Unlocking Your Dreams

2. Possible areas of attack can include: Doctrine (beliefs), finances, sexuality,relationships, career choices, character and identity areas.3. IMPORTANT: If you are participating in sinful activities in a dream, it isespecially important that you do NOT take that sin on as an identity of whoyou actually are.a. The enemy will use deceptive dreams to try to get you to agree withhim about who you are.b. Satan is always seeking to convince you that you are full of darknessand sin and that no matter what you do you can’t change. That is alie and never should be agreed with.c. Reject the dream through prayer and renounce out loud the lie of theenemy. Next, confess the truth about your identity as a righteousson/daughter of God who is full of the light of God.D. The Voice of Satan:1. Accusative2. Violates the Word (or twists it)3. Leads people away from the Savior4. Leads people away from righteousness5. Deceptive – appeals to the flesh6. Brings death & destruction7. Brings the fruit of fearE. Understanding Our Enemy1. There are 2 ways that Satan accesses our lives to bring torment.a. Invitation: Through sin, disobedience, and agreement (conscious orunconscious) we can open a door for the enemy to bring torment.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 10

b. Intrusion: We must WALK in the authority that has been granted to usby Jesus.2. Solution: Repent, walk in your God-given authority and kick the enemy out ofyour dreams.II.Dreams from Our Natural ManA.Body Dreams: Body dreams generally arise from and reflect someaspect of a person’s physical condition. Body dreams often reflectphysical realities. A person who is sick may dream of being sick. Aperson who is experiencing depression or grief may have dreams thatreflect their state of mind. A woman may dream that she is pregnantbecause she is.B.Chemical Dreams: Known as hormone dreams, often times they area result of medications. They may also arise because of changing orabnormal hormone or chemical levels in the body. PMS, diabetes,hypoglycemia—these and similar conditions involving chemicalimbalances can stimulate these type of natural dreams.C.Soul Dreams: Soul dreams are often simply our emotions expressingour needs or desires. They may speak to us about the need forsanctification in some area of our life. One significant value of souldreams is that they can show us things about ourselves that we mayotherwise fail to see when awake. As a believer becomes conformed to the likeness of Christ and gains themind of Jesus Christ he or she will have less and less dreams that come fromthe soul.Growth Point: It is easy to see our life through the idols that we set beforeourselves. People tend to dream about things that they are coveting in their heart.Ask the Holy Spirit to help you remove idols from your life. And use wisdom andcaution when approaching a dream that appeals to a covetous desire of your heart.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 11

D.The Voice of the Flesh1.Self-seeking2.Promoting personal agenda3.Self-Exalting4.Full of insecurity & fearNOTE: Be careful to not discard a dream and lump it into the “soulish dream”category because you do not understand it or it seems strange. Many times theLord is speaking, but because of lack of discernment or understanding we discardthe dream and do not give it the proper attention and prayer that it is worthy of.Take your dreams before the Lord with a listening ear and an open heart.III.Dreams from GodA.Voice of God:1.Righteous2.Loving3.Unto Salvation4.Full of mercy5.Humble6.Authoritative7.Without condemnation8.Truth – agrees with scripture9.Life-givingLuke 12:32 (NKJV)"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 12

Maneuvering Through Your Dream EmotionsI.Things to Consider When Approaching an Emotional DreamA.Evaluate how you feel emotionally from the dream. Do you feel joyful,free, happy, excited, anxious, frightened, dirty, or hurt?B.Take your negative emotions to the Lord and ask Him about them andthe dream.C.Do not disregard a dream just because it gave you negative emotions.D.1.The Lord does not give us a spirit of fear, however, that doesnot mean that he will never share frightening things with us.2.Genesis 15:12 “As the sun was going down, Abram fell into adeep sleep, and a terrifying darkness came down over him.”3.Daniel 8:27 “Then I, Daniel, was overcome and lay sick forseveral days. Afterward I got up and performed my duties forthe king, but I was greatly troubled by the vision and could notunderstand it.”Approaching a Frightening God-Dream1.Bring your fears before the Lord and be honest with him aboutthem.2.Meditate on the greatness of God.3.Ask the Lord how you are to respond to the dream.a)Unlocking Your DreamsExamples: pray, wait, proclaim, warn others, repent,rest.Page 13

