Dreams and visions

Hearing from God

1. Dreams & Visions Various Scriptures

2. Key Concept And it shall be in the last days, that I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, And your young men shall see visions, And your old men shall dream dreams; 2

3. Dreams & Visions Various Scriptures

4. Full Version ‘ And it shall be in the last days ,’ God says, ‘ That I will pour forth of My Spirit on all mankind ; And your sons and your daughters shall prophesy , And your young men shall see visions , And your old men shall dream dreams ; Even on My bondslaves , both men and women , I will in those days pour forth of My Spirit And they shall prophesy. Acts 2:17–18 4

5. God said Pour out the Holy Spirit On everyone Regardless of sex Regardless of age Regardless of social standing 5

6. Specific Manifestations Prophecy Dreams Visions A response to the outpouring of the Spirit 6

7. Needed Where there is no vision, the people are unrestrained, But happy is he who keeps the law. Proverbs 29:18 7

8. Dreams God desires to speak to us through dreams 8

9. Dreaming is important REM sleep Deepest sleep Mind is sorting out things 9

10. God speaks in dreams Bad Guys Abimelech Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar King Saul Good Guys Joseph Abram Jacob Paul 10

11. God uses dreams to call Muslims to Himself Dream of Jesus Very personal Seek out Christians 11

12. Purpose of dreams Warning-Pharaoh Prophetic-Daniel Instruction/information-Joseph Encouragement-Jacob Blessing-Abraham 12

13. Dreams from God If God gives it, He will provide the interpretation. Revelation Word Messenger 13

14. Joseph in Jail Then they said to him, “We have had a dream and there is no one to interpret it.” Then Joseph said to them, “Do not interpretations belong to God? Tell it to me, please.” Genesis 40:8 14

15. Joseph before Pharaoh Joseph then answered Pharaoh, saying, “It is not in me; God will give Pharaoh a favorable answer.” Genesis 41:16 15

16. Daniel to Nebuchadnezzar However, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days. This was your dream and the visions in your mind while on your bed. Daniel 2:28 16

17. God’s warning about dreams If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes true, concerning which he spoke to you, saying, ‘Let us go after other gods (whom you have not known) and let us serve them,’ you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God is testing you to find out if you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. Deuteronomy 13:1–3 17

18. God uses dreams He said, “Hear now My words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision. I shall speak with him in a dream. Numbers 12:6 18

19. Dream from God? It will have a special quality. When you awake, think about it. Write it down. Tell someone about it. Search it in the scriptures 19

20. Visions Part of the experience 20

21. Visionaries Paul Peter John 21

22. Part of Paul’s ministry 2 Corinthians 12:1–6 (NASB95) 1 Boasting is necessary, though it is not profitable; but I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago—whether in the body I do not know, or out of the body I do not know, God knows—such a man was caught up to the third heaven. 3 And I know how such a man—whether in the body or apart from the body I do not know, God knows— 4 was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which a man is not permitted to speak. 5 On behalf of such a man I will boast; but on my own behalf I will not boast, except in regard to my weaknesses. 6 For if I do wish to boast I will not be foolish, for I will be speaking the truth; but I refrain from this, so that no one will credit me with more than he sees in me or hears from me. 22

23. warnings Colossians 2:18 (NASB95) 18 Let no one keep defrauding you of your prize by delighting in self-abasement and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on visions he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind, 23

24. Purpose of visions Warning Prophetic Instruction/information Encouragement 24

25. Vision catching Be full of the Spirit Be engaged in the Lord’s work Be faithful to the Lord’s commands Be here in the present and have an eye for the future 25

26. Ask God This is the confidence which we have before Him, that, if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 1 John 5:14 26

27. A vision for what? Your marriage Your family Our future Encouragement 27

28. Dreams & Visions Various Scriptures