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How does God Speak

Dreams and Visions

Joel 2: tells us that God will speak to us, both men and women, through dreams and visions and many people can testify to receiving prophetic dreams and visions. It's necessary to look at these two separately.

Dreams
There is a powerful affirmation in the bible of God speaking through dreams to his people, giving direction, guidance, reassurance or even warnings. Let's take a look at some examples:

Mat 1:20 "But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit."

After the Magi had worshipped Jesus and presented their gifts, they were "…warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route." Mat 2:12

It's important to know that the vast majority of dreams are to do with the dreamer and not prophetic dreams from God. I have had prophetic dreams from time to time for specific people and for the church, and it has only been through experience and the discernment of the Holy Spirit that I've been able to distinguish which dreams are relevant to me and which are prophetic dreams from God.

Visions
Again, there are many instances in the bible where God gives people visions to convey either direction or guidance:

Acts 16:9 "During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us."

The result of this vision was the birth of the church in Philippi.

Consider Peter's vision:

Acts 10:5 (NIV) "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, and it came down to where I was.

Acts 10:12 (NIV) It contained all kinds of four-footed animals, as well as reptiles of the earth and birds of the air.
Acts 10:13 (NIV) Then a voice told him, "Get up, Peter. Kill and eat."
Acts 10:14 (NIV) "Surely not, Lord!" Peter replied. "I have never eaten anything impure or unclean."

Acts 10:17 "While Peter was wondering about the meaning of the vision, the men sent by Cornelius found out where Simon's house was and stopped at the gate."

Peter realised that through this vision God was giving him a new revelation about taking the gospel to the Gentiles. God may speak to people through visions in the church or at other times, for example during times of prayer or meditation. I know of one person who had a vision whilst driving his car!

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