Revelation, prophecy,
dreams, and visions. These are interesting
subjects that capture the imagination of many. Paranormal experiences have
become a fascination for many around the world in
almost every culture. Tarot cards, astrology,
psychics, witches, and mediums hawk their services,
and masses flock to their offer of knowledge
and insight, understanding and wisdom. What drives this hunger? What draws us to long
for things unseen, to be involved in something
bigger than ourselves, to trifle with powers that
are out of our control? God promised in the last days
He would pour out His spirit and that supernatural
experiences would abound. Experiences like dreams,
visions, and prophecy. Occurrences like signs,
wonders, and miracles. But these have a
purpose in God's plan. They're intended to lead
people to something. God's intention is
that everyone who calls on the name of
the Lord will be saved. Supernatural
activity is intended to draw us into relationship
with the supernatural God. Relationship. According to Oxford
dictionary, relationship is defined as the way that
two things are connected. Supernatural activity was never
intended for our entertainment. It was very purposeful. Its purpose was to strengthen
our connection to God. From the very beginning, God
has reached out to mankind to foster a
relationship with them. He walked with Adam and Eve in
the garden, speaking to them and revealing His plan for
them, helping them to walk out the purpose He created
them for, to expand the reach of the garden
until the whole world was one with paradise. Even after the fall when
Adam and Eve had sinned, God's intention had not changed. He knew exactly
what had happened. He knew what they
had done, and yet He came like every
other day to walk through the garden with his
friends and to talk with them. God is still releasing
supernatural activity today, to people that walk with Him
and people that don't yet. He is pursuing relationship,
and relationship requires communication. This is the mystery
of intimacy with God. [music playing] ANNOUNCER: This is
Dreams and Mysteries. JOHN THOMAS (VOICEOVER):
The strength of every relationship
can be seen by the level of
communication within it. Experts can observe the way
two people talk to each other and predict how long that
relationship will last. Communication is the key
to starting a friendship, nourishing companionship,
and developing intimacy. Think about the different
types of relationships we have. With strangers, there's
little to no relationship. There's not a connection. We barely speak to them. Depending on your culture,
the interaction is different, but the result is the same. If someone's walking down the
street and passes a stranger, there's often
little interaction. If you're in a large
metropolis, you may not even acknowledge they're there. Most often we keep her
head down and accomplish whatever the task is
that's in front of us. Getting to work,
going to a meeting, finding our destination,
or returning home. In a smaller city or
a different culture, you might nod in
their direction, even make eye contact. If you grew up in
a more rural area you might be tempted to
wave or even say hello. If you're introverted and
private or extroverted and social, either way,
you won't often start a deep conversation. There will likely be
little self-disclosure. What would change this? Need, desperation. If someone was
being robbed, they would cry out to
anyone in the vicinity. When someone is hurt, in
an accident, or distressed, our interactions change. One would not often start
with personal information, but we'd ask for
the help we need. Call the police! Get an ambulance! Stop that thief! Another level of relationship
is that of acquaintances. Imagine you're at
a social gathering, and you only know
a couple people. Crowd of people and maybe
you have some connection. You're all in the same place. You know the same person. You work at the same place. There's similar
passion or interest, and you've got
some time to talk. We have a phrase to describe the
conversations at this level-- small talk. What's the weather? Do you like the hors d'oeuvres? That was a nice show. How did you meet Joe? We call it small talk
because its intention is not deep conversation but to
show the other person we're nice or friendly, to
minimize an awkward silence, or to engage socially. The discussion will center
around things and situations. Maybe news, current events. It'd be offensive, just weird,
if you started telling someone that you met at a
party that you're having financial
difficulties or there's problems in your marriage. Now when it comes to
coworkers and neighbors, there's a lot more
that you'd share. You'd probably know
their name, if they're married, what their
spouse's name is, maybe how many children they have,
if they're new to the area. Most often conversations
will revolve around shared experiences
like, can you believe the storm we had last night? Have you met the Martinez's
that moved in down the street? As time goes on,
you may find out that they love film
noir or Renaissance art, that they're interested
in Caribbean spices or extreme sports. You're starting to know them. Connection is growing,
and in that connection there is an affinity and
affection or respect. This is a start of friendship. Now with friends, the
conversation evolves again. There's a shift. It progresses from discussing
things, other people, and situations to sharing
