This is written as a series of Dream Interpretation Helps concerning dreams from God. I will cover the things that I feel are mandatory for correct dream interpretation and application of the truths revealed in the dream. All scripture references are NASB, unless otherwise noted. Emphases are mine. © 2013, 2022 Elizabeth Elam. All rights reserved.
DREAMERS MUST HAVE THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Read Jeremiah 23: 9-40 (preferably in the Amplified Bible). I believe reading that passage is a good start, even 'required reading' for all dreamers to have the fear of the Lord begin to be instilled in them. Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom (Psalm 111:10). In summarizing some of what I get out of this Jeremiah 23 passage, we must revere the Word of God and truly seek the Lord's counsel. I believe Jeremiah 23: 21, 22 can be summed up with the statement: If I don't seek the Lord regularly, I must not expect to hear a true word or a true dream from God that turns people from evil. A true Word from the Lord has the power to change a life.
We are responsible to only relay what God has truly spoken. If you're not sure your dream is from the Lord, don't say the equivalent of, "Thus says the Lord". The Bible is the measuring rod of all words. Our dreams must ring true and draw people closer to the Lord and His holiness and His sanctifying process. They must not stroke the flesh. Instead, they should convict (with hope) and turn people from evil.
In essence a dream from the Lord must be a word from the Lord. Dreams don't replace the Bible, of course. But God is still speaking in our day if we are listening.
Be careful that you're hearing directly from the Lord, not passing around what others, who call themselves prophets, have heard. This thought leads to the next. Don't feel like you need a new word every week or month to please people or tickle their ears. That's a recipe for hearing something false. God is holy and sovereign and speaks on His timetable.
There was a time in my life when I went directly to God to ask Him about the 'boundaries' of my gift. I didn't want to be 'out of bounds' or not operating in the correct 'authority level', the 'grace' He'd given me. I already knew I was to prophecy with my head covered, meaning submitting to my husband's leadership and direction. But I had another question. I had a dream that night where I literally dreamed a chapter in the Bible which answered my question. At the same time, I feel like many of us who have dreams from God, are still in God's school. In the Bible there was a company of prophetic people called the sons of the prophets. Were they being 'schooled' by (spiritual) prophetic fathers? There are times of testing and growing in our gift, in other words. I still feel like the Lord is teaching me.
I know I've been corrected by the Lord over speaking too soon or even corrected by the Lord over just one single thought in a dream interpretation. ( I even have a fear [of the Lord?] to tread carefully when I'm on holy ground, His territory; i.e. the dream interpretation. I personally prefer to refer to 'interpretations' as 'thoughts' instead. Perhaps this may not be necessary, but it fits my comfort level at this time.) At times, I would become aware that something wasn't ringing true. Remedy? Apologize to the Lord and to the person that came to me to interpret their dream, speedily. Nathan, the prophet, in the Bible tells King David to do all that's in the King's heart concerning the building of God's temple. Then right after that, God corrects Nathan and the Lord says King David's son, Solomon, will be the builder of the temple instead. In the Old Testament God expected prophets to be accurate. Of course this is still true! God doesn't strike Nathan dead, because Nathan immediately corrects his own human words and hears and says God's word. This does reveal a need in all prophetic people to not assume they always know the heart of God concerning every situation. God requires us to continually seek Him, so we don't prophesy our own 'good idea' like Nathan did.
DREAMERS MUST HAVE THE FEAR OF THE LORD
Read Jeremiah 23: 9-40 (preferably in the Amplified Bible). I believe reading that passage is a good start, even 'required reading' for all dreamers to have the fear of the Lord begin to be instilled in them. Remember that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of Wisdom (Psalm 111:10). In summarizing some of what I get out of this Jeremiah 23 passage, we must revere the Word of God and truly seek the Lord's counsel. I believe Jeremiah 23: 21, 22 can be summed up with the statement: If I don't seek the Lord regularly, I must not expect to hear a true word or a true dream from God that turns people from evil. A true Word from the Lord has the power to change a life.
We are responsible to only relay what God has truly spoken. If you're not sure your dream is from the Lord, don't say the equivalent of, "Thus says the Lord". The Bible is the measuring rod of all words. Our dreams must ring true and draw people closer to the Lord and His holiness and His sanctifying process. They must not stroke the flesh. Instead, they should convict (with hope) and turn people from evil.
In essence a dream from the Lord must be a word from the Lord. Dreams don't replace the Bible, of course. But God is still speaking in our day if we are listening.
Be careful that you're hearing directly from the Lord, not passing around what others, who call themselves prophets, have heard. This thought leads to the next. Don't feel like you need a new word every week or month to please people or tickle their ears. That's a recipe for hearing something false. God is holy and sovereign and speaks on His timetable.
There was a time in my life when I went directly to God to ask Him about the 'boundaries' of my gift. I didn't want to be 'out of bounds' or not operating in the correct 'authority level', the 'grace' He'd given me. I already knew I was to prophecy with my head covered, meaning submitting to my husband's leadership and direction. But I had another question. I had a dream that night where I literally dreamed a chapter in the Bible which answered my question. At the same time, I feel like many of us who have dreams from God, are still in God's school. In the Bible there was a company of prophetic people called the sons of the prophets. Were they being 'schooled' by (spiritual) prophetic fathers? There are times of testing and growing in our gift, in other words. I still feel like the Lord is teaching me.
I know I've been corrected by the Lord over speaking too soon or even corrected by the Lord over just one single thought in a dream interpretation. ( I even have a fear [of the Lord?] to tread carefully when I'm on holy ground, His territory; i.e. the dream interpretation. I personally prefer to refer to 'interpretations' as 'thoughts' instead. Perhaps this may not be necessary, but it fits my comfort level at this time.) At times, I would become aware that something wasn't ringing true. Remedy? Apologize to the Lord and to the person that came to me to interpret their dream, speedily. Nathan, the prophet, in the Bible tells King David to do all that's in the King's heart concerning the building of God's temple. Then right after that, God corrects Nathan and the Lord says King David's son, Solomon, will be the builder of the temple instead. In the Old Testament God expected prophets to be accurate. Of course this is still true! God doesn't strike Nathan dead, because Nathan immediately corrects his own human words and hears and says God's word. This does reveal a need in all prophetic people to not assume they always know the heart of God concerning every situation. God requires us to continually seek Him, so we don't prophesy our own 'good idea' like Nathan did.
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