Question 1

Why is vision important?

Accepted Answer

Nehemiah 2:16-20The city officials did not know I had been out there or what I was doing, for I had not yet said anything to anyone about my plans. I had not yet spoken to the Jewish leaders—the priests, the nobles, the officials, or anyone else in the administration. But now I said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work. But when Sanballat, Tobiah, and Geshem the Arab heard of our plan, they scoffed contemptuously. “What are you doing? Are you rebelling against the king?” they asked. I replied, “The God of heaven will help us succeed. We, his servants, will start rebuilding this wall. But you have no share, legal right, or historic claim in Jerusalem.”Zechariah 8:4-6“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Once again old men and women will walk Jerusalem’s streets with their canes and will sit together in the city squares. And the streets of the city will be filled with boys and girls at play. “This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small remnant of God’s people. But is it impossible for me? says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.”Zechariah 8:9“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: Be strong and finish the task! Ever since the laying of the foundation of the Temple of the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, you have heard what the prophets have been saying about completing the building.”Vision helps us get things done. The Temple in Jerusalem still needed to be rebuilt after long years of exile, but the people weren’t motivated to finish it. God gave Zechariah a vision of the city of Jerusalem once again filled with joyful people, and that vision, in turn, motivated the people to complete their task. Nehemiah faced the same challenge when he led the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem in record time. When we have a tough task hanging over us, we should ask God to give us a vision for the finished project and a sense of the joy we will have when the job is done.Romans 15:20-22My ambition has always been to preach the Good News where the name of Christ has never been heard, rather than where a church has already been started by someone else. I have been following the plan spoken of in the Scriptures, where it says, “Those who have never been told about him will see, and those who have never heard of him will understand.” In fact, my visit to you has been delayed so long because I have been preaching in these places.Vision motivates and guides. Paul’s vision to preach the gospel in new places caused the good news about Jesus to be spread to far-reaching nations that otherwise wouldn’t have heard it.Acts 10:11-15He [Peter] saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.”Vision helps us see things we would never have seen before, giving us a different perspective. In this vision given to Peter, God was revealing something startling from Peter’s point of view. God was setting Peter free of the Jewish dietary laws to prepare him to meet a Gentile (a non-Jewish person) who was very unlike him and yet a strong fellow believer.1 Chronicles 22:1-5Then David said, “This will be the location for the Temple of the Lord God and the place of the altar for Israel’s burnt offerings!” So David gave orders to call together the foreigners living in Israel, and he assigned them the task of preparing finished stone for building the Temple of God. David provided large amounts of iron for the nails that would be needed for the doors in the gates and for the clamps, and he gave more bronze than could be weighed. He also provided innumerable cedar logs, for the men of Tyre and Sidon had brought vast amounts of cedar to David. David said, “My son Solomon is still young and inexperienced. And since the Temple to be built for the Lord must be a magnificent structure, famous and glorious throughout the world, I will begin making preparations for it now.” So David collected vast amounts of building materials before his death.A leader’s bold vision can help the people accomplish great goals. David’s vision for the Temple in Jerusalem was fulfilled later by his son, Solomon, who built a magnificent structure for God’s glory.Amos 3:3Can two people walk together without agreeing on the direction?Nehemiah 2:17-18Now I [Nehemiah] said to them, “You know very well what trouble we are in. Jerusalem lies in ruins, and its gates have been destroyed by fire. Let us rebuild the wall of Jerusalem and end this disgrace!” Then I told them about how the gracious hand of God had been on me, and about my conversation with the king. They replied at once, “Yes, let’s rebuild the wall!” So they began the good work.A clear vision and goals are keys to successful and enthusiastic teamwork.2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.Spiritual vision can encourage us by helping us to see God’s presence and help all around us.Matthew 6:31-33“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”Spiritual vision eliminates worry by helping us to focus on what it really important in God’s Kingdom and by helping us live according to God’s life principles.Daniel 4:34“After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever. His rule is everlasting, and his kingdom is eternal.”Vision helps us see things in their true and proper perspective.Deuteronomy 11:9“If you obey, you will enjoy a long life in the land the Lord swore to give to your ancestors and to you, their descendants—a land flowing with milk and honey!”Vision helps to inspire hope in us.Matthew 14:29-30So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.Hebrews 11:27It was by faith that Moses left the land of Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger. He kept right on going because he kept his eyes on the one who is invisible.Having a strong vision of how much Jesus loves us will sustain us in a crisis.Isaiah 6:10Harden the hearts of these people. Plug their ears and shut their eyes. That way, they will not see with their eyes, nor hear with their ears, nor understand with their hearts and turn to me for healing.”To receive God’s blessings, it is necessary to have spiritual vision.

