AFRICAN ARTICLES IV-DREAMS AND SUPERNATURAL STUFF
Are Dreams and Visions Messages from God? // Africa Study Bible
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The place of dreams and visions in the Christian life can cause debate and confusion among believers and in churches. Does God still speak to people through dreams and visions? Or has the time of these dreams and visions passed, never to return?
What Are Dreams and Visions?
First, we need to clarify the difference between a dream and a vision. A vision occurs when a person is awake and alert; a dream occurs when a person is asleep. Peter was awake for his vision of the unclean food (). John was awake for his vision recorded in Revelation (). However, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker were asleep when they had dreams that Joseph interpreted (). Also, Joseph, Mary’s fiancé, was asleep when an angel spoke to him in a dream ().
Some feel almost every dream is significant and they need to know the interpretation
Dreams and visions are important for many of us. Some feel almost and they need to know the interpretation of these dreams. Some claim to receive messages from their ancestors through dreams. Perhaps they consult whom they believe have the gift of interpretation. Certain dreams have traditional patterns for interpretations, while others do not. In some cases the dreamer will remember the dream until something happens to which he or she will attribute to the dream.
3 Types Of Dreams in The Bible
Based on biblical teaching, dreams can be classified in three categories:
Subconscious Processing
First, some dreams are a result of what has been on a person’s mind or stored in the subconscious. These can be memories, past events, repressed desires, and unfulfilled hopes. Isaiah says, “A hungry person dreams of eating but wakes up still hungry” (). And Solomon writes, “Too much activity gives you restless dreams” ().
Spiritual Attacks
Second, some dreams may be false messages from our spiritual enemies (, ). Through Jeremiah, God said this about the “smooth tongued” false prophets: “Their imaginary dreams are flagrant lies that lead my people into sin. I did not send or appoint them, and they have no message at all for my people” ().
Important Messages
Third, God sometimes gives special dreams, such as the two Pharaoh received in ; those experienced by Joseph (), Solomon (), and Nebuchadnezzar (); and the dreams that accompanied the birth of the Lord Jesus (). These dreams give important messages that God’s servants need to understand.
Dreams, Discernment and Scripture
Since there is no indication in the Bible that God has stopped using dreams, the simple answer to whether God still speaks through dreams and visions is “Yes.” But we must be careful how we apply this. Remember that God’s special revelation—the Bible—has been completed, and it covers all things we must know about God, his work, and his purposes. We should not look for or expect new revelations that expand our knowledge of God, doctrine, and the Bible. New information from any source, including dreams and visions, must agree with Scripture.
New information from any source, including dreams and visions, must agree with Scripture
If God chooses to speak to a person in a dream, the message of that dream will be consistent with, and not contradict, the teachings of the Bible. Remember, the Bible is inspired by God and is sufficient for instruction ().
What we do in response to our dreams must be in agreement with the teachings of the Bible. Also, the dreams and visions of God’s servants like Daniel, Paul, and John show us that special messages are usually very rare. If one is given, it might only occur once in an entire lifetime. These great leaders in the Bible received messages only a few times in their lives. People who receive dreams or visions frequently .
God Has Used Dreams Throughout Africa
God may also use dreams to bring people to himself. Many Africans testify that they began their search for God, or came to faith in Christ, after receiving a special dream.
In North Africa, we are told of a man who was very active in one of the civil society associations. His father-in-law, a believer in Christ, had talked with him often about the gospel. But this man would never listen. Jesus appeared to him in a dream and said, this. “All the charitable things you do are good, but I want you with me on my path.” Sadly, this man did not respond positively. Instead he rejected the dream and its message because of his social position and to follow Jesus.
Many Africans testify that they began their search for God, or came to faith in Christ, after receiving a special dream.
Another person from the same area was an unbeliever until Christ appeared to him at night and spoke with him in a dream. That experience began his journey of searching until he . Today he is a leader in one of the churches.
What these two stories show is that God may use dreams and visions to speak to people today. But ultimately we must choose to follow and respond in obedience.
How Should We React To Dreams?
What should we do when we have dreams that appear to be significant?
- Write out any significant dream so you will not forget the details.
- Ask God to give you insight into whether your dreams have meaning and what the meaning is. God can confirm the meaning of a dream in many other ways.
- Make sure the interpretation of your dream is . God will not give you one message in his Word and another in a subjective manner like a dream.
- Consult with a pastor or other mature and wise Christian, asking for their perspective on the dream.
- If the dream suggests something you should do, wait until the Lord clearly opens the door. in the Bible.
- If the dream suggests something you will experience, give God time to work out the details of the dream.
- In humility, do not be discouraged if you find the dream was not a word from God.
Godly dreams glorify God and help to encourage people to proclaim the gospel
The Marks of Godly Dreams and Visions
As the Bible’s writers show us, dreams and visions usually are given in special time of need or crisis. For example, when you need God’s specific direction or encouragement. Many are especially for those who are proclaiming the gospel in new areas.
We should not allow ourselves to be manipulated by someone who says, ‘I received this word for you in a dream.’
Godly dreams glorify God and help to encourage people to proclaim the gospel. They are not given to bring acclaim or glory to an individual. We should not allow ourselves to be manipulated by someone who says, “I received this word for you in a dream.” We should listen, pray, and test the message for ourselves to confirm if it is from God.
If God speaks to you through dreams, rejoice and follow God’s instructions. If God does not speak to you through dreams, you are no worse or less spiritual than the one who receives dreams.
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A Christian’s Dream Always Means Something, Right?
