Joseph Herrin (12-19-2010)

“Dream Until Your Dreams Come True”
(Front Wall of Bus)

Genesis 37:17-20
So Joseph went after his brothers and found them at Dothan. When they saw him from a distance and before he came close to them, they plotted against him to put him to death. And they said to one another, “Here comes this dreamer! Now then, come and let us kill him and throw him into one of the pits; and we will say, ‘A wild beast devoured him.’ Then let us see what will become of his dreams!”

Has Yahweh set a dream in your heart, some magnificent promise of things yet to come? The world tries to kill the dreams that God gives to His chosen vessels. Oftentimes it is the hands (and mouths) of brothers that become the instruments which Satan uses in his efforts to “kill, steal and destroy.” Such was the case with Joseph, the son of Jacob, and it is Christian brothers that Satan is still fond of employing today. How tragic that those people who are called “the body of Christ” become the hands and feet of Satan.

It is perilous to be a dreamer of God-given dreams. Sorrow and grief attend those who dare to believe those things Yahweh has promised them. As Joseph discovered, those who dream will often be separated from their brothers and experience much more difficult life than their more earthly minded brothers.

Many of you know that I did not always use my first name. Growing up, my family all called me by my middle name which is Bradley. In 1999, as I was working on the first book my heavenly Father led me to write, I clearly heard the Spirit of Christ instruct me to begin using my first name, Joseph. I understood the Spirit to be stating that my name was significant, and He wanted me to walk in the understanding of its meaning.

A short time after this a sister in Christ with a gift of prophecy attended a service at the fellowship where I was one of five ministers. The head pastor recognized her among the congregation and asked if she had a word for the body. She affirmed that she did have a word, but added that it was for the leadership and would like to share it with them after the service.

When the five ministers gathered up front, with a number of their wives present, this prophetess stood in our midst. She said, “God has a word for the leadership, but it is specifically for you.” At this, she pointed directly at me. She then said, “God says, ‘Promotion is coming to you.’”

None of those gathered, including the woman prophesying, knew me by my first name. All present called me “Brad.” At the time I had no realization that part of the significance of my first name was coming to pass. Joseph received dreams from Yahweh that he would one day be promoted over his brothers. In his enthusiasm he shared these dreams with his brothers and father. His brothers were provoked as they were already jealous of him, and his father reproved him while keeping the saying in mind.

In hindsight I recognized the parallel to this experience in my life as this woman prophesied in the presence of my brothers that I would be promoted. As I have often mistakenly done, I assumed that the word would be quickly fulfilled, and my joy quickly realized. I do not doubt that Joseph also had similar thoughts in his youth. It came as a surprise to both of us that demotion must proceed promotion.

Some months after this meeting in which the prophecy was given I found myself in another meeting with my brothers. The parallels to Joseph’s life were profound. My brothers were shepherds, as were Joseph’s. The sheep my brother’s tended belonged to our Father, in another parallel to Joseph’s life. My brothers had been providing improper care for the sheep, and I had at times discussed this matter with my heavenly Father.

Genesis 37:2
Joseph, when seventeen years of age, was pasturing the flock with his brothers while he was still a youth, along with the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives. And Joseph brought back a bad report about them to their father.

Joseph’s brothers were seeking things for self. A desire to please their father was not uppermost on their minds. When Joseph manifested a desire to please his father, this produced strife. There was a conflict of motives, and the majority were against Joseph.

Genesis 37:4
When his brothers saw that their father loved him more than all his brothers, they hated him and could not speak peaceably to him.

In this latter meeting my brother’s also could not speak peaceably to me. A spirit of rage was manifested among them. One of my brothers and fellow shepherds stated three times in the meeting that he could care less whether or not I died. The head pastor’s wife stood up in front of me and shouted, “You think your words are prophetic, but I say they are pathetic!” God’s grace enabled me to listen to all without reply. In the end, I was told that I would have no more place to minister among them. I was cast out from their midst.

I wonder whether Joseph ever forgot his dreams in that dark season of his life. Having been rejected by his brothers, his last experience among them being the recipient of murderous hatred, living without friend or fellowship for many years in a strange land, did the sorrow of the things he lived through dim the expectancy in his heart?

I confess that I have rarely thought of those things spoken to me by a prophetess eleven years ago. There have been many more trials, sorrows, and difficulties along the way, including time spent imprisoned in one more parallel to Joseph’s life. When my brothers have been living lives of prosperity and comfort, I have moved from place to place, in obedience looking to the Father for my sustenance. I have spent months living out of a car, and a full year living at a rescue mission. I have camped in my van in the middle of downtown for a summer, paying $34 a month for a gym membership to have a place to shower.

