CHARIS SHALOM

No, I never have. Not that I recognized, anyway. And I’m not sure if I believe in it or not. How’s that for a worthless answer?

Tapping my foot waiting for the rest of your thoughts…..

I had a dream a few years ago… there was a long, long line of people, single file, waiting to “check in” at a door that led to hell. I was standing off to the side watching them and trying to tell them not to go that way. No one was listening.
As I woke up, the LORD flashed across my mind, “THE TIME FOR CHOOSING TO HAVE EARS TO HEAR IS RUNNING OUT!!!!”
I don’t believe this came from me.

I have not had a vision myself, however, I don’t see any evidence that they have ceased happening and I haven’t seen in scripture that they had stopped happening at that time either. I am careful not to dismiss something just because I wasn’t raised around it or because God has chosen not to speak to me that way yet or even because I have no understanding of it. I have read many stories, especially in other countries that deal more with dreams and visions, that God has used that avenue to bring people to Himself. I believe He is big enough to use any way He chooses to speak to us.

Marcia, don’t be waiting on me… ask God! I’m hopeful that a few more will add their voice to the mix here. BTW, you never did get back to adding thoughts on some of the earlier posts on listening to His voice and the Holy Ghost, and I’ve been tapping my foot waiting on that.

I miss your blog (and Molls’ too). I know you felt like you needed to hang it up, but perhaps you can write something as a guest writer here some time!

Marie, someone once told me that although we may never be 100% sure that we are hearing from God we can be 100% sure that He wants to communicate to us, His children, more than we want to hear from Him. Moreover, given who He is, He can accomplish that purpose even when we prove to be quite deaf and/or blind.

Meredith, even in the SBC many are sharing how God has been providing many of the Muslim faith dreams of Jesus and that is an amazing testimony of God reaching out to humanity in fantastic and imaginative ways. And I have had dreams myself that I believe to have been God-given, even when I didn’t know what they meant.

But, what about something that seems even simpler or more innocuous? I mean, here is Jeremiah, and perhaps he first wonders if he ate some bad almonds for dinner, and he sees a vision of something simple like an almond tree branch. He could have just assumed a physical issue. But he apparently realizes that this is a message from God. Is it possible we sometimes see something like that and are so insensitive to the spiritual realm that we don’t realize that God is speaking to us?

Oh, Marcia, I just realized one more thing I wanted to say to you… that wasn’t a worthless answer at all!!! Don’t come here talking lies! It was a heartfelt one and not a churchy one. I liked it.

I am also new to the idea of visions and dreams. However, God has been revealing things lately through them to our leadership team. One night during prayer, our friend Willie said he kept having a vision of this lady K – she looked afraid- he didn’t know why. He had only met her once before so this was strange. I later went to visit K- who we have been ministering to. I shared with her about the vision- she stopped dead in her tracks and said, “How do you know?” She got really uncomfortable and wouldn’t tell me for about a week- but later I found out- she was pregnant and her longtime boyfriend was being physically abusive and wanting to force her to have an abortion. She was in great fear and hadn’t told anyone. We were able to minister to her through love as a friend and prayer. I am happy to tell you she has a new beautiful baby girl. Still praying for the boyfriend to come to know Jesus. She was perplexed and in awe for along time- how would this stranger have known. WE told her Jesus cared about her situation and about her and was trying to communicate that to her.
Beth

Beth, I’m so glad that Willie had the courage to share what he saw instead of putting it away, afraid of what others might think.

I absolutely believe that God speaks to people through dreams, visions, words, impressions, and other means today. I believe this not just because of Biblical research or hearsay, but because I once was skeptical of the notion and God Himself chose to intervene to show me my error. Let me tell you: it’s very humbling to tell God He doesn’t speak to you through dreams and then have a dream that you KNOW is from the Lord.

I and many Christians I know have been blessed to discover the many astonishing ways that God communicates to us and through us. To people who are scared or upset with the idea of someone saying “God said” because of past abuse or sin from those with such claims — trust the Holy Spirit. If you are walking closely with God and completely abandoning yourself to Him in humility and faith every day, you will discern truth from error. Just make sure it is the Spirit telling you what is false and not your own human prejudices. (…and visa-versa!)

Y’all are being way too easy and nice! What about all the people out there who are concerned about spiritual abuse or people just praying and then telling you they saw a tree with birds in it and then tell you what that means for your life and how to live, with all the purported authority of carrying the “word of the Lord.”

Having said that, I wholeheartedly believe this is a valid way for God to speak today, just as was communicated above about Willie. I also believe that there are frauds and abusers out there, some wittingly and some unwittingly. But that shouldn’t be a reason to question God’s ability to communicate; it is only a reason to test the spirits through our own God-given gift of the Holy Spirit.

One thing that you can do, Marcia and others, is ask God to confirm whether a message or a picture you have received is from Him. Look at what all Gideon asked for, for crying out loud. God’s desire for us to figure it out is strong. If you haven’t ever felt like it’s happened or aren’t sure, I don’t think He’s going to be too bothered by you asking Him to confirm it. You might be amazed at how He does so!

You also always have the measuring stick of the bible. If your “message” contradicts God’s word… it ain’t Him. He won’t do that. He is absolutely unchanging. But it is in large part because of that fact that I see no basis to suggest that He doesn’t communicate in the same ways we see Him communicate throughout the scripture. Someone might say, we don’t see talking donkeys today (except of the Eddie Murphy variety), but I definitely wouldn’t be the one to suggest that God isn’t able to use something similar. He might not choose to do so simply because then it would be too obvious to a believer that it must be God! Either that or some of us staid baptist types might have a heart attack or immediately check ourselves into a mental health care facility. (I was laughing the other day imagining someone being “slain in the spirit” in a baptist church… there’d be 5 cell phone calls to 911 in less than 5 seconds and ambulances on the way).

