Dreams

Do you dream? What is a dream? Dream is defined by Merriam-Webster as a series of thoughts, images, or emotions occurring during sleep. Dream is defined by Strong’s Concordance (G1797) as “to dream”. Joel in Hebrew (Yo’el) means ‘YAHWEH is God”. Wow! During the time that the book of Joel was written, three things were taking place, the judgment of God’s people for their sin, the judgment of foreign nations, and finally Joel calling God’s people to a place of repentance. The Lord also prophesied of blessings that were coming to His people if they repented. What would the blessing be? It would be the promise of the Spirit. Joel 2:28- It shall come about after this That I shall pour out My Spirit on all mankind, And your sons and your daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, Your young men will see visions. Even on the male and female servants, I will pour out My Spirit in those days. 

Why are dreams so important? Dreams are important because that’s one of the ways the Father communicates with us. The major way that He speaks is through His Word (The Bible). If you are not reading the Word or are unfamiliar with His Word-The, Father is not doing much speaking to you in your Spirit. Why do I say that you ask? Jesus Himself knew the Word and even quoted to the enemy and said It is Written!  Why do you think one part of the Armor of God is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. We must read the Word of God. And everything that the Father speaks to our Spirit will be in line with His word. (Pardon me-that was a little detour 😊) The Father provides direction, answers to prayers, and warnings through dreams. It is vital that we know the source of our dreams, as dreams can also come from the enemy and our Soul (mind, will, and emotions). Prayer (communion with the Father) is the key to dream interpretation.

The Father communicated through dreams in both the Old and New Testaments. In Genesis 20 Abraham, while journeying with Sarah because of fear, said to Abimelech that Sarah was his sister. But God warned Abimelech in a dream not to touch her. This was a warning dream. The Father also warned the Wise men by a dream that they should not return to Herod as he commanded. Matthew 2:11-12. “And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and fell down, and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him gifts; gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. Again God provided direction and warning this time to Joseph. Matthew 2:13-And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt: And was there until the death of Herod: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, OUT of EGYPT HAVE I CALLED MY SON. Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, accordingly to the time which he had diligently inquired of the wise men. God warned Joseph through a dream that he was to flee from Egypt because Herod sought to kill the promised Messiah. What is the Father warning you about in your dreams that you are ignoring that could cause your demise??

In Genesis 20:1-6. Matthew 1:18– Joseph, the stepfather of Jesus, had a dream about Mary his wife before the dream mentioned earlier. “Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on the wise: When as His mother Mary was espoused to Joseph before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Ghost. Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not willing to make her publick example, was minded to put her away privily. But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for He shall save His people from their sins.” The Father was conveying to Joseph that Mary had not cheated but that the child was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and that child would be the Savior of the world! Hallelujah. He provided direction and prophesied the future hope to the world. 

The Father gave Joseph (Jacob’s son) prophetic dreams and the ability to interpret dreams. The first dream God gave Joseph he prematurely shared with his brothers who were already jealous of the love his father had for him and the dreams only amplified their hatred for Joseph. Gen 37:5-11. Joseph went through many uncomfortable circumstances in His life that I believe caused Him to question the validity of His dreams. However, in God’s perfect timing, the dreams came to pass, and Joseph was able to feed the inhabitants of Egypt as well as his Father and brothers during a time of famine. Gen 42-45. What prophetic dreams is the Lord giving you?

When you dream, you must record them in a journal or a voice recorder. For one, it shows God that you’re a good steward over the message that’s He communicating. Secondly, it’s important to jot them down because there are some dreams that you will not receive the immediate interpretation for. Some dreams you won’t gain the understanding of until after it has come to pass, making the journal extremely important as a reference tool. REMINDER: WRITE YOUR DREAMS DOWN!!!

Let’s pray

Father, it’s in the name of Jesus that we come before you. We thank you for life, health, and strength. We thank you for your mercy and grace. Father, we ask that you continue to speak to us by your Spirit through your Word and through dreams. We ask for you to give us a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of you: that the eyes of our understanding being enlightened; that we may know what is the hope of your calling, and the riches of the glory of inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of your power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of your mighty power is. Father, we thank you for your protection, in Jesus’s name. Amen!