Biblical Types of Spiritual DreamsI.II.III.Simple Message Dream:A.There is no need for interpretation. These types of spiritual dreamsare to the point, direct, self-interpreted, and obvious.B.Matthew 1-2, Joseph understood the dreams concerning Mary andHerod. There was no need for interpretation.Simple Symbolic Dream:A.Dreams can be filled full of symbols. The Lord seems to delight inspeaking through symbols, parables, metaphors, and stories. God is apoet and a painter. He uses imagery and metaphorical language topaint His beauty in our minds and hearts.B.Example: snake – Satan, bread – Jesus Presence, House – Thechurch or your life, Sword – The Bible, Vine – Jesus, Branch –Believers.C.Genesis 37, Joseph’s Dreams. Everybody understood Joseph’sdreams, in fact his brothers even wanted to kill him because of it. Butthe dreams only had a sun, moon, stars and sheaves of wheat in them.This type of dream may be full of symbols, yet it is easy to understand.Complex Symbolic Dream:A.These dreams require Revelation knowledge. This dream may need tobe interpreted by someone who has a gift of interpreting dreams andknows how to seek God to find revelation.B.God is all about intimacy. He will use dreams to draw you close to Himand cause you to seek Him.C.Remember, God desires for you to understand Him! The Lord is thegiver and the interpreter of dreams.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 14

D.Daniel 2, Nebuchadnezzar’s Dream. This was a complex dreamwhere every part of it was symbolic in nature. It required divine,supernatural revelation to interpret.1.Daniel 2:47 “Surely your God is the God of gods and the Lord ofKings and a revealer of mysteries, for you were able to revealthis mystery.”E.A difficult dream is an invitation to an encounter with the God of allmysteries!F.God’s mysteries are not hidden FROM you, but rather hidden FORyou.1 Corinthians 2:7-12 (NIV)No, we speak of God's secret wisdom, a wisdom that has been hidden and thatGod destined for our glory before time began. 8None of the rulers of this ageunderstood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.9However, as it is written:"No eye has seen,no ear has heard,no mind has conceivedwhat God has prepared for those who love him"-10butGod has revealed it to us by his Spirit.The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. 11For who amongmen knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the sameway no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have notreceived the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we mayunderstand what God has freely given us.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 15

Categories of Spiritual Dreams:God’s communication with man is creative beyond understanding and more farreaching in its scope than we can comprehend! He can reach every part of our lifethrough the means of dreams if He so desires.1.Dreams of Destiny & Calling2.Edification & Exhortation3.Revelation of God & 8.Instruction9.Cleansing10.Self-Condition: Revealing the heart and where we stand beforeGod11.Spiritual warfare12.Creativity: inventions/new ways of doing thingsUnlocking Your DreamsPage 16

13.Impartation14.Intercession15.Healing16.Courage & Strength17.Revelation: word of knowledge, prophetic understanding18.DeliveranceUnlocking Your DreamsPage 17

Steps to Dream InterpretationREMEMBER: Interpretation belongs to the Lord. You have to have the Holy Spiritshelp. Dream interpretation is a working of the Spirit of God. It is supernatural, notnatural.Internal vs. External DreamsI.II.Internal Dreams – an internal dream is primarily about the dreamer.A.Most your dreams will be about YOU!B.Internal dreams are dreams of self-disclosure.C.It is a common pitfall for a dreamer to apply a message in their dreamto others and miss the personal message God was sending to them.D.When interpreting your own dream it is wise to first ask the Lord howthis dream applies to you before attempting to apply it to others.External Dreams – an external dream is a dream about an outside event orperson.A.This type of dream speaks about more than your own personal life.They may involve the dreamer, but will also have a wider scope.B.External dreams may relate to your sphere of influence. The larger thesphere authority the more you may have external dreams.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 18

