Visions are God’s Pictorial Language
Numbers 12:6 And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, [I] the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, [and] will speak unto him in a dream.
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Dreams and Visions are an integral part of God’s communication with us.
The capacity to see on a spiritual level can been seen as a major way God relates to us.
Ephesians 1:18 The eyes (perception) of your imagination being lighted with photos; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
This is the language of vision.
II Corinthians 4:18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen [are] temporal; but the things which are not seen [are] eternal.
How can you look at things, which are not seen?.
With the eyes of the heart, the perception of the imagination.
Then why does Paul say this a few verses later.
II Corinthians 5:7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight 🙂
The word sight here is the Greek word Iedos; Means, The external appearance of things. Walking by faith is seeing the invisible, the spirit realm.
Visualisation
You cannot think without visualising.
Every human being is made in the Image and likeness of God.
Psalms 82:6 I have said, Ye [are] gods; and all of you [are] children of the most High.
John 10:34 Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?
All humans have creative ability, we have the ability to bring things into being, existence.
Paul is saying the anointing will open the eyes of your imagination forming a picture of what He is saying to you.
Visualisation or Imagination is a God given ability. It is good and nesessary in our walk with God
God created you with the incredible ability to Imagine. This ability is good, it is God given.
We walk not by external appearance of things but by seeing in the invisible (Spirit Realm).
We as Christians work with the Holy Spirit. Calling things that are not as though they are.
Romans 4:17 (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, [even] God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
Looking Unto Jesus
We have heard it said, “visualising Jesus is not scriptural” This is often said quoting Ex 20:4.
Exodus 20:4 Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness [of any thing] that [is] in heaven above, or that [is] in the earth beneath, or that [is] in the water under the earth:
It is said to visualise Jesus is creating an image of Him and is therefore unscriptural.
However the next verse says this:
Exodus 20:5 Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God [am] a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth [generation] of them that hate me;
The key word here is “I am a jealous God. These Scriptures are just simply saying, you are not to worship any other God but me.
The Word of God says “Jesus is the image (Gk icon) of the invisible God Col 1:3.
Jesus was the visible Image icon of God. This word icon is the same word used for idols in Mat 22:10 and Rev 13:5.
Thou shalt have no other idols only me.
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; Gk: To look attentively to see.
II Corinthians 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Open Face Gk Unveiled face Glass Gk Screen Lit Mirror Image Gk Ikone icon The bible tells us that those who worship idols become like them.
Psalms 115:4 Their idols [are] silver and gold, the work of men’s hands.
Psalms 115:8 They that make them are like unto them; [so is] every one that trusteth in them. Like them – Hb Take on the form
Our approach to Jesus has to be with faith: Hebrews 11:6 But without faith [it is] impossible to please [him]: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and [that] he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
As you set your imagination upon Jesus with focus and worship, you will open up your spirit to see and you will enter His realm, that of spirit.
1) By an act of obedience to the Word 2) With Faith, believe He is there 3) With a focus of love and worship
You will connect with the Lord.
Colossians 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
You cannot think without visualizing. It is part of our human make-up
We become like what, or who, we worship and behold.
We must come in faith believing he is there. Visualise Him.
There is a spiritual Law. What you focus on you will connect with.
Set your love (focus) on things above, heaven Jesus.
I Chronicles 29:18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and of Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the imagination of the thoughts of the heart of thy people, and prepare their heart unto thee:
We are encouraged to imagine the Lord Isaiah 26:3 Thou wilt keep [him] in perfect peace, [whose] mind [is] stayed [on thee]: because he trusteth in thee.
The word Mind here is the Hebrew Word yetser. Hb word for imagination “to frame a thing in the mind”. Like a picture. This word comes from a Hebrew root word yatsar, Which has the meaning to ” Mould a thing into a form as a potter would a pot”.
Same word in Psalm 104:14 He knoweth our frame yetser. Our physical image.
Jesus is real and can be reached .You can feel His presence .Know His thoughts. Hear His voice See Him in your heart.
