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)

 

Listening in faith and trust

For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, 

we will share in all that belongs to Christ.  (Hebrews 3:14 NLT)

Let’s focus on the story of King Jesus’s birth - the Christmas story.  For many of us, this is a story we’ve heard year after year after year and it’s pretty familiar to us.  We sing many songs during the Christmas season about the angels' message to the shepherds and can lose some of the amazement in the original story.  

Although God spoke regularly to his people in the Old Testament, especially through the prophets, between the time we now call the "Old Testament" and the "New Testament" were 400 years of silence.  The Israelites lived for 400 years without a message from the Lord.  So when God "suddenly" starts speaking to people in our Christmas story, we have to realize how surprising this must have been to them.  And, then, we must consider the messages that were given to the people!!

The first angel visitation in the Christmas stories in Matthew 1-2 and Luke 1-2 was when the archangel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah, an elderly priest.  The angel’s message that he and his wife Elizabeth would have a baby in their old age, was met with doubt and disbelief. Truthfully, if you were old and childless, would you have responded any differently?  

 

The second message Gabriel carried was to a teen girl named Mary, engaged to be married, but still living with her parents. Gabriel’s greeting was, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”  Depending on the translation, it says Mary was “startled,” “troubled,” or “perplexed.”  I think I’d be, too, if an angel showed up to talk with me.  I’d probably doubt what I was seeing and hearing. Gabriel follows by saying, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.”  

 

Then Gabriel tells Mary she will have a baby who will be the Savior of her people.  Mary’s response is HOW this can happen if she’s an unmarried virgin? Gabriel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he will be called the Son of God.”  

 

Ok, so let’s pause a moment in this story.  Imagine you’re a maybe 14 or 15 year old Jewish girl, living with your parents in Roman Empire-occupied Judah, just going about your normal life.  Suddenly, an angel shows up to give you a message that you are “favored” and, therefore, will have a baby - without having a husband first.  This seems like a bit of a stretch from the reality you would have known.  Unmarried girls don’t just have babies without husbands - in that culture adultery is a sin punishable by death.  

 

So, Mary has a choice: to listen to the voice of her culture or to listen to the voice of the angel.  To doubt or believe the angel’s message.  What response should she give to this messenger of the Lord?

 

Again, if you have heard this story, you know that Mary’s answer was simple and direct.  She said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  She listened to and believed the spoken Word of God that Gabriel brought.  She had faith in the angel’s message.  And she responded with trust in her God.  

She believed - she had faith - and she trusted.  

 

These are strengths that I expect each of us hope to have in our relationship with God. 

Word of God,

Thank you for speaking to us through your Word, Holy Spirit, dreams, visions, prophecies, and so many other avenues. Thank you that even when a message seems surprising, it never goes against your Word and your ways.  Help us to have the deep faith and trust of people like Mary and Joseph so that we know and believe what you tell us to do.  And give us great wisdom and courage to face the realities of this life.  Remind us that you goodness and your loving-kindness last forever and are poured out on your children as they seek you.  Strengthen our relationships with you so we honor you with all we are and receive all you have to give us.  In Christ's name we pray, Amen. 

"Jesus answered, “This is the work of God: that you believe 

[adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.” 

(John 6:29 AMP)

"Immediately the father of the boy cried out [with a desperate, piercing cry], saying, 

“I do believe; help [me overcome] my unbelief.” 

(Mark 9:24 AMP)