The Dreamer and The Joseph Anointing

Genesis 41:51-52 NIV ... “It is because God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father’s household.” ... “It is because God has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering.”

Like Joseph, I had a dream.

Like Joseph, God anointed me to carry it out.

Like Joseph, I’ve had to learn how to endure hardship.

When I was in my 30’s I had a dream that changed my trajectory.

It was a real dream, like the sleeping kind, that produced my life dreams and goals.

In my dream I woke up walking in a downtown big city, and something terrible had happened, it looked like the aftermath of 9/11.

People were walking around dazed and confused.

On every corner was a big white door with a huge red cross. I was thinking what in the world is going on?

I opened the door with the big red cross. It was a fancy restaurant with big band music playing, the people were eating, drinking and dancing as though nothing was wrong.

I yelled out, “what are you people doing, can’t you see what’s going on outside?”

At that moment Jesus walked into the room and said “this is what has become of my church.”

For years I never told anyone about the dream. But it haunted me.

- First, I started helping the church (the people) find purpose.

- Today I am still helping the people, but now I am helping the church, the institution, reach the marketplace.

This year we’re creating Church Entrepreneur Zones in churches across America. An almost impossible assignment.

Except with God, all things are possible.

This dream activated me into my purpose, helping people connect the dots between faith, purpose and entrepreneurship.

Like Joseph, I had a dream and a Joseph anointing.

What I didn’t realize is that to have the anointing, I would walk the Joseph journey.

I would have to endure great hardships.

Hebrews 12:7-11 lays this out:

- Endure hardship as discipline

- God is treating you as his children

- For what children are not disciplined by their father?

- If you are not disciplined — and everyone undergoes discipline — then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all.

- God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.

- No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.

- Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

There is a God-planted dream inside everyone.

All are called by God.

Everyone called is anointed.

You have a Joseph anointing.

But to experience your destiny, you’ll have to endure seasons of hardship.

These seasons are where God disciplines us.

- He is pruning us.

- He is the master gardener.

- He is very careful with His pruning shears.

But there is only one reason why a gardener prunes.

It’s so you will bear much fruit.

If you are experiencing hardship, it’s never God’s punishment.

He is pruning you like He did Joseph, He is preparing you for your destiny.

If you want the Joseph anointing, you’ll have to endure the Joseph journey.

Keep walking, your destiny is straight ahead!

-Gerald