THE LINC COLLECTIVE

Scriptures:
Genesis 12:1-3
Genesis 15:5
Ephesians 1:23 MSG
Ephesians 2:19-22
Galatians 3:26-29
Hebrews 11:8-10

The Big Idea: The blessing is not in our bloodline, it’s in our belief.

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Building Dreams in Desert Places: Embracing God’s Promise for 2025

As we step into 2025, a powerful message of promise and potential echoes through the air. It’s a call to embrace our identity as people of promise, to see beyond our current circumstances and believe in the dreams God has planted in our hearts.

The story of Abraham serves as a compelling backdrop for this journey of faith. In Genesis 12, we see God calling Abram (later renamed Abraham) to leave everything familiar behind and venture into the unknown. “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s household,” God instructed, “and go to the land I will show you.” This wasn’t just a geographical relocation; it was an invitation to step into a divine promise that would impact generations to come.

As heirs of Abraham through faith in Christ, we too are called to embrace this promise. But here’s the key: the blessing isn’t in our bloodline; it’s in our belief. It’s not about where we come from or what advantages we may or may not have. It’s about our willingness to trust God and step out in faith.

Consider Abraham’s journey. He entered Canaan, the promised land, yet still felt like a foreigner. He lived in tents, a nomad in the very place God had promised him. But Hebrews 11:10 gives us a profound insight: “For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.” Abraham saw beyond the immediate circumstances to a greater promise – one that would ultimately find its fulfillment in Christ and His church.

This vision of a “city with foundations” isn’t just about a physical place. It’s about the establishment of God’s kingdom, His presence, and His purposes on earth. And here’s the exciting part: we’re invited to be active participants in building this “city.”

Think about the transformation of desert places. In Israel, there’s a community called Ariel, established in what was once a barren, hostile environment. Today, it’s a thriving center of education and culture. This serves as a powerful metaphor for what God wants to do in and through His people. He specializes in bringing life, hope, and purpose to the most unlikely places – including the desert seasons of our own lives.

As we embrace our identity as people of promise in 2025, we’re challenged to see beyond our current limitations. Where are the “desert places” in your life? In your family? In your community? God is inviting us to partner with Him in bringing His kingdom to these spaces.

But how do we do this? It starts with understanding the nature of God’s promise. In Ephesians 2:19-22, we’re reminded that we are “no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.”

This passage reveals a profound truth: the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promise isn’t just about physical land or material blessings (though these can be part of it). It’s about being incorporated into God’s family, becoming living stones in the spiritual house He is building.

As we step into this promise, we’re called to be like flames attracting others to the warmth and light of God’s love. Just as a moth is drawn to a flame, our lives should radiate the presence of God in such a way that others are naturally drawn to Him through us.

This isn’t about putting on a show or pretending to have it all together. It’s about allowing God’s grace to flow through us, transforming us from the inside out. It’s about being willing to be positioned by God in the center of what He’s doing, even if that means leaving our comfort zones.

As we embrace this calling, we may find ourselves, like Abraham, in unfamiliar territory. But remember, God’s promise isn’t limited to a specific geographical location. Wherever we go, we carry the potential for His kingdom to be established. Our businesses, our schools, our neighborhoods – these are all potential sites for God’s “city with foundations” to be built.

In practical terms, this might look like:

1. Cultivating a spirit of expectancy, believing that God can and will do great things through us.
2. Being willing to step out in faith, even when we can’t see the full picture.
3. Investing in the next generation, recognizing that God’s promise extends beyond us.
4. Using our resources and talents to create spaces of hope and restoration in our communities.
5. Building diverse, inclusive communities that reflect the multifaceted nature of God’s kingdom.

As we journey through 2025, let’s hold onto this truth: we are a people of promise. Not because of our own merit, but because of God’s grace. He has positioned us “for such a time as this,” to be conduits of His love and agents of transformation in a world that desperately needs hope.

Let’s be like Abraham, who “believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness” (Genesis 15:6). Even when we can’t count all the stars or fully comprehend God’s plan, we can choose to believe. And in that belief, we’ll find the strength to build dreams in desert places, knowing that the Master Architect is working through us to establish His eternal city.

As we step into this year of promise, may we have eyes to see beyond our current circumstances, hearts ready to believe in God’s faithfulness, and hands willing to partner with Him in building His kingdom. The rain of His grace is falling. Will we be positioned to receive it and let it flow through us to a thirsty world?

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Discussion Questions

1. How does understanding ourselves as ‘seeds of Abraham’ change our perspective on God’s promises and our role in His plan?
2. In what ways might God be calling us to build ‘dreams in desert places’ in our own lives or communities?
3. How can we cultivate the ‘unparalleled commitment to optimism and community’ that was mentioned in the message?
4. What does it mean for us personally that ‘the blessing is not in our bloodline, it’s in our belief’?
5. How might viewing the local church as ‘not peripheral to the world’ but the world as ‘peripheral to the church’ change our approach to ministry and daily life?
6. In what ways can we actively participate in expanding God’s ‘urban sanctuary’ in our cities and neighborhoods?
7. How does the concept of being ‘clothed with Christ’ impact our identity and actions in daily life?
8. What might it look like for us to ‘activate a promise that’s already there’ in our personal lives, businesses, or ministries?
9. How can we cultivate a spirit like Abraham’s, who was ‘looking forward to a city with foundations whose architect and builder is God’?
10. In what ways can we intentionally build ‘legacy’ in our spheres of influence, particularly in the business world?

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