My son has been studying dreams in his psychology class. Not only has he learned that sleep is "periodic, natural, reversible loss of consciousness," (I love that definition!), but he has also read that dreams represent our brains' attempts to make sense of random neural firings. Yes, we have heard that before from the character Graham in Mel Gibson's Signs, a naturalistic, hope-deprived view that he outgrows by the end of the movie.
Any Christian who has ever received a revelation, understanding, or encouragement from a dream must wonder, "Was God speaking to me through that dream?" We have multiple examples in Scripture of God doing just that. Was that only something God did during Bible times, or does He still communicate with His people that way?
The prophet Joel and the Apostle Peter predicted that God speaking through dreams would be a sign of the last days (Acts 2:17), although perhaps only if you are one of the "old men." We've been in "the last days" since Peter's time, but perhaps these signs will be getting more and more common as we get closer and closer to Christ's return.
Sometimes you might wake up from a dream with a clearer understanding of yourself and some emotional issue you have been dealing with. You may not even recall the events of the dream very fully, but you suddenly have a grasp on the emotional reality of the situation you've been involved with that you didn't have before. As I've thought about these instances, I've wrestled with whether they were direct revelations from the Lord, or whether they were something else.
It has occurred to me that my dreams may be the playground, the stage, or the dais for my spirit. During sleep, my body is somewhat inactive, and my conscious mind is out of the way. All the distractions that usually keep my spirit under wraps and stifled have been removed. My spirit, however, is awake and as active as ever. Perhaps my spirit broods over my brain cells, causing some of them to fire in a way that can send a message to my mind. Or perhaps there is a random physiological process that my spirit strings together creatively to send the particular message it wants to relay to my mind.
Either way, whether a dream is from the Lord or the creative declamation of my spirit, it is certainly worth my attention.
Not all dreams are the same. Some you wake up and brush off like so much lint or cat hair. But some stay with you and touch something deep inside. Those I like to ponder. Whether they represent a word from the Lord, or a word from my spirit (which, after all, is created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness, according to Ephesians 4:24), I can use them to improve my relationships, my understanding, and my service for the Lord.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Saturday, August 2, 2008
Authorities in Action--A Dramatization
(For a theological framework of the following dramatization, see the previous post. The earthly elements of this tale are true, although the names have been changed to protect the innocent!)
Last month a godly spiritual Authority over the region of Michigan was given an assignment from the throne of God to provide a Class C blessing to the Simonson family. Immediately the Authority started doing his homework. Class C is a pretty big blessing, requiring several days of planning and encompassing several days of implementation and oversight. The Authority consulted with Mr. and Mrs. Simonson's guardian angels to find out what was on the couple's agenda for the next couple of weeks. Learning that the family was about to take a trip to Texas to search for a new home, the Authority got on his spiritual cell phone to the Houston Regional Authority, who put him in touch with the Northwest Suburban Houston Authority, who put him in touch with the Authority over Spring, TX.
Michigan Authority: Yeah, I need your help. I'm working on a Class C blessing for one of my families, the Simonsons. They're arriving in your area next week.
Spring Authority: Class C? Sweet! I love those! Why are they coming to Spring?
Michigan Authority: Looking for housing.
Spring Authority: Really? That's perfect! I've got a realtor on my team who we can put into service. Just make sure the Simonsons get connected with her, and I'll take it from there. I'll keep you posted.
The realtor's name is relayed to the Simonsons' guardian angels, who do some fancy footwork to make sure the Simonsons connect with her. In the meantime, the Spring Authority contacts the realtor's guardian angel to let him know the Simonsons will be calling and that he should do everything he can do to make sure they meet. The Simonsons "just happen" to get the realtor's name and give her a call. They feel an immediate connection with her in their spirits, thanks to some prompting from their guardian angels. The realtor feels a strong connection to the Simonsons, thanks to some prompting from hers. They set a time to meet, and the realtor goes so far as to offer to let the Simonsons stay in her garage apartment at no charge. She offers to show them around the area for two days. The Simonsons are amazed that everything is falling into place.
Everything is working like clockwork. The only trouble is, the Evil Authorities in Michigan and Spring have eavesdropped on everything. They also have an assignment: to prevent the blessings from reaching the Simonsons, and if possible, to administer a curse instead.
Northwest Suburban Houston Evil Authority (NWSHEA): You need to prevent the Simonsons from staying with the realtor.
