The Incredible Power of your Imagination

Introduction

(Eph 3:20-21 NIV) Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, {21} to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

A positive, Holy Spirit inspired imagination is essential to everyone if they are to rise above the status quo and rise to their FULL POTENTIAL

Killing the imagination in people will destroy their capacity to be CREATIVE & SUCCESSFUL

• E.g. T.V. and computers (even playgrounds)
• Bed time stories to our kids

Twelve men sent to search the land of Canaan,

(Num 13:1-3 NIV) The LORD said to Moses, {2} "Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites. From each ancestral tribe send one of its leaders." {3} So at the Lord's command Moses sent them out from the Desert of Paran. All of them were leaders of the Israelites.

Their account of the land

(Num 13:26-33 NIV) They came back to Moses and Aaron and the whole Israelite community at Kadesh in the Desert of Paran. There they reported to them and to the whole assembly and showed them the fruit of the land. {27} They gave Moses this account: "We went into the land to which you sent us, and it does flow with milk and honey! Here is its fruit. {28} But the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there. {29} The Amalekites live in the Negev; the Hittites, Jebusites and Amorites live in the hill country; and the Canaanites live near the sea and along the Jordan." {30} Then Caleb silenced the people before Moses and said, "We should go up and take possession of the land, for we can certainly do it." {31} But the men who had gone up with him said, "We can't attack those people; they are stronger than we are." {32} And they spread among the Israelites a bad report about the land they had explored. They said, "The land we explored devours those living in it. All the people we saw there are of great size. {33} We saw the Nephilim there (the descendants of Anak come from the Nephilim). We seemed like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and we looked the same to them."

If our imagination is negative....

• We become pessimistic, sceptical, cynical
• Problem is magnified - they saw themselves as grasshoppers
• Note: Their negative report effected the others negatively

People will always try to categorize you and indoctrinate you with their opinions

• Once indoctrinated, you stop thinking creatively and imaginatively

Story - boy tied to railway tracks

• What killed him? - The train or his imagination?
• Negative imagination can stop the heart
• Power of life or death - success of failure - depression or joy
• The blindfold (in the story) represents - negative opinions - rejection, etc.

Four truths about our imagination

1. Believing is seeing

• Anything you want to see different in your life must first be seen in your imagination

(Prov 23:7 KJV) For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; but his heart is not with thee.

• If you think your husband is a fool - he is (to you)
• If you think you are ugly - you are (to you)

For that to change you have to believe they can

• Clean up your inner world

(Mat 23:26 NIV) Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

2. What's in comes out

• Whatever is impressed on your imagination will be expressed

(Eph.3:20) According to the power that is at work within YOU

• Question: What power is at work in you?

(Mat 12:34 NIV) You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.

• When you see your self as a winner you will start acting like one

3. Success breeds success

• If you enjoy any level of success it creates feeling and emotions of success
• If you win something - you feel like a winner
• If you do something good - you feel good

(Luke 6:38 NIV) Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

4. You are never too old or young to recover an inspired imagination

(Joel 2:28 NIV) 'And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions.

• E.g. Caleb 85yrs old
• E.g. Joseph 17yrs old

Things to remember when recovering an inspired imagination

1. Hang around positive people

• Avoid negative 'Group think'

2. Avoid be too busy

• People are to busy to stop and think - let alone be imaginative
• That's why kids tend to be more imaginative

3. Have fun

• Too serious to be imaginative

4. Exercise your imagination

• Got to exercise your imagination - use it and it will grow