Part 7 (2/2)
Chapter Ten.
Before Using the Dictionary.
By Adrian Beale and Adam F. Thompson.
Is Interpretation a Gift, or Is It Developed?
The Bible relates that some people are particularly gifted in the interpretation of dreams and visions. Daniel and Joseph are two such examples. Of Daniel, the Bible records, ”. . . And Daniel had understanding in all visions and dreams” (Dan. 1:17). This is most definitely a G.o.d-given ability, but it is also a G.o.d-given ability in which a person can grow.
When Elijah was about to hand the baton over to Elisha on the last day of his earthly ministry, he told Elisha that he would receive his request for a double portion of the Spirit if he saw Elijah taken. The Bible records the incident like this, And so it was, when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, ”Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?” Elisha said, ”Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me. ” So he said, ”You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so” (2 Kings 2:9-10).
The endowment of a double anointing was conditional on Elisha's ability to see in the spirit realm. Most will know the rest of the story. Elisha saw an angelic chariot come and take his master away (see 2 Kings 2:11, 6:16-17). As we read the Bible account, the whole scene seems to move so quickly that we easily miss the condition required for the fulfillment of Elisha's request. He had to be able to see in the spirit realm to be able to fulfill the call upon his life. Stop and think about that. The fact that this episode happens at the culmination of a progression that depicts the Christian path to maturitya”Gilgal>Bethel>Jericho>Jordan (see 2 Kings 2:1-6)a”is strongly suggestive that seeing in the Spirit is something in which we grow. However, Elijah also suggests that it is a divine endowment by the fact that he doesn't confirm or deny the impartation of the gift upon Elisha, but allows G.o.d to confirm its impartation by its operation.
The writer to the Hebrews confirms that we grow in spiritual sensitivity when he says, ”But solid food belongs to those who are of full age, that is, those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil” (Heb. 5:14). In short, this verse says that our spiritual senses are developed as they are exercised. Just as the would-be prophet, Samuel, initially did not recognize G.o.d's voice (see 1 Sam. 3:4-9), we likewise will develop our spirit senses by being attuned through frequency of practice. And just as in the case of Samuel, G.o.d initiates the call.
Is interpretation a gift, or is it developed? It is both! Having said that, our experience is that those with a prophetic calling are more spiritually inclined to see what a dream or vision is saying. However, those with a gifting in this area will only fully reach their potential if they are prepared to invest time in developing it.
How to Interpret: Joining the Dots How do you interpret dreams and visions? Well at one time, I helped my young daughter to color in a picture, but first we had to join the dots so that we could see what it was that we were actually looking at. This simple ill.u.s.tration is a powerful blueprint of how a dream is interpreted. Each metaphoric element in a dream is like a dot, like a peg, and once the Holy Spirit helps us to join them togethera”giving us the meaning behind each element of the dreama”it becomes a picture and a story that we are not likely to forget, a story that will be burned in our memory.
Start by prayerfully looking at each element of the dream. The metaphoric dictionary in this book has been designed to help you look at alternatives for each element of a dream. Remember that it is more about your relations.h.i.+p with G.o.d than a formula to be followed. It is the Holy Spirit who will witness with your heart about the suitability and correctness of each element of the dream, and it is the Holy Spirit who will piece them together.
But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things. . . (1 John 2:27).
It is also the Holy Spirit who will bring to your remembrance any Scriptures that fit or depict the dream.
How do you know which interpretation for an element is the correct one? Again it is dependence on the Holy Spirit that is the key. Spirit thoughts often come ”out of the blue,” bypa.s.sing the natural thinking process. Often a Scripture will jump to mind. Look at the options presented in the metaphor dictionary, and as you do, consider the context of the dream. By that I mean, look at how the interpretation of one element affects other elements of the dream and the overall purpose of the dream. This method is particularly important when the metaphor dictionary presents many options for a given dream element. At other times, you will have an inner understanding of what is meant by a particular element within a dream or vision and then, when you look it up in the metaphor dictionary, you will get a confirmation as the elements paint a picture of what G.o.d is saying. At other times, thoughts will bubble up as you pray in the Spirit while looking over an outline of the dream.
The method used to interpret the ”Hands on Throat Dream” (see page 27-28) spoken about earlier is also a vitally important one. This is particularly useful when the metaphor dictionary doesn't have an entry that seems to fit the context of the dream. In these situations, simply search the Bible for combinations of elements using a pocket Bible, PDA, on-line Bible, or Bible program on your computer.
At times the Bible will not contain the exact word that you may be looking for. In these situations, you will need to think laterally and conduct a search using related subjects. For example, the word steam does not appear in the Bible, but the words water and boil do. In these situations you will need to conduct your search whilst thinking beyond the confines of the key word.
Find the Subject of the Dream After you have some elements pegged, start looking for the subject of the dream. By subject I mean, what is the dream about? In our experience, at least 90 percent of dreams are about the dreamer. Dreams will address the concerns of your heart. They will also raise heart purification issues (sanctification). They will relate to questions for which you are looking for answers. They will focus on the big issues in your lifea”body health issues and family and relations.h.i.+p issuesa”as well as ministry or working environment matters. What are the issues weighing heavily on your heart? Your dreams will center on you and the people over which you have influence and also will show people and organizations that have influence over you. This means that if you are in ministry, your dreams will also address leaders.h.i.+p, congregational, denominational, and other related concerns.
