silly Dream.

[george]

The other nite I had the oddest dream. I dreamed that I was in the car with and old friend.(probally still not a christian.) and we were riding around. and as he was about to let me out. he ask me to pray for him...I was like what.(this person is not the type to ask for prayer. but I was excited and alittle curious about all this.

So anyway we got out of the car to pray. and someone was coming down the street. and he ask him to pray with us. so we all held hands as I was about to pray. then suddenly as I was praying. he snuck off, leaving myself and the other person still holding hands praying:o and suddenly I saw him laughing and figure out what he was trying to do. he had us both in plublic holding hands and trying to make me look bad. I knew he had to be up to something. end of dream. what up with this dream.

 

[heron]

Your friends are just as immature as when they were eight?

Look at the possibilities on a larger scale. Even if this might not apply. For instance, what if these represent groups of people and a church.

1. You, protagonist Christian, might be a church or denomination
2. in a position where a non-Christian is leading the way (social organization, government, ecumenical group... something where spirituality is unclear).
3. The old friend humbled himself and showed respect for your way of thinking, asking for spiritual help (nonreligious group decides to show respect for religious group.)

Think of Rick Warren being accepted in government activity, opening the way for the church in general to be connected with different agencies than usual. Many Christians feel someone is up to something, and they might be tricked into thinking that Christianity is being supported by these moves. When in some cases, it is being manipulated.

I am not saying your dream is about Warren and government. But it has similar parallels to how governments and organizations have used churches through history, and church people trust blindly, and join in with enthusiasm.

4. You were excited that he might have changed, and you might have had influence in his life (Proven to be gullible and disillusioned by your own trust)

5. Someone else approached, and the friend (I think) took leadership in something you had raised him in.

6. The friend chickened out and/or had planned this twist all along.
I think this is a Beware, and a call to prayer. It could be a personal dream, but since it seems foreign and out-of-the-blue to you, it could easily be God's alert over a situation.

 

[george]

Your friends are just as immature as when they were eight?

Look at the possibilities on a larger scale. Even if this might not apply. For instance, what if these represent groups of people and a church.

1. You, protagonist Christian, might be a church or denomination
2. in a position where a non-Christian is leading the way (social organization, government, ecumenical group... something where spirituality is unclear).
3. The old friend humbled himself and showed respect for your way of thinking, asking for spiritual help (nonreligious group decides to show respect for religious group.)

Think of Rick Warren being accepted in government activity, opening the way for the church in general to be connected with different agencies than usual. Many Christians feel someone is up to something, and they might be tricked into thinking that Christianity is being supported by these moves. When in some cases, it is being manipulated.

I am not saying your dream is about Warren and government. But it has similar parallels to how governments and organizations have used churches through history, and church people trust blindly, and join in with enthusiasm.

4. You were excited that he might have changed, and you might have had influence in his life (Proven to be gullible and disillusioned by your own trust)

5. Someone else approached, and the friend (I think) took leadership in something you had raised him in.

6. The friend chickened out and/or had planned this twist all along.
I think this is a Beware, and a call to prayer. It could be a personal dream, but since it seems foreign and out-of-the-blue to you, it could easily be God's alert over a situation.

Thanks so much, that was a really good response. and could very well be right on mark. so what can I do to take better precaution against such as this? how should I pray about this? and what do I need to look for to tell rather a situation is legitimate or not? thanks again.

 

[heron]

Mt 10:16, 19, 20 Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and innocent as doves.

When they hand you over, do not worry about how or what you are to say; for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

so what can I do to take better precaution against such as this? how should I pray about this? and what do I need to look for to tell rather a situation is legitimate or not? thanks again.

I suspect that when God gives His children things, He enjoys giving us the freedom to decide what to do with it. Our minds get going, our energies and passions propel us forward, and hopefully we make Him proud.

I wouldn't be as concerned about labeling an organization good or bad, as just committing yourself to serve God and people wherever you are.

Organizations become what each member makes of it, and many members' intents are pure. Corruption tends to seep in with the little things that need to be addressed, the things that make us wary. Talk about them openly when they come up. Do not put loyalty above common sense.

People have a tendency to want the title of serving -- putting Habitat on their resumes, selling worship team CD's, becoming part of a bigger movement because they feel how the synergy motivates them. We think we are serving God more if we can put a label on it, define what we're doing.

In your dream, the old friend asked for your spiritual input, and you weren't quite sure if he meant it, but you were eager to respond to that opportunity. There was no visible reason to say no, or question his intent. You had some amount of trust in him because you'd known him before.

We do not need to be duped if we align ourselves with God, instead of an organization.

Think about the Jim Jones mass suicides. People honestly believed they were following a good spiritual path. They put their trust in the organization and its leader, instead of making each individual decision wisely. Investigation of the incident after the fact showed that some resisted suicide, and were coerced into going through with it, or shot or forcibly injected.

The organization had come to a point where people allowed the leaders this power, and loyalty to the plan overrode wisdom, scrutiny, and common sense. The people were made to look like fools, for their obedience. But they had followed in obedience because they'd been told it was more spiritual. They gave up their shrewdness for what they were told was spiritual.

Few of us will find ourselves in a life-and-death situation over our faith. But we might easily support ministries that we know nothing about, and encourage them to expand. Your dream shows a secular person or organization asking for spiritual involvement. Similar to the government support of faith-based initiatives.

Lord, give us wisdom. Keep us from living in fear. May we walk in Your authority and confidence. Use us for furthering Your kingdom, and nudge us when we start supporting deceptive and destructive domains. Give us the words we need at the appropriate times. You are our Lord and Father, and we need no one else.