Spontaneous Vision
1) Superimposed
This happens when you are not focusing on the Lord, it simply cuts across your thoughts and superimposes itself on the screen of your mind. God may give a vision of the face of a friend or relative, and you just know you have to pray for them. The picture is light and gentle.
2) While in Prayer
Spontaneous vision can occur while you are praying. This is identical to the above, but is received while you are seeking God in prayer. These visions just appear.
The Hebrew word for Intercession is Paga, and one of the meanings of this word means “to light upon”.
Genesis 28:10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran. Genesis 28:11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put [them for] his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. The word “lighted is the Hebrew word Paga.
External Visions
On this level the person actually sees a vision outside of himself. It may take the form of a projection like manifestation on a wall; it may just be outside the person. These visions can be interactive.
II Kings 6:17 And Elisha prayed, and said, LORD, I pray thee, open his eyes, that he may see. And the LORD opened the eyes of the young man; and he saw: and, behold, the mountain [was] full of horses and chariots of fire round about Elisha.
This can also occur while in a trance Acts 10:10-23
One Screen- Three Projectors
1) Your Self Projector. That which comes from your own heart/mind.
2) Satanic Projector. That which comes from evil spirits.
3) The Holy Spirit Projector. Comes from God.
Testing Where the Image Comes From I John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because What you focus on you will connect with
When we are told to keep our mind on the Lord, it literally means to frame an image of Him in your imagination.
To light upon by chance: This can occur in vision form. It is a spontaneous flow of a picture, or pictures onto the screen of the mind.
Many false prophets are gone out into the world. What you focus on you will connect with
If we removed every passage of Scripture relating to God speaking to His people in dreams, we would have to remove almost one third of the Bible. There are hundreds of examples in Scripture of God using the medium of dreams to speak to His people.
Dreams
Dreams are very much like visions the difference is you have them when you are asleep. The same safeguards apply to dreams as apply to visions.
The Value of God speaking to you in a dream
God can speak to you with the minimum of interference from your Mind. Your mind is not active in this process.
The downside to this is, most of our dreams do not come from God.
Where do dreams come from?
1) Your Own Subconscious Mind
Ecclesiastes 5:3 For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool’s voice [is known]
by multitude of words.
Ecclesiastes 5:7 For in the multitude of dreams and many words [there are] also [divers] vanities: but fear thou God.
Many dreams arise out of the business of our mind. Psychologists tell us that we dream every night, but we only remember very few of them.
2) Dreams can arise out of bodily needs
Isaiah 29:8 It shall even be as when an hungry [man] dreameth, and, behold, he eateth; but he awaketh, and his soul is empty: or as when a thirsty man dreameth, and, behold, he drinketh; but he awaketh, and, behold, [he is] faint, and his soul hath appetite:
3) Dreams can come from evil spirits
Jeremiah 23:32 Behold, I [am] against them that prophesy false dreams, saith the LORD, and do tell them, and cause my people to err by their lies, and by their lightness; yet I sent them not, nor commanded them: therefore they shall not profit this people at all, saith the LORD.
Zechariah 10:2 For the idols have spoken vanity, and the diviners have seen a lie, and have told false dreams; they comfort in vain: therefore they went their way as a flock, they were troubled, because [there was] no shepherd.
4) Dreams can come from God
God speaks to us in dreams. This is one of the ways God communicates with us.
Angels are often the carriers of dreams to us
Matthew 2:19 But when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth in a dream to Joseph in Egypt,
Interpretation of Dreams
Often dreams need an interpretation.
Joseph dreamed of seven thin cows that ate up seven fat cows. He dreamed of sheaves of wheat bowing down to him Gen 41 & 37.
Interpretation was needed to understand these dreams.
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;
We need to know and understand symbolism in Scripture in order to understand many dreams that God gives us.
We have three projectors throwing images onto one screen
Matthew 5:8 Blessed [are] the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
Proverbs 22:11 He that loveth pureness of heart, [for] the grace of his lips the king [shall be] his friend.
The King Shall be His Friend There were only two people in the Bible who were actually called a friend of God.