The emotions felt during a dream are an excellent pointer to help identify the subject of the dream. Simply asking where you are experiencing the emotions portrayed in the dream will often pinpoint the subject. Likewise, the action symbolized in a dream is also a good indicator of a dream's subject. As you would with emotions, ask yourself where in your life you are experiencing actions similar to those symbolized in the dream. For example, if in a dream you are taking off a coat, ask yourself where you are giving up authority. If in a dream, you are in a bus queue, ask yourself in what part of your life are you waiting. And if in a dream you are pruning a tree, consider where in your life you are applying discipline.
What Is the Theme?
We must also remember that in every dream that G.o.d gives us to interpret, there will be a theme which will carry us to a purpose. All dreams and visions are a means to an end. Every dream sets forth a hope and a future produced by the interpretation, and it is moving by faith on that hope that bears fruit in people's lives. Without that, it is meaningless. G.o.d always speaks with purpose. As the interpretation comes to light, ask yourself what the purpose of the dream is. This is its theme. The purpose or theme of a dream may take the form of: a faith-building encouragement, the rea.s.surance of His love, an answer to a question, a secret revealed or a warning, His guidance or direction, a correction, a prophetic promise, or an invitation to salvation.
Dreams About Others Our experience has been that the more prophetic the calling on your life, the more likely you are to receive dreams and visions about others. It appears that for five-fold prophetic ministries (see Eph. 4:11), the greater the responsibility, the broader afield the prophet will dream. This means that as well as dreaming on a personal level, the prophet will dream on a congregational, city, national, and international level, dependent on that prophet's calling.
However, before presuming the dream is about others, be aware that many times G.o.d uses other people you know as symbols of whatever that person represents to you. Ask yourself how you see that person. What position does that person hold? What is that person's personality type and spiritual gift? Does that person represent a business or ministry? The ”boss” may represent Jesus Christ. A person with a known ministry gift may represent a person in your life with a similar gifting, and a person you see as shy may speak of an area where you are not forthright enough. A dream with your brother or sister in it is just as likely to be an issue relating to a fellow believer (who is scripturally a ”brother”) as it is to actually relate to your family. Finally, consider the meaning of the name of the person in your dream before presuming the dream is actually about somebody else.
Having said that, dependent on your ministry role, G.o.d will give insights for counseling purposes into the spiritual well-being of others over whom you have responsibility or influence. For example, while working at a Christian rehabilitation program, I was given the following dreams about students.
In the first dream, Debra had stolen a s.h.i.+p. She had stealthily stolen away in the night to sail the s.h.i.+p solo. I was looking across the top of a line of trees expecting to see a sail. What I saw was a chimney and smoke above the tree-line. Someone said, ”If she got to Boston Bay, they wouldn't be able to catch her.” Talking the dream over with Debra, I found that she had been very tempted that particular week to leave the program because of family issues. The fact that the dream portrayed smoke and not a sail was indicating that she would be doing so under her ”own steam” and without the unction of the Holy Spirit (see 1 John 2:20; John 3:8).
In another dream, I saw myself digging a burrow for Bobby the cat with my right arm. This dream suggests that in Bible teaching (my strength and calling) I was giving Bobby a place to hide. This insight enabled staff to address the student each time he used Scripture as a smoke screen to avoid dealing with his own heart issues. I could quite easily have missed the instruction of this dream because, two years earlier, my family had experienced the death of our cat whose name was Bobby.
Problems of Subjectivity It is often difficult to see what is being said immediately after a dream or vision because you are so close to it. It takes practice to be able to see the dream or vision objectively. You really have to see the initial imagery on another level. When you have difficulty doing this, write it down and come away from it. Seek the Lord in prayer, and as you do, He will drop fresh insights into your heart that will open up a new perspective from which to view the message. Getting someone else who is open to receive from G.o.d through dreams (and is also growing in the gift of interpretation) to view the dream or vision is also a good method of dealing with any problems of subjectivity. Your ability to hear the interpretation from G.o.d will improve with practice. Many times you will find yourself saying, ”What could that possibly be about?” As you acknowledge your own inability, suddenly the Holy Spirit will drop a thought into your heart that will crack the code, and the whole thing will be revealed before your eyes.
Idols in Your Heart Here is a word of warning. It is very dangerous to come before G.o.d seeking an interpretation whilst holding a preconceived agenda in your heart. If you do this, the Bible declares that G.o.d will give you what you want to hear. G.o.d warns Israel of this very thing through Ezekiel by stating, . . .Everyone of the house of Israel who sets up his idols in his heart, and puts before him what causes him to stumble into iniquity, and then comes to the prophet, I the Lord will answer him who comes, according to the mult.i.tude of his idols (Ezekiel 14:4).
