UNDERSTANDING DREAMS AND VISIONS (Part I)

UNDERSTANDING

DREAMS AND

VISIONS

(Part I)

  

Job 33:14-18

¹⁴ For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it. ¹⁵ In a dream, in a vision of the night, When deep sleep falls upon men, While slumbering on their beds, ¹⁶ Then He opens the ears of men, And seals their instruction. ¹⁷ In order to turn man from his deed, And conceal pride from man, ¹⁸ He keeps back his soul from the Pit, And his life from perishing by the sword.

INTRO:

       I.            WHAT ARE DREAMS

Dream: a series of symbolic pictures that are revealed from the spirit of man to the mind during sleep.

Definition - A succession of images or ideas that are present in the mind during sleep

1.      There are natural and spiritual dreams.

·         Scientists say that in dreams we see with our thoughts.

·         Natural dreams are personal and deal with life’s everyday situations; therefore, we dream every night.

2.      A dream is considered spiritual when it reveals a realm beyond the natural or shows information not known to the dreamer (such as future events)

3.      Our human spirit never sleeps or dreams; therefore, it becomes an avenue whereby God and people can connect even though the people are physically asleep.

     II.            WHY DO PEOPLE DREAM?

1.     The ability to dream is God’s sovereign plan.

2.     Every human has the ability to have natural and human dreams.

3.     Your spirit can give instructions to you during sleep through your natural dreams.

Psalm 16:7

⁷I will bless the Lord who has given me counsel; my heart also instructs me in the night seasons.

4.     Our motives are revealed in dreams

Psalm 17:3

³ You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

  III.            THE PURPOSE OF SLEEP AND DREAMS

1.      Remember, Commune, Search the soul.

Psalm 77:6

⁶ I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: And my spirit made diligent search.

2.      So God can make Himself known

Numbers 12:6

⁶ Then He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, make Myself known to him in a vision; I speak to him in a dream.

3.      Heart motives can be tested

Psalm 17:3

³ You have tested my heart; You have visited me in the night; You have tried me and have found nothing; I have purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.

 IV.            HOW DO DREAMS HAPPEN

 1.      No one can make a dream happen. When a person goes to sleep, dreams automatically come.

 2.      Dreams originate in the subconscious mind as our inner man is at work in us.

 3.      Dreams come as a result of the human spirit quickening the brain to bring forth the symbolic pictures.

    V.            SPIRITUAL DREAMS

1.      Spiritual dreams can come to all whether Christian or not

2.      Process: While the body is at rest the inner man evaluates the day’s situations, the Holy Spirit can intervene into the dreaming process, imparting divine knowledge by quickening the spirit with symbolic pictures. These pictures are depicted in dreams.

3.      Show wisdom that can only come through God’s help

4.      Future can be shown, warnings given, true motives revealed

 VI.            DREAMS IN THE BIBLE

                  1. Abraham: God made a covenant with him

       

Gen 15:12-16

¹² Now when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and behold, horror and great darkness fell upon him. ¹³ Then He said to Abram: “Know certainly that your descendants will be strangers in a land that is not theirs, and will serve them, and they will afflict them four hundred years. ¹⁴ And also the nation whom they serve I will judge; afterward they shall come out with great possessions. ¹⁵ Now as for you, you shall go to your fathers in peace; you shall be buried at a good old age. ¹⁶ But in the fourth generation they shall return here, for the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet complete.”

                  2. Jacob (28:12, 31:10-11) He saw a heavenly ladder. God made covenant with 
                      him

                  3. Genesis (37:5, 9). Joseph's dreams revealed the future

                  4. Genesis (41:1, 5). Pharaoh's two dreams for his nation to reveal the future

                  5. I Kings (3:5) Wisdom given to Solomon

                  6. Daniel (2:19-22)  Secrets revealed 

                  7. Instruction received.

  Acts 18:9-11

⁹ Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent; ¹⁰ for I am with you, and no one will attack you to hurt you; for I have many people in this city.” ¹¹ And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them.

VII. HOW TO PREPARE TO HEAR FROM GOD THROUGH DREAMS

1.      Pray over yourself as you go to sleep

a.      Renew your thinking about the value of dreams

b.      Do not ignore remembered dreams.

c.       Desire to know your real self.

d.      Recognize one of the ways God communicates with man is through dreams.

e.       Desire to hear from God.

f.       Expectancy: paper and pen next to your bed.

2.      Prepare the atmosphere before going to sleep

a.       Play some anointed music

b.      Claim the sleepers promise Psalm 127:2

c.       Don’t eat late at night. Your body digesting food for hours after you sleep will   affect your dreams

d.      No strife. Family strife affects your dreams

e.       Watch what you watch. No late TV. Scientist say we should turn off the television   at least an hour before we sleep.

f.       Think on the word and focus on the Lord before you go to sleep.

g.       Sit in the spirit or sing gospel songs. 

h.      Pray specifically over situations you feel you need an answer on before going to   sleep

i.        When you wake up, awake slowly. Meditate on the thought you were having

j.        Write the dream down as it comes and evaluate in light of your current   circumstances