The Bishop stepped to the podium with a determined stride. It was evident to all in the building that something had stirred him and they were about to hear it. With a scowl on his face, Bishop Wright, in holy indignation, boldly rebuked the College President who had just spoken.

“That is, without a doubt, the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard,” began the Bishop, and he didn’t stop there. He continued to talk about how foolish it was for any man, much less, an educated man to make such statements as, “One day in the future men may fly through the air like birds.” The Bishop told the Methodist gathering, that if God had intended for humans to fly, He would have created them with wings!

When Bishop Wright returned to his home in Ohio, he related the foolishness of the College President to His wife. He also told her how he had set things straight and soundly rebuked him in the hearing of the entire gathering. They smirked over the preposterous idea that men would one day fly through the air. What foolishness!

While they discussed this ludicrous idea, two of their sons, Orville and Wilbur, listened intently and a dream was born. What if? Could it one day be true that men could fly through the air? What if?  True, God did not create us with wings, but did he give us the power to create wings with which to fly? These two young boys dared to dream the impossible and through their diligence opened the door for one of the great marvels of the modern era. Flight!

Although I have taken liberties to reconstruct the conversation, the above story is true.  By all I have read, Bishop Wright and his wife were true Christians and wonderful parents. Yet, this man of God could not see the jet age which we now experience. But, Orville and Wilbur dared to dream an impossible dream. If we are to make a difference in our generation, we must also dare to dream!

I love how little children dream. Have you ever watched a small boy with a toy train?  He’ll make train noises as he moves it around the track, complete with whistles and bells. He’ll load the cars then chug around and around, deliver the load and start all over. How about a little girl with a doll?  She’ll talk to that doll, wash it, hug it to herself, discipline it, and change its diaper, and then want you to help her take care of her baby.  This is not mere child’s play; it is preparation for the future.

I don’t believe God wants us to grow up and forget how to use the power of imagination. It is a God given gift to prepare us for ever better and bigger things. Jesus said, “If you can believe, all things are possible.” [Mk. 9:23] Solomon wrote, “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” [Pr. 29:18] We are created to live with vision!   We are created to break through barriers and create!

Here are a few keys to dreaming God’s way:

• Dream big! God is and always will be bigger than any impossibility we face! He is bigger than all of your insecurities and all of your weaknesses.  “Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.” Eph. 3:20
• Dream God’s dreams for your life. This is key! When you dream His dream it will happen! How can you know its God’s dream? “Delight yourself also in the LORD; and He shall give you the desires of your heart.” Ps. 37:4
• Hold on to the dream and don’t give up! Year’s ago Margie and I heard Tommy Barnett at his Pastor’s School say, “If you can hold a dream for five years, it will come to pass.” One way to hold the dream is to write it down. Hab. 2:2, “Write the vision, and make it plain…” 
• Put action to your dreaming. For dreams to become reality there must be action! James wrote, “I will show you my faith by my works.” [James 2:18]

These are just a scratching of the surface but hopefully they will help you to dream and keep on dreaming. What past generations could not even imagine, you may be the catalyst to make it the next generation’s reality. “For with God, nothing shall be impossible.” [Lk. 1:37] Let’s all become like little children again, and learn how to be trained for future accomplishments, by dreaming the dream God births in us! Through Jesus, we can and we will accomplish the impossible! Spread your wings, it’s time to soar! 

KEITHNIX.ORG

Keith Nix is the founding lead pastor of a thriving congregation, The Lift Church in Sevierville, Tennessee. [Visit www.TheLiftChurch.tv] He has traveled internationally since 1993 carrying a unique prophetic message of awakening to this generation. He and his wife, Margie, have one daughter, Isabella.