How do you know when a vision or dream today is from God? First, you must believe visions and dreams from God are still for today. As a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary and a Southern Baptist Pastor for the past twenty-eight years of Vanguard Church in Colorado Springs, my tradition begs the question. And I can appreciate the caution, given the crazy that comes with this topic. But what does the Bible say?
The Bible tells us that in the last days there will be visions and dreams. This is recorded in Joel 2:28 and again in Acts 2:17. Some would argue that the “last days” were fulfilled in Acts 2 at Pentecost. They cite Hebrews 1:1-2 as evidence of confirmation of this particular view. I can respect that view but don’t agree with it nor do I believe the Bible agrees with it, which is far more important than my opinion or experience.
So, where in the New Testament, after Acts 2:17 does the Bible show us that visions and dreams are still for today or at least occurred after Pentecost? We see them in the following passages: Acts 7:54-56, 8:26, 8:29, 9:3-6,10:3-8, 16:9-10, 18:9-11, 2 Corinthians 12, and most of the book of Revelation.
As a good Southern Baptist who loves taking risks to reach the lost and planting churches, never do I believe visions and dreams should become the sole focus of a church or pastor, nor do I believe the Bible supports this. Yet, still amid this tension, I do believe the Bible supports visions and dreams from the Lord for today for His Church. The prophetic is a part of the New Testament Church and should also be a part of the 21st century church for it to function properly and in order. The Apostle Paul addresses the use of the prophetic in 1 Corinthians 14:1-12. Paul also told Timothy to use the prophetic gift entrusted to him by the laying on of hands. (1 Timothy 4:14)
The point of this article is not to necessarily to prove the legitimacy of the gift today but considering the legitimacy, how can one be sure a vision or dream today is from Jesus?
I personally experienced my first prophetic dream when I was twelve years old. I have since had numerous prophetic visions and dreams, sadly largely centered around the sexual immorality of ministry worship artists, ministry leaders, and pastors. I would gladly give this gift away and get a “happier” one. Yet, this is the prophetic gift the Lord has entrusted to me. So much of what I will say here will come from this experiential perspective.
In 2001 I had a reoccurring dream of Pastor Ted Haggard of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. I write of that lengthy experience in the book, The Mystery of 23: God Speaks.
In 2017 I had a one-time vision of another pastor. I went through the process of accountability of this vision, like I did in the 2001 experience and after almost eight years, I am currently still waiting to see if this vision was truly from the Lord. The pastor’s board recommended my elders seek professional counseling for my unstable mental health. That is a tough pill to swallow and an even tougher pill to digest. But I hold it in tension realizing that “prophetic words” and the Bible are not equal.
Prophetic words must always submit themselves to the Scriptures. We must always carry prophetic words with a humility that we could be wrong. But the Bible is never wrong. I am currently in my 104th reading of the Bible and want to make the point that God’s Word is Supreme and high above any modern-day prophet or prophetic dream or vision. There is a lot of prophetic trains to crazy today with the internet and it is important that we acknowledge this epidemic of “cheap prophetic words and prophets.”
I want to give you seven ear marks of biblical visions and dreams. I pray you allow these to guide your interest and involvement in this topic accordingly so that you are not shipwrecked by a topic that is important but not supreme to your real relationship with Jesus Christ.
Earmark #1: The dream or vision must never contradict the Bible.
Revelation 22:18-19 tells us that if anyone adds to or takes away from the prophecies of the Bible, the plagues mentioned in the Bible will come against them. All visions and dreams must be extensions and complimentary of the written word otherwise they should be dismissed immediately.
Earmark #2: The dream or vision must advance God’s mission on earth.
A dream or a vision is supernatural in nature, if it is truly from God, and therefore, categorically a miracle. It is God showing you revelation or truth that you couldn’t know apart from the knowledge of God revealed to you through the prophetic experience. In Ephesians 4:11-16, all gifts, manifestations, and offices of God and for God are established in the New Testament for the purpose of advancing who Christ is to others, maturing us in our faith and knowledge of Him, and perfecting His love through us.
The dream or vision is tied to a gifting or a manifestation of God’s presence in your life and should align with these intentions. These prophetic experiences are not for the establishment of the person’s fame or position but are for the establishment of Christ’s Holy presence and the advancement of His mission on earth through His church.
Earmark #3: The dream or vision must be tested.
We have already talked about the main testing; it must align to God’s Word and complement His mission on earth. But practically beyond that, how do you take a vision or dream God has given to you and eventually manifest it in a context that is receivable and palatable for those who are to receive it? After you have tested it with the Word and Spirit, you must submit it to those you trust and whom you are entrusted to. The Bible makes it clear in Proverbs 11:14 that wisdom is found in a multitude of counselors. Who do you trust and who are you entrusted to? I talk extensively about this process in the book, The Mystery of 23: God Speaks.
Earmark #4: The dream or vision must be accountable to proper authority channels.
Once you allow those to examine your word and give input, it is important to follow proper process with the deliverance of the word to the person or persons it is intended to impact. If it is possible to contact the person or persons in which the word is intended to impact directly, that is the preference. But sometimes words can’t be delivered directly because of lack of relationship. Then what do you do? It is important to deliver the word to those who are in authority over that person because they will have that person’s best interests in mind in the process.
