Interpreting Dreams

Interpreting Dreams

I get a lot of emails asking me if there is any formula for interpreting dreams, I wish there was but unfortunately there is no formula. Only the Holy Spirit can accurately give the meaning of a dream. The book of Joel and the book of Acts make clear that one of the primary ways which the Lord will be speaking to His people in these end-times  will be through dreams and visions, therefore it is very important that we can accurately interpret them. We cannot presume that we have the ability to do this, there is no formula and God designed it that way in order to keep us dependent upon Him.

Jeremiah 10:23

O LORD, I know that the way of man is not in himself: it is not in man that walketh to direct his steps.

Spiritual things have to be spiritually discerned,

1 Corinthians 2:14

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

There are many books out there in Christian circles on how to interpret dreams and they can be helpful but we need to be cautious when it comes to certain symbols always meaning the same thing, because there are no formulas.

SymbolismOften dreams and visions involve symbolism and understanding this can be helpful. There are biblical symbols that usually mean the same thing in prophetic revelation. For instance gold usually speaks of the divinity and nature of God, gold does not tarnish. Silver speaks of redemption; Jesus was sold for thirty pieces of silver in order to redeem us. Purple is a royal color and speaks if kingship and authority. Flies speak of lies, Satan is called Beelzebub which means “Lord of the flies” If you have a dream with flies in it, it usually means that you are being attacked with lies. We see that there are many and varied biblical symbols that are helpful to us in interpreting dreams and we need to familiarize ourselves with some of the most obvious symbols and what they mean or symbolize, in saying this we must never become presumptuous as symbols can mean different things. For instance a serpent if often interrupted as a symbol of Satan or evil. However in Numbers 21:6-9 it represented the Messiah, and healing.  Goats often speak of witchcraft, sorcery and evil practices but in Leviticus 16 it is used for the scapegoat a picture again of the Messiah.

Heart AttitudesQuite often when we are going through a difficult time and we interpret a dream in the light of what we are going through, we presume it is about the difficulties we are currently going through, when often it has nothing to do with our present difficulties.

If we harbor bitterness, rejection or rebelling this will color anything we may receive from the lord and we will interpret it in from a standpoint of our negative attitudes. We must never presume when it comes to interpreting dreams.

TimingI once had a very detailed spiritual dream but even though I sought the Lord for understanding, no understanding was forth coming. Eventually I gave it away attributing it to too much pizza the night before.  Just recently after five years from when I had the dream suddenly without warning I recalled the dream again and instantly had a very clear interpretation of it. It was so clear so obvious to me I wondered why I had not understood it before and the fulfillment of the dream was for now. Why does God do that? I don’t know but He has a very good reason for giving me that dream five years in advance.

Daniel 1:17

As for these four children, God gave them knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom: and Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams.

God gave Daniel understanding in visions and dreams, even King Nebuchadnezzar recognized this.

Daniel 2:28	But there is a God in heaven that revealeth secrets, and maketh known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the latter days. Thy dream, and the visions of thy head upon thy bed, are these;
30	But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than any living, but for their sakes that shall make known the interpretation to the king, and that thou mightest know the thoughts of thy heart.
47	The king answered unto Daniel, and said, Of a truth it is, that your God is a God of gods, and a Lord of kings, and a revealer of secrets, seeing thou couldest reveal this secret.

Learn what works for you often the Holy Spirit will use symbols which are unique to you these symbols have meaning just for you, they will nto work for anyone else. You must learn to recognize them, but remember.

It is the Holy Spirit that gives us dreams and then interprets them for us.

God Bless you
 Neville Johnson Tuesday, July 14, 2009