Question 2

Why is it important for me to seek God’s vision for the future?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 55:8-9“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”Matthew 6:31-33“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.”John 14:12“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father.”Ephesians 3:20Now all glory to God, who is able, through his mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.We already have some vision of the future. Seeking God’s vision breaks our bondage to small ideas that are not worthy of God or representative of God’s work in the world. God’s vision expands our minds to greater possibilities. By aligning our vision with God’s vision for our lives, we will be inspired to navigate our future with purpose and clarity.Romans 12:2Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.When our vision aligns with God’s, we can work for him with enthusiasm knowing that his plans are being carried out through us.

Question 3

How can I align my vision with God’s plan for me?

Accepted Answer

2 Kings 6:17Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.Psalm 119:18Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.Matthew 5:8“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”Matthew 6:31-34“So don’t worry about these things, saying, ‘What will we eat? What will we drink? What will we wear?’ These things dominate the thoughts of unbelievers, but your heavenly Father already knows all your needs. Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need. So don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”Here are several ways we can discover God’s vision for our lives: through his Word, through the conscience he has built into us, through the counsel of other godly people, and through prayer. God wants to reveal his vision for our lives. We need to believe in his power, seek his guidance each day, and be alert to the ways that he answers us.

Question 4

How is vision essential to leadership?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 12:1-3The Lord had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”God’s strategy has always been to give his people a vision of a new reality. This kind of vision inspires teamwork and awakens courage when the leader is in tune with God’s vision. As illustrated by Abram and God’s interaction, vision is often more about results and outcome than details. Trust regarding God’s vision includes the anticipation that God knows and will help us work out the detailsGenesis 37:5One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever.Vision sustains us during the delays in reaching our goals. Joseph never lost hope because he kept God’s vision before him. As illustrated by Joseph’s life, vision often must endure resistance, disappointments, and setbacks. Before young Joseph’s vision could come true, he had to be prepared to wait patiently through the experiences he endured along the way: betrayal, humiliation, abuse, and apparent insignificance. Joseph’s character was revealed and his relationship with God grew until the vision became reality.

Question 5

In what ways do we see vision as a characteristic modeled by Jesus?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 16:15-19Then he [Jesus] asked them, “But who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you forbid on earth will be forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit on earth will be permitted in heaven.”Jesus’ vision for his followers included his constant awareness of his Father’s work within them, demonstrated in God’s giving Peter insight he wouldn’t otherwise have had. Jesus’ vision also included his confident anticipation of the eventual victory of his church over all opposition. Effective and godly vision never overlooks God’s essential role in its hope-filled future.Matthew 28:17-20When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted! Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”Jesus’s vision for his disciples informed his commission of them to go throughout the entire world, assured of his ongoing presence, to share the good news about him. Effective vision includes a meaningful role for others.Luke 22:21-27“But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing. Then they began to argue among themselves about who would be the greatest among them. Jesus told them, “In this world the kings and great men lord it over their people, yet they are called ‘friends of the people.’ But among you it will be different. Those who are the greatest among you should take the lowest rank, and the leader should be like a servant. Who is more important, the one who sits at the table or the one who serves? The one who sits at the table, of course. But not here! For I am among you as one who serves.”Jesus’ vision for his disciples included the fact that one would betray him, but it also was filled with the picture of a great kingdom of servants that would transform the world in his name. Effective vision recognizes the inevitable setbacks brought on by sin and selfishness, but it also sees the eventual victory of God’s work through his servants.Luke 22:31-37“Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift each of you like wheat. But I have pleaded in prayer for you, Simon, that your faith should not fail. So when you have repented and turned to me again, strengthen your brothers.” Peter said, “Lord, I am ready to go to prison with you, and even to die with you.” But Jesus said, “Peter, let me tell you something. Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or extra clothing, did you need anything?” “No,” they replied. “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”Jesus’ vision for his disciples included their fragile faith, their unavoidable failures, and their ultimate survival. Effective vision is truthful about God’s essential role in the fulfillment of what is foreseen.Acts 1:8“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”Much like Abram’s experience, the followers of Jesus were sent out on a journey with a purpose to convey the reality of God and his saving action for the world. Jesus vision included the empowering and the results; the details continue to be worked out.

