The Dream Is Still Alive!

Tomorrow we celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s birthday. Of course, most of you know Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister and a civil rights activist who became the most visible spokesperson and leader in the civil rights movement. I also believe he was a prophetic voice and visionary in his day.He is best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights using the tactics of nonviolence and civil disobedience that bought about change based on his Christian beliefs. He inspired many people of all races. His most famous speech, “I Have A Dream” during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom on August 28, 1963 is one of the most power speech’s today. He dreamt that one day his children and all people would be judged by the content of their character and not by the color of their skin. In December 1964 in Oslo Norway, he received the Nobel Peace prize for Peace for His non-violent campaign against racism.

What resonates with me about the “I Have a Dream” speech is that Dr. King had a vision . . . I grew up during this era, went to a predominantly white school after schools were desegregated, and now the Lord is using me to speak forth a word to encourage all of God’s children to never give up the dream! Little did I know that one day I would carry a prophetic mantle for “justice.” I encourage you to take time to read Dr. King’s powerful speech. In this speech there were several allusions or references to the words spoken by two Old Testament prophets that captured my attention. The prophetic words of Old Testament prophets had the potential to reach the primary decision makers of nations.

• . . . We are not satisfied, and we will not be satisfied “until justice rolls down like waters, and righteousness like a mighty stream.” Amos 5:24
• I have a dream that one day “every valley shall be exalted, and every hill and mountain shall be made low, the rough places will made plain, and the crooked places will be made straight. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together.” Isaiah 40:4-5

Saints, I believe that day is upon us! God is just and righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. God’s glory is rising upon His Church! As with any movement we must have a vision . . .  Habakkuk 2:1-3 says, I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.

The Lord’s Answer

2 Then the Lord replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald [messenger] may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false.Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.

Saints, we must continue to run with the vision God has given us for His Church. I wrote a blog article for Black History month on February 2017 titled “The Dream Is Still Alive”. I noted that we are looking to others to fix what only God can fix.   Dr. King, I believe had a prophetic message for Black Americans that stills holds true today. He said “But there is something that I must say to my people, who stand on the warm threshold which leads into the palace of justice: In the process of gaining our rightful place, we must not be guilty of wrongful deeds. Let us not seek to satisfy our thirst for freedom by drinking from the cup of bitterness and hatred. We must forever conduct our struggle on the high plane of dignity and discipline. We must not allow our creative protest to degenerate into physical violence. Again and again, we must rise to the majestic heights of meeting physical force with soul force.”

Everyone needs a vision to sustain their life.  When we are facing great challenges, receiving a Word from God brings great comfort. Proverbs 29:18 says “Where there is no vision [no revelation of God and His word], the people are unrestrained; But happy and blessed is he who keeps the law [of God].” Proverbs 29:18 (AMP)Without revelation, the people go unrestrained, walking in circles, having no certain destiny. Not only that, without revelation people are tossed to and fro with every wind and doctrine. They chase after whatever sounds good and tickles the flesh.

Revelation opens up new realms of living, of possibility, of faith. It is impossible to live the Christian life without a revelation of God. Revelation is essential in our lives that without it we perish. Prophetic revelation expands your capacity to see life from God’s perspective.  It is so important that Paul prayed that God would give the Ephesians a “ spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him.” Ephesians 1:17b

People need motivation to run with the vision. Saint, I want to give you the fuel that you need to run.  I want you to have whatever revelation I have, just as I feed on the revelation given to me by others. For years, I have done as Habakkuk suggest.  I write down the vision and thoughts about my life whenever they are revealed to me. I write down prophecies I receive on note card, on my iPhone and in my computer.  I carry them wherever I go and they have sustained my life reminding me of what God is saying. I go back and review them so that I can see what God is saying to me.  I keep a journal so that others may see what God has done in my lifetime.

In John 13:34, We are commanded to love one another as Christ loves us. God did not place a qualifier on loving people based upon race or social status.  In spite of many of the disparaging words we hear today we must take heed to Luke 6:27-28. “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

We must live in present truth to fulfill God’s Kingdom purposes. Many desperate people whose broken lives are crying out for justice in the midst of the wealthiest nation in the world. People of God, we have the answer. The Bible says that all who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled. I believe God is raising up new leaders and prophetic voices/messengers in this generation. I believe we will see them coming to the forefront this year 2018  and beyond. They will be so fine-tuned to the Holy Spirit because they have spent time in the secret place and their hearts are to do the will of the father.

To make American great again, we must be intentional.  We must pursue God’s dream and vision not only for the Church, but also for our nation. I believe one day our nation will believe our destinies are tied together according to God’s eternal plan for His CHURCH! We are bonded together in the freedom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!  In the word’s of Dr. King.  “Now is the time to make real the urgency of democracy. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children. It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment.” –Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

God’s made a promise to His children, and He has not defaulted on that promise!

Let’s Pray Together!

Father, thank you for visionary leaders like Dr. Martin Luther King.  LORD,  I pray that we wil capture the vision and run with it until it’s fulfillment. Father, in Jesus great name, we present our entire beings to You as an act of obedience and worship. We surrender our lives in obedience to your will.  Release Your life-giving presence upon us in a fresh manner. We need Your touch upon our lives! We desire an increase in the anointing of God to flow in a higher level in the gifts of the Holy Spirit! Here we are Lord; all that we are and all that we hope to be. We surrender ALL our senses as instruments of righteousness for Jesus Christ sake. Amen and Amen!

HAVE A BLESSED DAY !