Dreams and Visions

 

Dreams and Visions

Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keeps the law, happy is he.

The Living Bible says it this way; When people do not accept divine guidance, they run wild. But whoever obeys the law is joyful.

This means: (Where there are no goals and plans inspired by God, the people go astray, but those who listen and obey our God, they will be happy and achieve their hopes, expectations and goals.)

Martin Luther King Jr., had a “dream” - it was a goal, a hope and a plan to set his people free. His dream was a vision for the future, so we see there are different meanings to dreams and visions.

Today we will consider dreams in the Bible, while sleeping and visions usually when a person is awake.

Dreams and visions also served to provide information that was unavailable elsewhere. Specifically, God used visions and dreams to identify Jesus and grow His church – in the Bible.

The Bible speaks of many instances of visions and dreams. Early in the Old Testament, we see Jacob having a dream of a ladder or staircase, reaching from earth to heaven and angels descending and ascending this ladder bringing revelation and direction to Jacob about his future and God's protection..

The young boy Joseph dreamed strange dreams about staffs of wheat bowing down to his bundle of wheat. Telling his dream to his brothers, caused him trouble, but later he was able to interpret the Kings dream causing many people to be able to survive 7 years of famine.

Peter on the day of Pentecost preached to the multitude who were puzzled about the strange happenings of the 120 being filled with the Holy Spirit. Peter preached to the crowd about Jesus saying - - “These are not drunken, as you suppose, seeing it is but the third hour of the day. But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel; And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:” The Bible records that 5000 persons became believers in Jesus on that day and their names were written in the Lamb's book of Life.

Some time later Peter had a strange dream/vision that caused him to wonder the meaning. God spoke to him saying two men are coming because their master an Italian soldier, saw in a vision to send for you to share about Jesus. These men were Gentiles and God was revealing through Peter's vision that He is not partial, and all persons are included in the plan of Salvation, and not only the Jews.

Acts chapter 9 tells us; “Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.”

Saul had a name change after Ananias prayed for him, and he received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit Saul became Paul the Apostle. One day as Paul was praying, he saw in a vision in the night; There was a man of Macedonia standing, beseeching him, and saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us.'

This was new territory and The Gospel had not gone there before and also the population were Gentiles not Jews. Paul was obedient to the heavenly vision, and took with him a team of disciples to preach and teach about Jesus and to set up congregations of believers.

Acts 7:55-56 tells us that Stephen, as he was about to be stoned to death, saw into heaven. “But being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”

John saw lengthy visions as he wrote the book of Revelation revealing much about the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

How can we apply visions and dreams to us today? I must remind you how we began this message: Proverbs 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that obeys the Lord, is happy.

(Where there are no goals and plans inspired by God, the people go astray, but those who listen and obey our God, they will be happy and achieve their hopes, expectations and goals.)

While sleeping, a dream or vision can be helpful and at times bring instruction on what to do and who to pray for.

Although I personally, do not usually dream of any significance, the other morning early, I had a dream about two people visiting me. The man was anxious for me to meet the woman he brought with him. She came up to me very close and I examined all her facial features, but did not recognize her as anyone I had seen before. Then I woke up, and realized this woman was a real person who needed me to pray for her, so immediately I began to pray for her in the Spirit until I felt a release that all was well.

So understand, that dreams can be a call to prayer, or a warning. Some have dreamed about a car accident, or a plane falling, and made some adjustments in their schedule, no doubt saving their lives.

Expect God to begin to show you dreams and visions so that you may discover perhaps new direction on how to minister to your friends and loved ones.

Expect God to show you by dreams and visions, revelation knowledge about his love, care and protection over you.

Anticipate how God will begin to encourage you with dreams and visions to perform his perfect will in your life. Often we receive insight into the mighty workings of the Holy Spirit to reveal the truth about questions that have puzzled us at times.

If the dream or vision is from God you will feel comfortable in your spirit. If the dream frightens you, or causes you concern, pray for peace of mind and clarity of thought, as the dream may not be from our Lord God.

I must caution you, Not to receive all your guidance or direction by dreams and visions, but do be encouraged that this is one of the methods that God uses to bless his beloved children. Do pray about what you have seen, and how it lines up with God's word and your own spirit.

May you be blessed as you consider how dreams and visions may apply to you today.