Set Your Face like Flint

As you follow your personal dreams and we as a church follow the vision that God gave us, there is one thing we must be aware of.

As we pursue our God given dreams we will encounter those who will try to discourage us, change our vision and get us so frustrated that we want to give up. 

John 10:10 The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy, but I have come to give you life, life more abundantly.

Remember it is the enemy who is the dream killer. But he uses those around you to work through. 

Isaiah 50: 7 Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced.  Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.

Having a face or setting ones face like flint means determination.

Three men who set their face like flint to fulfill their God given Vision.

Joseph (Gen 37)

His first encounter with the Dream Killer was within his family.
* It is usually the ones closest to us that will try to kill the dream.
* They are the ones who will say:  I know who you are. I knew you when. Who do you think you are?

Joseph could have left their hatred for him keep him in the pit. The pit of self pity. And staying in the pit of self pity will definitely kill your dream.

Nehemiah (Neh 6: 2-4)

Nehemiah had a vision of rebuilding the wall around Jerusalem.

But when Nehemiah began organizing the people in rebuilding the wall he met opposition.

* Nehemiah did not allow the desires of this world or the lure of man to deter him. Neither should we.

* Even when it looks easier, or better to do something else. We need to keep our face like a flint (be determined to finish the course)

Jesus

Luke 9:51-57 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he (Jesus) should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem.

He came to die, and although the road ahead of him was a painful one, He knew that if he gave up humanity would forever suffer. He set his face like a flint.

Sometimes pursuing our dreams will lead us on a painful road.  So we must set our face like a flint to obtain our dreams.

If we give up on our dreams, the only thing we will succeed in is Letting the Enemy win.

My Challenge to you today is

When people reject us.
When they try to slander us by saying all kinds of negative things about us.
When people try to discourage us by saying we cannot do this.
When people try to distract us by getting us to do less.
And when the road ahead of us start getting painful.

Remember this No one and nothing can stop You from Obtaining your dreams but YOU

Set your Face like a flint and be determined that Nothing will stop you from obtaining your dream.