Dreams and The Father's House

“Then, after doing all those things, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. 

Your sons and daughters will prophesy. 

Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions. 

In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on servants—men and women alike." 

(Joel 2:28-29 NLT)

Mary was engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she became pregnant with a child by the Holy Spirit.  The culture they lived in was very different from ours today - an engagement then was basically a marriage without the final ceremony. And a family’s honor was very important.  A person caught in adultery could be stoned to death for that sin and the family would be caused terrible humiliation and shame.  

 

Matthew 1:19 tells us that, “Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly.”  In his culture it would have been very appropriate for him to divorce Mary. Joseph was righteous and didn’t want to expose her to the public disgrace of accusations of adultery, so he chose what he thought was the best option for the situation.  He was listening to the voices of his culture - his family - his people.  But God had a different message he wanted Joseph to hear. 

 

The angel of the Lord came to Joseph in a dream.  He said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.  She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins. When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took Mary as his wife, but had no marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.”  (Matthew 1:20-25 NIV)

 

Now, back up and think about that for a minute.  How many dreams do you have that you remember and just brush off as brain craziness or too much pizza too late at night?   

 

But have you ever thought about how often God speaks to people in the Bible through dreams and visions?  Jacob’s son Joseph had dreams about his brothers.  The young man Daniel had insight into dreams and visions.  We know from the Christmas story that Joseph and, later the Magi, were visited by God in their dreams with messages that would protect the baby Jesus.  

 

Hebrews 13:8 says that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”  Jesus is God - so it makes sense that if God could speak to Biblical people through dreams, he can still speak to us today through them.  

 

Now, it also makes sense to measure the messages we think we get in dreams against the Bible and in consultation with wise, godly, people in our church family.  In December of 2020 I had a dream in which I was a witness to a huge outdoor fight and the people around me were all running into my parents' house for safety.  In the next several months several others in our church had similar dreams about fights or storms and running into a home for safety.  Noticing a trend, our pastor had us tell the stories. 

From those stories came the warning that we should be intentional about being in our Father's [God's] House.  Not just going to a church service on Sunday (although that's a great first step!), but being daily in God's Word, being daily in prayer, being regularly in intentional spiritual fellowship with other believers - anything that keeps you closely connected to your Heavenly Father and his "house" of blessing, provision, and protection. 

I definitely believe that God still speaks today through dreams and I invite you to stay aware of what God may be saying to you through your dreams. 

Faithful God,

Thank you for being the same God we read about in the Bible, who has guided your children from generation to generation, and who continues to speak to us today to those who have spiritual ears to hear. Thank you for the dreams, visions, and prophecies Holy Spirit continues to pour out.  Give us the spiritual discernment to know what you are saying to us, for such a time as this.  Tune our hearts to yours and give us courage like Joseph to obey your callings.  Help us to encourage one another to love and good works and to be in the House of our Heavenly Father - not neglecting meeting together, but preparing for the return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, in whose name we pray, Amen. 

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. 

And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, 

but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT)

 

January 28, 2021 Prayer - Time and Spiritual Endurance

Timeless God,

We praise you who are the same yesterday, today, and forever.  We thank you that your love never fails and your compassions are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  Thank you that in the midst of this time and season we live in, your Word gives us direction in a world that seems marked by upheaval and even chaos.  Your Word says there is a time for everything - every activity under the heavens.  Things we think are "good" and things we think are "bad" are already anticipated by you; you are not surprised.  Help us to walk closely with you, to be purposeful in seeking your will and your ways and to not settle for mediocrity in our spiritual lives.  By your Spirit, cause us to stop listening to the voices of the world - to fear mongers in places like media, government, education, our families and friends, and the Church.  Help us to have minds focused on your Word so that we attain a level of faith that reduces fear and uncertainty.  Help us to align our values and lifestyle with Jesus's values and to get our time, money, and priorities straight with you.   Holy Spirit, cause us to be strongly disciplined in our spiritual disciplines and to be present in a Church weekly where the Word is preached and you are worshipped in Spirit and in Truth.  When we seek your Kingdom first, God, we know we will see your plans to prosper us, not to harm us, and to give us a hope and a future.  We know it is not an accident that you have birthed us into this era.  When we feel like we are in spiritual exile, remind us that you hear us when we come and pray to you.  Remind us that we will find you when we call to you, when we come and pray to you, and when we seek you with all our hearts.  Remind us that with our eyes focused firmly on Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of our faith, and with good spiritual training, we can run with endurance this race you have set before us.  In Jesus's name we pray, Amen. 

"There is a time for everything,

    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,

    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,

    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,

    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,

    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,

    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace." (Eccl. 3:1-8 NIV)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8 NIV)

"I remember my affliction and my wandering,

    the bitterness and the gall.

I well remember them,

    and my soul is downcast within me.

Yet this I call to mind

    and therefore I have hope:

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,

    for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning;

    great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;

    therefore I will wait for him.”

The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,

    to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly

    for the salvation of the Lord." (Lamentations 3:19-26 NIV)

"For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:32-34 NIV)

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." (1 John 4:18 NIV)

"This is what the Lord says: “When seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my good promise to bring you backto this place. For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the Lord, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.” (Jeremiah 29:10-14 NIV)

"Everyone runs; one wins. Run to win. All good athletes train hard. They do it for a gold medal that tarnishes and fades. You’re after one that’s gold eternally." (1 Corinthians 9:24 MSG)

"...Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1-2 NIV)