Visions and Impartations - Catherine Brown

Flying with a Golden Eagle

Visions and Impartations in the Night Season

Catherine Brown

Solomon Receives Impartation While Dreaming

Did you know that God can impart a supernatural gift to you during your sleep? It's true! We are blessed to read of such an impartation of "wisdom and discernment" given to King Solomon during a dream (1 Kings 3). Wisdom is one of the nine gifts of the Spirit (read 1 Corinthians 12:7-11).

I Kings 3:5-9, "At Gibeon the Lord appeared to Solomon during the night in a dream, and God said, 'Ask for whatever you want Me to give you.'"

Solomon answered,

"You have shown great kindness to Your servant, my father David, because he was faithful to You and righteous and upright in heart. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people You have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count in number. So give Your servant a discerning heart to govern Your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of Yours?"

The Lord was pleased that Solomon asked Him for wisdom and discernment and the Lord said to him in Verses 10-15,

"'Since you have asked for this and not for long life or wealth for yourself, nor have asked for the death of your enemies but for discernment in administering justice, I will do what you have asked. I will give you a wise and discerning heart, so that there will never have been anyone like you, nor will there ever be. Moreover, I will give you what you have not asked for - both riches and honor - so that in your lifetime you will have no equal among kings. And if you walk in My ways and obey My statutes and commands as David your father did, I will give you a long life.'Then Solomon awoke - and he realized it had been a dream."

Solomon returned to Jerusalem and offered sacrificial offerings before the Lord and then gave a feast for all in his court. Shortly after this, two prostitutes came to the king and stood before him asking him to judge between who was the true mother of a baby child. One of the women's sons had died and only one child remained alive. Solomon had to execute a wise ruling and choose the authentic mother. Ultimately, Solomon's words and actions revealed the true mother's heart in verse 26,

"The woman whose son was alive was filled with compassion for her son, and said to the king, 'Please my lord, give her the living baby! Don't kill him!'"

And in verse 28 we read,

"When all Israel heard the verdict the king had given, they held the king in awe, because they saw that he had wisdom from God to administer justice."

The entire Israelite community affirmed that their king had received a gift from God. We are privileged to study the Scriptures and understand that this wisdom and gift of discernment was imparted to Solomon during a dream!

There is no reason why we too, cannot exercise faith in a similar manner and have an expectation to receive instruction, wisdom and much more from the Lord during our sleeping (and waking).

Flying with the Golden Eagle

Before going on a mission trip to California in early 2006, I had two significant dreams/night visions, one of which I will share with you here. In my dream, I was flying over the streets of California late at night. I was aware that I was being carried along by the Spirit of the Lord. As I swooped through the streets, it was a most exhilarating experience. Suddenly, I became aware of a magnificent golden eagle that was flying ahead of me. I caught glimpses of the golden glory of the eagle from time-to-time as we sped along through the night.

In a split second or pre-emptive discernment, I realized that I was about to collide with the golden eagle. I turned the corner in my dream and did just that - I collided with the beautiful Heavenly being in a face-to-face encounter; and at the same time, I felt a rush of God's glory fill my entire being. I knew right away that I had received an impartation from the Lord. I had complete peace in my heart and awoke to feel the effects of the glory of God in my human frame. (Prophet Daniel describes this, "After that, in my vision at night" in Daniel 7:7.)

My spiritual father, Hugh Black, who has now gone home to be with the Lord, co-labored with the Reverend Duncan Campbell in the Lewis Revivals of the 20th century (1939 and 1949). He often spoke to me of the angels appearing in the Hebridean Islands and how the glory of the Lord was evident on the earth for days after such an encounter - it could be felt in both the body and also seen with the human eye in the earth's atmosphere.

Lifted By the Spirit of God

It is occasionally difficult to find accurate words to convey supernatural experiences. However, we can look to God's Word to find a holy foundation. Prophet Ezekiel writes of his experience of being raised up by the Spirit in various locations, providing us with a solid Biblical perspective of such an occurrence. My description of "flying" with the Lord is simply an alternative way of speaking about being lifted by the Spirit of the Lord and correlates with the experience of Ezekiel in relation to encountering God's glory. Ezekiel 11:1,

"Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the gate of the houses of the Lord that face east."

