 2020 as we look at Spiritual, Personal, Family, Ministry, and Secular dreams.

The world today sets goals for all kinds of ambitions; financial, physical, academic, and others. We are called to be even more intentional in our walk with God and pursuit of His purpose and His dreams. In this message, we look at Paul’s words the church in Philippi where he shares of his great focus to lay hold of what God called him to do. He held on to a clear goal his entire life and didn’t stop, but pressed on to achieve God’s purpose in his life. From this passage and Paul’s example, we can learn a great deal about some of the spiritual goals we should set in our life.

Goas we must have:
1. A Personal Relationship With Jesus (Phil 3:10, Eph. 1:17); i. Pray; ii. Read the Bible each day; iii. Be Part of a small group; iv. Be in places where the Word is preached; 2. Know His Power (Phil 3:10, Eph. 1:18-19, 3:16-20, 1 Cor. 2:3-5, Gal 5:25); 3. Be In Partnership (Phil 3:11, Phil. 1:21); 4. Press On (2 Kings 13:15-19, Phil 3:12-14); 5. Receive The Prize (Phil 3:14, 1 Tim. 4:7)

Apply The Word
Have you asked God to awaken you to the spiritual dreams He has for you? Paul was absolutely clear what God called him to do. If we are going to run a race with perseverance and passion, the only way to be sustained is to have clarity on our direction. Joseph is another example of a man who had God’s dream in his heart and held on to it through trial, slavery, prison, and as the prime minister of Egypt. If you don’t have this same clarity of purpose and vision, continue to press on and seek God at the start of this year to open your eyes and give you clear vision.

How consistent are your daily spiritual disciplines? How important do you place daily prayer, the Word, communion with groups of believers, and being in places where the Word is preached? To walk with Christ and be like Christ, we need to reinforce our personal relationship with Him. The daily disciplines of a disciple are simple but too often and too easily lost in the busyness of life. Be determined to walk with the Holy Spirit and be in daily communion with God and other believers.

Do you find it hard to keep going? Have you got sight of the final destination, of walking with the Lord for eternity? Paul pressed on because he knew there was a ‘final prize’; the heavenward call of Christ. If we want to keep going and continue to press on until we receive the prize, we need to have that settled in our hearts. This conviction will be reinforced as you apply the steps outlined in this message. Draw near to Jesus and spend time in His Word and you will be transformed by the renewal of your mind. Pray each day for a renewed anointing of the Holy Spirit so that your steps can be guided by Him.

How clear are your dreams for 2020? Continue to write down your dreams for 2020. For the next 4 weeks, the messages will continue to cover the different areas where we should have clear dreams; following this week’s message on Spiritual dreams with Personal, Family, Ministry, and Secular.

Today are we aware and willing to pay a price in pursuing God’s dream for our lives? In this message, we look at what investments we must make if we are determined and passionate to receive God’s dream. We continue in our series passage found in Ezra 1:5 where we see how the families who returned had to pay the price to receive God’s dream. They did so many times and over many years, but the result was the completion of the temple and rebuilt walls of Jerusalem. Every victory ever achieved has required sacrifice, with the greatest and ultimate sacrifice being Jesus, who died for us on the cross. We must make investments in our lives today and pay a price if we are to see the victory. Are you going to be among the people who pay a price to receive the dream?

We Must Be Willing To Pay A Price To:
1. Pray (Col. 4:12)
2. Give (Ezra 2:68-69, 2 Sam. 24:24)
3. Lead (Ezra 2:1-2, Exo. 3-4)
4. Go Out & Win People To Christ (Matt. 28:19, Mark 16:15, Luke 14:21)
5. Work For God (Ezra 3:8)
6. Be Thought A Fool For Christ (Matt. 10:22, Mark 8:38, Matt. 5:11)
7. Fully Surrender To God (Luke 22:42, Ezra 6:14-15)

Apply The Word
How do you invest in the 7 areas above? Are you consistent in paying the price in these areas or do you give up easily? Do you only pay the price when it’s convenient or do you deny yourself as Jesus commands in Matthew 16:24?

Note down any or all of the areas where you have struggled to pay the price. For each area, write down the excuses that have limited you, such as personal lack, people’s opinions of you, focusing on other things. Include against each area any habits that have prohibited you from reaching all that God has set ahead of you. Look to Moses’ excuses found in Exodus 3-4 and see how God dealt with his personal insecurity and excuses yet achieved great things through his life. Now read the scriptures found with each of the areas you need to focus in and declare the truth of these words against any of the excuses.

