When The Dream Takes You To The Dark // Night School Pt. 7 // The Blueprint with Dr. Dharius Daniels

What's up, family? Hope you're doing absolutely amazing. Welcome to the blueprint, a third way Bible study. We believe there are three ways you can live your life. Cultur's way, church's way, and the king's way. Culture's way, the way of the world, culture's way, the way of religion, the king's way, the way of the rabbi.

And we believe the way of Jesus, the way of Jesus is not just a way that teaches us how to die. It teaches us [laughter] how to live. And we believe he left us with a blueprint. That is the Bible. And it is the blueprint to God's best for our lives.

And we're grateful to have you with us today. I got my main man with me one more time, the Reverend Dr. Marcus Derell. Deadly. [laughter] >> Yes, sir. >> Put Reverend on the name. The Reverend Dr. Marcus Derell Dell. We're incredibly grateful to have y'all with us on tonight, man.

Shout out to everybody that's watching us online and to those that are watching us inside of our Change Church locations ((music playing)) >> um for 180 nights across all of our campuses. So, we're excited to be here, man. God's ((music playing)) good. >> He is. Speaking of Change Church, uh to all of our family ((music playing)) and supporters, ministry partners in the New York City area, I need you to mark your calendars.

((music playing)) March 18th. March 18th. March the 18th. >> March 18th >> in the 2026 in the year of our Lord [laughter] at 7:30 ((music playing)) p.m. We want you to join us >> and we're incredibly excited about it. New York is one of uh our top cities. I get a report each week and it's the the cities are pretty consistent that lets us know where are the top five cities that most people are watching us from >> and New York ((music playing)) is constantly in the top three actually.

And so um Atlanta's number one ((music playing)) and New York is always relatively close to that. It vacasillates between two and three. So anyway, man, we ((music playing)) said, "Hey, there are a group of people that are there in the New York City area that are gleaning from what God's doing at Change Church.

Some are part of what God's doing at Change ((music playing)) Church." We said, "Let's bring a live worship experience to them." So, we [clears throat] want you to go to lifechange.org if you are ((music playing)) um intending on coming. RSVP, that's going to be important so that we u make sure we got adequate space.

((music playing)) But um if you know somebody in the New York area, tell them to get to the building. It's going to be an incredible night >> cuz they still wear Tims. I got my Tims ready, though. [laughter] They ready to wear the Timberless. I got my Tims ready, man. Tims [laughter] got my Tims ready.

What's up, son? >> It's It's going to be incredible. It's going to be incredible. All right, let's get to the word, man. We ((music playing)) are um in a series, the last lesson in this series that we've been in this year called Night School. And we're going to talk from this subject tonight.

When the dream takes you to the dark. >> When the dream takes you to the dark. Um we're in a series here called Night School. And this series is intended >> to help disciple us on how to handle the dark. Right. >> Now, the word disciple means student learner or more importantly an apprentice. >> And I think the word apprentice is at least in this day and age is the most appropriate word to use to get the message across to people on what a disciple really is.

Right? >> Because you could be a student that learns something that you never put into practice. >> Right? And so when we are uh instructed to make disciples or to be a disciple of Jesus, [snorts] >> it is not just >> uh us being instructed to learn from Jesus, but to also >> put into practice.

It's not just to be a recipient of education, >> but to engage in application. So it's an apprentice. If somebody's a an apprentice of a doctor, an apprentice of a plumber, an an apprentice of a lawyer, an apprentice of an electrician, you're not just getting information, right? You're in you're an understudy, >> engaging in application, putting into practice >> those things that you've seen and that you've learned. >> That's so good >> from u the person that's discipling you.

Mhm. >> And so this series is intended to disciple us on how to practically handle the dark. >> And and we all have dark times that we call night seasons. And there are three ways you can handle night seasons. Culture's way, which is to run from the dark.

We call that escapism, >> right? To check out to to engage in activity that is ungodly or or if it's not ungodly, unhelpful. that just kind of escapes temporarily but but doesn't address the issue realistically. Then there's a church's way which is to pretend it's not dark. >> This is religious rhetoric.

It's denial. It is I don't claim it. >> Spiritual bypassing. >> Spiritual bypassing. >> Spiritual bypassing. >> Yes. >> But the king's way is to develop in the dark. [laughter] >> And God wants to develop us in the dark. wants to turn our night seasons into night school. We don't always get to determine whether or not we have night seasons, >> but we do determine whether or not we allow God to make the night seasons night school. >> Where we learn something we haven't learned before, become who we haven't become before so we can do what we haven't done before.

You know, this is what we call pastor in uh some spiritual traditions they call it passive spiritual growth. Mhm. >> And this is the spiritual growth I like the least. [laughter] >> Yeah. >> Yeah. So there's active spiritual growth. Those are the things you you and I do actively to grow. >> Engage. >> Spiritual disciplines.

Prayer, fasting, study of scripture, etc. >> Then there's passive spiritual growth. It doesn't mean you do nothing. It means you're not acting. You're being acted upon. >> Acted upon. And pastor, one of the ways that you know it is it's difficult. some of that that uh passive is difficult but one of the things I often understand is if God gives it permission it has purpose. >> Yes sir. >> Yes sir. >> So even the passive growth has has purpose.

If God's if God permit it yeah >> it has purpose >> 100%. >> It may not feel good but it's working for our good. >> Can you speak to this really quickly pastor? How this is second way now >> people confuse God permitting or allowing >> Mhm. >> with God causing >> or endorsing. >> Wow. >> Cuz I know a lot of times in second way, let's say there's loss, somebody loses a loved one, >> people will say like God took your grandmother. >> No, that's so good, pastor.

Uh, >> and I think one of the ways that you you have to I think it's it's free will is God is sovereign. >> And [clears throat] I think that there are we talked about it. There are consequences to our actions. >> There are some [clears throat] sometimes our actions what we do precipitate some of the things we experience >> right >> now.

God allowing it >> is simply God saying, "Hey, I'm using this to do something in you." That's right. um using it to do something for you. >> And one of the ways you always describe it is uh uh the devil may have sent it. >> My actions may have caused it. >> Mhm. >> But God can come in and Romans 8 and28 it >> That's right. >> and get good out of it. >> That's right. >> I didn't send it. >> That's right.