Spring Evil Authority (SEA): Right. I'm on it. I'll persuade her it's a stupid idea.
NWSHEA: I hear she's a pretty reliable agent for the other side.
SEA: Oh, one of those? Then I'll go in the back door.
SEA proceeds to pay a visit, not to the realtor, but to her husband. As the realtor explains to her husband that a couple from Michigan will be staying in the garage apartment at no charge, SEA starts whispering fears and doubts galore to her husband. Her husband vocalizes these fears to his wife.
Husband: What? Have you really thought this through? We don't know these people from Adam. They could be scoping us out, and they could rob us and all our neighbors. Why should they stay there rent free, anyway? I don't like this idea.
Realtor: I know what you're saying, but I have a really good feeling about them. They sound like an awesome Christian family. I just really felt like I should do this. I can't explain why, but I feel like this is what God wants me to do.
Husband: Like I said, I really don't like the idea.
Realtor: I'm sure it's going to be fine.
SEA reports to his superior that the back door approach was unsuccessful. As the Simonsons enter the Northwest Suburban Houston area, NWSHEA sends a lower level evil authority into their car. Suddenly Mr. Simonson begins to have doubts about their arrangements.
Mr. Simonson: You know, I think we should just go to a hotel. We don't know this realtor, and she was probably just trying to get us off the phone. Why would she want to put us up at her place? It doesn't make sense.
Mrs. Simonson: I think she really wants to help us. I had such a good feeling about her. I trust her.
Mr. Simonson: Well, I'm not going to stop at her place and find out she really didn't mean it. We'd better call her. Remember all the other times people have promised to do things for us and they never followed through.
Mr. Simonson calls the realtor, and she has one more chance to listen to the SEA or the Spring Authority. They are both prompting her, but she sticks by her original feeling and tells them to come over. The two couples spend the evening together and have a wonderful time. The realtor shows the couple around the neighborhood, going above and beyond what one would normally expect from a realtor. They return to Michigan and tell everyone how God blessed their trip and how many things worked out just perfectly. They have an improved understanding of who God is and of the gifts of the body of Christ.
Spring Authority: Everything went well. The Simonsons were blessed, and I made sure some blessings spilled over to the realtor and her husband, too.
Michigan Authority: Mission accomplished. The Simonsons were blessed, and God was glorified. If I ever have another relocation situation, I'll remember your realtor.
Spring Authority: Yep, I'm moving her up on my list. She came through despite some dirty back-door tactics from the enemy. I'm going to use her more often.
Makes me proud to know this realtor, and makes me wonder if I'm on the list of the Dayton/Champlin Authority. If so, how high up on the list am I?
Last month a godly spiritual Authority over the region of Michigan was given an assignment from the throne of God to provide a Class C blessing to the Simonson family. Immediately the Authority started doing his homework. Class C is a pretty big blessing, requiring several days of planning and encompassing several days of implementation and oversight. The Authority consulted with Mr. and Mrs. Simonson's guardian angels to find out what was on the couple's agenda for the next couple of weeks. Learning that the family was about to take a trip to Texas to search for a new home, the Authority got on his spiritual cell phone to the Houston Regional Authority, who put him in touch with the Northwest Suburban Houston Authority, who put him in touch with the Authority over Spring, TX.
Michigan Authority: Yeah, I need your help. I'm working on a Class C blessing for one of my families, the Simonsons. They're arriving in your area next week.
Spring Authority: Class C? Sweet! I love those! Why are they coming to Spring?
Michigan Authority: Looking for housing.
Spring Authority: Really? That's perfect! I've got a realtor on my team who we can put into service. Just make sure the Simonsons get connected with her, and I'll take it from there. I'll keep you posted.
The realtor's name is relayed to the Simonsons' guardian angels, who do some fancy footwork to make sure the Simonsons connect with her. In the meantime, the Spring Authority contacts the realtor's guardian angel to let him know the Simonsons will be calling and that he should do everything he can do to make sure they meet. The Simonsons "just happen" to get the realtor's name and give her a call. They feel an immediate connection with her in their spirits, thanks to some prompting from their guardian angels. The realtor feels a strong connection to the Simonsons, thanks to some prompting from hers. They set a time to meet, and the realtor goes so far as to offer to let the Simonsons stay in her garage apartment at no charge. She offers to show them around the area for two days. The Simonsons are amazed that everything is falling into place.
