Reaching Your Dream
07/20/2008 Filed in: General
Reaching Your Dream
(Genesis 24:1-57)
2. Define your purpose
Genesis 24:2-4(NIV): "He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, 'Put your hand under my thigh. [3] I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Caananites, among whom I am living, [4] but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.' "
3. Discover a promise
Genesis 24:7(NIV): "The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land' - he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there."
4. Describe the profit Genesis 24:7b
Why do I want it? What is the benefit?
5. Desire in prayer
Genesis 24:12(NIV): "Then he prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.' "
6. Diagnose any problems
Genesis 24:21(NIV): "Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful."
Genesis 24:49 (NIV): "Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."
Genesis 24:58 (NIV): "So they called Rebekah and asked her, 'Will you go with this man?' 'I will go', she said."
7. Design a plan
Genesis 24:10-15(NIV): "Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. [11] He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. [12] Then he prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. [13] See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. [14] May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' --let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.' [15] Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor."
8. Deposit the price
Genesis 24:53(NIV): "Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother."
9. Depend on discipline
Genesis 24:49-51(NIV): "Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." [50] Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. [51] Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed."
(Genesis 24:1-57)
1. Determine your position
Genesis 24:1(NIV): "Abraham was now old and well advanced in years, and the Lord had blessed him in every way."
- What would I like to change in my life?
2. Define your purpose
Genesis 24:2-4(NIV): "He said to the chief servant in his household, the one in charge of all that he had, 'Put your hand under my thigh. [3] I want you to swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and the God of earth, that you will not get a wife for my son from the daughters of the Caananites, among whom I am living, [4] but will go to my country and my own relatives and get a wife for my son Isaac.' "
- Where do I really want to be?
- What do I really want in life?
- How will I know when I get there?
3. Discover a promise
Genesis 24:7(NIV): "The Lord, the God of heaven, who brought me out of my father's household and my native land and who spoke to me and promised me on oath, saying, 'To your offspring I will give this land' - he will send his angel before you so that you can get a wife for my son from there."
- Which promise applies directly to the changes I want to make?
4. Describe the profit Genesis 24:7b
Why do I want it? What is the benefit?
- It keeps you motivated when things get tough
- If it is a worthy goal, others will want to help
- When you understand the "why" in your life then God will clarify the "how"
5. Desire in prayer
Genesis 24:12(NIV): "Then he prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham.' "
- How often do I pray about my goal?
6. Diagnose any problems
Genesis 24:21(NIV): "Without saying a word, the man watched her closely to learn whether or not the Lord had made his journey successful."
Genesis 24:49 (NIV): "Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn."
Genesis 24:58 (NIV): "So they called Rebekah and asked her, 'Will you go with this man?' 'I will go', she said."
- Why don't I have a goal already?
- What is holding me back?
7. Design a plan
Genesis 24:10-15(NIV): "Then the servant took ten of his master's camels and left, taking with him all kinds of good things from his master. He set out for Aram Naharaim and made his way to the town of Nahor. [11] He had the camels kneel down near the well outside the town; it was toward evening, the time the women go out to draw water. [12] Then he prayed, 'O Lord, God of my master Abraham, give me success today, and show kindness to my master Abraham. [13] See, I am standing beside this spring, and the daughters of the townspeople are coming out to draw water. [14] May it be that when I say to a girl, 'Please let down your jar that I may have a drink,' and she says, 'Drink, and I'll water your camels too' --let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac. By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.' [15] Before he had finished praying, Rebekah came out with her jar on her shoulder. She was the daughter of Bethuel son of Milcah, who was the wife of Abraham's brother Nahor."
- How do I intend to get to my goal? Specify it step by step.
- How long is it going to take?
8. Deposit the price
Genesis 24:53(NIV): "Then the servant brought out gold and silver jewelry and articles of clothing and gave them to Rebekah; he also gave costly gifts to her brother and to her mother."
- What am I willing to give?
- Is it worth it?
9. Depend on discipline
Genesis 24:49-51(NIV): "Now if you will show kindness and faithfulness to my master, tell me: and if not, tell me, so I may know which way to turn." [50] Laban and Bethuel answered, "This is from the Lord; we can say nothing to you one way or the other. [51] Here is Rebekah; take her and go, and let her become the wife of your master's son, as the Lord has directed."
- Am I a cooperative person?
- What is more important: My pride or my project?