Question 6

How do I obtain good spiritual vision?

Accepted Answer

2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.Proverbs 3:5-6Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.2 Corinthians 3:14The people’s minds were hardened, and to this day whenever the old covenant is being read, the same veil covers their minds so they cannot understand the truth. And this veil can be removed only by believing in Christ.It seems ironic that for many of us the only way to see better is to cover our eyes with framed glass lenses. With spiritual vision, we need the lenses of faith—the ability to believe that there is much more happening than we can see. When we face difficulties that seem insurmountable, we need to remember that spiritual armies are fighting for our souls. We must open our spiritual eyes to view God’s power. This involves consistent acknowledgment of God even before we see him and even when we cannot see him at work. When we don’t seek God in all we do, it is unlikely that we will have the vision to find him.Acts 13:2-3One day as these men were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Appoint Barnabas and Saul for the special work to which I have called them.” So after more fasting and prayer, the men laid their hands on them and sent them on their way.Vision comes from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Worship and attentiveness to God’s voice does not force God to speak louder but prepares us to listen better. As we learn to be more sensitive to the nudges of the Holy Spirit and respond in faith, our vision will become clearer.2 Kings 6:17Then Elisha prayed, “O Lord, open his eyes and let him see!” The Lord opened the young man’s eyes, and when he looked up, he saw that the hillside around Elisha was filled with horses and chariots of fire.1 John 5:14-15We are confident that he [Jesus] hears us whenever we ask for anything that pleases him. And since we know he hears us when we make our requests, we also know that he will give us what we ask for.Prayer is an essential means for developing spiritual vision because it connects us to God who sees everything. Before God does something with our prayers, he wants to do something inside us.Psalm 119:18Open my eyes to see the wonderful truths in your instructions.Isaiah 55:8-11“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my ways are higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”God’s word is one of the greatest sources for vision and inspiration, for it encourages us to recognize not only the greatness of all God sees but also the limitations of what we can see.Psalm 17:15Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.Deuteronomy 6:4-9“Listen, O Israel! The Lord is our God, the Lord alone. And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength. And you must commit yourselves wholeheartedly to these commands that I am giving you today. Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up. Tie them to your hands and wear them on your forehead as reminders. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.”Matthew 5:8“God blesses those whose hearts are pure, for they will see God.”Romans 12:1-2So, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.Purity of heart and mind enables us to have a stronger spiritual vision because there is less to cloud our spiritual eyesight. A wholehearted commitment to God and thinking clarified and oriented around God’s thoughts will always improve our spiritual insight.Deuteronomy 29:29“The Lord our God has secrets known to no one. We are not accountable for them, but we and our children are accountable forever for all that he has revealed to us, so that we may obey all the terms of these instructions.”Proverbs 20:24The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?Jeremiah 33:3Ask me and I will tell you remarkable secrets you do not know about things to come.James 1:5If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.Seeing life through our limited human vision can bring confusion and frustration. We need to develop the humility of not insisting that God tell us everything he knows. We must keep asking God to help us view life from his perspective. He does not resent our asking; in fact, he longs to grant our requests.Ecclesiastes 1:8Everything is wearisome beyond description. No matter how much we see, we are never satisfied. No matter how much we hear, we are not content.Living in a state of constant weariness can blur our vision and purpose. It is hard to look ahead when we feel like we can’t go on. Growing in faith and vision includes a healthy awareness of our limitations and increasing trust that God knows more and knows best.

