Encouragement

A Dream, An Interpreter, and A Decision

by Debbie Kennedy
05/30/22
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Dreams – A series of mental images, ideas, and emotions that occur during sleep. Have you had one that you remembered lately? Did it mean anything to you? How do we interpret them, or do we care? Often, we don’t remember them- they happen in deep sleep. Interpret – to explain or clarify the meaning or to offer an explanation. My spirit and mind were still refreshed by the biblical accounts of the resolve of Daniel- his excellent spirit! Our church family had just gone through a sermon series in the book of Daniel – like tiptoeing back into time, yet the truths, still relevant. The Lord gave Daniel certain abilities for specific purpose. One of the abilities was to interpret dreams. Mesh a few of those biblical accounts, fast forward into our current time, add quite an unexpected story that I had the privelage to hear, and YES I was compelled to record a story. It is worth sharing!

 My friend gave permission for me to tell a condensed version of the conversation. I have changed her name for privacy. If any of you who are waiting for loved ones, friends, or acquaintances that you have prayed about to repent, receive forgiveness and accept eternal life through Jesus Christ, I hope you may find encouragement. Waiting well is a challenge! Remain hopeful in the fact that God is never late. He is not restrained by time   2 Peter 3: 9 – The Lord does not delay and is not tardy or slow about what He promises, according to some people’s conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. He still uses anyone, anytime, and anything to draw attention to Himself. Dreams, yes, God can and still will use them in these times.

Brea had stopped by my office to deliver an early spring gift- an heirloom tomato plant.  As always, we ended up talking and catching up. To be honest, I do not remember how we got to the subject of her father. Our conversations always take us to talk about God, His truths, His faithfulness and our own honesty to stay the course as best as we can. The beauty of progressive faith walks with God! To have authentic friends is a gift. If you can mentally take note of one or two of them that you currently have, give God thanks for them! We learn from one another.

 Over the course of our friendship, I had understood that Brea had experienced having parents who both made some bad choices, were not always good examples, and the family did not know the Lord personally. Fortunately for my beautiful friend she found a faith filled man, committed her life to Christ, married and has grown deep roots in God’s truth over the course of her adult life. Brea has shared with me that she has tried over the years with the little visits she has had with her family to help them recognize the changes within herself that God’s grace and truth have brought about. None of them were truly interested- obviously blinded to their own needs by the world’s truths.

So, the story…. Brea’s father grew ill – cancer. He ended up in the hospital and of course Brea was concerned about him and his salvation. She traveled to visit him while he was in the hospital and did her best to ask him questions about where he thought he would go after life ended here on earth. It spurred conversation. Brea explained to me that when she showed up early one morning to the hospital, her dad looked really distressed. Her dad revealed his dream to her that had occurred the night before. It was evident to Brea that he did not understand and was disturbed over the images of the dream– get ready for a chill here.  

The dream …. Her father saw his family all lined up. He was not in the line himself, but he explained the order – his wife, his son, his oldest daughter, and of course Brea (the youngest) was the last one in the line. Her Dad explained that he saw a figure from the hind view only, as if he were watching a movie. The figure had dark clothes with a hood and a big hook in his hand. This figure started with the first in line and continued to slowly move down the line of the family with a hook. One by one he was taking his hook and slashing each of them from top to bottom. I did not ask if he gave graphic description because I didn’t want to know. What she said that I understood in my spirit intuitively, was that her father was confused and troubled because when the figure got to my friend and kept repeatedly trying to use the hook to slash her, his attempts continued to fail. She remained unharmed and whole. Now, friends, please do not get stuck on any unpleasant thoughts here. Let’s get them higher!

Brea intuitively knew in her spirit what the dream meant.  “Dad,” she emphatically stated, “I am saved through the blood of Jesus Christ. Jesus wants to save you from being in hell. He wants you!” Her father still did not believe or understand anything that she had tried to share with him. He asked her to call a pastor that he had opportunity to meet a couple of times during a few music festivals he attended. Side note -Of course my mind went to how King Nebuchadnezzar summoned for a qualified interpreter of the dreams he had – Daniel! This was what my friend’s father was seeking …someone whom he knew would have the qualified credentials to help him better understand the dream.

And so, the pastor did graciously show up at the hospital and listen to Brea’s father’s dream. He listened, gathered information, and asked some questions from her father. He included Brea’s insight as well. He was able to speak with her privately before going in to visit with her father. The Baptist pastor agreed that he felt that God was using the dream (mental, visual image) to potentially assist her father to realize some things. He presented the gospel to Brea’s father– his troubled heart needed to acknowledge, confess, and repent of his sinful life. He made a decision! Who would have thought? A hospital, a lost soul, a dream, an interpreter and a decision.  I do not know why he did not believe Brea or embrace the gospel prior to his near death, nor does she? God still did His work! If you are willing to, look back at an account in scripture. Go with me to the book of Daniel and land in chapter 2.