Everything is working like clockwork. The only trouble is, the Evil Authorities in Michigan and Spring have eavesdropped on everything. They also have an assignment: to prevent the blessings from reaching the Simonsons, and if possible, to administer a curse instead.
Northwest Suburban Houston Evil Authority (NWSHEA): You need to prevent the Simonsons from staying with the realtor.
Spring Evil Authority (SEA): Right. I'm on it. I'll persuade her it's a stupid idea.
NWSHEA: I hear she's a pretty reliable agent for the other side.
SEA: Oh, one of those? Then I'll go in the back door.
SEA proceeds to pay a visit, not to the realtor, but to her husband. As the realtor explains to her husband that a couple from Michigan will be staying in the garage apartment at no charge, SEA starts whispering fears and doubts galore to her husband. Her husband vocalizes these fears to his wife.
Husband: What? Have you really thought this through? We don't know these people from Adam. They could be scoping us out, and they could rob us and all our neighbors. Why should they stay there rent free, anyway? I don't like this idea.
Realtor: I know what you're saying, but I have a really good feeling about them. They sound like an awesome Christian family. I just really felt like I should do this. I can't explain why, but I feel like this is what God wants me to do.
Husband: Like I said, I really don't like the idea.
Realtor: I'm sure it's going to be fine.
SEA reports to his superior that the back door approach was unsuccessful. As the Simonsons enter the Northwest Suburban Houston area, NWSHEA sends a lower level evil authority into their car. Suddenly Mr. Simonson begins to have doubts about their arrangements.
Mr. Simonson: You know, I think we should just go to a hotel. We don't know this realtor, and she was probably just trying to get us off the phone. Why would she want to put us up at her place? It doesn't make sense.
Mrs. Simonson: I think she really wants to help us. I had such a good feeling about her. I trust her.
Mr. Simonson: Well, I'm not going to stop at her place and find out she really didn't mean it. We'd better call her. Remember all the other times people have promised to do things for us and they never followed through.
Mr. Simonson calls the realtor, and she has one more chance to listen to the SEA or the Spring Authority. They are both prompting her, but she sticks by her original feeling and tells them to come over. The two couples spend the evening together and have a wonderful time. The realtor shows the couple around the neighborhood, going above and beyond what one would normally expect from a realtor. They return to Michigan and tell everyone how God blessed their trip and how many things worked out just perfectly. They have an improved understanding of who God is and of the gifts of the body of Christ.
Spring Authority: Everything went well. The Simonsons were blessed, and I made sure some blessings spilled over to the realtor and her husband, too.
Michigan Authority: Mission accomplished. The Simonsons were blessed, and God was glorified. If I ever have another relocation situation, I'll remember your realtor.
Spring Authority: Yep, I'm moving her up on my list. She came through despite some dirty back-door tactics from the enemy. I'm going to use her more often.
Makes me proud to know this realtor, and makes me wonder if I'm on the list of the Dayton/Champlin Authority. If so, how high up on the list am I?
Friday, August 1, 2008
How Do Blessings and Curses Work?
Have you ever wondered how blessings and curses work? From a study of Scripture, it's obvious that both blessings and curses can have powerful effects on our lives. Is that effect merely psychological? When someone blesses us, does that enhance our self-image, thereby enabling us to accomplish more? Or does God release some sort of cosmic buzz into us to give us a little extra oomph?
I was recently listening to a teaching by Paul Cox of Aslan's Place in which he mentioned that there is a specific type of spiritual being that has the role of carrying out blessings (if they are on God's side) or curses (if they work for the enemy). These beings are called authorities, and they are mentioned in several passages in the New Testament, including I Corinthians 15:24, Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:15, and I Peter 3:22.
When I heard this teaching, it occurred to me (for the first time, I think) that angelic beings are more than spiritual robots. I guess I always thought that an angel was sent from God right to earth with a very specific task to carry out. He performed the specified task and then went back to Heaven for the next assignment. For instance, God might say, "Go bless George with a good night's sleep." The angel would go and minister a peaceful sleep for George and then fly back to Heaven.
Now I'm thinking that the angelic beings ("authorities") may actually have a certain amount of creative freedom in how they administer blessings. They may have an assignment to bless George. It is left almost that vague. The authority then needs to decide how to bless and needs to orchestrate a lot of little events to implement that blessing.
