The list includes:

Abimilech,
Jacob
Laban
Joseph
Soloman
David
Isaiah
all the OT prophets
Joseph, the husband of Mary the mother of Jesus
Paul
Ananias
Peter
Cornelius
John
And countless hosts of God’s people since.

What do they have in common? A dream, a vision, a prophecy.

Imagine yourself present as Peter addressed the crowd on Pentecost (Acts 2). Explaining the phenomena taking place, he said, this is what God promised.

‘In the last days it will be, God declares,
that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh,
and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
and your young men shall see visions,
and your old men shall dream dreams.” (v17)

And then he said, v.39- “The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off—for all whom the Lord our God will call.”

We are in need of dreamers, people to whom God can give a vision. Someone has said, “Vision is the world’s most desperate need.” The Bible puts it this way: “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” (Prov 29:18)

Communication of God’s will is the point. Dreams, visions, prophecies are simply characteristic ways which God has spoken. The promise is divine direction, communication. I am not talking about daydreams, or wishful thinking—I will win the Sweepstakes, or that my team will win the national championship. Not all dreams are from God. So called messages from God need to be checked by Scripture in the context of the Christian community.

However the word dream is important to remind us that the Holy Spirit is not confined to our logic, reason, or limited ability to understand or imagine. God can reveal to us something we don’t have the answer for within ourselves.

The prerequisite to dreaming is surrender to God. Until we are ready to accept God’s way, we are not free to dream. Other things can hinder hearing God’s message too. Fear in many different forms perhaps heads the list—fear of change, failure, ridicule, conflict. Almost all obstacles are motivated by self- interest.

Dreaming is necessary to grow. Institutions, ideas are not poured in concrete to stand forever.

People who cannot dream are doomed to live another’s dream or are locked into what has always been. People who do dream have open to them all the possibilities of God’s wonderful future.

Filed under: The Journey |