Dare to Dream

DREAM + CHARACTER + PERSEVERANCE = FULFILLMENT OF GOD’S PLAN

Perseverance is not giving up. Perseverance is persistence and tenacity, the effort required to do something and keep doing it till the end, even if it is hard.

From Vocabulary.com

One night Joseph had a dream

His brothers hated Joseph, they couldn’t say a kind word to him

His brothers made plans to kill him

Joseph’s brothers sold him for twenty pieces of silver

Joseph is falsely accused of attacking Potiphar’s wife

Joseph is put into prison

Genesis 40:1 (NLT)

Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master.

Genesis 40:2-3 (NLT)

Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard.

Genesis 40:5 (NLT)

While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning.

Genesis 40:9-10 (NLT)

So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes.

Genesis 40:11 (NLT)

I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.”

Genesis 40:12-13 (NLT)

“This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer.

Genesis 40:14 (NLT)

And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place.

Genesis 40:15 (NLT)

For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.”

Genesis 40:16 (NLT)

When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head.”

Genesis 40:17 (NLT)

The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.”

Genesis 40:18 (NLT)

“This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days.

Genesis 40:19 (NLT)

Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then the birds will come and peck away at your flesh.”

Genesis 40:20 (NLT)

Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials.

Genesis 40:21 (NLT)

He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup.

Genesis 40:22 (NLT)

But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream.

Genesis 40:23 (NLT)

Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.

Genesis 41:1 (NLT)

Two full years later…

2 Corinthians 4:8 (NLT)

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair.

James 1:2-4 (NLT)

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

James 1:2-4 (NLT)

So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed , you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

John 16:33 (NLT)

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”

Psalm 34:19 (NLT)

The righteous person faces many troubles, but the LORD comes to the rescue each time.

Romans 12:12 (NLT)

Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying.