Edmund Chan, Founder of the Intentional Disciple-Making Church (IDMC) Global

Alliance and speaker of the disciple-making conference at Wesley Methodist

Church Kuala Lumpur, talked about unfulfilled dreams on 15th of February.

Whether it is articulated or not, we have dreams for our family, for our wife,
for our church, and for our work. But what do you do when your dreams are
unfulfilled? Let us look at Zechariah 4:6, which talks about unfulfilled dreams
and God’s providence.

So he said to me, “This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might
nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the Lord Almighty. (Zec 4:6)

In 586 BC, Nebuchadnezzar seized Jerusalem and transported the Israelites

to Babylon across a three-month walk. Fifty years later, the Persians sacked
the Babylonians. And the king ordered 50,000 Jews to rebuilt the city,
beginning in laying the temple foundation at 535 BC. But the work stopped
for more than 15 years due to lost of passion and steam. In 520 BC, the
Israelites began to rebuild. To think building something is hard; to rebuild
something is even harder especially in the face of lacking resources and lost
of steam.

But when dream are unfulfilled and when times are difficult, we can find
three transformation principles.
#1 Principle of Confirmation

“The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands
will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me
to you. (Zec 4:9)

Ref: blogspot

We often asked the church especially the young people, the question, “Are
you ready?” This is an important question but we have missed something
more important here and more foundational here.

The question to ask is “Are you rooted in the Word of God? Are you rooted in
the deep things of God? Are you rooted in sound doctrine?” Without roots,
we have no foundation and no sustainability.

Discipleship is radically following Jesus. And the first call of discipleship is to

abide in Jesus, not evangelizing. To know whether a dream is from God, we
need to walk that pilgrimage of God.

But the way of the world is the fleshly way of getting things done. If we can
push the right buttons and leverage on our agenda, then the dreams will be
fulfilled. But many discovered that this is not so.
Even with award-winning businessmen, Edmund discovered from his
discipleship with them that they too have no buttons to push—whether their
connections, leadership skills and network—except to depend on God.

Ref: biblegodquotes

When Edmund transited in his leadership as a senior pastor in Covenant

Evangelical Free Church (EFC) in Singapore, he recalled that one of the most
significant last things he did was to take the newly appointed pastors up the
mountain. They would spend four days and three nights there, seeking God
alone and only meeting to share about God during meals.

He wanted them to know that life is complex and we do not have all the
answers. So, we need to anchor ourselves in God. We need to know that our
dreams and promises are of Him. Make sure God’s Word is central in your
life. Anchor on what He has promised.
#2 Principle of Confidence

Do not be discouraged with your lack of resources because God will provide.
The greater the dream, the greater the obstacle.

The verse Zechariah 4:6 has been misunderstood by many because we do

not understand the context. Historically, this Scripture is not written for
people with rich resources but people without manpower, resources,
motivation, and zeal.

The word ‘might’ in this verse means military might but it metaphorically
meant manpower or people help. The word ‘power’ refers to wealth and
influence. What this verse meant is simply, “It’s not what you say you do not
have, but it is by my Spirit.”

Many times, when God asked us to engage in His work, we thought of many,
“If only.” We think, “Because we do not have, we cannot.” But God is no
man’s debtor. He will provide. Do not lament on what you do not have. But
lay hold on what God has and what He is willing to provide.

Ref: gingerciminello
Edmund shared how he and his wife Ann decided to empty their bank
accounts when they started their biblical college in 1983, since God has
asked them to surrender all.

At that time, Ann was a schoolteacher and Edmund was a government

servant. They forgot about the income tax they had to pay. Requesting for
permission to pay by installment, they saw God’s providence of funds every
time it is due.

Edmund and Ann would only eat their lunch and dinner in the Bible College
that provided food. And in the weekends, they would eat the leftovers from
cell group. He recalled how she would descend from the bus due to
insufficient funds and walked home for the rest of the journey. But Edmund
and Ann were very happy.

The Lord emptied their bank account for three times, which they happily
surrendered. During the third time, their combined savings were less than
$1500, which is less than their adopted daughters who had $2000 each,
given by their aunt. Edmund asked if they would empty their accounts to
build a house for Jesus. But as preschoolers, they were too young to
understand what $2000 meant.

Ref: myinfoline

Hence, Edmund took their piggy bank and asked if they would give the
money inside for Jesus’ house. Because the piggy bank had no stopper, they
had to break it, to which one of his daughters exclaimed, “Shall we kill
Piggy?” Edmund took this opportunity to tell her about how God provided for
Abraham’s sacrifice for Isaac. The daughters agreed to give to Jesus’ home.
And by Christmas, the children received three piggy banks!

We cannot out give God. Life is not measured by what we have—possessions

or acquisitions—but the love relationship with a God who provides.

Having mentored multimillionaires and businessmen who transact in the

billions, Edmund knew that money does not provide satisfaction.

Ref: twimg

No matter how much money we make or whether we give or receive money,

it’s how well we steward it. We got to first open our hands to receive all that
God has given us. God knows us best and He knows what’s best for us. He
says to us, “You do not need this for your fulfillment. You do not need that
for your happiness.”

Bottom line is when God calls us to do what we are called to do, He will
provide for us the ways to do it.

Have confidence in God. Let Him do your work, especially in marriage. Pray
for your spouse and children. And do not nag or micromanage them. Depend
on God’s timing and press on.
#3 Principle of Consecration

“Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the Lord
that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen
capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?” (Zec 4:10)

Do not despise the day of the small things. During this time, we need to wait
upon the Lord. The hardest room of faith is God’s waiting room. When
something is not happening, it’s hard. We need the faith to depend on God.
And you cannot wait on God if you have not deeply walked with Him. God in
His time will provide.

The church Edmund was pastoring, Covenant EFC, was the slowest growing
denomination in Singapore. Although he was given many gifts, he waited
and held fast to the promise of God for 28 years for his church to be
transformed into a disciple-making church in the city.

Waiting on God requires confidence in Him that He is not playing games with
us and we can trust Him.

Ref: christimcguire
Edmund shared how he heard his daughter weeping in her room when he
was passing by her room past midnight. Entering her room, he asked her
why she was crying. She said that grandma had thrown away her special
pillow. This pillow was special because her biological parents gave it.
Understandably, this was devastating to a small child. But in his weariness,
Edmund told her daughter that he would buy her a new pillow. The daughter
quickly replied the new pillow would not be the same, which is true!

Staggered by his daughter’s response, he asked the Holy Spirit to give him
wisdom in consoling his daughter. And the Spirit said to him to tell her that
the little pillow represented her past. But God is asking her to let go of her
past because He will be giving her a great future.

Ref: pinimg

Likewise, are you walking in your disappointments of the past or are you
rising to your destiny? Sometimes, we lost our focus on God as we wait upon
Him. But the waiting room is also the bonding room with God. In the waiting
room, we learned to quiet down our souls and fix our eyes not on the
transient money, position, or other worldly pleasures but on our eternal God
alone. We realized not who we are but whose we are. Our hope, identity,
worth, and yes, our dreams, all lie in God and God alone. Hence, He will
surely provide and He will surely bring it to pass, if it is His dreams we are
working for.

Confirm your dream. Have confidence that God will provide. And consecrate
yourself as you wait upon Him.