We are so experience and opinion based it is frightening. Postmodern are we all too often. Let’s take God at His word and seek more of Him. May He reveal Himself more to all of us. May we become more intimate with Him!

Having said all that… i’d still love to hear from a naysayer. I’m still questioning and very open to a better understanding.

I did have a “vision” many years ago, but it was not from God. I had made the mistake of praying for a woman that was possessed by evil spirits – not knowing what I was doing. I did not know her and so I thought I would be safe to pray for her in my immature Christianity.
That night around 3:00, I woke up and saw a demon in mid-air laughing at me. Laughing, laughing. I was scared out of my wits! In my mind, I was saying all the things I should have been saying out loud. I’m covered in the Blood. Jesus died for me, I’m His…Unfortunately, I didn’t say it out loud so the demon could hear! He continued laughing…
The next night my husband prayed over me and it didn’t return.
BTW, I grew up SBC, but have been attending a non-denominational church since last year when the LORD called my husband to be an associate pastor there.

God once taught me quite a bit through such an occurrence years ago, Marie. The demon wasn’t flying above me; rather, it was on my body and had its arms on my shoulders, holding me down. It too was laughing hysterically. I fought and I fought trying to get up, but the more I tried the harder he held me down. Finally, God reminded me that in my strength I didn’t have the power and I said something quite simple and different than any of what you said below: “In the name of Jesus, go to hell.” In that moment I found myself leaping from my back, off the bed, and onto my feet in my room. The demon was gone.

Sheesh, you guys. My attacks have never been visible. Guess I have a ways to go — not that I particularly *want* a visible attack.

But I believe visions are still happening. I also agree that “there are frauds and abusers out there, some wittingly and some unwittingly”. I’ve heard people tell us of their “pictures”, only to have nothing come of them. I also was once told that the reason something wasn’t happening in my life was because I wasn’t — can’t remember the exact wording, but it was a book title — “under His…cover?” something like that. I was as completely submitted to Him as I knew how to be at the time, and it hurt and threw me when I started examining the presented possibility. It turned out that the problem was due to a physical problem I was having at the time.

So I always try to remember to check: what is the result of the vision, picture or word? Is it holiness? Does it purify? lead you closer to Him?

Great comment, Isabel. I think I was at a point in my life where I needed to see, unfortunately.

Yes, one of the greatest difficulties with the way visions get “thrown” around in our performance-based culture is often people begin to believe that they must have visions to be spiritual. God reveals Himself in a host of ways and does so in just the way each of His children need. Our responsibility is to seek more of Him as He is our source, our father, our King.

Wow, Bryan, I’ve never thought about saying “In the name of Jesus, go to hell” when evil is attacking! Thank you, I will use that, along with scripture, from now on.

I was too immature to know what to say when that event happened. It took a long time for me to attempt to draw what the demon looked like for my husband, he was very curious! All I can say is the event revealed to me the power of prayer. I was very nervous it would return and, in fact, did not want to go to bed! My husband’s prayer nipped it in the bud because He prayed the name of Jesus over me for protection.

Bryan or Marie – do either of you feel comfortable describing the appearance of the demon? I witnessed someone experience something very similar to this. She gave a detailed description of its appearance and I am curious what form your demons held?

I really questioned writing about my experience at all, Steve, because I normally only share that with someone after I have developed a relationship with them… I was hesitant that people would immediately assume I was nuts as this is a public forum. It also isn’t my only experience of that nature.

What I recall seeing was a twisted smiling face, laughing at me, and a body that was somewhat dwarf like… Like it was only about half as long as me. Some could assume I dreamed the whole thing, and I could even say that it is possible I did, although I believe it was not my own mental creation even if a dream. Given the context of my life at the time, it helped change me in a way I needed to go. The way it ended, with me leaping from my bed, also made the entire scene seem very real. Finally, given the biblical record of demonic influence, I see no reason to discount all such testimony or experience.

I would describe the demon I saw as greenish in color, foggy, ethereal in an evil sort of way. I only saw the face that was laughing. I could not hear it laughing, just knew it was. The eyes were huge. It kinda reminds me of what people describe when they say they have seen an alien from outer space. You know, that big-headed creature with the big eyes, no nose… I have often wondered if it is a demon people are seeing, though they are convinced it’s an alien!

I guess you all really think I’m nuts now!

Well, I’ve many had *odd* things revealed to me but I’ve always thought it had something to do with me being a twin, but perhaps it was God speaking to me. Hmmm..

I’d like to share a vision/dream my 6 year old son had a week ago. My wife and I have been praying for his salvation, witnessing to him and sharing with him how Jesus has a special gift of eternal life and all he has to do is ask for it. One Sunday night he went to bed normally, but came back into our bedroom an hour later claiming he had a nightmare. He told me he had dreamed he had gone to Hell. I immediately knew this was God’s work and I asked him if he wanted to go to Heaven. Of course his answer was yes and I asked him if he wanted to take care of it right now. Again, his answer was yes! In an awesome moment with the power and glory of God I helped my son accept the gift of eternal life with God. Amen!

John, thank you for sharing that here. It was precious when you told me that a few days ago and we shouldn’t be surprised when God reveals Himself to people in miraculous ways to draw them to a saving knowledge of Him. Praise God!