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Time check. It’s 1:38am. I’ve just carried my youngest daughter to her mum for a feed. Seconds prior, I was enthralled by a strange dream. But her loud wail next door interrupted it. Before opening my eyes, I dreamt that I was shovelling a large amount of broken glass from my mouth. Strange indeed. In my early Christian years, strange dreams like this one would have driven me in a panic to my pastor’s office. My ‘spiritual father’ would have offered, “such a dream means broken ambitions.” Maybe a shattered [insert something]. Anything. Because a Christian’s dream always means something, right?
Dreams can reveal anxieties or simply reiterate something you read or watched. But such explanations were never entertained.
My pastor would never attribute such vivid and weird dreams to the very . For example, heavy and rich meals tend to stir strange dreams. Scientists have identified dreams as – at least in part – late night brain activity. On the other hand, dreams can reveal anxieties or simply reiterate . But such explanations were never entertained. Instead, sensational interpretations were and are given.
What Should We Do With Dreams?
How should Christians view strange dreams? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve dreamt about sitting down to a nice meal only to be awakened by my wife’s nudge or the alarm clock. Just when I was about to feast on some sumptuous culinary delights. In many African Christian circles, eating food in a dream invites absurd, essay length interpretations. I won’t relay those here. Anyway, chances are you have had similar dreams yet heard very different interpretations. After all, ask four people about last night’s vision (i.e. dream) and you will hear four unique answers. This is because dreams, unlike Scripture, are not located within .
Countless Christians are obsessively caught up in the meaning of their dreams
Yet countless Christians, who joyfully count themselves redeemed through the love of Christ, are obsessively caught up in the meaning of their dreams. As is so often the case, it is apparently who can provide authoritative interpretations. But, what is worse: we do not only see people carrying the weighty burdens of their sleeping visions to pastors in search of an explanation. For many pastors can be heard carrying their private dreams into the pulpit. These are treated as fresh revelation, with Christian leaders grandly claiming: ‘God spoke to me.’
Dreams Are Not Inspired, Scripture Is
Ironically, the Scriptures are often cited to back up these claims. For passages such as , quoted in , and mention dreams. Yet Scripture, inspired by God and “sufficient” (), is used to support the supposed need for newer, more exciting, better, and clearer revelations from God. Dreams. Only God has already given us . The – approached with good contextual, theological interpretation – have been the normative guide for Christians in every age.
God has already given us his sufficient guide. The Old and New Testaments
Paul never commended any in his audience to the dreams of private testimony. The word of grace is able to build up (). Centred on Christ, God’s Word is our singular guide (; ). Scripture drives us to Christ but dreams drive us in many other directions.
How will Christians be prepared to live the Christian life? Again, Paul does not recommend 3am dreams. Instead he says that the Bible is profitable for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness (). He also says the Scriptures are enough or sufficient, since they are inspired by God himself.
Everything Is Under God’s Providence
However God does daily direct even the most mundane events for his purposes. resulting from whatever cause. A spouse may wake up from a terrifying dream and consequently stop his sinful patterns. But these examples are at most descriptive rather than prescriptive.
While God can (and does) work in any number of ways, we should not conclude these means are normative for every believer.
God may to nudge a believer out of Satan’s claws and away from unrepentant sin. But this is different to waiting on a dream in order to flee from lust. God’s Word is already abundantly clear on this matter: flee from sexual immorality (). Thus while God can (and does) work in any number of ways, we should not conclude these means are normative for every believer.
Live As Those Who Are Awake
A lot happens when we physically sleep, giving rise to dreams. But—more importantly— God insists that much more happens when we ‘spiritually’ go to sleep. Thus he encourages us to live as those who belong not to the night but the day (). We are to be those who are awake (), watching carefully how we live (). Isn’t it interesting that instead of encouraging us to receive messages while we sleep, God exhorts us to ?
Instead of encouraging us to receive messages while we sleep, God exhorts us to be sober minded and awake
Taking this contrast further, you could say that just as my daughter’s midnight wailing woke me from an unsettling nightmare, God’s Word should awaken us from a regressive expectation of supernatural revelation outside of the inspired and sufficient scriptures.
Ultimately, this begs the question: which revelation do you consider authoritative? One kind is produced by your day-long instincts and late-night carbohydrates. The second comes to us in scripture. It is the faith handed down to the saints “once and for all” (), through Jesus the son ().
At the end of it all, a Christian’s dream will certainly mean one thing: you slept.
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Supernatural Help | Nothing Better than Jesus
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Supernatural help from God is what every believer needs in order to remain faithful to him. Through Christ he has given us that ability.
Supernatural Help
God is the supernatural difference maker that your life of faithfulness will need
“We don’t always believe enough in how much God is present, ready and willing to lend us the help that we need. God can sometimes be too small in our minds to actually be involved in the big problems of humanity, in our big human affairs. And so the sovereign being who watches our every move, who can, will, and does intervene in our lives can sometimes be a far fetched reality to really be of use to us.”
Topics & Timestamps
– Finding the right kind of help
– We need God’s help
– Reason’s we don’t believe in God’s help
– Search your heart
– God is not as approachable as you think
– Through Christ, God is far more approachable than you think
– Nothing is better than Jesus
Top Quotes: Supernatural Help
“You will need God’s supernatural help to remain faithful to him”
“God is the supernatural difference maker that your life of faithfulness will need”
“If we are allowing barriers to get in the way of us living in God’s supernatural power, it is self-sabotage.”
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Date preached: 14 June 2021
Location: Bryanston Bible Church
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