From: ldjIII@yahoo.com   
      
   Lesson 1 Dreams and Visions, What's the Difference?   
      
   Lamar, a man I used to work with at Home Depot, told me an amazing story a   
   few years ago. In the 1970's he had been involved in a nationwide group   
   called Full Gospel Businessmen and had received the baptism of the Holy   
   Spirit. He was around people that were speaking in tongues and there was   
   even healing going on. One night as he lay in bed he began to see a vision.   
   "It was like a TV screen right in front of my face and I just watched it."   
   he told me. He saw himself going into a bathroom and talked to a man that he   
   met there. As he talked to the man he ended up leading him to the Lord. The   
   vision was an incredible experience that really impacted Lamar and showed   
   him that supernatural things do happen to each of us. Later on Lamar went to   
   another Full Gospel Businessmen's' meeting. He went to the restroom and next   
   thing he knows he's doing exactly what he saw in his vision. Lamar sees the   
   same man that was in his vision and leads him to the Lord. Since then he has   
   had many visions. Joel 2:28 - 29 And afterward I will pour out my Spirit on   
   all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream   
   dreams, your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and   
   women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days. Peter also quoted more of   
   this scripture in Acts to explain to the crowd what was going on at   
   Pentecost. Visions are often very literal. Dreams are very symbolic. "young   
   men will see visions" because younger people, generally haven't developed as   
   much symbolic and metaphoric language to understand the meaning of dreams.   
   "old men will dream dreams" because they are more likely to have the wisdom   
   and knowledge. Of course a young person with a heart for the Lord can press   
   in and get ahead of schedule. Three years ago when I was first studying   
   about dreams I dreamt that I was riding in a car with my best friend from   
   childhood. We drove toward a house and stopped at a tree. We could see up   
   through the sunroof many apples hanging from the tree. My friend picked one.   
   It was the size of a small pumpkin and didn't look too good. It was bruised   
   and had worms in it. The dream continued on. I bet I thought about and   
   prayed about that dream for two weeks before one day really getting it. The   
   big thing that stood out and changed the way I saw dreams from that point on   
   was when I realized the big apple in my dream represented New York City   
   where my friend lives now, "The Big Apple" nickname for NYC. Dreams, as you   
   know, are usually in the night or usually when you sleep. Visions are   
   anytime any place and don't have to be so dramatic as what Lamar   
   experienced. Visions are often mistaken as your own imagination or a   
   daydream because that is a major part of what God designed your imagination   
   for. Often they pop up as a random thought. Sometimes they have a story to   
   them. I've even heard of them going on for hours. Some like Lamar's don't   
   need your imagination because they are external and can even be so extreme   
   that you don't know if it is real or a vision. They are a gift from God but   
   not limited to a few "gifted" they are available to you too. Every human   
   being has an imagination so you can definitely experience the more subtle   
   "internal" visions. I have had many of those and look forward to some more   
   vivid one's someday. Don't get me wrong, internal visions are just as   
   powerful as the more brilliant ones when it comes to God accomplishing His   
   purposes through you. John 5:19 and 20 Jesus gave them this answer: I tell   
   you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he   
   sees his Father doing; because whatever the Father does the Son also does.   
   For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your   
   amazement he will show him even greater things than these. Notice it says   
   "show" and "see". The Father loves us and shows us all He does. God gives us   
   instruction constantly and through dreams and visions we can receive more of   
   what He is saying to us. How To's: -You can get more from your dreams and   
   visions by praying for more of them and more revelation. -Journaling   
   (keeping a diary) is very good for looking back to see what God was saying   
   and how it came about in your life. It is also good for helping you   
   determine what visions were from God and what was just your imagination or   
   drifting thoughts. -Visions can be hindered by misuse of our imagination for   
   things like pornography. -I have often prayed "Lord I dedicate my   
   imagination to you and ask You to take it over so I don't have sinful   
   thoughts floating around in there." This prayer works! -You may have   
   declared in the past "I don't want to dream anymore" if you had nightmares   
   or you may have suppressed your minds visual abilities by your own will as   
   you worked through a problem with pornography or fear or the occult. Give   
   God permission to heal you and release those areas again for His glory.   
   Renounce anything you were involved in in the past, out loud and bind any   
   enemy that might be coming against you. If you need someone to pray with let   
   me know and I will be glad to pray with you by phone or in person. This is   
   an example of the difference between Dreams and Visions boiled down to   
   extreme simplicity. For a more in-depth look at these two visual ways God   
   speaks to us you may want to read "The Seer" By Jim Goll or attend the   
   Streams Ministries courses.   
      
   HOMEWORK Very easy! Email me Two examples of a vision and Two examples of   
   dreams from the Bible. You can include scripture references but don't have   
   to.   
      
   God Bless You, Todd   
      
      
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