That's right. >> I didn't intend it. >> Yeah. >> But because I'm a God, I'm going to use it. >> That's right. That's right. There are times where, like you said, there are times where there are certain night seasons that we cause by our actions. Yes. Right. Right. >> Um, and God allows us to operate with free will.

And I want to get into that. I've talked about that extensively in other teachings >> because without free will, there's not love. So, what God wanted with the human species was a love relationship. Even his covenant that he makes with us, it's called a covenant of love. >> And the point that I'm making is there cannot be love if there's not choice. >> If there's not choice, >> it's not love.

It's not love. >> It's manipulation. >> Yes. It's control. It's It's robotic. >> It's It's not genuine. It's inauthentic. >> If I don't have a choice but to love you, I I didn't choose you. >> I didn't. >> Right. And so, even in terms of the language the Bible used to describe how God deals with us, there's a lot of chosen language in that. >> He chose us >> before the foundation of the world.

He chose us. Many are called, >> but >> few are what? Chosen. >> He chose us. And so love chooses. >> So because God wanted a love relationship with the human species, he gives the human species what it needs >> to have a love relationship. And that's choice. >> And sometimes humans, like Adam and Eve did, mismanage choice. >> And when we mismanage choice, there are consequences. >> Those are things that God did not intend. >> But there are things that God can choose to redeem and use.

[clears throat] to the example that I might me that I just mentioned where someone may lose a loved one to some sickness or disease that's not a result of a choice that they made. That's where things get really complicated for a lot of believers. >> And I think it's important for believers to understand in situations and scenarios like that that there are some realities we deal with as [clears throat] a result of living in a fallen world. >> This world will never be like the next one.

Like that is something and I know we don't talk a lot about what's called esquetology, end times, >> but I do think it's really important for believers to understand there is a life after this one. >> There's a new heaven and a new earth, right? Like this place is irretrievably broken. >> Ir retrievably. >> It's broken. >> It's broken.

So there's there's sickness and disease and abuse of power and sexism and classism and racism and there are all sorts of isms that exist in this imperfect world. And that's why God's like, "Hey, I got to give you another one. This one's irretrievably broken. But I'm use I'm going to go into this world and I'm going to use people who receive me as a leader of their life and the forgiver of their sin to be salt >> in this earth and to be light in this world. >> [snorts] >> um to to to be ambassadors in this world of me who engage in the ministry of reconciliation, helping as many people as possible be reconciled to me so that they can live with me eternally.

So the point that I'm making is I said all that to say there's stuff that happens that we cannot that that you and I might not control is the result of living in a fallen world, >> sickness, disease, and that was never God's intent >> for us to experience that.

And so there are some things we're like, "Man, God allowed this and God allowed that." When some stuff is a result of living in a fallen world. It's an imperfect world. God's going to have to give us another one. >> Paul knew this, which is why Paul even told the people he was writing to, I can't remember which letter, he said, "I'm torn." >> He said, "What?

A part of me want to stay with be with you?" >> Philippians. >> That's Philippians. >> He said, "A part of me want Christ to die again." Come on. >> Yeah. >> So, even Paul knew that. It's like the the next life is better. [laughter] >> So, it's like when God takes a loved one, we like God took my grandma.

It's like she if she was Jesus, she better. >> She >> Now, we deal with the loss and we deal with the grief and that's real. >> But she was she better. >> He healed her eternally. I don't know why the Holy Spirit has me on this right now. >> That's good, pastor.

That's good. >> I'm talking to somebody who is dealing with and and we don't want to minimize the grief you feel because the loss for you is real. >> And the Holy Spirit who is a comforter will comfort you in that loss. >> But in terms of the person that we lost, if they were Jesus, they better.

God actually did them a solid. He did them a favor. Mhm. >> We should be sad >> because we will miss them >> on this side of glory. >> This side of glory >> because of the void we will fill on this side of glory. But they better. >> They better. >> That is that is not what we're talking about today. >> But we even submit the direction that we go in our teaching >> to where we feel like the spirit may be leading.

And those are what what we believe to be like tailor made >> moments >> that somebody needed to hear exactly when we released it. >> Yeah. And pastor, what you describe to in grief, we talk about the conflicting feelings >> that go with grief. >> Like when you have a loved one, >> one hand, you you you're glad that they're not suffering anymore, >> but on the other hand, you miss them not being there.

That's right. So those are the conflicting feelings that can sometimes be associated with grief like okay you going to miss them >> but on the other on the other hand it's a great reminder >> yes >> that they are better >> 100% 100% >> yes so our point is we all are going to experience night season [laughter] >> right whether it's grief whether it is sickness whether it is uh marital issues whether it's parental issues isues.

Um whether it's business issues, whether it's financial issues, whether it's mental issues, whether it's church or leadership issues, you're going to experience night seasons. >> And the Bible gives us a blueprint >> on the best way to handle night seasons. Cuz we don't always determine if we handle night seasons.

We determine if we allow God to turn our night seasons into night school. And we've been using biblical characters in the book of Genesis as instructors. Their example has been our instruction on how to handle night seasons. And tonight in this last teaching on um night school, we're going to be learning lessons from a gentleman named Joseph who's going to teach us something very important and significant.

A Godgiven dream does not exempt you from darkness. It often assigns you to it. Powerful. >> What do you do? Powerful >> when your dream is the [clears throat] reason you're in a dark season. [laughter] >> Did you hear what I just said? >> Yeah. And pastor, >> my Lord, >> again, what you're saying is even when God allows certain stuff when we go through night season, just because it's God and it's of God don't mean it's going to be easy. >> That's it. >> And sometime as believers, we feel like we can live in such a way that exempt us from night season.

That's right. >> But part of the reasons that we experience some night seasons is because of our faith, because we believe, because we are children of God. Because this is what I found out. >> The same thing or characteristics that make you a candidate to be blessed by God are the same things that put a target on your back to be attacked by the enemy. >> God looks for faithfulness.

