00:05What are dreams and visions? What do they mean? And why do they come?
00:10Typically, we understand dreams to come when we're asleep and visions, when we're awake.
00:16They're often spoken of together because they both use visual imagery to communicate.
00:22Whether it's a single image, an isolated scene, or an elaborate story, they're pictures we see rather than words we
00:29hear.
00:30People, objects, and animals all take on meaning, and thoughts, fears, and desires are depicted in theatrical ways.
00:38The understanding that dreams and visions can be God's voice is seen throughout Scripture.
00:43In fact, the main way God spoke, His modus operandi.
00:48One author has suggested that dream-vision material makes up one-third of the Old Testament alone.
00:55Even angels appear mostly in dreams or visions.
00:58After Jesus completed His mission and left the earth, the Holy Spirit was poured out on the church on the
01:05day of Pentecost and we see a powerful increase in dream visions.
01:10Before then, it was largely the prophets who had visionary experiences.
01:15Prophets were specially appointed messengers who passed on or prophesied God's communiques to the people.
01:21But with the Spirit's outpouring, everyone now had direct and full access.
01:27Or, in the words of the Apostle Peter,
01:30Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.
01:37Where once you needed a prophet to hear from God, now all people could prophesy.
01:42When once the prophet received dreams and visions, now all people could receive dreams and visions.
01:49Sons and daughters, male and female, old and young.
01:53Everyone, reflect.
01:56Have you ever had a God dream or a dream that stood out in some way?
02:01Pray and journal.
02:03God speak to me, whether asleep or awake, I'm listening.
02:10I'm listening.
02:12God bless you.
