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In the book of Genesis, Joseph had two dreams. In the first, his sheaves of grain rose above those of his brothers' and his brothers' sheaves bowed before his. In the second dream, the sun and moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him. The first dream was interpreted by his brothers as Joseph's own belief that he should be the favored first born who would have authority over them when the father had passed away. When he shared it with his brothers, they couldn't handle it and consorted to get rid of him. The second dream was interpreted by his own father to mean that Joseph would have rule and authority over his parents, family, and the nation. And even his father rebuked him over the communication of that dream.
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Depiction of Joseph's Two Dreams
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Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord,
As we continue in our study of the Season of Now, we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we thank God for his many accomplishments as a husband, father, minister, civil rights leader, prophet, and one of God's dreamers.
One of Dr. Martin Luther King's most famous speeches was the "I have a dream" speech, and it is widely lauded as one of the great american speeches in history. My task today however, is to discuss what the Bible communicates happens when a dreamer dreams, and why it is important for us to engage this marvelous spiritual activity in the Season of Now.
First we note that the dream state is a spiritual realm and medium through which God communicates His will to His prophets. God told Miriam and Aaron, in the 6th verse of the 12th chapter of the book of Numbers that He reveals Himself to His prophets in visions, and speaks to His prophets in dreams. God allows His oracle to peer through the walls of time to see what God is doing in the Season of Now.
The dream once received is not only a point of communication from God, but becomes the anchor-point toward the fulfillment of the will of God. The dream-seed, as it were is planted in the Season of Now. God knows what is going to happen, because the Word sent to fulfill it comes from God. So God has employed the dream to provide a window into what God has ordained in the construct of the time continuum (Beyond the under heaven experience that we talked about in our last reflection from the book of Ecclesiastes 3). It inspires hope and stimulates action, because a Word from the Lord, even before you can truly see it, touch it, or taste it, is as good as having what God has declared will come to pass- simply because the Word of God will not return back to God unfulfilled or void of fruition. Isaiah 55:11
So when a dreamer dreams, God plants His Word, communicates His plan or intent for His people into a called out servant and oracle of the Lord. The dream may be for the individual, but is often to be declared among the people, because it may also be for them.
As we continue in our study of the Season of Now, we remember Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and we thank God for his many accomplishments as a husband, father, minister, civil rights leader, prophet, and one of God's dreamers.
One of Dr. Martin Luther King's most famous speeches was the "I have a dream" speech, and it is widely lauded as one of the great american speeches in history. My task today however, is to discuss what the Bible communicates happens when a dreamer dreams, and why it is important for us to engage this marvelous spiritual activity in the Season of Now.
First we note that the dream state is a spiritual realm and medium through which God communicates His will to His prophets. God told Miriam and Aaron, in the 6th verse of the 12th chapter of the book of Numbers that He reveals Himself to His prophets in visions, and speaks to His prophets in dreams. God allows His oracle to peer through the walls of time to see what God is doing in the Season of Now.
The dream once received is not only a point of communication from God, but becomes the anchor-point toward the fulfillment of the will of God. The dream-seed, as it were is planted in the Season of Now. God knows what is going to happen, because the Word sent to fulfill it comes from God. So God has employed the dream to provide a window into what God has ordained in the construct of the time continuum (Beyond the under heaven experience that we talked about in our last reflection from the book of Ecclesiastes 3). It inspires hope and stimulates action, because a Word from the Lord, even before you can truly see it, touch it, or taste it, is as good as having what God has declared will come to pass- simply because the Word of God will not return back to God unfulfilled or void of fruition. Isaiah 55:11
So when a dreamer dreams, God plants His Word, communicates His plan or intent for His people into a called out servant and oracle of the Lord. The dream may be for the individual, but is often to be declared among the people, because it may also be for them.
Here we note that dreams inspired by God can be taken out of context and thus misinterpreted in the finite hand of man. So the interpretation itself warrants seeking the Lord for clarity, as well as spiritual gifting to discern the true meaning of the dream. But even the misinterpretation of man can't override the sovereignty of God! Joseph was rebuked by his father and hated by his brothers, as a result of sharing his dreams with them. While many feel that he should have considered their feelings and kept it to himself, it becomes more evident that his brothers' response was a necessary part of the fulfillment of the dream, as it set Joseph on course for the fruition of the dream-seed planted by God.
Finally, God communicated to the people of God through the Prophet Joel in the 28th verse of the 2nd chapter, that in the last days He would pour out His Spirit on all nations and that their sons and daughters would prophesy, their old men would dream dreams, and their young men would see visions. God is still using His people to communicate His plans, as well as purpose for the lives of men and women, boys and girls in the world today. Where are you in the midst of this awesome experience? What is God saying to you? What is God showing you? Are you declaring what thus says the Lord? Are you walking by faith and trusting that God will bring it to pass?
Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!" Many of us have striven toward this dream, because after we heard it with such detail and clarity, we could actually see it! And as the man of God proclaimed it, we believed that it would come to pass. We were set in motion to participate by faith, in bringing it to pass, because "faith comes by hearing. Hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17 While we still have quite a way to go, we are certainly closer to it today than when he first shared it.
May we be those who lay hold of our role and responsibilities as servants of the King, as prophets of God in the Season of Now. May we proclaim the dreams that God has planted with us, and write the visions that God has shown us that we may together press forward toward its fulfillment, all for the glory of our awesome God, and the good of those He loves.
Until next time, may the Lord God bless you real good!
In His Service,
Pastor Emery B. Barber
Sheoherd's House, Brooklyn
For FaithWorks Christian Fellowship
Finally, God communicated to the people of God through the Prophet Joel in the 28th verse of the 2nd chapter, that in the last days He would pour out His Spirit on all nations and that their sons and daughters would prophesy, their old men would dream dreams, and their young men would see visions. God is still using His people to communicate His plans, as well as purpose for the lives of men and women, boys and girls in the world today. Where are you in the midst of this awesome experience? What is God saying to you? What is God showing you? Are you declaring what thus says the Lord? Are you walking by faith and trusting that God will bring it to pass?
Dr. Martin Luther King said, "I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal. I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood... I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!" Many of us have striven toward this dream, because after we heard it with such detail and clarity, we could actually see it! And as the man of God proclaimed it, we believed that it would come to pass. We were set in motion to participate by faith, in bringing it to pass, because "faith comes by hearing. Hearing by the Word of God." Romans 10:17 While we still have quite a way to go, we are certainly closer to it today than when he first shared it.
May we be those who lay hold of our role and responsibilities as servants of the King, as prophets of God in the Season of Now. May we proclaim the dreams that God has planted with us, and write the visions that God has shown us that we may together press forward toward its fulfillment, all for the glory of our awesome God, and the good of those He loves.
Until next time, may the Lord God bless you real good!
In His Service,
Pastor Emery B. Barber
Sheoherd's House, Brooklyn
For FaithWorks Christian Fellowship
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