our passions and dislikes. We-- we advance
from outer things to inner things-- what's
going on in our hearts. We begin to discuss
what we could easily keep hidden if we didn't
trust the other person, but we choose to share
because we trust them. Trust. That's the key to
relationship, and relationship is the key to trust. Trust builds because we
know the other person and are able to develop
an expectation of how they will respond to
certain circumstances. It grows because we
recognize an affinity. There's similarities even in
the midst of our differences. There's one other thing that
fosters trust and also leads to a deeper level
of connection-- commitment. It could be unsaid or
it could be clarified. It may be assumed or it
could be a written agreement. At the highest level it's a
mutual promise and agreement that defines the expectations
and the type of relationship that two people have. Marriage is the most recognized
relationship covenant. There's a promise
between two people of exclusivity and devotion. It comes with benefits,
but it also defines limits. In the context of
real commitment and ongoing relationship,
communication changes. There are no longer
any off-limits signs on areas of the heart. We share our deepest fears and
our greatest hopes, our dreams, our heart is open. They know us more than anyone
else, and we know them. Relationship, communication,
inseparable concepts. Relationship defines and
sustains the conversation to be expected, and
the conversation deepens and exhibits the
health of the relationship. To be in a relationship
conversation is essential. But what does this have to do
with supernatural phenomena? But what does this have to do
with supernatural phenomena? ANNOUNCER: Dreams and
Mysteries relies on the gifts of our friends and partners. We want to extend a
heartfelt thank you to those that help us
provide this quality program. Would you consider
partnering with us? Visit
streamsministries.com/partner or dreamsandmysteries.com
to learn more. You can all prophesy,
but some are prophets. What is the difference? Join John E. Thomas
as we dig deep into the Ministry
of the Prophetic. Practical Prophetic Training
is an equipping course designed to help you grow
in anointing, character, servant-hood, and
effectiveness as you press into the spirit of
God for more clarity and impact through revelation. Explore the difference
between Old and New Testament prophetic ministry,
the path of growth God takes someone on to expand
their sphere of authority, how the prophetic
office interacts with the apostles, evangelists,
pastors, and teachers, and learn many of the ways
the prophetic functions. Visit
streamsministries.com/classroom today or call 1-800-538-5285
to catapult your discipleship to the next level. Do you desire to go
deeper in prayer? Would you like your
scripture reading to become an adventure
of discovery? As you unearth the ancient
practices John Paul Jackson and John E. Thomas
share in the art of praying the
scriptures collection, your connection with God
will deepen and broaden. In The Art of Praying the
Scriptures book, teaching set, and study card, you will
discover a fresh look at Lectio Divina, divine
reading, and learn the benefits that reading and
meditating on scripture can bring to your
spiritual life. In Cultivating an
Effective Prayer Life a seminar by John E.
Thomas on a USB flash drive, you will find the power
of a transformed mind, the freedom of a heart
cultivated by God's word. Take the adventure of
prayer to the next level today with The Art Of Praying
the Scriptures collection. Available for your
gift of $75 or more. Call 1-800-538-5285 or visit
dreamsandmysteries.com. Each of these types
of relationships are pictures of
the relationships people have with God. When it comes to
interacting with the divine, people are in various positions. Some are strangers. They're just going about their
life, content to keep walking, continue moving, carry on
towards the destination they've chosen for themselves. Perhaps it is a
safe home, a place that they can retreat to in the
midst of the craziness of life. For others it is
a loving family, the feeling of belonging,
being rooted and accepted. Maybe even the feeling
of being needed. It could be accomplishment,
a position of influence and power, the accumulation
of wealth and possessions. Maybe the destination
they imagine is just shelter
from the loneliness. Maybe it's the experience
of pleasure or escape from the monotony
of everyday life. Busy in the pursuit of a
goal, they move through life not acknowledging the God who
is there giving them a dream, speaking to their heart,
warning them of trouble, or saving them from pitfalls. When the facade of sufficiency
falls away, cries for help come. They begin reaching out to
anyone, anything that is close. When life falls
apart, everyone prays. This is the relationship
strangers have with God. They just go about life
until something goes wrong. They feel they don't need God
until they need someone to bail them out of their situation. For others, God is
an acquaintance. Perhaps they grew up in
church or in a setting where it was normal
to go to church or to say that one is religious. I know God. I remember the stories
from Sunday school. I like Jesus. If someone asked, we would
say that we're Christian but not very religious. I faithfully go to church
every Easter and Christmas. I'm not sure what it all