The enemy looks for faith. [laughter] >> God look for obedience. The enemy look for obedience. >> That's it. You know, so the same thing that qualifies me to be blessed by God >> are the same things that put a target on my back. >> Yes, sir. >> To be attacked by the enemy. >> And just because it's God, >> that's it. >> And it's of God. >> That's it. >> It doesn't mean it's going to be easy.

And I think that's what >> trip us up a lot of times. God, why am I going through this? No, that's that's exactly why you going through this. >> That is [laughter] that's exactly why you going through this. >> Yes, sir. Yes, sir. No, that's that's good, Doc. That's good.

Because it's not just our decisions that get us in the dark. >> It's not just our dilemas >> that get us in the dark. >> It's also our dreams >> that get us in the dark. >> Get us in the dark. >> And I want you to [laughter] [snorts] I want you to look at Joseph's narrative as an example of what we're trying to articulate. >> Because if you're familiar with Joseph in the remember, we're in the book of Genesis.

So, every biblical character we've studied has been in Genesis. So, you've almost been through a Bible without knowing it. What we've taken you through is a Bible study of Genesis because really what you what you see in the first chapter or two of Genesis is you see the creation narrative. >> But after that, Genesis actually records the actions of God in and through biblical characters.

Yeah. >> So actually when you when you say I want to study Genesis, what you're studying after the creation narrative is you're studying the actions of God in and through biblical characters or the actions of biblical characters independent >> of God. [laughter] >> God told Noah to build an ark.

He didn't tell him to get drunk after he got out of it. Right. [laughter] >> And and that's and that's descriptive, not prescripted. >> Not prescripted. Just we just want people to understand that that descriptive we ain't telling nobody to get drunk now. We just describing what happened. >> Yes.

Yes. Yes. >> Simply describing what [snorts] happened in the text. >> Yeah. No. So I I think >> I I think it's it's important for us to to approach Joseph narrative. >> Uh taking that into consideration. Sometimes it's my decisions. That's not what we're talking about. Sometimes it's dilemmas that I didn't cause.

That's not what we're talking about. Sometimes the reason you're in a dark season is because you're following a dream. [laughter] >> And we are introduced we're introduced to this reality in this narrative here in Genesis. And um Joseph serves as an amazing example of what I'm attempting to articulate.

And there are some there's some parts of his narrative that I believe expose to us how a dream >> actually gets you in the dark. All right. All right. Here's the first one of the first things that I see. Um this this isn't even in my notes. I just got this this this fresh off the press, guy. >> This fresh off the press.

We had five points. We got six now. >> This fresh off the press. Right. Okay. This is important. Well, let's let me just use it as a foundation for the points here because >> if not, we're going to get stuck. >> I believe we'll get stuck here. Watch this.

One of the reasons, listen to me now, a dream can lead to the dark. Is this is because the average person is living to avoid a nightmare, >> not living chasing a god dream. So this puts your approach to life >> diametrically opposed to the majority of people you're going to be interacting with in culture >> cuz they're living life simply to avoid something and you're living life to apprehend [clears throat] something.

This is the language Paul actually used, did he not? When he talks about like, hey, I I don't count myself to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things that are behind me, I press. >> I'm pressing. >> Yeah, >> I'm pressing. >> So, it's a life of pursuit >> of God's plans, not just of avoidance.

And there are people who talk about God's plans, who sing about God's plans, who preach about God's plans, but do not surrender and submit their life to God's plans. You know, doc, let me tell you how how important and significant this is. uh depending on when people watching this, but if you're watching this on like while it's being streamed live, >> then this coming Saturday, we're doing something like once a month we do something at our location. is called outpour and it's a time based on acts 121 of corporate prayer and people don't do that anymore but but it's some stuff some some Peters don't get out of prison till the church pray my god >> that's acts 12 and the church pray >> and the church pray >> right where there are two or three it's this principle of multiplication and unity and there are certain things that God the father will not do without the corporate corporate meaning communal body corpus body without the participation of his body because it is the way he um reminds and establishes in us interdependence >> like we are inter we shouldn't be hyperindependent and we shouldn't be codependent >> but the the body of Christ should be interdependent >> uh 1 Corinthians 12 and 14 talk about this >> when when Paul talks about spiritual gifts you or I I'm a ear so we need each other cuz you can see but I can hear but if I'm operating independent Then I can hear but I can't see.

If you're operating independent, you can see but you can't hear. >> But my God when we come together >> come together [laughter] >> many members one body. >> That's the >> many members one body. >> So this principle of like it's principle of corporate prayer >> and um so we come together for corporate prayer and so it's a time of prayer corporately and worship.

We got prayer targets and all that and it's a time of also radical immersion. So it's there there this outpouring of God's presence through worship and prayer. Then there's an outpour of God's principles through what we call radical immersion. And so we come together and we spend hours learning >> 100%.

If I can spend 3 hours watching binging on a Netflix show, >> we can learn. >> Come on here. I can spend three hours learning. We not backing down off that. We tend to down on that. If we can spend we can spend um like I like to go to basketball games and I used to go to Six's games and now I go to Hawks games.

They at least three hours. >> My son's football games. They're at least three hours. So yeah, once a month we come together. So anyway, I'm doing this thing on goal setting. And the reason I'm doing it, I'm calling it kingdom goal setting because here's what I've seen. Many believers plan their year >> without asking God, "What do you want to do with it?" >> You want to do [laughter] >> That's right. >> So there is no plan to even pursue God's dream. >> They have a vision board they hadn't even prayed over.

[laughter] >> Do you understand what I'm saying? Yes, sir. I'm not judging. Pastor is not judging. >> Or they pray over the vision board after they create it. >> They don't pray before they create. >> So the vision board is pictures of what they want to have. >> And without divine consultation, >> of what God wants. >> What do you want to do?

Cuz what I want to do, I got to ask God to bless that. >> That's right. >> What he wants to do is already blessed. >> That's right. >> Come get me. >> That's right. >> It's already It's already blessed. >> Already blessed. And so when you live in pursuit of God's plan and not just avoidance of bad things, >> then that already puts you in dark times because people will misinterpret the way you live your life as you offering a pyic or a corrective or being condemning as it relates to the way they live in theirs.