Ezekiel 11:24-25,

"Then the Spirit lifted me up and brought me to the exiles in Babylonia in the vision given by the Spirit of God. Then the vision I had seen went up from me, and I told the exiles everything the Lord had shown me."

Revelation of Glory and in California

Furthermore, my description of the glory experience is also part of Ezekiel's revelatory encounter too. On several occasions, Ezekiel links being lifted in the Spirit (as in verse 24 above) with receiving a fresh revelation of the glory of God.

Ezekiel 11:22-23,

"Then the cherubim, with the wheels beside them, spread their wings, and the glory of the God of Israel was above them. The glory of the Lord went up from within the city and stopped above the mountain east of it."

Since we have a Biblical blueprint for receiving an impartation during a dream (as Solomon did), I also have no problem in exercising faith that God truly imparted a measure of His glory to me during the dream experience.

You may well ask, "What is the purpose of such an encounter?" I believe this particular glory impartation was for serving Him in California. Every genuine glory encounter with the Lord births a worship-filled response in our hearts along with a desire to shower His love on others.

So what happened during my trip to California? The dream depicted me on the streets, and whilst much of my time was spent ministering in churches to God's beloved children, I was also privileged to go out onto the streets with good friends to minister with the homeless of Northern California.

It was here that we saw the Glory of God manifest in anointed preaching as two more precious souls gave their lives in commitment to Christ; it was here that we saw God's glory poured out in healing miracles and precious words of Christ's life-giving prophecy.

It was on the streets that Jesus healed the darkness of depression that held a dear one bound; it was here that the Lord healed the dislocated shoulder of a young homeless man, whose body was covered with huge spider bites. It was here that Jesus came with tenderness and ministered to a young couple about to be married, pouring out words of healing and hope.

Thus the glory impartation had been for a divine purpose - to minister Christ's miracle working love to those to whom I had been sent.

The Living Creatures

Perhaps the only fully unanswered question remains in the interpretation of the "golden eagle." Some interpret eagles as symbolic of the prophetic ministry; others interpret them as part of apostolic ministry. Prophet Ezekiel describes the living creatures as having a face like an eagle in Ezekiel 10:14, "Each of the cherubim had four faces: one face was that of a cherub, the second the face of a man, the third the face of a lion, and the fourth the face of an eagle" (see also Ezekiel 1:10).

The Book of Revelation describes the four living creatures that worship around the throne of the Lamb in this way in Revelation 4:7-8,

"The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around even under the wings. Day and night they never stop saying, 'Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was, and is and is to come.'"

I cannot say with absolute accuracy whether I encountered a living creature or not. I do know that the angelic being was Heaven sent and imparted a measure of the glory of the Lord to me in the vision/dream experience. I also believe that in sharing the dream, the believers of California were encouraged and moved to faith-filled responses. As a people of faith, we are called to exercise faith and discernment. I interpreted the dream as a sign of God's glory given for worship and for mission. A sign with interpretation translates into prophetic understanding. Prophetic understanding births further faith in our hearts and releases destiny as we respond to the glory of God in our lives.

Interpreting Dreams

In the life of the prophet, Daniel, we are able to see interesting interactions with revelations he perceived in the Heavenly realms. In Daniel 10:1 we read, "...a revelation was given to Daniel (who was called Belteshazzar). Its message was true and it concerned a great war." The Scriptures clearly stated Daniel received "revelation," however, verse 1 continues, "The understanding of the message came to him in a vision." In other words, the "revelation" and the "understanding" about the revelation did not come at the same time, but one followed the other.
At a different time, Daniel was praying and repenting for sins in his nation when the angel Gabriel came to speak with him. Daniel 9:21-22,

"...while I was still in prayer, Gabriel, the man I had seen in the earlier vision, came to me in swift flight about the time of the evening sacrifice. He instructed me and said to me, 'Daniel, I have now come to give you insight and understanding.'"

God sent an angel to help His servant gain insight and understanding. The angel Gabriel instructed Daniel in respect to the revelation, even though God had given Daniel and his three associates,

"...knowledge and understanding of all kinds of literature and learning. And Daniel could understand visions and dreams of all kinds." Daniel 1:17

It is humbling and helpful to see that the mighty man of God, anointed and appointed, still needed help at times with interpretation. It is faith building to know that our Father in Heaven releases angels to instruct and assist His children with revelation and revelatory experiences!