means, but that's OK. I'm a good person. There are levels
of acquaintances. Some we see once
a year or rarely. Some we see all the time. A close acquaintance
with God is someone who attends church regularly,
that pray over their meals, enjoy the idea of going
to heaven when they die. When they happen to
be in God's presence, they say hello and
are nice, but then go about the day and not
aware of Him being near. God is not on their mind unless
circumstances or other people bring Him up. Life goes on, and while
there is an acknowledgement of a spiritual reality, the
experience of it is anemic. Maybe our connection
is a little closer. We live in the same
neighborhood as God. We thank Him for meals, text him
regularly with nice devotionals or Bible reading, talk about the
weather and special occasions. We would consider Him a friend. We can explain to someone a
few of his likes and dislikes. We've heard the story
and can accurately describe Him when asked. But I have to ask,
do we know His heart? How often do we share our
fears and dreams, our hopes and anxieties, our
passions and pet peeves? Do we only call on Him
when we need something? Do we only hear Him talking
when He's telling us what to do? Is it a relationship of the head
or a relationship of the heart? Perhaps it is truly a
relationship of the heart. We're passionate about God. We know how much He
has delivered us from and gratefulness marks
our thoughts of Him. Maybe our relationship with
Him is interactive and growing. This is the goal. [music playing] Communication is dialogue. It's two-sided. Both parties play a part to
ensure healthy interaction. God desires a much deeper
relationship than many of us are ready for. He's moved in our direction. He is talking. He's giving dreams, releasing
visions, dispatching messages, changing situations, and
causing divine coincidences all the time. When Peter quoted
Joel's prophecy it started with the
statement, in the last days I will pour out My
spirit on all flesh. All flesh. Not some, all. As he continues, he
begins to focus on those he has relationship with. Your sons and daughters,
your young men, your old men, and then my servants. God is speaking to
everyone, but the level of relationship we have with Him
will determine how we hear Him. He is pursuing everyone. He's speaking to everyone,
but as with all relationships the level of trust and
intimacy will affect the level of self-revelation. How much I tell
you about my heart is based on our
history, our commitment to each other, how
much you share with me. God's not like us,
but we are like Him. God always takes
the initiative, even when we're not trustworthy,
even when we have broken trust. The apostle Paul tells us
that while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God
by the death of His son. How much more now
that we are reconciled shall we be saved by His life? God took the
initiative to reach out to us, each and
every one of us so that anyone who had
responded to him could come into
relationship with Him. Maybe you don't have that
type of relationship. Perhaps you've had a dream
or you knew something that you couldn't have. Perchance you've seen things
that other people didn't see. God's reaching out to you. Maybe none of these things
have happened to you, and you wonder what
people are talking about when they discuss them. It's possible they're crazy. It doesn't make sense,
but something haunts you in the back of your mind. There must be more. There has to be someone that
has put this all together. You have a purpose. There must be a
meaning to this all. He is reaching out. God so loved the world
that He gave His only Son so that anyone who
puts their trust in Him might have eternal life. Anyone-- that includes you. And it's easy to respond. Just tell Him you want Him. God, if you're real, would
you make yourself known? I'm sorry for not recognizing
that you're here trying to have relationship with me. I want to know You. Save me. Show me the purpose
You created me for. I surrender to Your love. Speak to me, God. I want to be your friend. See, when Jesus was
talking to his disciples, He told them, no longer
do I call you servants, for the servant doesn't know
what his master is doing, but I've called you friends. For all that I've heard from my
Father I've made known to you. No longer servants, friends. It's about relationship. Notice what He says the meaning
of friendship is in His eyes-- communication. I will tell you all that
the Father has told Me. He doesn't need us to
do anything for Him. The one that spoke the
universe into existence and still holds it all together
with that same word that keeps on speaking, does not
need you and I, but He wants us. He's not looking for
robots or slaves. He's looking for friends. [music playing] DREAMER: In my dream a
woman my husband and I know named Ann came to the door. She handed me a
bouquet of flowers. They were beautiful and
completely unexpected. I was stunned. I could not figure out why
she had given these to me. This dream is so much fun. Now a little
background information will help you understand where
this interpretation comes from, because the dreamer was trying
to figure out whether or not they were supposed
to sell their house. They'd been trying to
decide if they were supposed to move into a different
place or if they were supposed to stay at the same place,
and they were asking the Lord. They'd been crying out
and praying, what do I do? I want to make sure that