Mhm. And pastor, some of the I think some of the frustr frustration comes from people just like you said, like asking God >> to bless what they want rather than discerning in prayer what God is already blessing. >> You know, God, God, what are you already blessing? God, what are you already establishing in my life?

M >> rather than [clears throat] me trying to do it on my own. >> Let me do it uh interdependently with God through prayer. >> Not God, bless what I'm doing, but through prayer, show me what you've already blessed. >> Show me what you're already doing. Show me what you're already uh establishing in my life. >> That's it.

That's it. So that's because here here's the point that [clears throat] I'm I'm I'm trying to make guys that when you live your life differently, >> you can expect your differences to be demonized. >> Now I'm not I don't say that to create paranoia or cynicism. I say that to create preparation. >> Dr.

A Bernard says to be surprised by the inevitable is to be naive. >> And Hosea put it this way. My people. Is it Hosea? My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Lack of >> knowledge. >> I think it's Hosea. >> It's one of the prophets, you know.

[laughter] >> Yeah. My people I think it's Hosea. It's one of the prophets. I I know it's in the book. >> It's in the book. It's in the book. We know it's in the book. >> Yeah. But my people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge. To be surprised by the inevitable is to be naive.

[clears throat] >> And to be unprepared is to be vulnerable for the actions and the activity of the enemy. And so when you live differently, >> when you're chasing a God dream, a vision-driven, purpose- driven life, expect your differences to be demonized. >> That's the Bible. That's Daniel. >> Yes, sir. >> In the book. >> Yes, sir.

Yes, sir. So sometimes a dream will lead to dark seasons. All right. Now, let's get to our points. All right. Here it is. Joseph's narrative reveals what I'm trying to articulate. >> Here's one of the reasons or one of the expressions of dreams leading to dark. The dream got Joseph favor from his father. >> Now, you may be wondering, how does that lead me to the dark?

Okay. Uh verse three says, "Now Israel loved Joseph more than any of his sons, >> because he had been born to him in his old age, and he made an ornate rope for him." Now, we won't deal with everything here cuz this is some We mentioned this last week.

This is some [clears throat] parental >> I'm not going to call it dysfunction, but it is definitely unhelpful at best. >> Okay, that's good. Yeah, it's [laughter] very unhelpful. >> I mean, right. So even if there is a different degree of affection that he had for Joseph than the other sons, >> Mhm. >> to blatantly display it, >> it's going to be problematic. >> It's [laughter] going to be problematic >> cuz watch what the text says.

Verse four says, "When his brothers saw that their father loved him >> more than any of them, >> they hated him and could not speak a kind word to him." Now, here's what I want you to see, family. Your favor can expose someone else's immaturity. When it becomes something others can see, it often brings things out of them you didn't see. >> So, we could look at this text, Jacob and Joseph, literally, and say, "There's a little dysfunction here."

But we can also metaphorically say, hey, there are times when our heavenly father in a healthy way displays what we call favor or grace >> to his children. Favor grace is unearned or unmmerited favor, right? >> It and so uh it is and that's biblical, right? Bible says Esther had favor >> Noah found favor with the Lord. >> Joseph found favor, right?

So we can go all throughout scripture and see like hey we they're examples of this. Okay. >> So we let's go above let's go above natural and natural fathers and natural children. Let's go to a heavenly father >> and his children and there are times when God >> when God's favor Joseph had a coat when when God's favor becomes tangible.

[laughter] >> You see it you can see it. >> It's one thing people say I'm blessed and highly favor. >> But when you see it >> it's another thing. That's another thing >> for the favor to be seen >> tangible. So, so the coat can represent favor that is seen in some way, >> seen in the opportunities a person gets, seen in the influence they carry, seen in the experiences that they're having, seen in the responsibility that they are assigned.

And here's what favor does. When it is seen, it doesn't just affirm the favored. It exposes what is unresolved in others. >> Joseph didn't create his brother's insecurity, jealousy or re or resentment. His favor revealed it because favor has a way of drawing out immaturity that was always there but hidden.

When God's favor is on your life or when it becomes evident on your life, it can trigger reactions in people that have nothing to do with you, but everything to do with what they haven't healed or what they hadn't handled. And when it comes to favor, pastor, it is when people have a problem with your favor, they really have a problem with God. >> It's not a you problem.

It's it's a God problem. who who gave you the favor. >> Mhm. >> Um, [clears throat] and this is what we often hear this term where it says favor ain't fair. >> Mhm. >> Because favor is always I've heard you say favor is always attached to your assignment. >> God never [clears throat] gives you favor for what you don't need it for. >> That's right.

It is for the accomplishment >> of purpose, not just the not the acquisition of possessions. >> Not that God won't give favor. >> Not that God who's gyra >> won't give favor to give you what you need. But when you see favor used in scripture, that's not the primary purpose of it.

Esther had favor to accomplish a purpose. Noah had favor to accomplish the purpose. >> And the palace was just a perk >> of the purpose. >> Yeah. >> It wasn't the purpose of the favor. >> So when Esther goes from a orphan girl living with her under the leadership of her uncle Morai and now she's a queen >> living in the palace, the favor wasn't for the palace.

The favor was for the purpose. That was to save the Jewish people, >> right? But the palace was a perk. >> The palace was just a purpose. >> Palace was a perk. [laughter] >> Don't confuse the purpose with the perks. >> Uh, look, it's a perk. But even with that, pastor, you know, we said favor, it may not be fair, >> but it's also not free. >> There are some stuff you have to give up. >> That's right. or there are some things that you have to go through >> in [clears throat] order to operate in this favor. >> People see the favor, >> but they don't see what you what you went through. >> That's right. >> Or what you are going through >> to operate in that favor.

They just see the favor, but they don't see the fight. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And pastor, there's a sect in Christianity, and we have to acknowledge this. I think it's you can you can acknowledge differences without demonizing them. You got me. I think the body [clears throat] doesn't do that.

Pastor Torren Wells >> says something so strong >> and many people know Torren for his singing, >> but Torren is an incredibly gifted and biblically astute communicator. He said something so strong. He said, "The devil is not destroying the church. The devil is watching the church destroy itself."