Step by Step1. Reduce the dream to its simplest form.a. In lengthy dreams, it is best to break them down scene by scene.3. Remember, context determines interpretation.4. Determine whether a series of repetitious dreams are involved.a. Often consecutive dreams in the same night will be speaking of thesame subject.b. Repetitious dreams are sometimes given to stir up desperation forunderstanding from God. Desperation draws us into intimacy.c. Repetitious Dreams can be given by God to bring added clarity to amatter. Remember, the more clearly God speaks on a matter, themore accountable you are to obey what He has spoken.d. A repeated or recurring dream may mean the issue is established byGod and He will bring it shortly to pass.i. Genesis 41:32 (Pharaoh’s 2 Famine Dreams) “As for having twosimilar dreams, it means that these events have been decreedby God, and he will soon make them happen.”5. Analyze your dream by asking a series of basic questions.a.b.c.d.e.f.Where are you in the dream?Are you observing or participating?Are you the focus?Who is this dream about?What are the objects, thoughts, and emotions in the dream?What people are in your dream? What character trait or calling doesthe person represent to you? What does the person’s name mean?What is their relation to you?g. What are the colors in the dream?h. Do certain numbers appear?i. What are your initial thoughts about what the dream pertains too?j. Questions, Questions, Questions?Unlocking Your DreamsPage 19

6. Journal your dreams.a. When you journal your dreams you are putting forth your best effort tosteward what God has given you. Stewarding revelation from God isthe best way to bring increase into your life.b. Journaling shows God that you cherish what He gives you.c. Often times the simple discipline of writing down your dreams will bringunderstanding to you concerning them.Journaling Tips1. Date your dream at the top of your page and note where you were at whenyou received it.2. Record your dream, including as much detail as you remember.3. Write out possible interpretations underneath that.4. Write out questions about the dream.a. Examples: “Why was the car green?” “Why was my mother in thatdream?” “Why was the number 6 on that man’s shirt?”5. Title your dream last.a. Boil your dream down to its simplest form. Always let your title reflectthe simplest meaning of the dream. Often times you will have theinterpretation of your dream just by determining a fitting title.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 20

Understanding the Many Faces of GodGod’s character and personality is complex and multifaceted. It is importantfor us to understand that the Lord will appear to us in unique ways to reveal certainaspects of his being. If we do not understand this, we will often miss divineencounters with the Lord in our dreams. It is quite possible for the Lord to come tous in our dreams and to not even realize who we are looking at.I.Jesus’ own disciples fail to recognize him.Luke 24:13-32 (NIV)Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from1415Jerusalem. They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. As theytalked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with16them; but they were kept from recognizing him.17He asked them, "What are you discussing together as you walk along?"18They stood still, their faces downcast. One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, "Are you onlya visitor to Jerusalem and do not know the things that have happened there in these days?"19"What things?" he asked."About Jesus of Nazareth," they replied. "He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before20God and all the people. The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to21death, and they crucified him; but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem22Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. In addition, some of our23women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning but didn't find his body. They came24and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. Then some of ourcompanions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see."25He said to them, "How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets2627have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?" Andbeginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scripturesconcerning himself.28As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus acted as if he were going29farther. But they urged him strongly, "Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over."So he went in to stay with them.30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to31give it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared32from their sight. They asked each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while hetalked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?"A.After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He encountered two of hisfollowers on the road to Emmaus. They walked side by side for mileswhile Jesus taught them the scriptures, yet they did not recognize Him.B.We need the Holy Spirit to open our eyes so we can see God also!Unlocking Your DreamsPage 21

