DREAMS AND VISIONS.

JOEL 2:28 And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions.

When is this outpouring to take place?

Acts 2:16 But this is that which was spoken by the prophet Joel.

It has already taken place, on the day of Pentecost!

All those who have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, can prophesy, move in the spiritual gifts, and hear from the Lord in Dreams and Visions.

Why do many not receive Dreams or Visions? If they do, why do they not recognise they are from God and understand what he is saying to them?

Prayer – Lord, grant us the wisdom to recognise when you are speaking to us through dreams and visions.

Dullness of Hearing.

Job 33:14 For God speaks once, yea twice, yet man does not perceive it.

Acts 28:27 For the heart of this people is waxed gross….

Mt 13:3-17 And he spoke many things to them in parables ……

Rom 3:11 There is none that understands, none that seeks God.

Heb 5:11 Of whom we have many things to say, and hard to be uttered, seeing you are dull of hearing.

Prayer – Lord, grant us eyes to see, ears to hear and a heart that understands.

Why does the Lord need to use dreams?

Eccles 5:3 Dreams come through the multitude of business.

NIV As a dream comes when there are many cares.

Travail, trouble, cares, business of life

It can be the only time he can get us to listen, but even then, do we take any notice, do we try to discover what it is the Lord is saying?

Do we write them down, pray over them, and ask the Lord what they mean?

Prayer – Lord, help us to create time in our daily life, to spend with you and to be able to really hear what you are saying to us.

Difference between Dreams and Visions.

Not as simple as Day and Night.

• Visions tend to be clear and obvious to understand.
• Dreams can be literal or symbolic, and therefore need interpretation.

Source of Dreams and Visions.

Godly - Revelation

Soulish - Our own strong desires

Demonic - Nightmares, Deceptions. Attacks.

How to discern the source of a dream?

• Discerning of spirits.
• Does it line up with scripture?
• How are you left feeling afterwards? Afraid or comforted?
• Ask for advice and counsel from Godly leaders.

DREAMS.

Genesis 41:15–48 Pharaoh's dream … need for interpreter…parable.

Daniel 4:5 – 28 Nebuchadnezzar's dream …. Magicians could not

Interpret, courage of Daniel to give the interpretation.

Genesis 37:5 Joseph's dream aged 17 came to pass age 30.

Faith and Patience needed to inherit the promise.

When and who to share dream with? –Dream-killers

Judges 7:9 – 15 Confirmation for Gideon

Dream or night vision? - Difference…clarity of meaning.

Interpretation of dreams.

Write down your dream as soon as you wake up.

• Tend to be several different scenes in the dream.
• 1st scene sets the subject of the dream.
• 2nd and further scenes enlarge upon this subject.

• Is this dream literal or symbolic?
• Who is the dream about?
• What is it about?
• What symbols, characters, colours are involved?
• Any personal meanings to these symbols?
• Biblical meaning of the symbols?
• How did you feel during the dream? Positive or negative?

Prayer – Lord, grant me the ability to interpret dreams for myself and for others.

Examples of dream symbols!

ANT –

Positive -Industrious:Wise; diligent; prepared for the future.

Negative - Nuisance; stinging or angry words. Someone gossiping.

(Prov 6:6–8) and Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise: which hath no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in her summer, have gathereth her food in the harvest.

(Prov 10:5) He that gathereth in summer (like the ant) is a wise son; but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

EAGLE – Leader: Prophet (true or false); to see from above (as in an eagle's eye view) minister; fierce predator; sorcerer; America.

Exodus 19:4

Ye have seen what I did unto the Egyptians, and how I bare you on eagle's wings, and brought you unto myself (Hosea 12 :13 reads…and by a prophet the Lord brought Israel out of Egypt, and by a prophet was he preserved)

FLY – Unclean; Corruption; demon; curse; nuisance.

Eccles 10:1 Dead flies cause the ointment of the apothecary to send forth a stinking savour; so doth a little folly him that is in reputation for wisdom and honour.

Exodus 8:24 And the Lord did so; and there came a grievous swarm of flies into the house of the Pharaoh, and into his servants' houses, and into all the land of the Egyptians; the land was corrupted by reason of the swarm of flies.

Prayer – Lord, grant me understanding of the symbols in the Bible.

New Testament Dreams.

Math 2:12, 22 Magi warned in a dream not to return to the king.

Math 27:19 Pilates wife's dream

Siberian mission trip.

John's dream of shackled horse

Castle with symbols of running horses / spirit of Russia…freedom.

Ministry strategy to next City.deal with spirit of slavery / Slavic nations

Slava Bogo …praise God……Slav …worship…. freedom of worship

Prayer – Lord we break the power of the spirit of bondage or slavery off everyone on this broadcast in Jesus Name.

VISIONS.

Genesis 15:1 Word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision.

Genesis 46:2 God spoke to Israel in visions.

Ezekiel 37:1 Open vision of Valley of dry bones.

New Testament Visions.

Acts 9:10 Certain disciple Ananias to him the Lord said in a vision.

Acts 10:3 Cornelius… he saw in a vision.

Acts 10:11 And saw heaven opened.

Acts 16:9 And a vision appeared to Paul.

Acts 18:9 Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision.

Acts 22:17 I was in a trance.

Acts 23:11 The Lord stood beside him…open vision.

2 Cor 12:1–4 Dreams and visions and revelations

Rev 1:12 And I turned and saw 7 golden candlesticks.

Visions…. the meaning is either obvious or is explained in the vision.

A vision can be seen in the spirit…eyes closed…or an open vision with eyes open.

Ezekiel 10 Vision of angels and the throne.

Ezekiel 11 Open vision / translation / transportation.

Ezekiel 37 Open vision of Valley of dry bones.

Pray to see in the spirit realm that which the Lord is revealing to us and to understand the interpretation of the dreams.

Written by Pastor Graeme Foster

Apostolic Praise Centre

Apostolic Prophetic Training.network