Seven - A Sign of Completion

Before leaving California, the Lord drew my attention to "seven magnificent eagles" flying together in the air, just as I was approaching my final preaching destination. This was not a vision, but seven "real" eagles that hovered overhead. The Bibles teaches us that God rested on the seventh day and we may safely interpret the number seven as perfection and completion. I left California with God's perfect peace in my heart and a feeling of having completed my Kingdom assignment.

May the God of Israel grant you faith and favor as you pursue His dream for your life and explore the wonderful world of dreams and visions with the Holy Spirit and the angels.

To God be the glory.

Catherine Brown Gatekeepers Global MinistriesEmail: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk
As posted on teh Elijah list

http://www.elijahlist.com/

Understanding Your Dreams – Seven Foundational Principles To Help You Unlock The Meaning Of Your Dreams.

Throughout the ages God has spoken to people through their dreams and He still speaks through dreams today. He uses dreams for many things. Dreams

• counsel
• heal
• direct
• instruct
• reveal
• inspire
• make you aware of God's plans and intentions...

Why does God use dreams rather than speak to you directly?

Dreams bypass you conscious mind. God often speaks through dreams as a way of getting past your natural defences and resistance.

Here are seven things to bear in mind when trying to understand what God is saying through your dreams.

1. Your dream is likely to be about you and for you, 95% of the dreams you dream are about you.


2. Most dreams are symbolic. Remember to look at your dreams symbolically. Dreams are rarely literal. The meaning of the symbol may be personal to you. Ask yourself, "What does this symbol mean to me?" When interpreting dreams, look for metaphors and similes.


3. Your dreams are often about concerns that you are facing now. Ask, "What issues were concerning me when I had the dream?" When you know what you were thinking about before you had the dream, it's easier to understand the dream.


4. Depend on the Holy Spirit to help you to interpret the dream. Ask Him to help you to understand what the symbols mean.


5. When you arrive at the correct interpretation you'll know. If your conclusions don't "feel quite right" you've probably not got it yet.


6. Dreams will help you see things that you've been blind to but dreams are not given to condemn you. Ask yourself, "What's the purpose of this dream? Why did God give me this dream and cause me to remember it?"


7. Never make a major decision based only on a dream. Look for confirmation through the many different ways that God speaks to you. Peace in your heart, the counsel of others, God's Word, His still small voice, prophecy...

Learn to think outside the box. God often uses unexpected ways to speak to you. Look for plays on words and learn to think laterally.

The easiest way to interpret a dream is to identify the main symbols first. Start with the first symbol and try to interpret it. Do the same with the next symbol. Continually ask yourself "What does this symbol mean to me?"

Once you know what the symbols mean, replay the dream seeking revelation until you sense that you know what God is saying to you.

If you don't already, I recommend that you start recording your dreams and set time aside to seek God for their meaning.

For more on understanding your dreams, I invite you to visit

God still speaks through dreams

Understanding your dreams

If you visit my Christian life coaching website you'll find lots of free resources to help you in tour walk with God. And if you subscribe to my newsletter - The 5 Minute Life Coach - I'll send you a valuable free guide - Be Your Own Life Coach Now. This step by step guide will help you to start changing your life straight away.

Understanding Your Dreams

As promised - keys to help you understand what God is saying to you in your dreams

Understanding the Dreams You Dream

by James W. Goll September 2006 www.jamesgoll.com

I. WHERE DO I START?

Does understanding and interpreting dreams seem like a giant maze with no apparent end in sight? Take comfort. Others throughout the ages have felt the same way. But He has a word for us, "I will be your Helper!"

A. Help for the Helpless!

1. John 14:16: I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever;
2. John 14:26: But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you.
3. John 15:26: When the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, that is the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify about Me,
4. John 16:7: But I tell you the truth, it is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I go, I will send Him to you.

