There are activities at night where evil or good are programmed into people’s lives, hence it’s important to be informed on how to engage dreams. The scripture says
“My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge:.....”Hosea 4:6 KJV
It’s important that we gain understanding and insight on how to engage spiritually even when we are sleeping . “…..For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.” 1 John 3:8 KJV
The Son of God manifested so he might destroy the works of the devil, the works of the enemy programmed into people’s lives through dreams will be destroyed. Jesus said
“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly ”John 10:10 KJV.
It is not God’s will for us to live under the yoke of oppression or wickedness.
The spiritual tools of prophecy, dreams and visions can be utilized by the kingdom of darkness. The devil counterfeits and perverts the gifts (dreams, prophecies and visions) to bring us under the yoke of bondage. It is important to have the proper foundation in order to engage dreams or discern the source of your dreams. Demonic spirits can use thoughts in our subconscious mInd to project dreams to us. The Lord speaks through Dreams: “And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.” Acts 23:11 KJV
The Lord can also speak to us in our dreams, we know the story of Abimelech who received a visitation from the Lord in his dream. God also sends angels to give messages to people in their dreams. When Joseph was disturbed about the news of Mary’s pregnancy the angel appeared before him in his dream to confirm the will of God in her pregnancy. “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”Matthew 1:20-21 KJV
God called Paul into missionary work in Macedonia while he slept. “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”Acts 16:9-10 KJV
It’s important to not only receive dreams but to interpret correctly. In most cases the interpretation of dreams are based on our personal desire. This is the wrong approach because scripture says “Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.”— 2 Peter 1:20 KJV
Importance of seeking interpretation
Dreaming without the right interpretation can be problematic. To interpret Dreams, we need to seek wisdom and understanding from God. Some accounts of dreams and visions in scripture are metaphoric and symbolic, Implying that applying literal interpretations may lead to errors. God used symbols to speak to Joseph in Genesis 37:5 -10.
In Daniel 7-27 God used metaphors and symbols to reveal his counsel. If Daniel were to interpret the dream literary he would have walked in error but he sought the wisdom and understanding from God. In Acts 10:10 when God wanted Peter to minister to the gentiles he used unclean creatures to communicate to him.
“And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance, And saw heaven opened, and a certain vessel descending unto him, as it had been a great sheet knit at the four corners, and let down to the earth: Wherein were all manner of fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air. And there came a voice to him, Rise, Peter; kill, and eat. But Peter said, Not so, Lord; for I have never eaten any thing that is common or unclean. And the voice spake unto him again the second time, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.” Acts 10:10-15 KJVGod uses symbols to communicate to his people in their Dreams. It’s important not to interpret symbolic and metaphoric dreams by making use of their literal meanings.
How we receive dreams
Our thoughts are like keys that open spiritual portals. God can use our thoughts or meditations when we sleep, demonic spirits can also leverage on our thoughts and meditations.
Peter was hungry when he slept and the Lord used food to communicate to him. There are ways we can be spiritually alert even when sleeping. In order to avoid defeats when you engage spiritual activities remain alert in your spirit and don’t carelessly yield to the spirits in the atmosphere that are not from God. We should remain spiritually active and alert even in our sleep.
Ways to Remain Spiritually Alert and Active
- Prayer
Learn to engage prayer consistently, the scripture says we should pray without ceasing so it’s possible to pray even when sleeping.
2. Meditations
what we occupy our minds with during the day matters. Dreams come through the multitude of business. Before we sleep we should shut down every distractions and the activities of the day.
“Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7 KJV.
“This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”Joshua 1:8 KJV.
Learn to meditate on the word even in the night watches. We can see examples of Peter, Joseph and Solomon whose thoughts opened them up to visitations from God.
We have to guard our hearts and learn to be in control of our thoughts. The word of God teaches us what we ought to think about.
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.” Philippians 4:8 KJV.
We are in control of our minds , and we can set our minds on what pleases the Lord. We have the power to yield our minds to thoughts that are edifying which attract the presence of God or to wicked thoughts that attract the presence of demons. That’s why Jesus says we shouldn’t let the sun go down on our anger, if you sleep in anger(with bad thoughts) you won’t have edifying dreams .
It may look simple but these are keys that open us up to be receptive to visitations from the Lord.
“When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches.”— Psalms 63:6 KJV
“O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day. Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.”— Psalms 119:97-99 KJV
It is of vital importance that we learn and prioritize meditating on God even in the night watches. The psalmist meditated consistently on the law of God, his majesty and his testimonies. He didn’t meditate on the failures or the victories of the day. He set his affections on the Lord. As a man thinks in his heart so is he .The faith walk is practical. We can glean on scriptures and gain insight on how people engaged their walk of faith.
When we read Matthew 1:20, we can see that Joseph’s thoughts triggered something spiritually. The visitation happened while he thought and meditated on his circumstances and desperately needed to receive clarity from the Lord.
“As for thee, O king, thy thoughts came into thy mind upon thy bed, what should come to pass hereafter: and he that revealeth secrets maketh known to thee what shall come to pass.”— Daniel 2:29 KJV
We need to be conscious of what we think about. It can be a key that opens us up to divine visitations or demonic oppressions. Don’t meditate on the wrong things. When you meditate on wickedness demons will occupy your spiritual space. Learn to meditate on things that are pure, lovely, virtuous and have a good report. Learn to meditate before you sleep, think on the wonders of God’s work.
Next week we will deal with recovering dreams that were lost especially messages from God. Sometimes the thief of the night steals dreams from you. When the devil afflicts people in the dreams he causes them not to recall their dreams. The word of God says he has made us unto our God kings and priests and we shall reign on earth.
Learn to relate with dreams as king who seeks to gain understanding of dreams. Never despise or discard dreams even when you forget seek to remember them by the help of the Holy Spirit.
Any afflictions or oppressions that have been sourced from people’s dreams and have been forgotten will be removed in the name of Jesus. We have the weapons to deal with every negative spiritual programming in the name of Jesus. Jesus said any deadly thing that we take will not harm us, he understood the weapons of the enemy and he equipped us with the power to never become victims of wickedness and oppression.
Stay blessed!