Question 7

How can I know if a particular vision is from God?

Accepted Answer

2 Timothy 3:16All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right.The word of God is authoritative. No dream or vision from God would ever contradict the clear teaching and intent of the Scriptures. No vision can override the authority of the word of God or be a new word from God. Thus, a vision can only confirm what we know to be true or untrue from God’s word.1 Thessalonians 5:17Never stop praying.We must stay close to God through prayer and ask for wisdom to discern if our vision is from him.Proverbs 15:22Plans go wrong for lack of advice; many advisers bring success.We should consult with other wise and mature believers to help interpret our vision. Even then, only time will tell if it is truly from the Lord.Jeremiah 23:25-28, 36-37“I have heard these prophets say, ‘Listen to the dream I had from God last night.’ And then they proceed to tell lies in my name. How long will this go on? If they are prophets, they are prophets of deceit, inventing everything they say. By telling these false dreams, they are trying to get my people to forget me, just as their ancestors did by worshiping the idols of Baal. Let these false prophets tell their dreams, but let my true messengers faithfully proclaim my every word. There is a difference between straw and grain! . . . But stop using this phrase, ‘prophecy from the Lord.’ For people are using it to give authority to their own ideas, turning upside down the words of our God, the living God, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. This is what you should say to the prophets: ‘What is the Lord’s answer?’ or ‘What is the Lord saying?’”Because so many dreams are subjective and even bizarre, and often twist known facts, they can be easy tools for deception and manipulation. We should use extreme caution and skepticism when someone tries to convince us that their dream is a vision meant to change our behavior.