God almighty. My God. >> Yes. The divisions and factions and like there are people who build entire ministries >> like entire ministries. When I say ministries, not necessarily churches, but ministry platforms >> off of attacking others. >> Anyway, here's the point that I'm making. [laughter] There's a set in a stream of Christianity right now.

It's so weird. Uh, I would say, "Hey, I'm Paul and you John Mark or I'm John Mark and you Paul. Either way, you stay over there. I'm going stay over here. We'll see each other in heaven. We love each other in Jesus name." No. >> Because there's a sect that will find what we're talking about now in terms of favor so problematic.

Because any conversation that you have, any conversation that that group of Christians hear you having about God's generosity to his people, >> they immediately like put in a camp and say [clears throat] that's prosperity gospel. So it is a it is a it is a >> reaction at one it is I think it's a poor theology.

Well, let me be very clear. I think it's very underdeveloped. And what I found is many people who are part of that camp and I don't mean this in any educational I don't mean this in any elitist way but many people what I found is that people who are the most dogmatic have been the least trained.

That's been my experience [snorts] >> or they've been trained in an echo chamber >> which means they haven't had their ideas tested and vetted by people who see it differently. >> Right. And that's one of the one of the things that I think going to a certain kind of having a certain kind of theological training, that's one of the things it does for you, >> make you stand up >> is it will develop in you epistemological humility >> because you can go into a debate in the classroom thinking you're about to chew them up and then they tear you to pieces [laughter] >> and you leave class holding that little Baptist thing up.

Excuse me. >> [laughter] >> It's I mean you thought you had a deep thought >> rethinking your argument. Man, I I thought I tell you all that. >> But when people just like operate in isolation and they think everything that they're getting is from God. >> Now they come out of that demonizing and being dogmatic with other people because they got in a closet and read their book and now they've coming they're coming out and nobody else knows what they're talking [laughter] about with them.

But it is like you're ignoring a significant part of the Bible when you don't acknowledge God is a good father choosing to be generous to his people >> and to teach that gen to teach that generous God just like you would teach >> that loving God who corrects >> it's so it's a lack of balance if you don't teach both.

And so I we come we veheminently disagree >> with people who want to ignore that aspect of God because you don't want to talk about God's generosity but you saved. >> That is the ultimate expression of generosity. He gave his son. >> He gave his son [clears throat] >> and and and and does does not the scripture say he will not he who freely >> gave us his son give us all things? >> That's that's the Bible.

That's the book. >> Is that the book? >> That's the book. >> Yeah. And so, yes, you see here in scripture [clears throat] >> that the accomplishing of purpose, which is sometimes can be revealed. When I say when we say dream, we mean vision, >> not like literal dreams at night often is accompanied with divine favor like purpose like God's providence often for you to accomplish your purpose often shows up in the favor of God.

When I look at my when I look [clears throat] Dr. Dudley, when I look at my ministry narrative, there is no way I could have planned this out. >> If I left, if I graduate from undergrad a year later, there's a whole set of dominoes that I miss. >> If I don't go to Princeton when I go to Princeton, there I don't go to friendship when I go to friendship.

If I don't go to friendship, when I go to friendship, I don't get the opportunity I got at friendship. If I don't get the opportunity I got at friendship, I don't start kingdom. If I don't start kingdom, kingdom never becomes change. If change, the kingdom never becomes change, then everything that has happened in terms of whatever God is doing would not exist.

How did THAT HAPPEN? FA PROVIDENCE, GOD'S favor >> could have picked anybody. He picked me. >> He picked. >> And so here's what we're talking about, though. We're what we're talking about. Doc, [laughter] let's stay there a minute. I know this making that's let's that's making some let's bother some Pharisees. >> Let's let's stay.

Let's stay. >> Yeah. Like why do you think some people just think it's self-centered to have a biblically balanced view on a generous God? We're not saying God's a genie. >> We're not espousing prosperity theology. But a biblical theology includes acknowledging a generous God who chooses to prosper his people at times.

Period. >> And and you said it that that that we see the ultimate expression of God's generosity and giving his giving us his son. Yeah. But I thought I also think an ultimate expression of his generosity is that there is nothing we did or could have done. >> Yes sir.

It's it's no we couldn't we couldn't have worked our way >> Yes, sir. >> into this. >> Yes, sir. >> You can't work your way into favor. >> Yes, sir. >> The generosity of God also shows reveals itself in Man, ain't nothing you can do to deserve this.

[laughter] >> You can't pray your way into this. You can't fast your way into and we're not minimizing I'm not minimizing or diminishing fast and prayer because you know on some things go out by fast and prayer. But you cannot fast and pray and live your way into God's generosity. >> Come on.

Come on. There's nothing we can do. >> That's it. It is by grace. >> Come on. >> Through fa faith that we are saved. >> Grace. >> We are saved by grace. >> By grace. Nothing you can do. >> Not of works, lest King James, >> any man should boast. >> That you know that that that messed with my my my Methodist theology at one time, but now ain't nothing you can do.

[laughter] >> You know, you can >> not the Eucharist. Ain't nothing you can do. >> You don't earn it. It is a free gift that you accept by faith >> that you'll never earn that you can [clears throat] never live up to. >> Yes. Yes. Yes. I think here's my challenge and here's why we're talking about this in this message.

When you do not talk about when you don't have a biblically balanced view of God that includes not just a loving God who corrects >> but a generous God who chooses to bless his to bless his people. >> When you don't talk about the reality of favor then people can never be discipled or how to handle it when they get it. >> So now am I making sense?

So now they go through these Joseph seasons and they don't understand why my brothers hate me. >> It's because when you don't teach that God gives favor, then you then you also consequently don't teach what comes with it when you get it >> right. And even though we can't earn it, it still has to be stewarded well. >> That's right.

That's right. That's right. And so to whomsoever is given, much is going to be required. And sometimes when brothers and sisters that could be like so brothers and sisters were natural for Joseph that could be fellow humans with us or it could be Christian brothers and sisters or it could be literal brothers and sisters or friends who are like brothers and sisters. >> Sometimes the coat that you're wearing evokes and exposes. >> Bring it out.

