RECOGNIZING THE VOICE OF GOD THROUGH DREAMS!

Today, I am speaking on “RECOGNISING THE VOICE OF GOD THROUGH DREAMS.” One of the secondary ways God speaks to man is through Dreams. There is a capability, which God put in you to enable you to perceive or see the things happening around you spiritually. This capability functions in the range of dreams and visions. 

“For God may speak in one way or in another yet man does not perceive it. In A DREAM, in A VISION OF THE NIGHT. When deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering upon their beds. Then He opens the ears of men and gives them wisdom and instruction, causing them to change their minds, and keeping them from pride and warning them of the penalties of sin, and keeping them from falling into some trap” (Job 33:14-18). 

In other words, God speaks again and again, though people do not recognize it. He speaks IN DREAMS, IN VISIONS OF THE NIGHT when deep sleep falls on people as they lie in bed. He whispers in their ear and terrifies them with His warning. He causes them to change their minds; He keeps them from pride. He keeps them from the grave, from crossing over the river of death (NLT). 

Psalm 16:7 says, “I will bless the Lord Who has given me counsel. My heart also instructs me in the night seasons.” 

One of the secondary ways God speaks to man is through dreams while sleeping. 

What is sleep? Sleep is the state of not being awake. Sleep is a state of partial or full unconsciousness in people and animals, during which voluntary functions are suspended and the body rests and restores itself. During sleep the power of the mind and body is suspended.

What are the differences between vision and dream? A vision is often clearer than a dream. Visions are also more practical and real than dreams. A vision is verifiable. A dream is not verifiable. The use of visions is more divine than of dreams. God directs people and gives them instructions for life in visions. God makes Himself known to His servants clearly in a vision, not in dark speeches (dreams or parables). You participate consciously in a vision. It is your full self that is involved in a vision. It is your spiritual eyes, spiritual hands, spiritual legs etc. that are involved.

Why does God speak to us when we are sleeping? God speaks to you through dreams while sleeping because that is the time when your mind is quiet, and when your attention can be most easily open to Him. At such a quiet time, God reveals some plans to you. 

In Numbers 12:6 God said, “Hear now My Words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will …SPEAK unto him in a dream.”

A dream arises from the sub-conscious mind when you are asleep. While some dreams are completely specific and clear, others need interpretation. 

What then is a dream? A dream is a closed vision. That vision which is received while asleep is called A CLOSED VISION. 

A dream is a succession of thoughts, images, or emotions passing through the mind while you are asleep. The events experienced in dreams are too vivid and real to be ignored.  

A dream is a mental image seen or experienced while sleeping. 

A dream is a series of scenes or feelings in the mind of a person that is sleeping. 

Dreams are mental images seen or experienced while sleeping.

Dreams are thoughts visualized in sleep. 

Dreams are revelations (visions). The purpose of a revelation is to uncover something that is hidden. 

Dreams are interferences from the spiritual world to the physical world of man. 

There are different sources of dreams. As interferences from the spiritual world, dreams may come from: a) God,  b) Satan and his hosts, c) One’s environment or from one’s mental, physical and spiritual frame. 

God uses dreams as a last resort to speak to man. God speaks to you through dreams when He cannot speak to you directly any other way. God speaks expressly to man “once, yea twice,” and if he does not perceive it, He waits until he is asleep, and will then show him what He wants to communicate, through dreams and visions. That is, if all other alternatives fail, God uses dreams as a last resort.

“For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. 15 In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; 16 Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, 17 That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. 18 He keepeth back his soul from the pit, and his life from perishing by the sword” (Job 33:14-19).

When God speaks through dreams or sometimes through prophecy, the experiences, background, maturity, and understanding of the channel (individual) affects the interpretation that comes. There should be mature people to judge (1 Cor. 14:29).

Dreams from God must be true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report, virtue and praise (Phil. 4:8). Dreams from God warn us of an impending danger, or to give wisdom, counsel or understanding. Dreams from God are always designed to save us from problems. Therefore, if you see a problem in a dream, and there is no direct way of escape, it has not come from God. 

Dreams from God could be a: 1) Word of knowledge, 2) Word of wisdom, and 3) Spiritual discernment. For instance, God can reveal what you should plan for or against through dreams. And in such cases, the dream may be in four parts:

a) Story Line: The incident that happened in the dream can be narrated like a story. For instance, in Genesis 41:1-8, Pharaoh the king of Egypt dreamt of a problem, an evil about to come. This dream had a story line because it came from God. You can put two and two together to make sense.

b) Message: That can be an important message that God is passing across through a dream. If a dream is from God, it will have a specific message.

For instance, in the case of Pharaoh, Joseph said, “God has shown Pharaoh what He is about to do” (Gen. 41:25).

c) Purpose: The purpose of that dream from God is established by counsel. For instance, that of Pharaoh was established by the interpretation and wise counsel of Joseph.

“And for that the dream was doubled unto Pharaoh twice; it is because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. 33 Now therefore let Pharaoh look out a man discreet and wise, and set him over the land of Egypt….. 41 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, See, I have set thee over all the land of Egypt” (Gen. 41:32-34).

d) A sign: God sometimes gives a sign to emphasize what He has spoken. It may be an individual comment, or event that would be a confirmation of the revelation God has given. For instance, Paul was forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the Word in Asia until a man appeared to him in a dream asking him to “come over to Macedonia and help us” (Acts 16:6-10).

Any dream that does not have a definite message and a purpose should be disregarded.

I challenge you therefore, to position yourself so as to hear from God through dreams. Today if you desire to see and know whatever happens around you spiritually, then you must give yourself to fasting and prayer.

Watch out for the next edition of Good News from the Pulpit! 

• Your friend: I. I. MADUBUNYI (Senior Pastor) 22.08.2021 @ HQs.