Once you have delivered the word to the person it is intended to impact, then usually your work is done. That is, unless the word is prohibitive or disciplinary in nature. If it is prohibitive or disciplinary in nature, then you may have to take that final step and make sure their authority has received the word. Then their authority becomes responsible for the word and if they choose to ignore it, then the trainwreck of delaying addressing the word becomes their responsibility and liability.
Earmark #5: The dream or vision will be fulfilled on God’s time not ours.
Once you have fulfilled the deliverance of the word from the vision or dream to the person or persons involved, your job is completed. This is where, unfortunately, the hard work of the carrier of the dream or vision, begins. Once the word has been discharged to the individual or to the individual’s authority, prayer becomes your primary focus and responsibility and a willingness to agree with God’s timing of the word being fulfilled.
Dreams and visions from God are rarely time sensitive to the timetable of the deliverer. Joseph in the Old Testament had a dream at seventeen but the fulfillment didn’t completely occur until he was forty. That’s a long twenty-three years! Abraham had a vision; it was twenty-five years before it came true. Daniel got many words from the Lord, and I hate to tell you, some of his words still have not been fulfilled, today. God’s ways are not our ways, Isaiah 55:8-9 tells us this. You can beg God to fulfill the word, but the timing is up to Him, and it is best to agree with Him on the timing, otherwise you may lose heart in the wait from the weight. I know I have from time to time.
Earmark #6: The dream or vision will be costly to the carrier.
The prophetic dream I received in 2001, I had to carry for five and half years before it came to fruition in November of 2006. The current prophetic vision I received in 2017, I have carried now for almost eight years. When I received this word, the Lord also said to me, “Get your heart pure, because this next season is going to be daunting.” I am not sure what God meant by daunting, but I can tell you recently I recorded in my journal no less than twenty-three significant relationships in my life that I have either lost or have been strained severely since receiving this vision from God. Maybe coincidence, but I doubt it. The general definition of “daunting” is intimidating. Yes, that is what it has been, no doubt.
Jesus said in Mark 6:4, “A prophet is without honor in his own city, among his own relatives, and in his own household.” I can relate. Not a trophy you want to proudly display.
When Jesus was being crucified. Do you know what they mocked the most about Him in Matthew 26:68? His gift of prophecy. It appears the enemy hates the gift of prophecy. He can’t emulate it or simulate it. It is unique to the God of the universe and the gifts the Lord entrusts to His people to advance His mission on this earth. It is ultimately why they crucified Jesus. He prophesied his deity and kingship. And strangely enough, God used dreams to confirm Jesus’ deity to Joseph and Pilate’s wife.
Prophetic dreams are key to establishing who Jesus is and what He plans to do on earth. But requires the carrier to suffer, even relationally for a time, a season, and maybe even for a lifetime. If you have received a prophetic dream or vision, expect it to negatively impact the relationships of your life. It will cause those who don’t trust Him not to trust you. The people who no longer want to walk with the Lord will stop walking with you too.
The prophetic lays people bare for the advancement of the Gospel of Jesus Christ through them, but it requires their cooperation. If they refuse, then cover up becomes their approach and attack of you becomes their strategy. Stand up under it and be faithful to the prophetic word God has entrusted to you, no matter what it costs you. Jesus is worth it.
Jesus tells us in Matthew 19:29, “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life.”
The prophetic word God has entrusted to you may not feel worth it right now, the cost is costly, but the Kingdom award will exceed the earthly cost, trust Him and be faithful to carry it for Him until His appointed time to fulfill it. The truth of a prophetic vision or dream is authenticated by the price you are willing to pay for it as you carry it in your soul for Him.
Earmark #7: The dream or vision must eventually come true or to fruition.
If the dream or vision is from God, it must eventually come true or to fruition. If not, it is not of the Lord. I have now carried the current prophetic word in my life for the past almost eight years. The final authentication of this prophetic vision is the fulfillment of it. Micaiah in 1 Kings 22 said to King Zedekiah, “If you return, God hasn’t spoken through me.” The carrier must always be willing to be wrong about the prophetic word they received from the vision or dream. The carrier is not the authority, the word from God is.
Any time someone proclaims a vision or dream from God, they are cashing in their reputation and integrity for the advancement of who God is and his intended mission on earth through that vision or dream. This requires great trust, patience, and humility between the carrier and God. The longer the word tarries the more trust, patience, and humility is needed by the carrier to maintain their purity during this testing time. This requires the carrier to ask God periodically to increase his mercy and grace to them so they can carry this word for Him. We see this in the life of Jeremiah. He wanted to give up on carrying the word for God but then realized the word was like fire shut up inside of Him and He had to eventually let it out again.
Over the last eight years I have often offered to God to give back the word He has asked me to carry for Him. I have tried to talk myself out of believing it is from God. I have tried mightily to talk myself out of the authenticity of the word. I have learned over these years these tactics are the purification process God takes the carrier through as He prepares them for the outcome and the public fruition of the word.
Be patient with the private burden of the vision or dream until the public fruit is exposed. Allow God to use this to purify you in preparation of the purification others will experience at the public appointed time.
Easier said than done!
But easy and right are rarely the same thing, especially in God’s economy of obedience to Him.
He tells us, if you lose your life for me, you will find it in me.
He promises!
Stay prophetic my friend!
Blessings,
Pastor Kelly
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