You bring it up. >> It brings out things that are in them. >> And that can be hard. >> It can be so hard. >> And we don't talk about this enough with Christian. It could be so hard when people are like, "Oh, you think you this now >> and you can't when family is that way or friends are that way."

It could it could be hard. And so it could lead all you're doing is following a dream, >> but it leads to dark some dark times. >> So So the dream gets Joseph favor from his father. Uh let's go to verse 17, chapter 37. The dream got Joseph fought by his brothers.

They had moved on. They have moved on from here. The man answered, I heard them say, let's go to Dothan. So Joseph went after his brothers and found them near Dothan. But when they saw him in the distance and before they he reached them, they plotted to kill him. >> Here comes the dreamer. >> Here comes the dreamer. >> They said to each other, "Come on now.

Let's kill him. Throw him into one of those sistns and say that a ferocious animal devoured him. Then we'll see what comes of his dreams. >> The problem they had was his dreams. >> If he's not dreaming, they not beefing. Now notice the language, doc. >> They don't say, "Here comes our brother."

They say, "Here comes the dream." [clears throat] >> They reduce him to the thing they resent the most. Cuz dreams trigger people who don't have any. >> So they don't just want to stop Joseph, they want to stop the dream. >> Your calling may attract conflict. And destiny often makes you a target before it makes you a leader.

M >> um I'm going to try to be as vague as possible, >> but I was doing this thing recently >> and I presented at this thing and I tried to be as descriptive and less prescriptive as possible. >> And um meaning, hey, let me describe to you how I am thinking through this as a pastoral leader. and let me describe to you how change church is trying to put this into practice. >> And I was very clear.

This is I'm just describing what we're doing. I'm not prescribing what anyone else could should do because I don't know what you should do >> cuz your context is different. Your city is different. Your pastoral makeup is different. Your giftings are different. And as innocuous as I tried to be, >> right, [laughter] >> there was still some reactions in the room that in me that to me felt like me simply describing what we were doing was somehow invalidating or attacking >> what other people were doing.

And like I don't even know another way >> to Yeah. >> I wouldn't know another way to approach it, you know, because if I'm saying >> if I literally say I have no idea what you should do >> cuz context is different, but I'm just describing what we're doing.

[snorts] >> It's an indication that sometimes just walking in your calling >> creates conflict. It just it it just >> that it's just it's just it. Like no matter how you try to frame it or say it, no matter how um sensitive you try to be, no matter how intentional you are >> with your approach, >> sometimes the calling, the dream, >> the dream creates some dynamics and the calling draws some conflict.

That's it. >> And the truth of the matter is, pastor, your obedience is an indictment for somebody else. m >> your obedience, you chasing, they're not obeying. Yeah, it's an indictment. So, so some of the agitation is like, hey, this is >> really indictment. >> Yeah. You know, I think sometimes when we experience conflict, we don't want we're confused.

We can be confused as believers, >> you know, >> like what did I do? What did this come? And it is what could I have done differently? And sometimes there's nothing you could have done differently to prevent that. >> There's nothing you can do. >> Yeah. It's just walking in the calling.

It's like if I look at um our church, our churches that we lead, >> right? So change church is a multi-sight church. So in this season, that is the model of ministry God's called us to. It is a model of ministry that's actually aggravating and complicating >> complicated and very frustrating for a leader like myself >> because you don't get to go home and just think through how did things go were people handled properly etc at one place >> it's four >> four places >> right [laughter] >> it's four places >> how's the dream team doing at four places >> how how's the worship department doing at four places how how how are people being cared for at four places.

So, it's not a model. I actually it's I prefer it's one we've been called to to have a third way presence physically in multiple places. So, that's the model in this season. I'm not saying it's the model in every season, but it's the model in this season, right?

It's been the model for >> about 15 years now of our journey. >> Here's the point that I'm making. That's a calling, but it create conflict >> because not everybody, but there's always a group at every location who want you to stop hearing God after you get to theirs.

[clears throat] >> Mhm. Yeah. >> Got [laughter] it. It's like, all right, that's enough. It's like, so we got to stop hearing God. >> Stop hearing God >> once we get So sometimes just carrying out a calling >> is going to create conflict. lately you we got to accept that the dream will lead to the dark.

All right. Number three. The dream got Joseph falsely accused by Piper's wife. One day he went into the house to attend to his duties and none of the household servants were inside. She caught him by the cloak and said, "Come to bed with me." But he left his cloak in her hand, ran out of the house.

When she saw that he had left when she saw that he had left his cloak in her hand and run out of house, she called her household service and said, "Look, this Hebrew has has been brought to has [clears throat] been brought to us to make sport of us. >> He came in here to sleep with me, but I scream." >> And when he heard me scream for help, he left his cloak beside me and ran out of the house.

She kept his cloak beside her until his [clears throat] master came home. Then she told him this story. The Hebrew slave that you brought us came to help came to came to me to make sport of me. But as soon as I screamed for help, he left his cloak behind beside me and ran out of the house. >> So look at this.

It's just a lie. >> Just a lie. >> Just a lie. So this man did the right thing. Ain't >> got a lie. >> So his integrity didn't insulate him from accusation. I want you to I want you to think about this. He actually did the right thing.

She flips it around and then Pipa, her husband, believes her. I'm not going to bother this. >> Mhm. >> But there's a part of me that's wondered, did he really believe her? Did he believe a Did he really believe her? Because let me ask you this. This is an Egyptian man. >> And the Bible says that the Lord blessed Piper for Joseph's sake.

Is that the book? >> That's the book. >> So it wasn't Piper's relationship with God that drew the favor. >> It was >> it was Joseph. >> Got me? >> So potterer is probably a practicing polytheism. Probably worshiping son god, fertility god. He's probably influenced by Egyptian religion, right? >> So, a man who doesn't have eth ethics that are rooted and grounded in a relationship with Yahweh, a man he bought as a slave, tries to sa his wife, and he don't take his life. >> That's That's a good point.

That's a good point. That's a good point. >> He don't take his life. That's a good point. Never thought about it like that. Yeah. [clears throat] >> So, he could have been pleasing her. You got me? So, Joseph's so Joseph's situation, here's the point that I'm This is just hypothesis, guys.