Question 8

Is there a role for dreams and visions in our lives?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 37:5-11One night Joseph had a dream, and when he told his brothers about it, they hated him more than ever. “Listen to this dream,” he said. “We were out in the field, tying up bundles of grain. Suddenly my bundle stood up, and your bundles all gathered around and bowed low before mine!” His brothers responded, “So you think you will be our king, do you? Do you actually think you will reign over us?” And they hated him all the more because of his dreams and the way he talked about them. Soon Joseph had another dream, and again he told his brothers about it. “Listen, I have had another dream,” he said. “The sun, moon, and eleven stars bowed low before me!” This time he told the dream to his father as well as to his brothers, but his father scolded him. “What kind of dream is that?” he asked. “Will your mother and I and your brothers actually come and bow to the ground before you?” But while his brothers were jealous of Joseph, his father wondered what the dreams meant.Genesis 40:1-23Some time later, Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer and chief baker offended their royal master. Pharaoh became angry with these two officials, and he put them in the prison where Joseph was, in the palace of the captain of the guard. They remained in prison for quite some time, and the captain of the guard assigned them to Joseph, who looked after them. While they were in prison, Pharaoh’s cup-bearer and baker each had a dream one night, and each dream had its own meaning. When Joseph saw them the next morning, he noticed that they both looked upset. “Why do you look so worried today?” he asked them. And they replied, “We both had dreams last night, but no one can tell us what they mean.” “Interpreting dreams is God’s business,” Joseph replied. “Go ahead and tell me your dreams.” So the chief cup-bearer told Joseph his dream first. “In my dream,” he said, “I saw a grapevine in front of me. The vine had three branches that began to bud and blossom, and soon it produced clusters of ripe grapes. I was holding Pharaoh’s wine cup in my hand, so I took a cluster of grapes and squeezed the juice into the cup. Then I placed the cup in Pharaoh’s hand.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph said. “The three branches represent three days. Within three days Pharaoh will lift you up and restore you to your position as his chief cup-bearer. And please remember me and do me a favor when things go well for you. Mention me to Pharaoh, so he might let me out of this place. For I was kidnapped from my homeland, the land of the Hebrews, and now I’m here in prison, but I did nothing to deserve it.” When the chief baker saw that Joseph had given the first dream such a positive interpretation, he said to Joseph, “I had a dream, too. In my dream there were three baskets of white pastries stacked on my head. The top basket contained all kinds of pastries for Pharaoh, but the birds came and ate them from the basket on my head.” “This is what the dream means,” Joseph told him. “The three baskets also represent three days. Three days from now Pharaoh will lift you up and impale your body on a pole. Then birds will come and peck away at your flesh.” Pharaoh’s birthday came three days later, and he prepared a banquet for all his officials and staff. He summoned his chief cup-bearer and chief baker to join the other officials. He then restored the chief cup-bearer to his former position, so he could again hand Pharaoh his cup. But Pharaoh impaled the chief baker, just as Joseph had predicted when he interpreted his dream. Pharaoh’s chief cup-bearer, however, forgot all about Joseph, never giving him another thought.Genesis 41:1-8Two full years later, Pharaoh dreamed that he was standing on the bank of the Nile River. In his dream he saw seven fat, healthy cows come up out of the river and begin grazing in the marsh grass. Then he saw seven more cows come up behind them from the Nile, but these were scrawny and thin. These cows stood beside the fat cows on the riverbank. Then the scrawny, thin cows ate the seven healthy, fat cows! At this point in the dream, Pharaoh woke up. But he fell asleep again and had a second dream. This time he saw seven heads of grain, plump and beautiful, growing on a single stalk. Then seven more heads of grain appeared, but these were shriveled and withered by the east wind. And these thin heads swallowed up the seven plump, well-formed heads! Then Pharaoh woke up again and realized it was a dream. The next morning Pharaoh was very disturbed by the dreams. So he called for all the magicians and wise men of Egypt. When Pharaoh told them his dreams, not one of them could tell him what they meant.As in the later case of Nebuchadnezzar and Daniel (Daniel 2:1-19; 4:1-18), Joseph’s life featured six significant dreams that were life-changing for him and those around him. God may choose to use a dream to give a glimpse into the future for the purposes of humbling and directing a human leader.Matthew 1:18-25This is how Jesus the Messiah was born. His mother, Mary, was engaged to be married to Joseph. But before the marriage took place, while she was still a virgin, she became pregnant through the power of the Holy Spirit. Joseph, her fiancé, was a good man and did not want to disgrace her publicly, so he decided to break the engagement quietly. As he considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. “Joseph, son of David,” the angel said, “do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife. For the child within her was conceived by the Holy Spirit. And she will have a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” All of this occurred to fulfill the Lord’s message through his prophet: “Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” When Joseph woke up, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife. But he did not have sexual relations with her until her son was born. And Joseph named him Jesus.Matthew 2:9-12After this interview the wise men went their way. And the star they had seen in the east guided them to Bethlehem. It went ahead of them and stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were filled with joy! They entered the house and saw the child with his mother, Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod.Matthew 2:13-15After the wise men were gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up! Flee