B. Our Personal Tutor

1. 1 John 16:13 – 15: But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of Mine and will disclose it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine; therefore I said that He takes of Mine and will disclose it to you.
2. Quote from The Beginner's Guide to Hearing God, pages 24, 25 by James W. Goll, Regal Books:
   

   "The Holy Spirit is our counselor and our teacher, yet He is more than a teacher - more like a tutor. But He is not just any tutor; He’s the kind who truly loves to spend individual, personal time with each of His students. He is like that rare kind of guidance counselor who actually becomes a friend. He is like the teacher who becomes a personal mentor. As a personal Tutor, He is also a personal coach to help us win out on the playing field of life.
   In addition--great news!--He’s not like an ordinary tutor or teacher who clocks in and out. As we graduate from one level of spiritual development to the next, he remains our lifetime personal Tutor. We start with the best and we end with the best. As we end our days here on earth, He even prepares us for our postgraduate course in life hereafter! All long, He individually instructs us as to what life lessons we need to learn, and in what order to take them."

C Ask and You Will Receive!

1. James 1:5-8: But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
2. James 4:2: You do not have because you do not ask.
3. Matt. 7:8: For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

II. THE MOST COMMON DREAMS PEOPLE HAVE

Various ministries and organizations have logged thousands of dreams and therefore have been able to decipher the most common dreams people have. The following is a partial listing of these most common types of dreams. This list is not comprehensive and the dreams are not listed in any certain order.

A. Dreams of your House The house normally represents the individual’s life and the circumstances taking place in the house reflect specific activity in the person’s life. These dreams may also represent a church as well.

B. Dreams of Going to School Often these dreams center around the taking of tests. This can be a dream of going through a test for the purpose of promotion. It might find yourself searching for your next class - guidance is needed; or classes might need to be retaken - tests were failed in the past and an opportunity is being given to learn from past failures. High School dreams can be a sign that you are enrolled in the School of the Holy Spirit etc.

C. Dreams of Various Vehicles These may indicate the calling a person has, the vehicle of purpose that will carry them from one point to another. Cars, planes, buses, etc. may be symbols of the type and even size of the ministry a person is or will be engaged in.

D. Dreams Concerning Storms These are often hints of things that are on the horizon - both dark negative storms of demonic attack for the purpose of prayer and showers of blessings that are eminent.

E. Dreams of Flying These dreams deal with the spiritual capacity to rise above problems and difficulties and to soar into the heavenlies. These are some of the most inspirational in tone of all dreams.

F. Dreams of Being Naked or Exposed These dreams indicate the dreamer will be or is becoming transparent and vulnerable. This may be exhilarating or fearful.

G. Dreams of the Condition of Your Teeth Often, these dreams reveal the need for wisdom. Are you teeth loose, rotten, falling out, bright and shining, etc.?

H. Dreams of Past Relationships These might indicate that the person is being tempted to fall back into old patterns and ways of thinking. Depending on who the person is in the dream and what they represent to you - these dreams might also be an indication of the need to renew your former desires and godly passions for good things in life.

I. Dreams of Dying These dreams are not normally literal about that person seen in the dream but are symbolic about something that is passing away or departing from your life. The type of death may be important to note. Watch to see though if resurrection is on the other side.
J. Dreams of Births Normally these dreams are not about an actual childbirth, but rather about new seasons of purpose and destiny coming forth into the life of the dreamer. If a name is given to the child - pay close attention.

K. Dreams of Taking a Shower These are cleansing type dreams (toilets, showers, bath tubs etc.) revealing things that are in process of being flushed out of your life, cleansed and flushed away, etc.

L. Dreams of Falling These drams may reveal that there is a fear of losing control of some area of life or that you are getting free of directing your own life. What the person falls into in the dream is a major key to proper understanding. The outstanding primary emotions in these dreams will indicate which way to interpret them.

M. Dreams of Chasing and Being Chased These dreams often reveal enemies that are at work coming against your life and purpose. Or on the opposite side - they may indicate the passionate pursuit of God in your life and you towards Him. Again, the emotion will often determine the direction of interpretation.

N. Dreams of Relatives Alive and Dead These dreams probably indicate generational issues at work in your life - both blessings and curses. Discernment will be needed on whether to accept the blessing or cut off the darkness. This is particularly true if grandparents appear in your dreams as they will indicate generational issues.

O. Dreams called Nightmares These dreams tend to be more frequent with children or new believers in Christ. They may reveal generational enemies at work that need to be cut off.

