Chapter 6

by Praise Malinga

As believers, we often get excited about sharing our dreams with others, seeking interpretation and validation. However, in most dreams the recipient of the dream is the dreamer themselves. Sharing it with others can lead to confusion and even harm if not handled properly. Many believers are greatly hurt by prophecy which mostly was through dreams. Dreams can be vivid and real, making them powerful tools for ministry, but also potentially damaging if misinterpreted.

A key principle to understand is that if the dreamer is in the dream, the message is primarily for them. If the dreamer is not in the dream, the message is likely for someone else. Let's look at some biblical examples to illustrate this point.

In Genesis 37:5-11, Joseph shares a dream with his brothers, which leads to their jealousy and anger. However, the dream was not about his brothers, but about Joseph himself. The dream was a message from God to Joseph, foretelling his future leadership and authority.

The dream is recorded as follows: "And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: Behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my sheaf. And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words."

In contrast, when Daniel had a dream about future events (Daniel 7:1-2), he was not in the dream himself. The dream was a message for others, revealing the rise and fall of kingdoms and the ultimate triumph of God's kingdom.

The dream is recorded as follows: "In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream, and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the dream, and told the sum of the matters. Daniel spake and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the heaven broke forth upon the great sea. And four great beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another..."

Another example is the dream of the Midianite man in Judges 7:13-15, which Gideon overheard. The man was not in the dream, but the dream was a message for Gideon, encouraging him to trust God and defeat the Midianites.

The dream is recorded as follows: "And when Gideon was come, behold, there was a man that told a dream unto his fellow, and said, Behold, I dreamed a dream, and, lo, a cake of barley bread tumbled into the host of Midian, and came unto a tent, and smote it that it fell, and overturned it, that the tent lay along. And his fellow answered and said, This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel: for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host."

These examples demonstrate that dreams are often personalized messages from God to the dreamer. Sharing these dreams with others can be beneficial, but it's essential to handle them with care and sensitivity.

In 1 Corinthians 14:29-33, Paul writes: "Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge. But if anything be revealed to another that sitteth by, let the first hold his peace. For ye may all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be comforted. And the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets."

This passage highlights the importance of order and respect in sharing prophetic words, including dreams. The dreamer should be the primary focus, and the interpretation should be sought from God, not from others.

In conclusion, as dreamers, we need to be mindful of the message God is conveying to us through our dreams. We should seek interpretation and guidance from God. Note: Do not share a dream you were in but rather do or say what God told you to do or say. By doing so, we can avoid unnecessary confusion and harm, and instead, receive the blessings and guidance that God intends for us.

As it is written in Proverbs 25:2-3: "It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. The heaven for height, and the earth for depth, and the heart of kings is unsearchable."

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