to Egypt with the child and his mother,” the angel said. “Stay there until I tell you to return, because Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” That night Joseph left for Egypt with the child and Mary, his mother, and they stayed there until Herod’s death. This fulfilled what the Lord had spoken through the prophet: “I called my Son out of Egypt.”Matthew 2:19-23When Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt. “Get up!” the angel said. “Take the child and his mother back to the land of Israel, because those who were trying to kill the child are dead.” So Joseph got up and returned to the land of Israel with Jesus and his mother. But when he learned that the new ruler of Judea was Herod’s son Archelaus, he was afraid to go there. Then, after being warned in a dream, he left for the region of Galilee. So the family went and lived in a town called Nazareth. This fulfilled what the prophets had said: “He will be called a Nazarene.”During the events surrounding the birth of Jesus, there were several significant dreams that provided specific direction to Joseph and the wise men. God is able and willing at times to use dreams for directing individual lives. These are narrow, guidance dreams.Matthew 27:19Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.”As Pilate was in the process of convicting Jesus, he was given an additional reminder by his wife that he was condemning an innocent man. God demonstrated his intimate awareness of all events surrounding the arrest, trial, and crucifixion of his Son. Neither Jesus’ death nor the saving nature of his sacrifice was accidental.Acts 2:14-24Then Peter stepped forward with the eleven other apostles and shouted to the crowd, “Listen carefully, all of you, fellow Jews and residents of Jerusalem! Make no mistake about this. These people are not drunk, as some of you are assuming. Nine o’clock in the morning is much too early for that. No, what you see was predicted long ago by the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days,’ God says, ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams. In those days I will pour out my Spirit even on my servants—men and women alike—and they will prophesy. And I will cause wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below—blood and fire and clouds of smoke. The sun will become dark, and the moon will turn blood red before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives. But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ People of Israel, listen! God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know. But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed. With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him. But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.”In the first sermon Peter preached after the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, he pointed to Joel 2:28-32 as a prophecy about the effects of the Messiah’s revelation on earth. The Holy Spirit’s presence and power would suddenly be available to all people as part of the outflow of the message of salvation in the name of the Lord.Acts 9:1-16Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.” The men with Saul stood speechless, for they heard the sound of someone’s voice but saw no one! Saul picked himself up off the ground, but when he opened his eyes he was blind. So his companions led him by the hand to Damascus. He remained there blind for three days and did not eat or drink. Now there was a believer in Damascus named Ananias. The Lord spoke to him in a vision, calling, “Ananias!” “Yes, Lord!” he replied. The Lord said, “Go over to Straight Street, to the house of Judas. When you get there, ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is praying to me right now. I have shown him a vision of a man named Ananias coming in and laying hands on him so he can see again.” “But Lord,” exclaimed Ananias, “I’ve heard many people talk about the terrible things this man has done to the believers in Jerusalem! And he is authorized by the leading priests to arrest everyone who calls upon your name.” But the Lord said, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.”Similar to the purpose of the dreams surrounding Jesus’ birth, Ananias was given specific instructions about Saul in a dream. A God-given dream might direct us to do things we might otherwise be reluctant to do.Acts 10:9-23The next day as Cornelius’s messengers were nearing the town, Peter went up on the flat roof to pray. It was about noon, and he was hungry. But while a meal was being prepared, he fell into a trance. He saw the sky open, and something like a large sheet was let down by its four corners. In the sheet were all sorts of animals, reptiles, and birds. Then a voice said to him, “Get up, Peter; kill and eat them.” “No, Lord,” Peter declared. “I have never eaten anything that our Jewish laws have declared impure and unclean.” But the voice spoke again: “Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” The same vision was repeated three times. Then the sheet was suddenly pulled up to heaven. Peter was very perplexed. What could the vision mean? Just then the men sent by Cornelius found Simon’s house. Standing outside the gate, they asked if a man named Simon Peter was staying there. Meanwhile, as Peter was puzzling over the vision, the Holy Spirit said to him, “Three men have come looking for you. Get up, go downstairs, and go with them without hesitation. Don’t worry, for I have sent them.” So Peter went down and said, “I’m the man you are looking for. Why have you come?” They said, “We were sent by Cornelius, a Roman officer. He is a devout and God-fearing man, well respected by all the Jews. A holy angel instructed him to summon you to his house so that he can hear your message.” So Peter invited the men to stay for the night. The next day he went with them, accompanied by some of the brothers from Joppa.Acts 16:6-10Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” So we decided to leave for Macedonia at once, having concluded that God was calling us to preach the Good News there.Both Peter and Paul received visions that expanded their understanding and direction of ministry. In Peter’s case, his reluctance about the Gentile believers was challenged; in Paul’s case, his desire to minister in pioneer Gentile settings was confirmed. Those willing to serve God should not discount God’s ability to direct or confirm decisions and direction in their work.