P. Dreams of Snakes This is possibly the most common of all of the categories of animal dreams. These dreams reveal the serpent - the devil with His demonic hosts - at work through accusation, lying, attacks etc. Other common dreams of this nature include dreams of spiders, bears, alligators etc.

Q. Dreams Dogs and Cats This is one of the other most frequent categories of dreams with animals - dogs. This will indicate friendship, loyalty, protection and good feelings. Dreams with dogs may also reveal the dark side including growling, attacking, biting, etc. These dreams could reveal a friend who is about to betray you. Dreams with cats are also quite common. These dreams also vary in nature with everything from the feeling of being loved, to being smothered, to persnickety attitudes to occultic sexual activity.

R. Dreams of Going through Doors These dreams are revealing change that is coming. New ways, new opportunities, new advancements are on the way. Similar to dreams of doors are also dreams including elevators, escalators etc. You are coming up higher in your purpose and calling.

S. Dreams of Clocks and Watches These dreams reveal what time it is the dreamer’s life or the need for a wake up call in the body of Christ or nation. It is time to be alert and watchful. These dreams might indicate a scripture verse as well giving a deeper message.

T. Dreams with Scripture Verses Bible passages might appear indicating messages from God. This phenomenon may occur in a number of ways: verbal quotes, digital clock read outs, a dramatization of a scene from the Bible etc. These are often watchmen type dreams, dreams of instruction filled with the ways of wisdom.

Receive the spirit of revelation and be a dreamer!
James W. Goll

The important thing to remember is that dreams are usually symbolic. Ask yourself what the dream elements mean to you. The same thing can mean different things to different people.

What is God saying to you through your dreams? Ask Him and wait for His answer.

There are some excellent books that will help you to understand your dreams. James Goll's book is very good and well worth buying. Follow the link in the left hand column for details.

God Still Speaks Through Dreams

God is speaking though our dreams and many of us are missing what He's saying to us because we don't realise that God uses dreams to communicate with us.

What follows is the first part of a 3 part teaching on understanding your dreams.

James Goll sent these teachings out to his subscribers in the summer of 2006.

Please pray for James and his wife Michael Ann. They're both undergoing treatment for cancer.

Take a look at their website and explore the resources they have on offer, I'm sure you'll find many things to help you draw closer to God.

The Master Dreamweaver

by James Goll www.ministrytothenations.com

God is the Master Dream Weaver.

Through dreams God communicates directly with us concerning our destiny as well as the destinies of our families, our nation, and our world. Many people today, particularly in the Western culture, never recognize God speaking to them in this way because they have been conditioned by a skeptical and sophisticated society to discount the language of dreams. Within our own generation, God is reconnecting us to a vital part of our spiritual heritage.

THE LANGUAGE OF HEAVEN

Over 200 times the Scriptures give reference to dreams and visions. Three hundred times the Scriptures refer to angels. God is a supernatural God, and He communicates to His people through supernatural means.

What Is A Dream?

A dream is a series of thoughts, images, or emotions that appear in our minds during sleep. Sometimes they are straightforward, but most of the time they are not. In the case of Holy Spirit-inspired dreams, often there is the need for careful interpretation, as these dreams tend to be parabolic in nature. In other words, like the parables of Jesus, the meaning of a dream is sometimes hidden.

Mark 4:10-13: As soon as He was alone, His followers, along with the twelve, began asking Him about the parables. And He was saying to them,

“To you has been given the mystery of the kingdom of God, but those who are outside get everything in parables, so that while seeing, they may see and not perceive, and while hearing, they may hear and not understand, otherwise they might return and be forgiven.” And He said to them, “Do you not understand these parables? How will you understand all the parables?”

Jesus’ pattern of teaching was to speak in parables and mysteries—not to keep people in the dark, but to whet the appetite of those who were truly hungry for the truth. He wanted to draw them in so they would press forward to know more. He loves this journey of hooking us with revelation with the purpose of actually reeling us into His very heart.2. Dreams and visions often use parabolic language. Like parables, dreams are mysteries that need careful deciphering. Dream language is the mystical language of Heaven.

Mark 4:22-25: “For nothing is hidden, except to be revealed; nor has anything been secret, but that it would come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And He was saying to them, “Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it will be measured to you; and more will be given you besides. For whoever has, to him more shall be given; and whoever does not have, even what he has shall be taken away from him.”

