Dreams as Divine Instruments: Unleashing Faith and Courage
Judges 7:13b
…there was a man that told a dream…
Gideon was held hostage by fear before he was heralded as a hero of faith. And would you like to know what broke him free from his fear? It was a man that told a dream! In our text, this dreamer had a literal dream, and he had a fellow friend who had the literal interpretation of that dream. However, I want to point out that a dream can have a twofold meaning. It not only can be a literal dream you have while sleeping, but it can also be a glimpse into a prophesied or desired future. In this case, it was actually both because the literal dream was also a prophecy inspired by the Spirit of God, for the specific purpose of confirming to Gideon that he was going to win the battle. Now that we understand the significance of this dream that was told by this dreamer, I want to draw some practical application for us all. Never underestimate the power of your inspired dreams! Dreams unlock mysteries and release words of knowledge that affect our destiny. What I’m saying to you is this; keep dreaming, but don’t just dream…tell your dream! If it is indeed inspired, then it will inspire others to contribute to its fulfillment. But you won’t know until you “write the vision, and make it plain…that he may run that readeth it” (see Hab. 2:2). Get the picture; Gideon is afraid, but God tells him to bring his servant with him down to the host to hear what they say. He does so, and this man just shows up within earshot of Gideon, along with the interpreter, and so Gideon recognizes that as confirmation from God to move forward into battle. Do you see how God lined it all up? Now, think with me how different things might have turned out, had the dreamer not spoken up and told his dream, or if he had spoken it, but his fellow had not had the courage to speak the interpretation as led by The Spirit. Both men were filled with courage, and guided by The Spirit, and therefore instrumental in the leadership decisions of their captain Gideon. Here’s the point; as God’s family, our destinies are tied to one another’s gifts and callings, and where one might have direction, the other might have the confirmation, and both need to be in the right place at the right time exercising the right gift in order for progress to be made in defeating our adversary the devil and expanding the Kingdom of God in the earth. Question: will you dare to dream inspired dreams, and pursue them boldly and courageously? Please do, because there is a Gideon somewhere awaiting a word that may only come through you.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill
…there was a man that told a dream…
Gideon was held hostage by fear before he was heralded as a hero of faith. And would you like to know what broke him free from his fear? It was a man that told a dream! In our text, this dreamer had a literal dream, and he had a fellow friend who had the literal interpretation of that dream. However, I want to point out that a dream can have a twofold meaning. It not only can be a literal dream you have while sleeping, but it can also be a glimpse into a prophesied or desired future. In this case, it was actually both because the literal dream was also a prophecy inspired by the Spirit of God, for the specific purpose of confirming to Gideon that he was going to win the battle. Now that we understand the significance of this dream that was told by this dreamer, I want to draw some practical application for us all. Never underestimate the power of your inspired dreams! Dreams unlock mysteries and release words of knowledge that affect our destiny. What I’m saying to you is this; keep dreaming, but don’t just dream…tell your dream! If it is indeed inspired, then it will inspire others to contribute to its fulfillment. But you won’t know until you “write the vision, and make it plain…that he may run that readeth it” (see Hab. 2:2). Get the picture; Gideon is afraid, but God tells him to bring his servant with him down to the host to hear what they say. He does so, and this man just shows up within earshot of Gideon, along with the interpreter, and so Gideon recognizes that as confirmation from God to move forward into battle. Do you see how God lined it all up? Now, think with me how different things might have turned out, had the dreamer not spoken up and told his dream, or if he had spoken it, but his fellow had not had the courage to speak the interpretation as led by The Spirit. Both men were filled with courage, and guided by The Spirit, and therefore instrumental in the leadership decisions of their captain Gideon. Here’s the point; as God’s family, our destinies are tied to one another’s gifts and callings, and where one might have direction, the other might have the confirmation, and both need to be in the right place at the right time exercising the right gift in order for progress to be made in defeating our adversary the devil and expanding the Kingdom of God in the earth. Question: will you dare to dream inspired dreams, and pursue them boldly and courageously? Please do, because there is a Gideon somewhere awaiting a word that may only come through you.
~ Pastor Gary Caudill