One was Moses The other was Abraham James 2:23 And the scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
Exodus 33:11 And the LORD spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, departed not out of the tabernacle.
John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.
Heart Purity has to do primarily with our motives: Why we do the things we do.
John 1:47 Jesus saw Nathanael coming to him, and saith of him, Behold an Israelite indeed, in whom is no guile!
Revelation 14:5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.
The Word Guile Gk Lit A bait for fish. Entrapment. To have another agenda. Deceitful.
The pure in heart shall see God.
The Voice of God Numbers 24:16 He hath said, which heard the words of God, and knew the knowledge of the most High, [which] saw the vision of the Almighty, falling [into a trance], but having his eyes open:
This Scripture highlights two of many ways that God uses to speak to His people.
He heard the words of God and saw visions.
Rhema and Vision
Rhema is one of the Greek words used for the English word, “word”. It means the spoken word of God. This is contrasted against the Logos, The written word of God
God can speak with words to us in many ways.
1) Audibly 2) Inwardly 3) Through Angels 4) In dreams etc.
Firstly we are going to study how God speaks to us in our heart
The Voice of God
These two Scriptures clearly indicate a relationship between heart purity and knowing God.
There is a difference in relationship between a servant and a friend.
To be without guile is a great virtue: Highly prized by God.
Heart purity and hearing go together
No other question bothers Western Christians more than: How do I discern God’s voice in my heart?
The Inner Voice
The inner voice of the Lord is sensed as spontaneous thought.
Study of God’s word requires revelation, ie heart perception and intellectual analysis.
Voices from the spirit world; spontaneous thoughts
We must realise that all thoughts are not our thoughts.
II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; We must realize that a lot of our thoughts are Not Our Thoughts.
This is a very important reality; You are being spoken to from the spirit realm. You might think this is very spooky.
God communicates to our spirit then to the mind.
Spontaneity, The Voice of the Spirit World Defining Spontaneity: Acting on it’s own impulse. UN-Premeditated unrehearsed.
Every time you have a spontaneous thought a flow of ideas, it comes from the spirit world.
When we speak of spontaneous combustion; we are talking about a fire we did not start.
How do you differentiate? Thoughts which come from, you Thoughts which come from Satan ,Thoughts which come from God
1) Thoughts from you are premeditated
and deliberate. They are your own thoughts. They have a special feel that brings a special reaction. Excitement, faith, peace, joy.
2) Thoughts, which come from Satan, have several characteristics
a. They have a wrong feel. (Witness of the spirit)
b. They build ego in you, instead of humility
c. They often do not line up with the bible
You have to discern the feel that comes with spirit communication
This spontaneous flow of God’s thoughts in you does not sound like some deep voice of God. They sound like your thoughts.
They can come easily gently as God speaking in the first person. They are light and gentle never demanding. They will produce that special reaction in you. Faith excitement and a love for God. They will never contradict God’s word.
Satan bombards your mind and emotions. God knocks on the door of your heart and waits for a response Rev 3:20. Fellowship cannot be forced.
Learn to stay with the flow
Spontaneous thought is easily cut off by exertion of self. (Your own thoughts and will etc).
All spontaneous thought must be subject to the witness of the Spirit in you.
Responding to God’s Call
Revelation 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with
Spontaneous thought is the voice of the spirit realm
Thoughts of the mind are analytical. Thoughts of the heart are spontaneous.
Evil spirits communicate to us through our thought life.
Spontaneous thoughts are thoughts you did not start they were UNpremeditated.
God’s thoughts are like your own thoughts.
Jesus said I will knock on the door of your heart, this is my voice. If you will respond I will come and talk with you.
Learn how God knocks on your door. It can be: A sense of God’s presence breaks your sleep. A song in the night. Calling your Name. A sudden hunger for God .An awareness of a fragrance of the Lord
If you draw aside, worship, wait, be still, fix your imagination upon Jesus and just love Him, spontaneity will flow without any exertion on your part.
Learn to respond to God when he knocks on the door of your heart
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