Things are hidden for a divine purpose: the purpose of being revealed. God is going to speak secrets to you – things that in the beginning you might not quite comprehend and understand. But as you go on the journey and you receive the spirit of wisdom and revelation, you will learn how to understand mysteries and secrets.2. We need to be attentive. Listening is in many ways is a lost art, but it’s a vital skill we need to learn to become fluent in dream language.

GROUNDED IN THE WORD

Walking in the fullness of the Spirit is like sailing. We must learn to put up the sail to catch the wind, so as to be driven along by the wind. That is like the moving of the Holy Spirit. We also need to have an anchor that gets dropped beside our boat, which is like the Word of God. At times we need to go into the harbor and drop the anchor, rest, meditate on the Word of God, and get refueled. But then there are other times that you pick up your anchor (you carry the Word of God with you), you put up the sail, you catch the wind, and go where the Holy Spirit leads you. The anchor the Word of God is what grounds us, and what serves as a solid foundation.

Numbers 12:6: “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.”

God says that He will speak to His people in a dream and He will make Himself known in a vision. He uses both of these instruments to draw us into His purposes.

Job 33:14-18: “Indeed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction, that He may turn man aside from his conduct, and keep man from pride; He keeps back his soul from the pit, and his life from passing over into Sheol.”

Our minds are often so preoccupied that it is hard for us to hear God. If He cannot catch our attention during our waking hours, He will speak to us during our sleep through dreams. Our heavenly Father will use dreams and visions as an avenue of identifying the hindrances that are in our path to His purpose.

Joel 2:28-29: “It will come about after this that I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; and your sons and 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.”

Dreams and visions are a major part of the prophetic outpouring of God’s great love in the Last Days!

Hebrew Old Testament Words

Three very similar Hebrew words are used in the Old Testament to refer to dreams. Whichever word is used, the Old Testament makes clear that God is the Master Dreamer. He downloads His dreams within us and thereby transforms us into dreamers as well.

1. Chalam: "to cause to dream" or "to be a dreamer"
2. Chelem: "to dream"
3. Chalom: "dreamer"

Greek New Testament Words

1. Onar: The common word for “dream.” It is the kind of dreaming we all do when we sleep. God can and does use these common dreams to communicate with ordinary people. Example: Joseph’s dreams to marry Mary, escape to Egypt, and then return home and the dreams of the wise men who are told not to return to Herod (Matthew 1 and 2; also see Matthew 27:19).
2. Enupnion: Refers to a vision or a dream received while asleep. Enupnion stresses a surprise quality that is contained in that dream. It is the kind of dream that has a startling effect, like waking suddenly from a dream and finding yourself strangely alert with your senses particularly acute. Also see Jude, verses 8 and 10.

HISTORIC CLIPS

Cessationism has done a great damage in the church. Cessationism is the basic teaching that the spiritual gifts stopped when the canon of Scriptures closed, or when the last apostle passed away. The good news is that the book of Hebrews says that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. The truth is that the false doctrine of cessationism is going to cease because God’s Word says, “I’m going to pour out My Spirit upon all flesh.” What God did then, God does today, and God will continue to always do. Dream language is the language of the ages. It is this mysterious way that God comes into our lives, invades our uncomfortable zones, and simply comes to speak to us.

Early Church Fathers

Great portions of the church father’s writings about dreams and visions have only recently been being translated into English, and have, therefore, been largely ignored in the past.

• Thomas of India received instruction from his dreams.
• Polycarp was given a vision of his martyrdom.
• Irenaeus had wise understanding of dreams.
• Clement believed that dreams come from the depth of a soul.
• Tertullian devoted eight chapters of his writings to dreams.
• Gregory of Nyssa spoke of the meaning and the place of the dream.
• John Chrysostom, the one who was called “golden mouthed” because he had such oratorical grace upon him, called dreams the source of revelation.
• Constantine was directed in a dream regarding the heavenly sign that he was to carry into battle.
• Thérèse de Lisieux life was changed through a dream.
• John Newton, an early slave trader, was stopped in his tracks in his lifestyle and his vocation by a dream from God. This became the man who was so turned around in his life that he eventually became a chaplain to the King of England. He went on to write the hymn that is possibly one of the greatest Protestant hymns of all ages: “Amazing Grace.”

