We started last week by studying the dream that Jacob had at Bethel. Today we are going to see some more examples of dreams in the Bible.
Introduction
The ancients understood that the world of dreams opens a channel of communication between mankind and the spiritual world, and opens sleepers to a different realm from the one they manage during the day.
Some References about Dreams
Did you know that 1/3rd of the Bible relates to visions or dreams? Important people who dreamed were Abraham, Joseph, Daniel, Ezekiel, Joseph (Jesus') father, Mary (Jesus') Mother, Paul, Cornelius and others.
God has always talked to His children in dreams. Our culture has lost the significance and value of visions and dreams.
Is there any evidence of dreams in the Bible?
iIn scripture, dreams or visions are mentioned 224 times
Did you know that the first 2 chapters of Matthew contain 5 recorded dreams that gave valuable warnings or advice?
Joel 2:28 and Acts 2:17
"I will pour out my rains again, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. In those days, I will pour out my Spirit on servants, men and women alike."
God promised that he would pour out of His Spirit so we can expect to have Dreams and Visions.
Matthew 7:7
"Keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for, keep looking and you will find, keep knocking and the door will be opened."
You can ask and receive night messages from the Most High God.
1 Kings 3:5
That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream and God said, 'What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you
Ask the Father questions and He is able to give you answers in your dreams. We should not depend upon dreams solely for our answers. First and foremost, always depend upon the Word of God for answers.
Ecclesiastes 5:7
For in the multitude of dreams and many words there are also divers vanities: but fear thou God.
This verse tells us that a multitude of dreams can be worth absolutely nothing. We are not to trust in them, however real they seem; we are rather to fear God.
Not every dream is from God
A very important point to remember about dreams is that not every dream is from God. Some dreams are natural and have nothing to do with communications with God.
We need to make a distinction between visions that come from God and those that come from Satan and his demons.
Matthew 17:1-9, Jesus gave Peter, James and John a vision of the kingdom of God coming to the earth—this is a case of God using a vision.
In I Samuel 28:3-20, a "familiar spirit" was "brought up," disguised as the deceased prophet Samuel, to inform Saul of his impending doom—this is a case of Satan using a vision.
How can we know if a dream is demonic
We can always tell an enemy dream because it is almost always a personal accusation.
The problem with enemy dreams is that there is always a measure of truth in them. We need to be wise and not allow ourselves to be fooled.
The Lord does not want us buried in guilt that puts another layer between ourselves and His love.
DEMONIC INTENTS OF A DREAM
• To kill our faith
• Cause fear
• To impose guilt and condemnation about past
• To torment and intimidate
• To manipulate one's will or decision
• To bring a veil or barrier to ones' relationship with the Lord.
• To condemn and accuse.
Fear Releases Negative Faith In The Devil
Fear is actually faith in the devil and that is negative faith.
Fear dispatches demonized forces to set up the negative circumstances of one's belief.
When interpreting a dream 1 Thessalonians 5:21
Test all things; hold fast what is good
Reject any accusation or anything that will affect your faith in God.
Conclusion
We have many different examples of Dreams in the Scriptures. We must not be afraid when we have a demonic presence or a disturbing appearance in a dream.
Romans 12:21
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Proverbs 3:24
When you lie down, you will not be afraid; Yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet
As we discipline ourselves to pray and to live our lives trusting in God we will have this assurance that all our dreams will be sweet, but if not we can always trust in the Lord to give us the victory over any attacks of the enemy.