When coming before G.o.d for any form of guidance, we need to put our hearts into neutral before looking for an interpretation. That is not to say that we should blindly accept everything that someone puts forth as an interpretation of a dream or vision (see the section ”Judge All Interpretations” later in this chapter). What it does say is that if we do hear the voice of G.o.d through an interpretation, then we need to be obedient to it. If we come prepared to hear only what we want to hear, then that is what we will hear, and that is dangerous.
Not a Forgone Conclusion!
Another vitally important point to remember is that when G.o.d gives a dream or vision, He does so with our best interests at heart. Dreams and visions often show potential outcomesa”either good or bada”but the outcome is not a fait accompli (a done deal). Without that understanding, we may become philosophical, fatalistic, or defeatist in our outlook, doing nothing to avoid a negative scenario. G.o.d may show a problem, risk, or hazard so that we may avert the danger. We can take steps to put things right before they go awry. When Nebuchadnezzar dreamed of a tree cut down and someone treated as an animal, Daniel foresaw that G.o.d was warning Nebuchadnezzar to humble himself or be taken from the throne. It seems that Daniel did not believe it was an accomplished fact because he tried to prevent the dream's fulfillment by pleading with Nebuchadnezzar to change. He said, Therefore, O king, let my advice be acceptable to you; break off your sins by being righteous, and your iniquities by showing mercy to the poor. Perhaps there may be a lengthening of your prosperity (Daniel 4:27).
Daniel was giving Nebuchadnezzar the steps to avert the pending judgment of G.o.d. However, Nebuchadnezzar did not listen and was duly humbled in accordance with the dream (see Dan. 4:28-33). On the other hand, when Pharaoh dreamed of an imminent famine, he listened to Joseph's interpretation and advice, and the potential catastrophe was avoided (see Gen. 41:26-43).
We are also not to use a dream or vision interpretation as an excuse to do what we want to do contrary to the Word of G.o.d. For example, a dream about a potential h.o.m.os.e.xual relations.h.i.+p or a marriage breakdown is not justification for us to pursue these avenues of thought as our unalterable fate. No! These dreams are warnings about the state of our hearts so that we take steps to avoid these outcomes.
Judge All Interpretations The importance of judging what is said in the interpretation of a dream or vision cannot be overstated. In Chapter 1, we discovered that dreams and visions were two of the main methods used by G.o.d to speak to His prophets (see Num. 12:6-8). We have also seen that the receiving of dreams and visions and their consequent interpretation and declaration const.i.tutes prophetic ministry (in a limited sense).
In regard to prophetic ministry, Paul advised the Corinthian congregation to evaluate, or weigh up, what was said. He said, ”Let two or three prophets speak, and let the others judge” (1 Cor. 14:29). When writing to the Thessalonian church, Paul also said, ”Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good” (1 Thess. 5:20-21).
Paul is saying that when someone is operating in the prophetic, there is need for evaluation or judgment of what is said. This takes into account that we deliver G.o.d's treasure through earthen vessels and also acknowledges that none of us has arrived yet. We are all in the process of growing in the things of the Spirit. As dreams, visions, and their interpretations equate to prophecy, they need to be judged and evaluated. When judging an interpretation, you might consider the following questions: a Is it in line with Scripture?
a If what is being said is corrective, is it free of condemnation?
a Does the prophecy provide a future and a hope?
a Is there an inner witness or conviction that what is being said is truth?
a Does the prophecy meet a heart need?
a Does what is being said line up with what G.o.d has been saying through other avenues of guidance?
A negative response to one of these would put what is being said in question. At the very least, it should cause us to put whatever is said ”on the shelf” until confirmation is received. A negative response to two or more of these questions would seriously put the prophecy in doubt. At such times, it is best to come away from interpreting until a later date. Often, future revelation will shed light on questionable interpretations.
The Metaphor Dictionary.
The metaphor dictionary provides a comprehensive list of dream and vision metaphors. However, due to the creativity of G.o.d, the individuality of our personal makeup, and cultural differences, there will be occasions when an entry does not provide an accurate interpretation for a dream or vision element. On these occasions, you may know instinctively what is meant by an element in your dream, and if that is correct, there will be a fit with the rest of the interpretation. If you are unsure of the interpretation, you may need to research a subject, animal, or person to find what facet or characteristic of it G.o.d is communicating to you. This is very important when animals and birds are involved.
For example, if you see a particular breed of parrot in a dream and happen to know that this particular species has only one partner for life, it may be that aspect G.o.d is communicating to you rather than the metaphor dictionary listing of ”gossip.” Don't be afraid to research the characteristics of a particular species beyond what is listed here. If G.o.d has given you a dream, don't be lazy, He knows what resources are available to you. Also, don't overlook the simplest interpretation. A cat may simply represent curiosity, as in ”curiosity killed the cat.” A bull may simply portray heavy-handedness, as in ”a bull in a china shop.” Have fun decoding the messages G.o.d is giving you, and don't be afraid to think outside the box.
G.o.d bless, Adrian and Adam Summary: Chapter Ten a Dream and vision interpretation is a G.o.d-given gift, but it is a G.o.d-given gift in which a person can grow.
a Spiritual senses are developed as they are exercised.
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