Abraham Lincoln

It was said that Abraham Lincoln had a dream where he saw his own body lying in state when he was President. I wonder what effect that had upon Abraham Lincoln. I wonder if that dream was not used to help prepare him to be able to meet his Maker at any moment.

Rev. A. J. Gordon

The following is an amazing dream that impacted a man who became one of the great pulpiteers in America. A seminary is named after him today in Boston: the Gordon Conwell Seminary. The Rev. A. J. Gordon, a famous Baptist preacher of Boston, told of a dream that drastically changed his ministry, even though he had never paid attention to dreams before this.

"I was in the pulpit before a full congregation, just ready to begin my sermon, when a stranger entered and passed slowly up the aisle as though silently asking with his eyes that someone would give him a seat. Half-way up the aisle a gentleman stepped out and offered him a place in his pew, which was quietly accepted. As I began my sermon my attention became riveted on this hearer. To myself I said constantly, ‘Who can that stranger be?' After the service ended, the visitor had left before I could reach him. The gentleman with whom he had sat remained behind however. I asked him, ‘Can you tell me who that stranger was who sat in your pew this morning?' In the most matter-of-course way he replied: ‘Why, do you not know that man? It was Jesus of Nazareth.'"

The dream was the seminal event out of which came a complete change in Gordon’s approach to ministry and a vivid transformation in his parishioners. This dream is written up in his book How Christ Came To Church: The Pastor’s Dream. A. J. Gordon never preached a sermon again to please men. He preached as though his guest was the Man Christ Jesus, and he preached to please Him.

THE RECEIVER

The secret to becoming a good dreamer is to become a good receiver. God did not only send dreams to those who believed in Him, but also to unbelievers because He wants their hearts to turn to Him.

Dreams to Prophets

• Abraham (Gen. 15:12-17)
• Jacob (Gen. 28:12; 31:10)
• Daniel (Dan. 7)

Dreams to Unbelievers

• Abimelech (Gen. 20:3)
• Laban (Gen. 31:24)
• Midian (Judges 7:13-14)
• Pharoah’s Butler and Baker (Gen. 40:5)
• Pharoah (Gen. 41:7 &15-26)
• Nebuchadnezzar (Dan. 2:1, 4, 36)
• Wisemen (Matt. 2:12)
• Pilate’s Wife (Matt. 27:19)

Dreams to Other Believers

• Solomon (I Kings 3:5)
• Joseph (Matt. 1:20)

THE TRANSMITTER

Every receiver needs a transmitter. In human experience dream transmission originates from any one of three different sources.

• Personal God (II Pet. 2:1, Acts 27:15-17)
• Natural Man (Ezek. 13:1-6, Jer. 23:16)
• Demonic Darkness (Acts 16:16-18)

THE PURPOSE

Proverbs 25:2: "It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search it out. It’s the glory of a king for something to be searched out."

You’re a king and God gives you the right to go into the King’s palace. He wants to give you the keys of revelation to be able to search something out. Being able to understand revelation is about being a son, a daughter; it’s about kingship. What are dreams for? To whet our appetite, because if you’re left musing, you’re more likely to find out what it was all about.

THE INVITATION

God has a dream for your life, and He wants you to have the spirit of revelation upon your life. He has a great plan, and He wants to use these ways to speak to you. Perhaps you will be a Joseph and you’ll have a dream, and you’ll blab it prematurely, and you’ll get in all kinds of trouble, and you’ll end up learning about the ways of God not just the knowledge of God. May God raise up such a people in the earth that the world will come and say, “Behold here comes the dreamer.” We live for Christ, but we also live to release the fragrance of His presence wherever we go. I don’t want to live an ordinary life; I want to live a supernatural life that would cause the people to say, Who is that strange man crying in the wilderness? Behold here is a dreamer. Lord, I ask for Your grace, and that the Spirit of wisdom and revelation would be released to us. Dream through us and weave an incredible tapestry for the world to see!

For Jesus’ sake,

Amen.

James W. Goll

I'll post the next part in a few days when you've had time to digest this. James goes on to share keys for understanding your dreams