Did you ever have a day where everything just went smoothly? You got in the shortest line at the grocery store, all the lights were green on your way to work, and several people complimented you? You got an encouraging e-mail, your kids were obedient, and you seemed to accomplish more tasks in less time than usual. Maybe some authorities were intervening in your life that day, kind of staying one step ahead of you like a personal valet making sure that everything functioned like clockwork. Those authorities may have had fun that day figuring out how to show you an extra measure of God's love. If you acknowledged your easy day as a gift from God, that surely made the authorities feel that their work was worthwhile. If you barely noticed their work, however, or if you suggested it was coincidence, they may have felt their work was all in vain. Their real object is not just to make your day go more smoothly, but ultimately to bring praise and glory to God.
I like to think about these spiritual beings who are creatively working on our behalf to implement blessings in our lives. It would be a fun job, but only if the blessee noticed the blessings and praised God because of them.
One of the highest compliments Jesus paid anyone when He was on earth was when he said of the centurion, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel" (Luke 7:9) What was so special about this man's faith? I believe that, by extrapolating from what he knew of the physical world that he was able to see to the invisible spiritual world, he demonstrated the type of faith that pleases Jesus. His reasoning was simple. "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." I think he had discerned the activity of spiritual authorities even without seeing them or having been taught about them. If humans have ranks of soldiers, then certainly God does, as well. Just as those soldiers must at times exercise creative problem solving ability, so the angelic authorities must do so in carrying out their assignments for the Lord.
Believing in the unseen realm carries with it a blessing of its own. As Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). I'm going to have my spiritual eyes open from now on to detect the workings of authorities in my life. And I'm going to praise God when I notice their work!
I was recently listening to a teaching by Paul Cox of Aslan's Place in which he mentioned that there is a specific type of spiritual being that has the role of carrying out blessings (if they are on God's side) or curses (if they work for the enemy). These beings are called authorities, and they are mentioned in several passages in the New Testament, including I Corinthians 15:24, Ephesians 1:21, Colossians 2:15, and I Peter 3:22.
When I heard this teaching, it occurred to me (for the first time, I think) that angelic beings are more than spiritual robots. I guess I always thought that an angel was sent from God right to earth with a very specific task to carry out. He performed the specified task and then went back to Heaven for the next assignment. For instance, God might say, "Go bless George with a good night's sleep." The angel would go and minister a peaceful sleep for George and then fly back to Heaven.
Now I'm thinking that the angelic beings ("authorities") may actually have a certain amount of creative freedom in how they administer blessings. They may have an assignment to bless George. It is left almost that vague. The authority then needs to decide how to bless and needs to orchestrate a lot of little events to implement that blessing.
Did you ever have a day where everything just went smoothly? You got in the shortest line at the grocery store, all the lights were green on your way to work, and several people complimented you? You got an encouraging e-mail, your kids were obedient, and you seemed to accomplish more tasks in less time than usual. Maybe some authorities were intervening in your life that day, kind of staying one step ahead of you like a personal valet making sure that everything functioned like clockwork. Those authorities may have had fun that day figuring out how to show you an extra measure of God's love. If you acknowledged your easy day as a gift from God, that surely made the authorities feel that their work was worthwhile. If you barely noticed their work, however, or if you suggested it was coincidence, they may have felt their work was all in vain. Their real object is not just to make your day go more smoothly, but ultimately to bring praise and glory to God.
I like to think about these spiritual beings who are creatively working on our behalf to implement blessings in our lives. It would be a fun job, but only if the blessee noticed the blessings and praised God because of them.
One of the highest compliments Jesus paid anyone when He was on earth was when he said of the centurion, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel" (Luke 7:9) What was so special about this man's faith? I believe that, by extrapolating from what he knew of the physical world that he was able to see to the invisible spiritual world, he demonstrated the type of faith that pleases Jesus. His reasoning was simple. "For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." I think he had discerned the activity of spiritual authorities even without seeing them or having been taught about them. If humans have ranks of soldiers, then certainly God does, as well. Just as those soldiers must at times exercise creative problem solving ability, so the angelic authorities must do so in carrying out their assignments for the Lord.
Believing in the unseen realm carries with it a blessing of its own. As Jesus said, "Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed" (John 20:29). I'm going to have my spiritual eyes open from now on to detect the workings of authorities in my life. And I'm going to praise God when I notice their work!
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