I have not yet seen the promotion of which the Father spoke, but I have held onto the word, counting it as sure, for the One who promised is faithful.

I don’t have any concrete idea in mind concerning the manner in which Yahweh will fulfill His word. I do not believe Joseph had any inkling either. The day he was summoned from Pharaoh’s dungeon to stand before his throne, Joseph was as surprised as any of those present.

In a very real sense, all of Yahweh’s children must follow the pattern of Joseph to promotion. There is an inheritance set before the people of God. There are promises of ruling and reigning with Christ during the thousand years soon to begin. Not all of Yahweh’s children will qualify for promotion. Joseph had eleven brothers, yet none of them shared his authority and glory. The years Joseph spent enduring heartache and difficulties, unable to do anything of his own initiative, his brothers were living self-indulgent lives. There is a very important lesson in these Biblical types and shadows.

A sister in Christ recently asked me whether I had given a name yet to the bus I am converting to a motorhome. I told her I had a name in mind. It comes from a movie that has a very definite Joseph theme. The movie is called “The Astronaut Farmer.” In it, the main character builds a rocket, and one of the final acts of his labor on this heavenly vehicle is to paint the name on it.

The Dreamer

Over eight years ago, when my daughter Kristin was 14 years old, the Father spoke a word of prophecy through her to me. Kristin wrote it down. The text of it follows:

Because you’ve shown great confidence in Me, you will not be disappointed. My majesty and splendor you cannot fathom. Just as you are looking to Me, I will not turn away from you. I am in control. Who can understand My ways? Certainly not man! But through My eyes you will see. Just as I have opened your eyes to physical things, so shall I open your eyes to spiritual things. Never before have you witnessed My power as you are about to… Greater things are coming than as of now you have dared to dream. Do not dismiss the dreams I have and will place in your heart, for that would be to dismiss the blessing of the dreams in their fulfillment. The time is coming for dreams to be fulfilled. An hour is coming in which My power will be demonstrated in magnificent ways. Watch and be amazed, for all with eyes to see will see these things.

In many ways the work I have been led to do on the 1972 Carpenter school bus is reminiscent of the work the Father is performing in the lives of a remnant of His people. The bus was nothing impressive. I paid either 12 or 14 hundred dollars for it a year ago. The entire price was a few months of car payments to many people. The bus had to be stripped inside before it could begin to be refashioned into a suitable habitation. The entire process has been a work of grace as some have given financial contributions. Some have donated valuable parts. One sister sewed curtains and coverings, while others contributed sheets, blankets, towels and such.

The labor has been my own as the Father has made every provision. I have known the guidance and empowering of His Spirit. Many things have come out far nicer than I could have accomplished if left to myself.

What I have at this point is still something that would appear humble to the majority of Americans who are used to large homes and fancy vehicles. It would appear very lowly if parked beside the $100,000 plus luxury motor coaches at the local Camping World. But to me it is a thing of beauty. The Father’s hand is evident in it, and I am confident of His leading in this endeavor. All the work so far has been interior, showing the priority of the Father. He must transform us internally before He adorns us externally.

In coming days, He will certainly raise up a people whose appearance in the eyes of the world is very lowly. They will be stripped bare of those things the world esteems. Yet, out of sight a work of profound transformation will be occurring. The grace of God will be bringing the old nature to death while causing a spiritual being to arise.

You can appreciate then that one of the themes inside of the bus is that of the butterfly. Did a caterpillar ever dream of one day wearing the gossamer wings of a butterfly, of shedding its fleshly form to don a heavenly one? What the Father has planned for His children is just as radical. Those who dare to dream will certainly pay a cost. For the joy set before them they too will endure.

Following are some pictures showing the recent progress inside the bus.

Beginning Cabinet Install

I used ceiling braces salvaged from the school bus to suspend a 12 foot long cabinet from the ceiling.

Shelf in Place and Wiring Secured Beneath

Shelf Constructed and Lights Wired

Another View of Underside of Cabinet/Shelf

“Nothing is Impossible with God” – Butterfly Wall

“I trust in Thee, O lord. Thou art my God. My times are in Your hands” Butterfly Wall

Butterfly Refrigerator

“Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature” Butterfly Stained Glass

Dream Bus from Front to Back

Heart4God Website: http://www.heart4god.ws  

Parables Blog: www.parablesblog.blogspot.com  

Mailing Address:
Joseph Herrin
P.O. Box 804
Montezuma, GA 31063