Ways God Appears in DreamsFather Earthly father Protective figures: policeman, Army Sergeant Rich man Spiritual father or leader Governor or KingJesus Bridegroom / Lover Savior / rescuer: someone intervening to bring you to safety Natural Ruler: Governor, King, Prime Minister Fisherman Carpenter Shepherd Warrior Spiritual Leader or Pastor Lion Dog: loyal and always by your side. Lawyer: defending you or acting as an advocate on your behalf. Judge FriendHoly Spirit Wind, Wine, Water, Fire Faceless man or woman with a light countenance Counselor: someone giving you advice and counsel Guide: a person showing the right way to go Comforter: someone bringing peace and comfort to you Coach Helper Giver of GiftsUnlocking Your DreamsPage 22

Steps to Handling a Prophetic WordDreams from the Lord are a type of prophetic message. It is important that weunderstand how to receive, understand, and apply what the Lord is saying to us.I.RevelationA.This is when the message, dream, vision, picture or scripture is givento the recipient. At this point, revelation from God has been released,but it is not necessarily understood.II.InterpretationA.WHAT DOES GOD ACTUALLY MEAN?B.This is where we need to ask the Holy Spirit for clarity andunderstanding into what is meant by the revelation that was given.This is the process where the Holy Spirit gives us insight into themeaning of symbols, pictures, metaphors, and mysteries.III.ApplicationA.WHAT DO I DO WITH THIS REVELATION?B.The application of the word God has given you is as important as therevelation or the interpretation.C.Pray and ask Holy Spirit to direct you. Does this revelation demand anaction, a change, a special prayer focus? Are you to share it?IV.ProclamationA.WHO DO I SHARE THIS WITH, IF ANYONE?Growth Point: To truly become mature in the prophetic gifts requires great humility.Many prophetically gifted believers fail to become mature because they cease togrow in humility and begin to see the prophetic words that they are given as infallible& inerrant. Only God and His Word are infallible & inerrant. Understanding thesteps to handling a prophetic word, as outlined above, helps each of us to walk inhumility. Although we may receive a dream that is indeed from the Lord, it is notcomplete until it is interpreted, applied, and when necessary proclaimed. Withineach of these steps there are possibilities for human error. It is wise to walk inhumility and gentleness while operating in the prophetic gifts.Unlocking Your DreamsPage 23

Stewardship: The Key to Increase in DreamsI.Stewardship is the key for growth in EVERY area of our life!A.Stewarding what you have is the way to receive more.1.Do you want more dreams? Then make sure to carefullysteward the ones that He has already given you.2.Do you want more revelation and understanding of the Word?Then make sure you carefully steward the Word that He hasreleased to you already.Mark 4:21-25 (NIV)21He said to them, "Do you bring in a lamp to put it under a bowl or a bed?22Instead, don't you put it on its stand? For whatever is hidden is meant to bedisclosed, and whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.23If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear."24"Consider carefully what you hear," he continued. "With the measure you25use, it will be measured to you--and even more. Whoever has will be givenmore; whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him."3.Occasionally ask the Lord if there are ANY areas of your lifethat He would like you to steward better.4.Sometimes the Lord will tell you to steward an area that hasNOTHING to do with the area that you yearn to see growth in.5.Luke 19:12-27 is a perfect example of this. The servants in thisparable steward some money well and are rewarded by beingrulers over CITIES!a.Unlocking Your DreamsStewardship of what they were given in one area of theirlife brought blessing and increase in a totally differentarea of life.Page 24

Luke 19:12-27 (NIV)12He said: "A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself13appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gavethem ten minas. 'Put this money to work,' he said, 'until I come back.'14"But his subjects hated him and sent a delega

Steps to Handling a Prophetic Word 23 Stewardship: The Key to Increase in Dreams 24 Tips for Remembering Dreams 26 Tips for Receiving Dreams 27 . by the gate is the shepherd of his sheep. 3The watchman opens the gate for him, and the shee