How clear are your dreams for 2020? Continue to write down your dreams for 2020 in all areas; Spiritual, Personal, Family, Ministry, Secular. When writing your dream book, as well as capturing God’s dreams for you, include the lifestyle changes that are necessary to see the dream fully received in your life. Include in your dream book how you can focus on these 7 areas of investment in 2020.

We continue to look at the return of the people of God from exile in this week’s message looking at Ezra 1. This was a big undertaking as families left their homes and lives for something new and unknown. They would have to be clear in their faith and vision, they would have to be clear about the challenges of being different to achieve something different.

Before they moved to the next stage they needed to be prepared. We see how they had to;
* Prepare Their Family — family heads had to instill the dream into their family and inspire them that they were part of a new generation;
* Prepare Their Leadership — the priests and the Levites had to move out of their comfort zones and have new passion to impart to the people they were leading;
* Prepare All Who Were Passionate For God — all whose hearts God moved made this decision to move into something new and return to God’s dream for them.

We must help and disciple anyone, of any age and background, who wants to serve God as leaders, pastors, and preachers. As we read in the New Testament; "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up.” (Ephesians 4:11-12). This is why we believe in people being developed through small group ministry and teams of 12. This is also why we want to get every new Christian on Life Class and why we need to form leaders at Destiny Training.

We must prepare!


10 Ways To Prepare Yourself To Receive God's Dream
Read and apply these 10 points in your personal life, family, and small groups.

1. Consecrate yourself to God

Surrender all your life to the Lord. Set yourself aside to put God first in everything.
Ask for the blood of Jesus to cleanse you from sin and iniquity.
Seek for the fire of His Holy Spirit to empower you.

2. Take responsibility for your own life

You don’t have to be a victim of negative circumstances and experiences. You don’t have to defined by what other people think of you, say about you or how they treat you. You may have had a lot of bad stuff that could pull you down but you don’t have to go down or stay down.

God has given us both a human spirit and the Holy Spirit to rise up and rule over everything that is against us. We may have been enslaved but we don’t have to stay enslaved. God has given His children authority to be creative and to multiply and prosper. So get on and make decisions about what you will sow and reap.

3. Conquer a disciplined daily devotional of prayer and Bible Reading and study

Plan to read the Bible through a minimum of once every 12 months. Ask God for daily bread from the scriptures to feed you. Discipline is not legalism. It’s building a spiritual foundation for your life.

4. Establish a devotional discipline in your family and home

Help your children with a plan. Get them to share what they learn. Have a family time weekly, and aim for daily time in the Bible like Casper Ten Boom with his family.

5. Focus on your dreams

Visualise the dreams of God. Decide your priorities. Write down what’s important and what you want to achieve. What you focus on is what you will move towards.

6. Excel at time management

Spend you time on what you have prioritised; cut out activities that will not help you achieve your priorities and maximise your time with people who will help you achieve your goals.

Aim to spend time with your coach/discipler who will stretch you and equip you to go higher.

Organise and de-clutter your diary; be realistic about what you can and can’t do.

Look at your watch so you always know the time and keep on time: better 15 mins early than 15 mins late.

7. Get your finances in order

Money can be either a help or a hindrance. If you are in debt be determined to get out of debt and not to live with debt. Debt will slow you down and undermine your dreams; debt is slavery and credit is a seductress.

Ask God and charity professionals to help you organise your budget and stick to your budget. Then focus on earning all you can. Saving all you can. Giving all you can. The big giver is going to be a big receiver!

8. Get in shape physically

Diet and exercise need to be on the menu for many of us. Don’t be discouraged but rise up to slim down. Excess baggage is costly in health, energy and well being. If we are going to travel faster for God we need to travel lighter.

9. Make sure your marriage is in the best condition possible

Two are better than one. You are stronger together. Don’t get robbed through resentments and arguments. Don’t lead separate lives and simply coexist. Be the power couple God always intended you to be.

10. Forgive everyone

Bitterness and unforgiveness will rot your spirit and wreck your dreams. Don’t waste precious time holding grudges and blaming others. Just forgive people as Jesus taught and demonstrated. When you forgive and are quick to say sorry and ask for forgiveness you will be forgiven. You will also be freed up to be creative and move into all the new blessings God has for you.