I have begun to discover that true dreaming, the kind referenced in Acts 2:17 as “old men dreams,” are when sons and daughters have chased down vision, failed, lived through the very real pain of failure, even tasting death, and still believe in the absolute goodness of His love.

“Old men dreams” is not about age, its the journey into God revelation – the perfection of His always good love revealed. This revelation births faith and true dreaming can’t be done without it. I’m not describing a pretty concept or a good principle, neither is this the brash leap, or the optimistic bent, this is a faith that has been tried through the fires of failure and death.

It’s the faith that Peter experienced when he used a sword to advance a Kingdom that could only be advanced by Jesus becoming the sheath. Did Peter fail, yes. Was he a failure, no. Why, because the story didn’t end with failure and death, its never about failure or death. The story is always about resurrection, redemption, and revelation. “Old men dreamers” are those who have joined Jesus in that journey, the one where death isn’t the point, but it’s the only way to fully live.

When it was all said and done Peter knew a LOVE that wasn’t dependent on him. This is the only love with the power to redeem, this is the only love with the authority to move mountains. This is the love that empowered Peter to transform the world, this is the love that became the foundation, a rock upon which the church would be built and the gates of hell would not prevail. This is the love that possessed the keys of heaven; a love with the authority to say “yes” or “no” on earth and hear the echo in heaven. (Matt 16:13-20)

A true dream, one that is birthed in the heart of “old men dreamers,” carries with it authority and power. Only a person who has experienced the death of vision, who has nailed vision to the cross, has access to the power of resurrection. When he dreams again, he dreams the dreams of heaven. And a dream that’s birthed in heaven has power to transform earth, it can change a family, a neighborhood, a city, a nation, it grows exponentially and has eternal significance.

I believe that true dreams are revelation of, and then partnership with, the Father’s heart. You see, dreams are not meant to be possibilities; that’s the role of vision. Dreams are meant to be prophetic declarations that create the future – they have authority and power to pull heaven to earth.

Here is another way to look at it. Vision is about discovering our Father’s nature. Dreaming happens as we see ourselves from His perspective. When we see ourselves through our Fathers eyes we are empowered to dream in the authority of our identity. “Old men dreams” are birthed from our true identity. When we dream from who we truly are, we come into agreement with our heavenly Father and step into the authority and power to see the dream realized.

That’s why dreaming is the most powerful thing we could ever do. Its why Jesus is always asking as to dream, to ask. It’s the partnership with His heart and ours that pulls heaven to earth.

Of this I’m convinced, God wants us to dream with abandon. Wide-open places, that’s the heart of our Father for us. Jesus said “greater works” and His heart is that we would dream in the realm of “beyond all we could ask or imagine.” Jesus’ life on earth, the high watermark that no one has yet attained, is meant to be surpassed!

I believe “greater works” is available to “old men dreamers” who are willing to dream in the wide-open places of past failure. This is the place where their dreams carry the power of the resurrection.

I am learning to not be offended by my failures, to not be ashamed by weakness, or insecure by lack. Instead, as I choose surrender and intimacy, as I express my faith in His love I’m becoming transformed by His love. My prayer is that my heart would beat in sync with His so that my words release heaven and my life yields love – until my vision reveals His and my dreams transform the world around me, until the Kingdoms of this world become the Kingdom of our God.

Amen.

This song was written almost 10 years ago. Its the journey I have been on regarding vision, dreams and revelation. Its still one of my favorite songs.

Jason Clark is a writer, speaker and lead communicator at A Family Story Ministries. His mission is to encourage sons and daughters to grow sure in the love of an always-good heavenly Father. He and his wife, Karen, live in North Carolina with their three children.

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