Just hypothesis, okay? I'm not making a claim here, but it is worth being explored. What do you do when you find yourself in a situation when the when the poter you've been loyal to not loyal to you? my Lord. >> Glory to God. >> Come on. Cuz what did Joseph say when she tried to uh approach him?

I cannot commit this sin against God or my master. >> He said, "I can't do God like this and [clears throat] I'm not going to do Piper like this." >> So he is more loyal to Piper >> than Per is >> than Piper is to him. So he is falsely accused and then the person that should be advocating for his character >> won't do it. >> Won't do it.

Have you ever been in a situation where somebody told you somebody said something >> and then you wonder? But when they said it, what did you say? >> What did you say? >> What did [laughter] you say? What made them comfortable? >> I got falsely accused. What? What did you say? >> What did What did you say?

What did you say? >> Did you say, "No, I know D. You're not like [laughter] you." it. One of the things, you know, when I when we got to this point, I thought about it is how um Joseph had to be willing to look guilty in one season in order to graduate in another season. >> So, following your dreams >> will require you to look silly in one season >> in order to be uh elevated in another season.

And when I thought about this too, I thought about um the discipline of silence, >> how Joseph had to really be silent. He really couldn't speak. And we talked about right to speak and we talked about this uh Richard F, you know, we talked about the discipline of silence and in celebration of discipline.

Richard Foster, he taught that silence is not merely the absence of sound. >> It is the withdrawal from the need to manage perception. >> Jesus. Yes, sir. >> Defend oneself. That's right. >> Or fill every space with words. >> Yes. >> And when you are chasing your dream, there'll be seasons that will make you look silly that you have to be silent. >> Now, the book Dr.

Dudley is talking about is called >> celebrate >> the celebration of disciplines, right? >> By Richard Foster. >> Yes. >> Now, here's what uh change church >> is has a small group. We're in a small group cycle. >> The small group cycle is coming up. And one of the groups it's called the spirit of the disciplines by Dallas Willard. >> So Richard Foster sat in a Sunday school class.

Dallas Willard was teaching. >> Wow. >> Yeah. >> So this inspiration for celebration of disciplines and they're both good books. >> I I probably recommend Dallas Willard's book first. Okay. >> The spirit of disciplines. He kind of I think expounds on the concept of spiritual disciplines more comprehensively.

And then Fosters's book I would recommend second because it takes a deeper dive >> into stuff like >> you got to be ready for the spiritual discipline of silence. >> That's right. >> You got to be ready for that, right? Cuz it's like >> Yeah. We we not all but most of us me included >> are tempted to try to manage image and perspective when you misunderstood. >> Yeah.

You want to >> It's like even if you're not even if you don't agree with me, represent me like >> you you know what I mean? [laughter] >> Represent. Don't lie on me. Please don't lie on me. >> Yeah. We don't have to agree. You might NOT AGREE WITH ME.

I PROBABLY DON'T AGREE WITH YOU. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU MIGHT NOT LIKE ME. I LOVE YOU IN JESUS NAME. I MIGHT NOT LIKE YOU AS A PERSON. >> BUT DON'T misrepresent me. >> Yeah. And that that is like that's a deeper dive. That's a deeper dive and it's difficult to wrap your head around.

But you're right. That's what Joseph >> had to do here. And so guys, when you're living a purpose-driven life, when you are living a life where you're pursuing a dream, >> you can be you're going to be falsely accused. Hopefully never accused of what Joseph was accused of, >> but you'll be accused of being ambitious.

You'll be accused of sometimes being standoffish. You'll be accused of um glorifying self. You'll be you you'll be accused of a number of different things and sometimes the people that you wish would explain you pot they won't >> they won't >> and that's what [clears throat] we need. >> Hallelujah.

[laughter] >> We need that spiritual discipline you just talked about hold your peace. >> Y my Yes indeed. Yes indeed. Get indeed. Here's what I want Christians to get comfortable doing. We biblical sanctification is progressive. >> You don't get delivered from everything at once. >> That's please. >> So, there going to be there's going to be instruction in scripture.

You grow your way into, you know, >> um, and so like this spiritual discipline of silence, like I want the saints to get comfortable acknowledging where they're in process. Now, some people use process as an excuse not to advance. though. Yeah. >> They be like, "I'm working on it."

It's like, really, you're not. You're not actually working on that. >> I know. I know. I know the Bible say, "Tame your tongue. I'm working on it." You're you're not you're not praying about it. You're not reading anything about it. You're not listening anything about it. So, if you're not, you're not really working on it. >> But there are things that we're working on that takes time to work out.

And I want the saints to be more comfortable admitting where they're in process. So, if you're like me and Dr. deadly and you hate being misunderstood >> and you know you're going to be misunderstood. Jesus said if they hated me, they're going to hate you. >> Hate you. >> Yeah.

So you we know we're going to be m misunderstood, but we hate being misunderstood and we want to be understood. Even if you I don't care what I don't care about being disagreeed with cuz I'm not going to live my life with anybody else's brain. >> So and they shouldn't live their life with my brain.

So I I don't care about that. But when I'm misunderstood and misrepresented, I struggle with that. If you struggle with that, I want you to be honest and put in the chat. Say struggle. Some of you put struggle bus. >> Yeah. I had to keep my hands in my pocket.

[laughter] >> People who misrepresent me. I I get active [clears throat] in prayer. Don't talk about prayer. I get active. You talk about prayer now. We [laughter] >> We get active. Put my hand behind my back. >> Oh my god. Yeah. I have to restrain. I'm the type sometime I want to get everybody on the phone.

No. You said this and you said all of us get on the phone. >> Get on the phone. Let's >> All of us get on the phone. Somebody lie. >> Talk now. >> Yeah. [laughter] >> I ain't think you going to get us on the phone. No. Somebody. >> Yeah.

All right. Let's wrap up. We over time. Y'all tired of us. All right. The dream number four got Joseph forgotten. >> Forgotten by those he favored. >> The chief cup bearer. However, Genesis 40:23, the chief cup bearer, however, did not remember Joseph. He forgot him. >> So, when he's in prison, Joseph helps him by interpreting a dream. >> The interpretation had prophetic implications that the cup bearer is actually going to get out of out of prison.

