a Moses led the children of Israel out of Egypt. Joshua led them into the Promised Land. The Book of Judges shows us that Israel failed to take all of the land because they embraced the world they were supposed to conquer.
a Elijah pa.s.sed the anointing on to Elisha. However, Elisha"s servant and would-be replacementa"Gehazia"failed to understand his time by clamoring after material security.
a John the Baptist led the people out in preparation for Jesus" ministry. Jesus led the people into the Promised Land and in turn pa.s.sed the baton on to the Church. The Church, like its predecessorsa"Judges and Gehazia"has stopped short of what G.o.d intended for her!
a There is still a job to be done; people are still going to h.e.l.l! We cannot camp on Jesus" accomplishments. The Holy Spirit wants to lead us into more so that we can complete the work. We are not to get hung up on dreams and visions; they are but a means to help us complete the conquest of bringing the Promised Land to others.
Endnotes 1. Blue Letter Bible. "Dictionary and Word Search for heteros (Strongs 2087)". Blue Letter Bible. 1996-2011. 30 Aug 2011. < "" www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/="" lexicon.cfm?strongs="G2087&t=KJV&page=4"> 2. Merriam-Webster Dictionary. 3. In working through Daniel"s prophecy (see Dan. 9:25-26) we need to consider that: a All the ancient calendars were based on a 360-day year.
a 69 weeks speaks of 69 weeks of years. The Hebrews had a week of days, a week of weeks, a week of months, and a week of years (Lev.25:1-22; 26:33-35).
a Therefore, 69 weeks = 69 X 7 X 360 = 173,880 days.
a For a complete breakdown of Daniel"s prophecy, see Chuck Missler, Cosmic Codes (Idaho: Koinonia House, 2004), 235f.
4. Gilgal means "circle of stones" and was the first camp of Israel after crossing the Jordan River (see Josh. 4:19-20). It is the place where Joshua renewed the rite of covenant by circ.u.mcising all the males born in the wilderness and thus "rolled away the reproach of Egypt" (Josh. 5:2-9). Gilgal, therefore, symbolizes the rolling away of the heart of stone and the beginning of the life of faith. Bethel means "House of G.o.d" and symbolizes the new home in which we have been adopted as heirs. Jericho is the place of Israel"s first victory in Canaan and is also known as the City of Palms (see Deut. 34:3). It, therefore, symbolizes the victory we come into by exercising the Word of G.o.d (see Rev. 12:11). Jordan means "descender" or "death." The journey Gilgal>Bethel>Jericho>Jordan, therefore, depicts the walk of faith from the new birth to glory. The fact that Elisha receives a double portion anointing suggests that this is also a depiction of his path to maturity in the Spirit!
Chapter Nine.
The Language of Dreams: The Principles of Interpretation.
By Adrian Beale.
It is important to point out that there is no formula for interpreting dreams. It is more about cultivating a relationship with the Holy Spirit than applying a series of rules for interpreting. This is because G.o.d the Holy Spirit is the author of dreams: . . .G.o.d has shown Pharaoh [through his dreams] what He is about to do (Genesis 41:28).
And the dream. . .is established by G.o.d, and G.o.d will shortly bring it to pa.s.s (Genesis 41:32).
For G.o.d may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it.
In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds (Job 33:14-15).
Then, being divinely warned in a dream. . . (Matthew 2:12).
. . .And being warned by G.o.d in a dream. . . (Matthew 2:22).
He is also the interpreter of dreams: But there is a G.o.d in heaven who reveals secrets, and He has made known. . .your dream, and the visions of your head upon your bed. . . (Daniel 2:28).
Do not interpretations belong to G.o.d. . . (Genesis 40:8).
. . .Because I know that the Spirit of the Holy G.o.d is in you, and no secret troubles you, explain to me the visions of my dream that I have seen, and its interpretation (Daniel 4:9).
However, having established this truth (and that a person wanting to interpret needs to have a foundation in the Scriptures), there are some individual principles to a.s.sist in opening G.o.d"s messages through dreams.
Before delving into these principles, two Kingdom truths that strengthen us in the Word and the Spirit need to be unfurled. The first of these is that spiritual understanding is not a mental faculty; it is a dimension of the heart. This is highlighted when Jesus explains the parable of the sower. He says, When any one hears the word of the kingdom, and does not understand it, then the wicked one comes and s.n.a.t.c.hes away what was sown in his heart.
This is he who received seed by the wayside (Matthew 13:19).
Here Jesus links the heart with understanding, explaining that a heart that lacks understanding is vulnerable to becoming unproductive. Jesus further explains two other soil typesa"stony and thorn-riddena"and then says, But he who received seed on the good ground is he who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and produces: some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty (Matthew 13:23).
Notice that both the unproductive and productive soil-types hear the Word. The difference is in the understanding. The understanding spoken of here is the application of the Word on a person"s heart. To put it another way, understanding comes when someone is "under-standing" (or under the authority of) the Word of G.o.d. This verse says that we will only bear fruit when we are applying the Word of G.o.d to our lives. And since the gift of the Holy Spirit is conditional on obedience (see John 14:15-16), we are not going to be able to interpret fruitfully without applying the Word to our hearts.
The second principle is this. We who consider ourselves Spirit-filleda"those who are baptized in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tonguesa" must not be merely Pentecostal by name, but also by nature. It is not enough to speak in tongues in public church life; it must become a key and substantial part of our everyday life. The apostle Paul said, But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking with tongues, what shall I profit you unless I speak to you either by revelation, by knowledge, by prophesying, or by teaching? (1 Corinthians 14:6).
What is he saying? He is saying that speaking in tongues is the avenue for growing in sensitivity to the Holy Spirit. Why else would Paul pray in tongues more than everybody else? (See 1 Corinthians 14:18.) Perhaps, like Paul, you do a lot of travelinga"riding on a bus, driving a truck, or walking to school; all of these are opportunities for you to exercise your spirit person by praying in tongues.
In developing our inner selves through speaking in tongues (see Jude 20), we open our hearts as receptors of Holy Spirit revelation, knowledge, prophecy, and doctrine. If we are serious about entering the spiritual Promised Land, we must also be like Israel (see Josh. 6:8-10) by firstly shutting down the doubt-ridden natural mind and then placing the spiritual trumpet to our lips to see the barriers come down.
Dreams Recorded in the Bible No Person Ref.
M/L*
Nature Comments
1.
Abimelech Gen. 20:3-7 L.
Warning Protecting Sarah Threat of death
2.
Jacob Gen. 28:12-15 M.
Promise Ladder (See John 1:51) Land, descendants, Presence of G.o.d, fulfill Word
3.
Jacob Gen. 31:10-13 L.
Directive Confirmed current situation, then gave direction to go to Canaan
4.
Laban Gen. 31:24 L.
Warning G.o.d protecting Jacob
5.
Joseph Gen. 37:5-7 M.
Promise Leadership over brothers
6.
Joseph Gen. 37:9 M.
Promise Leadership over family
7.
Butler Gen. 40:9-11 M.
Promise Resurrection promise (faith)
8.
Baker Gen. 40:16-17 M.
Judgment Judgment promise (works)
9.
Pharaoh Gen. 41:1-7 M.
Forewarning Two angles of same situation (see Gen.41:25)
10.
Midianite Judg. 7:13-14 M.
Forewarning Weakened recipients, strengthened faith in Gideon
11.