I love it when God uses a story in our todays to remind us of stories recorded in the scriptures! In Daniel 2:1-6 Amp. – In the second year of the reign of Nebuchadnezzar, Nebuchadnezzar had dreams by which his spirit was troubled and agitated and his sleep went from him. Then the king commanded all to call the magicians, the enchanters or soothsayers, the sorcerers and the Chaldeans, to tell the king his dreams. So, they came and stood before the king. And the king said to them, I had a dream. Then said to the Chaldeans to the king in Aramaic, O king, live forever! Tell your servants the dream, and we will show the interpretation. The king answered the Chaldeans, the thing is gone from me! And the decree goes forth from me and I say it with all emphasis: if you do not make known to me the dream with its interpretation, you shall be cut into pieces and your houses shall be made a dunghill! But, if you show the dream and its interpretation, you shall receive from me gifts and rewards and great honor. So, show me the dream and interpretation of it. What an evil threat – cut them into pieces, slash them! My friend’s father’s dream had some slashing going on too. Satan is always on the prowl, and he seeks to devour.

This king was mighty and powerful. As we read further on it tells us that these wise men knew that it was a rare and weighty thing indeed that the king had required and that none, but God could reveal it to the king. The king was angry at all the wise men’s responses and in that anger, orders that all wise men were to be killed. Daniel, a devout young man of Judah who loved the Lord was determined to be a God pleaser and not a man pleaser, gets this information explained to him. And his response - Daniel 2:16 Amp. And Daniel went in and desired of the king that he would set a date and give him time, and he would show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to his house and made the thing known to Hananiah, Michael, and Azariah, his companions. So that they would desire and request the mercy of the God of heaven concerning this secret, that Daniel and his companions should not perish with the rest of the wise men of Babylon.

This is rich friends, look on to Daniel 2:19-23 Amp. – Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a vison of the night, and Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered, Blessed be the name of God forever and ever! For wisdom and might are His! He changes the times and seasons; He removes kings and sets up kings. He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding! He reveals the deep secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells in Him! I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers, who has given me wisdom and might and has made known to me now what we desired of You, for You have made known to us the solution to the king’s problem.

These are Daniel’s words before he tells the king his dream and interprets it. I will let you investigate the actual dream and its interpretation, and I do encourage you to do that. It’s important to see what he says to the king before he interprets -Daniel 2: 28-30 But there is a God in heaven Who reveals secrets, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what it is that shall be in the latter days. Your dreams and the visions in your head upon your head are these:  As for you, O king, as you were lying on your bed thoughts came into your mind about what should come to pass hereafter, and He Who reveals secrets was making known to you what shall come to pass. But as for me, this secret is not revealed to me for any wisdom that I have more than anyone else living but in order that the interpretation may be made know to the king and that you may know the thoughts of your heart and mind.

I love that! Daniel was humble and had such reverence for God. He gave credit (glory) where the glory was due- God! Daniel was summoned again by King Nebuchadnezzar in a recorded account found in Daniel 4:18-37. The king needed the dream interpreted once again to know, understand and make some decisions. Daniel strongly urges the king to head the warning of the dream – the king refuses! Listen to the king’s arrogance in Daniel 5: 30 Amp. – The king said, Is not this the great Babylon that I have built as the royal residence and seat of government by the might of my power and for the honor and glory of my majesty? He paid the price for pride for seven years. Seven years! He wanted the glory, but he certainly didn’t get it.

 Let’s be reminded of how much better it works out for us when we stay humble. After seven years, the king who lost the kingdom lifts his eyes to heaven…. Daniel 4:37 Amp. – Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and extol and honor the King of heaven, Whose works are all faithful and right and Whose ways are just. And those who walk in pride He is able to abase and humble.

If you haven’t read the recordings or it’s been a while since you have, I want to encourage you to read through the Book of Daniel. It is not all about dreams!  Let it speak to you regarding what is going on today. Ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten you with understanding. Humans are the same, we just live in a different time. Daniel 2:21 Amp.  tells us that God changes the times and the seasons. This isn’t only true for the natural world, but in our own lives as well. His timing and His ways are always perfect. He knows all and sees all that is happening in the world and with us. The world is ever changing. Look around, we see it – and yes, some changes are not so great. We are ever changing too.  His ways and words of truth are the only things that will not change. He is always working for the good and will use anything and anyone! Romans 8:28 Amp. – We are assured and know that all things work together and are for good to and for those who love God and are called according to His design and purpose.

Question to consider:

Are you fully trusting Him to bring the changes in your own life at the time that is right? We will be glad when we fully cooperate with Him on doing our part and keeping a good attitude as we wait on Him to work it out to completion.