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Dreams and Visions

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams;" (Acts 2:17).

God uses a vision to restate the covenant with Abraham reminding him that he would have a son and be the father of many nations (Genesis 15:1-6). Jacob dreams of a ladder into the heavens where angels ascend and descend; in this dream God promises that Abraham's blessing would be carried on through him (Genesis 28:10-17). Joseph, a famous dreamer and interpreter of dreams in the Bible, has his first recorded dream in Genesis 37 and he interprets dreams for the Pharaohs in Genesis 40-41. Samuel, the prophet, first dream was as a young boy; it was message and he was faithful in delivering the message (1 Samuel 3). God placed Daniel in a position of power and influence in the Persian Kingdom through interpreting dreams (Daniel 2: 4). This is consistent with God's plan in using miracles to identify His messengers.

God used a vision to tell Zacharias that he would soon have an important son, John the Baptist. Joseph was convinced of Mary's pregnancy being of God when an angel was to sent in a dream. In a vision God spoke to an Italian centurion named Cornelius, he was told to send for Peter and receive his message, his doing so led to him and his household receiving Grace under the new covenant, the first Gentiles to do so (Acts 10:1-6). Paul had several visions; one sent to him to preach in Macedonia, another encouraged him to keep preaching in Corinth, and one was a vision of heaven. Paul as Saul had a vision of Jesus on the road to Damascus, where Jesus asked “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:1-9).

Dreams and visions are not uncommon in the Bible. In the Middle East it is estimated that one in three who become Christians have had dreams and/or visions. God promises to pour out His Spirit on all, this will cause many to prophecy, have dreams and visions. Dreams are common in the culture of the Middle East as seen in the Bible. Like Paul people of Islam have huge obstacles to overcome. Paul was a Pharisee of Pharisees, in his own words, he lived by the law flawlessly, thinking he was doing the will of God, until Jesus in a vision asked him why he was persecuting Him. Muslim's in the Middle East are taught at an early age to discredit Jesus and the Bible. They live by the Torah and Islamic law, they are the ultimate legalists, until they experience the unconditional love that accompanies the Prince of Peace, this is the number one reason they follow him.

While many are having dreams and vision, it is not by happenstance. Those who are involved are becoming aware of a three part process that occurs. First there is usually an experience with followers of Jesus, they experience the love of Christ through his disciples, a faith that is lived out. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Jesus literally appears to them in dreams and visions. Second, God miraculously puts the word of God in their hands, which is read for some time. Lastly they talk with someone about what they have experienced and read, they commit to being disciples of Jesus. The process has revealed that there is a need in three parts, for those to go; to be a light, to take bibles, and to make disciples.

If not us then who, if not now then when?
Do Something - Matthew West
        


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