God has a blueprint for your life and if we are willing to build according to His plans we can build things that will last...

Let's look at "Building Materials"...

4:1-4
1 But it so happened, when Sanballat heard that we were rebuilding the wall, that he was furious and very indignant, and mocked the Jews. 2 And he spoke before his brethren and the army of Samaria, and said, "What are these feeble Jews doing? Will they fortify themselves? Will they offer sacrifices? Will they complete it in a day? Will they revive the stones from the heaps of rubbish--stones that are burned?" 3 Now Tobiah the Ammonite was beside him, and he said, "Whatever they build, if even a fox goes up on it, he will break down their stone wall." 4 Hear, O our God, for we are despised; turn their reproach on their own heads, and give them as plunder to a land of captivity!
 
As you build do you see burned stones and a weak structure that even a fox will walk on and cause it to come tumbling down?
 
It’s really all about perspective…
 
Psalm 118:22
22 The stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone.

The world, enemies, haters, etc. will always see you and your "building materials" as inadequate, weak, and feeble but you must see Christ the cornerstone and know the strength in whom you are building upon.

Let's look at "Building During War Times"...

4:13-18
13 Therefore I positioned men behind the lower parts of the wall, at the openings; and I set the people according to their families, with their swords, their spears, and their bows. 14 And I looked, and arose and said to the nobles, to the leaders, and to the rest of the people, "Do not be afraid of them. Remember the Lord, great and awesome, and fight for your brethren, your sons, your daughters, your wives, and your houses." 15 And it happened, when our enemies heard that it was known to us, and that God had brought their plot to nothing, that all of us returned to the wall, everyone to his work. 16 So it was, from that time on, that half of my servants worked at construction, while the other half held the spears, the shields, the bows, and wore armor; and the leaders were behind all the house of Judah. 17 Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon. 18 Every one of the builders had his sword girded at his side as he built.
 
We don’t build OR fight… We build AND fight…
 
There are times that you are laboring on the wall and others are standing guard and standing in the gap in prayer and providing resources and materials for you…
 
The key is that when you find yourself not necessarily working on the wall you have to be standing in the gap for those who are… Praying for them and resourcing them…

In Genesis 41 Pharaoh has a dream that he is unable to interpret.  With the help of a foreigner and prisoner named Joseph Pharaoh's dream is interpreted, the destiny of Egypt is changed, and many lives are dramatically altered.  In this past Sunday's message I shared at Union Church in downtown Los Angeles and had 3 points of which I will only focus on #3 in this blog.

1.  Peace is found in the interpretation

Dreams and visions are bad or good but peace comes from God speaking clearly and directly to you about the dream or vision because you know God is involved and He cares enough to speak directly into your situation.  When it's bad you can still have a "peace that surpasses understanding.

2.  If nothing changes nothing changes

God will often give us an opportunity to change our behavior and alter the affect of the dreams & visions fulfillment.  For instance, a flood is coming but you can change your behavior and build an ark so that when the flood comes the affect upon your life is far less destructive.

Finally #3 the focus turns to Dreams and Visions themselves.

Genesis 41:38-44
38 And Pharaoh said to his servants, "Can we find such a one as this, a man in whom is the Spirit of God?" 39 Then Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Inasmuch as God has shown you all this, there is no one as discerning and wise as you. 40 You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." 41 And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt." 42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph's hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck. 43 And he had him ride in the second chariot which he had; and they cried out before him, "Bow the knee!" So he set him over all the land of Egypt. 44 Pharaoh also said to Joseph, "I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no man may lift his hand or foot in all the land of Egypt."
3.  Our “Purpose and Destiny” are often found in someone else’s “Dreams & Visions”…
Joseph’s purpose and destiny was to rule and to lead in righteousness… 
to ensure that when the children of Israel needed salvation from starvation and a safe place to grow in their infancy as a people they would have one in Egypt…
God’s purpose and destiny for Joseph was to be used to take His people from only 70 to millions that would later make an Exodus with Moses…
But isn’t it interesting that it was all found through the “Dreams & Visions” of someone else… even Pharaoh's dreams & visions who didn’t know God…
What might be fulfilled in individual lives of Christians if the “Dreams & Visions” of Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton come to pass?…
What might be fulfilled in your life if the “Dreams and Visions” of your Pastor come to pass?…
What can happen in a family if a Father’s “Dreams & Visions” come to pass?…

The life that every Christian lives is supposed to be a life of destiny and purpose found within the “Dreams and Visions” of God…
This idea of a perfect world that man is given dominion over and allowed to walk with God in is the “Dream and Vision” of God…
The plan for redeeming a fallen humanity is the “Dream and Vision” of God…

Not only did Joseph find purpose and destiny within the “Dreams & Visions” of another but his “Dream & Vision” that he once had but had long forgotten also came to pass… Joseph’s brothers who had tried to kill him and sold him into slavery when he first told them of his “Dream &Vision” eventually came and bowed down before him just as he had dreamed as a young man…​

The “Right Angle” to go vertical is 90 degrees… Straight up to God!... What is the “Right Angle” to go horizontal?… 180 degrees is the “Right Angle”… Going Horizontal at 180 degrees is to stop being focused on self primarily and to to make a complete turn or to do a 180 and to begin to be one who is focused on others… For most of us others are obstacles to overcome or resources to use...

John 15:13
13 Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends.
 
1 John 3:16
16 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
 
When Jesus is asked how to inherit eternal life He says in Luke Chapter 10... "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor as yourself."

The question we attempted to look at this Sunday in church is "who is our neighbor and how do we love them"?  As we looked at the story known as "The Good Samaritan" in Luke Chapter 10 we focused on 3 areas: 

1.  Falling among thieves
2.  A Priest, a Levite, and a Samaritan 
3.  How to love your neighbor (which I want to touch on here...)
 
a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
 
Who loves their neighbor? A person with a heart that has been renewed through the 90 degree angle process and is moved with compassion when they see those who have "fallen among thieves"…
 
he went to him and bandaged his wounds,
 
Who loves their neighbor? A person who is willing to go the hurting and get close enough to bandage their wounds…
 
pouring on oil and wine; and he set him on his own animal,
 
Who loves their neighbor? A person who is willing to share what they have…
 
he brought him to an inn, and took care of him.
 
Who loves their neighbor? A person who will try to get people to a safe place to heal… like church?… And then be there with them to take care of them…
 
When Jesus was born the bible says there was “No room for Him in the inn”…
 
Is there room in your life's inn and in your church's inn for those who have fallen among thieves?… Will you move with compassion and share what you have and bandage wounds and care for them?…
 
when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.
 
Who loves their neighbor? A person willing to make a “Long Term Investment”…  This loving neighbor gave money and they promised to return to help finish the work…
 
This is what it means to “Go Horizontal” by making a 180 degree turn from selfishness and to begin to love your neighbor as yourself…
​