Skip to main content

Sources of Dreams

A dream may be defined as "thoughts, images, and visions that pass through the mind while one is asleep" (cf. Daniel 4:5 (NIV); Daniel 2:29 (NKJV)).

There are at least three sources of dream:
1. The Human Body (The senses being awake to external stimuli while one is asleep).
2. The Soul (Mind, Will, Emotions)
3. The Spirit

1. Body
E.g. (a) A person hears someone calling his name in a dream; he awakes and finds that someone in reality had been calling his name.
(b) A hungry man sleeps and dreams of eating something; he awakes and finds that it was just a dream.

"as when a hungry man dreams that he is eating, but he awakens, and his hunger remains; as when a thirsty man dreams that he is drinking, but he awakens faint, with his thirst unquenched." (Isa 29:8 NIV)

2. Soul
E.g. (a) A scientist has been thinking a lot about a particular problem; in a dream, the thoughts converge into a solution.
(b) A depressed person experiences dreams of anxiety.
(c) A man has been watching or thinking of erotic themes and experiences the same in a dream or a series of night dreams.

"a dream comes through much activity" (Ecc 5:3 NKJ)
"If I say, 'My bed will comfort me, My couch will ease my complaint,'then You frighten me with dreams And terrify me by visions; so that my soul would choose suffocation, Death rather than my pains. (Job 7:13-15 NAU)

3. Spirit
(a) God can speak to a person through a dream. He may speak through a symbolic dream or speak directly in a theophany or speak through an angel. (Gen.20:3; 31:11; Dan.2:1; Matt.2:13)
(b) The Spirit gives dreams (Joel 2:28)

(c) In those who are not regenerated by the Spirit and in whom the Spirit of God doesn't dwell; evil spirits may be able to produce false images (thought-images) as dreams of the mind. The Bible talks of demons being able to inject thoughts in the minds of people (Acts 5:3).

However, there is no proof that the devil can inject thoughts through dreams in the mind of the redeemed. But, it seems from empirical data that evil spirits oppress the not-redeemed in ways that the not-redeemed sometimes experience nightmares.

Few Facts About Spiritual Dreams
1. Symbolic dreams given by God produce anxiety in the spirit to know the interpretation (Dan.2:1)
2. In a spiritual dream, the will of a child of God is not suspended; s/he can usually make a choice (1Kgs.3:5ff) and the choice is honored as if in a dreamless waking state.
3. God may come to us in a dream in order to warn us of something, promise us something, grant us something, or show us something (Matt.2:12; Acts 18:9,10; 23:11 (though this might have been a vision and not a dream); 1Kgs.3:5ff; Dan.2:45).

"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions." (Joe 2:28 NKJ)
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Story of the Song Stuti Aradhana Upar Jati Hei

In 1995, while waiting alone in a van for his colleagues who had gone shopping, Wilson Burhankar, presently Senior Associate Pastor at the Fellowship Church of Itarsi, fell into ecstasy remembering the awesome goodness of God in his life. It was his first year in the Seminary as a teacher and his first year as a full-time Worship Leader at the Itarsi Church. He remembered the ill-battered lifestyle that he had lived prior to knowing Christ, the drunken boozes, the street fights, the nights spent singing at religious gatherings, and the continual stress and pain inflicted on his family because of his sin-laden lifestyle. But, one day the Lord changed his life all over. He came to the Seminary and underwent three years of theological training. The greatest surprise came when Dr. Thomas asked him to consider to stay back and minister here as a worship leader. Inside he felt totally unworthy, and yet was confident of the grace of the Lord. As he sat in the van considering these things, the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ibadat Karo by Anil & Reena Kant (Lyrics and Translation)

IBADAT KARO – ANIL & REENA KANT CHORUS: Hei duniya ke logon oonchi aawaj karon O people of the world, lift up your voice Gawon khushi key geet And sing the songs of joy Uska gungaan karo Declare praises of Him Ibadat karo uski Ibadat karo (x2) Worship Him, Worship… (Repeat Chorus) 1. Yaad karo ki vahi ek Khuda hein Remember that He alone is God Hum ko ye jeevan useene diya hein It is He who has given us this life Us charagah se hum sab hein aaye We all have come from that (spring) Humd o sana ke hum geet gaaye Let’s sing the song of His praise Rab ka tum shukar karo Give thanks to the Lord Oonchi aawaj karo Lift up your voice Gawon khushi key geet And sing the songs of joy Uska gungaan karo Declare praises of Him Ibadat karo uski Ibadat karo (x2) Worship Him, Worship… 2. Naamey Khudawand kitna mubaarak How blessed is the Name of the Lord! Mera Khudawand kitna bhala hein My God, How good is He! Rehmat hei uski sadiyon purani His compassion is from ageless past Wafa ka azar se yahi s...
1 comment
Read more

Origin of the Poem "When God Wants To Drill A Man"

The poem as quoted in Oswald J. Sander's (not to be confused with Oswald Chambers (1874-1917)) Spiritual Leadership (1967) credits it to an "Author Unknown". The poem as he quotes it is as follows: When God wants to drill a man    And thrill a man    And skill a man, When God wants to mold a man    To play the noblest part; When He yearns with all His heart    To create so great and bold a man That all the world shall be amazed,    Watch His methods, watch His ways! How He ruthlessly perfects    Whom He royally elects! How He hammers him and hurts him,    And with mighty blows converts him Into trial shapes of clay which    Only God understands; While his tortured heart is crying    And he lifts beseeching hands! How He bends but never breaks    When his good He undertakes; How He uses whom He chooses    And with every purpose fuses him;    By ev...
Post a Comment
Read more