Is actually going to have an audience with Pharaoh >> and he's supposed to remember Joseph when he get out. >> Amen. What happened? [laughter] He came up and forgot >> got all the money out. [laughter] And so listen, when you are when I tell you I live this, when you are accomplishing your assignment, >> sometimes it's going to put you in proximity to people that you bless, >> that you favor, who will forget you.

Joseph was not asking this man to do for him what he did for him. Joseph, he was just like, "Hey, just remember me." >> Got me? So it can feel dark because it's like you can be generous to people and then all of a sudden they get amnesia and that that that can feel dark emotionally >> but God is sovereign because point number five says the same dream got Joseph found by Pharaoh because Pharaoh started having dreams And he mentioned it and then the cup bearer remember >> remember >> at the right time he remembered. >> And verse chapter 41 verse14 says so Pharaoh sent for Joseph he was quickly brought from the dungeon.

When he had saved shaved and changed his clothes he came before Pharaoh. Pharaoh said to Joseph I had a dream but no one can interpret it. I have heard it said of you that when you hear a dream you can interpret it. Joseph said, "I cannot do it, >> but God, >> but God >> will give Pharaoh >> the answer he desires."

I want you to know, I wanted to end on some good news. some I want you to know that the dream you and I have may give us some favor from our heavenly father that is going to create us being fought by our brothers >> falsely accused by others forgotten by others but that same dream >> will get you found by Pharaoh and that represents the person God has assigned mind [clears throat] to be to you >> what you were to everybody else. >> Did you hear what I just said?

It is the person that's that that's a sign to be to you rather than everybody else. >> Pastor, when you said that, remember some listen, I pray that this is the season >> that God will make them remember. Mhm. >> That this is the season that God will make will make make them remember.

[clears throat] >> Man, we're going to wrap up with prayer. I'm going to have them put the ways to give on the screen for those of you who are I hope you've been blessed by these night school series. We've been in [laughter] this is we've been we've been exploring scripture seven weeks here. and they're going to put the ways to give on the screen for those of you who want to sew back into the field that you're harvesting from and support and partner with the teaching ministry God's given us uh to take biblical truth but apply it very practically um to everyday life. >> I want Let me let me just read this one quote that it's a quote by Dallas Willlet actually and it so explains my ministry like the teaching ministry God's given me. >> It so explains it.

He says um he wrote a book called The Divine Conspiracy. Boy, that's a big long book. My God, it's a big long book. But here's what he says. He says, "The Christian Church has largely abdicated its responsibility to teach people how to live. >> We're great at telling them what to believe and what not to do.

But we've left them to figure out on their own how to actually navigate marriage, raise kids, build a career, manage money, deal with difficult people, process pain, and find purpose. This so when he calls disciplehip the great omission, this >> is what he's referring to when he talks to actually discipling people. >> It's on how to live.

And what I found is there's a lot of teaching that teaches you how to believe. and how to behave but not how to live. >> There's a difference. >> There is a difference. >> There's a difference >> because you don't get into discipling until you live it. >> That's the apprentice. >> That's the apprentice >> until you actually live it in your marriage and live it.

And so our teaching is always going to build a bridge to real life. Cuz once you go up in the seventh heaven, you got to come back down and be a friend, a leader, a boss, a team member, an employee, a sister, a brother, a husband, a wife that's got to deal with the realities of life. >> Does that make sense?

And I'm just telling you, man, some of the people that like they're amazing at stuff like prayer, but it's like you are they're not amazing with people. It's like you you love God, but you got to figure out how to love people. Anyway, that's his teaching ministry. And so we're so grateful for those of you that want that sew back into the field that you're harvesting from.

Um I'm excited about our next series. It's going to be uh it's called identity theft. >> And uh we're going to be using the book of Ephesians >> to reintroduce you to you >> cuz Paul writes to people who think they know who they are. >> Right? One of the sermons I did in the name dropping series was called Allow Me to Introduce Myself. like God reintroducing himself to people, >> but then God also has to reintroduce you to you.

So Paul's writing to people in Ephesians say, "You think you know who you are? >> Let me show you who you are. >> Let me show you who you are. >> Introduce you to you." >> Yeah. You seated with him in heavenly places. So now you're seated. It's because you're seated with him in heavenly places.

It's chapter two. >> Chapter four. Now walk worthy of the vocation of which you're called. Oh, >> chapter six. Stand. Having done all the standing, stand. >> Stand. >> So, because you're seated, once you get seated, you can walk. Once you learn how to walk, you can stand. >> So, next week, man, we're starting Ephesians identity theft.

But I want to pray because there's some people >> there where Joseph was. They feeling misunderstood and it's got them mad. They're being fought by brothers. They're being forgotten by those that they favor. And we want to just [clears throat] pray over you today. So, Father, your word says your Holy Spirit is a comfort.

And I pray first of all for the comforting ministry of the Holy Spirit. >> Yes, Father. >> You give us comfort to endure what it may not be in your will to change. >> Your grace is sufficient. >> Thank you, Father. And so some of us right now are sitting in seasons and situations similar to Joseph.

Some people feel like they're being fought by those that they love. Some of us feel like we're being misrepresented and misunderstood by those we want to understand us. Some of us feel like we're being falsely accused of being something or doing something um that we haven't done. And others of us feel that some people have gotten convenient amnesia and those that we have favored in previous seasons have have forgotten us.

I pray now that you would just minister comfort. >> And Father, in the midst of ministering comfort to the heart, would you give revelation to the mind? I pray, Father, that you would reframe and shift our perspective and not just help us to feel better, help us to see things differently.

You're the God who sees. You are El Roy. >> And so as the God who sees, would you help us to see? Help us to see. Help us to see differently. Help us to see the way you see. You've seated us in heavenly places. So give us your vantage point, the perspective.

We [snorts] want your viewpoint on this matter. >> Help us to see it and settle it. Settle us in our hearts. Lord, I bless and we pray that you would bless your people now. Keep them as we pursue your dream for our life in Jesus name. Amen. >> Amen. >> Take care.

See you next week. Identity theft. ((music playing))