Dreams and Visions

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We all have dreams, and some of us have had visions. Science tells us that during our dream state, the brain is basically filing away the happenings of the day, categorizing everything – similar to the defrag and disk clean up function of our computers.  But scripture indicates there are also other reasons for dreams and visions. From the book of Genesis, all the way through to Revelation, the Bible is full of references of dreams and visions used by God to communicate with mankind.

In the Old Testament, beginning with the patriarchs of Genesis, God often times gave His promises, and revealed the future of the descendants of Abraham, through dreams and visions. And think of all the prophets of the Old Testament who received instructions or prophecy through dreams and visions, of things happening not only in their day, but future events.   Joseph was given a dream (Genesis 37:5) concerning a future time when his brothers would bow down to him.  The king of Egypt was given a dream, which God interpreted through Joseph concerning a famine to last 7 years. Because of this dream, actions were taken to store up enough food to feed Egypt and surrounding nations during that horrific famine. In the book of Daniel (Dan. 1:17 – 2:45), Daniel was given understanding of all visions and dreams. He was used by God to interprets the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar.  This dream reveals the succession of kingdoms that would reign from the Babylonian kingdom to when “the God of heaven will set up a kingdom that will never be destroyed….”  Dreams and visions are referenced throughout the Old Testament, but the New Testament also contains many such references.

The New Testament starts off in the book of Matthew with dreams given multiple times in relation to the birth of Jesus, and then to show Joseph what to do to protect the baby from those wishing to kill him. Look at the vision given to Peter, James, and John when Jesus took them up into a high mountain and was transfigured before them (Mark 9:2). Jesus told them to tell the vision to no one until after His resurrection. In addition to the time period when Jesus walked the earth, dreams and visions are referenced many times after His death, beginning in the book of Acts and continuing through the book of Revelation.

In Acts 2:17, Peter quoted the prophet Joel in explaining the miraculous events the people were witnessing – the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. “And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your young men shall see visions, your old men shall dream dreams. And on My servants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”   Peter reinterates what the prophets of old said – In the last days the Holy Spirit would be poured out on God’s servants. They will see dreams and visions.

Jesus told us part of what the Holy Spirit’s role in our lives would be. In John 14:26, Jesus said, “But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”  In John 15:12-15, “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth…..and he will tell you what is yet to come.”  So the Holy Spirit will teach us all things, remind us of what Jesus said, guide us into all truth, and tell us what is yet to come!  And Peter’s explaination to the crowd, that what they were witnessing on the day of Pentecost, was the move of the Holy Spirit, letting everyone know that in the last days, when the Holy Spirit is poured out – they should expect miraculous events like dreams and visions, correlates exactly with what Jesus foretold. 

The Bible clearly shows God communicates with us through His Word, and sometimes that communication is through dreams and visions.  From what scripture says, the move of the Holy Spirit in these last days will produce mighty signs and wonders, and His people will dream dreams and see visions.  God is so good and merciful.  He will not let His people be caught unaware – but the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth and show us things to come. 

To Him Be the Glory!

Our Source

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This is the day The Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24). The Bible tells us that the way to be joyful is to spend time in the presence of God. Psalm 16:11 says, “In His presence there is fulness of joy.” So take some time today to get alone with God, to spend time in His presence. And soak up that joy!!

The Day That Changed My Life Forever

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I would like to say that the day started off like any other, but it certainly did not. It was Sunday, and I woke up around 8:45 am. I knew we needed to leave by 10:30 to get to church on time.  I made a big mistake that day, I decided to go back to sleep. I remember NOT wanting to get up. I stayed in bed for another hour or so, then made coffee, as I began to start my day. I heard my dad yell “We missed church!” He was somewhat upset, and told me he thought it was 10:00 – instead of 11:00.  I’ll regret my lousy decision to procrastinate for the rest of my life. Little did I know then, but I would need that sermon later in the day. Read More >>>

As He Is, So Are We In The World

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We’ve all seen the WWJD (What Would Jesus Do) shirts and bracelets.  I’ve found it very helpful to ask that very question when faced with various trials and life’s difficult decisions. But when I look at the life of Jesus, there’s a sharp contrast between what He did, and what I do.  This shouldn’t be the case.  Instead, when people look at followers of Christ, they should be looking at the express image of Jesus.

Being imitators of Christ should be the essence of our Christian walk. “Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. And walk in love, as Christ…..” (Eph 5: 1-2).  And 1 John 4:17 says, “Love has been perfected amoung us in this …… because as He is, so are we in this world.”  My question is this: What would it look like if we lived as He lived in this world?

Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these……….” (John 14: 12).  In this chapter Philip had asked Jesus to show them the Father.  Jesus said if they had seen Him, they had already seen the Father.  He said the words He spoke were not His own, but the Father living in Him doing His work.  So the works He did, and even the very words He spoke, were the Father’s – not His!

Throughout the New Testament, the Church is called the Body of Christ. Jesus is the head, we are His body. We are to be His hands, feet, and mouth here on the Earth. He directs, we follow.  When Jesus walked the earth, He comforted those that mourned, healed the sick, cast out demons, and many other miracles.  Before He was taken up to heaven, He gave His followers their marching orders.  In Mark 16:17-18, Jesus gave the signs that would follow those that believe:  In His name they would drive out demons; they would speak in new tongues; they would not be hurt by deadly things; they would place their hands on the sick, and the sick would be made well.

We have to ask ourselves if we believe Jesus was serious when He made these statements. If we are followers of Jesus, and believe as He is, so are we in this world,  but at the same time acknowledge that our lives do not look like His – then where are we missing it?

Why is it, that there just doesn’t seem to be much contrast between professing Christians and the world in general today? Let’s face it – unless you venture out and actually ask someone if they’re a Christian, oftentimes it’s hard to tell.  I know myself, I’ve had thoughts about various individuals, thinking, “I’m not positive, but I think they’re a Christian.”   If what Jesus said about His followers was evident, it should be the easiest thing in the world to spot a Christian.

The Christian in the group will be the one that stands out.   There’s no way a follower of Jesus is going to blend in with this world.    As a matter of fact, a Holy Spirit filled, begotten child of God, walking in the power and authority of Jesus Christ, doing what Jesus said His followers would be doing (John 14:12), is going to be hard to miss!  As a matter of fact, they may even be looked upon by the world as aliens, oddballs, and despised.  What is it about a true Christian that causes the world to see them this way?

Jesus said in John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of this world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”   So, according to scripture, the more you’re like the world, the more the world will love you. And the less you are like the world, the more you are hated…….

That may explain why most Christians are hard to spot. We so fear being disliked, and viewed as “different” that we do our best not to stand out. We like to stay under cover, trying not to say, or do, anything that might draw undue attention.   What a contrast today’s church is from that first century church,  when the powers that be did everything they could to shut the mouths of the faithful followers of Jesus.   Although we all desire to be loved and accepted, we need to be satisfied that we are already loved and accepted by our Father.  We need to stop trying to gain the acceptance of this world, and remember the mission we have been given. Jesus told his followers to “Occupy until I come.”  He has already won the victory for us, and we are now to stand in that victory.  So what does God intend for His followers to be doing – exactly what is our role today?

To be continued………….

To Him Be the Glory!