I make the right decision. They were very concerned about
making the right decision, that they didn't make a mistake. And so God comes and He
gives them this dream where their friend, whose
name happens to be Ann, comes to them bringing
flowers to their front door in the very house that they're
thinking about selling. Now Ann, very interesting. In this dream the
meaning of the name is what's important
to understand-- Ann. The name Ann
actually means grace. And so what God is saying is
that there's grace for you that's coming to your door. Ann is bringing flowers. Flowers will represent
the presence the Lord, the fragrance of the Lord. And so what God is saying in
this dream to this dreamer is that you have the grace
to make this decision. My presence is with you. Too many times we want dreams to
mean something that they don't. We want a yes or no. Do I do this or do I not? But this dream is actually
revealing to the dreamer the level of relationship
that they have with God. God is not thinking
of them as the slave. He's not telling
them what to do. He's letting them know that
He's going to be with them, and they can make the decision
and He will be with them whatever they decide. ANNOUNCER: God has
concealed messages in the dreams we dream,
and as we search them out we learn more
about His ways. Decades of study and thousands
of dream interpretations gave John Paul Jackson
a unique perspective on understanding dreams. With the Beginner's
Dream Kit, you'll be taught to recognize the 20
most common dreams and what they are saying. This kit includes the
Top 20 Dreams book, John Paul's two CD set
teaching The Basics of Dreams and Visions, the Moments
With God Dream journal, and two dream cards to help
you understand your dreams. For your gift of $60 or
more, we will send you these important tools
designed to start your journey towards a greater
understanding of the dreams you dream. Order your Beginner's
Dream Kit today. Visit dreamsandmysteries.com
or call 1-800-538-5285. Growing in the prophetic
is a lifetime pursuit, and we can receive
much wisdom from those that have been on this journey. In the Growing in
the Prophetic series, you will hear John Paul
Jackson share practical wisdom regarding prophetic ministry and
the difference between prophets and psychics. You will also hear
John E. Thomas share how your relationship
to your earthly father affects how you hear from God. In the Growing in
the Prophetic series, you will be equipped
with Father is Love, an audio CD
from John E. Thomas, and audio teachings
by John Paul Jackson, Developing Your
Prophetic Gift, Wisdom and the Prophetic Journey,
and Prophets and Psychics. You'll also receive
two study cards, tips for giving a prophetic
word, and tips for receiving a prophetic word. For your gift of $75 or more,
we will send you all six of these life-changing
resources. Visit us online at
dreamsandmysteries.com or call 1-800-538-5285. Relationship is all
about communication. The God that we serve
calls Himself the word. You get the idea
he likes to talk? From the beginning,
He has longed for intimate relationship
with His people. He walked with Adam
and Eve in the garden. He reached out to
Cain, talking to him, trying to help him make
a different choice. He enjoyed his
discussions with Enoch so much that He just took him
up into heaven to be with Him. He spoke with Noah and revealed
his plan to save humanity. He chose Abraham, his friend,
and made astounding promises to him. He actually came down in a
body with a couple angels, sat down, and ate a
meal with Abraham. I want to do that with God. And then He took
a walk with him so that He could share His heart. We could continue. Moses spoke with
God face to face. Samuel met with Him where
the Ark of the Covenant was. David spent so
much time with God that he captured God's heart. He pursued Him so much that
he was defined as a man who was after God's heart. Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah,
Jeremiah, Daniel, Zechariah, and so many more. God is a god who speaks and
His desire is relationship. No longer do I
call you servants, Jesus said, but I've
called you friends. He wants to spend time
with us, and He wants us to spend time with Him. He wants us to talk to
Him and He will hear. He wants to talk to
us and we will hear. There is a hunger
growing in the world for supernatural encounters,
a desire for something bigger than us, a
longing for the unseen. It is a hunger that
God put in our hearts. And as one who responded
to that longing once said, you have made us for
yourself, oh Lord, and our heart is restless
until it finds its rest in You. The hunger we have will only
be answered by going deeper with God, deeper in
relationship, which means deeper communication. The question is, are you
willing to go deeper? God's longing is for us to go
further, to trust Him more, to know Him more. He has extended the invitation. Will we say yes? Remember the deepest
level of relationship? Covenant, marriage. The deepest connection
two people can have? That type of
relationship can only thrive in the context
of commitment. This has been God's
plan from the beginning. Remember in the garden
God put Adam to sleep. He took a rib from his side and
formed Eve, brought her to him, and Adam responded, this one
at last is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh. Therefore, a man shall leave
his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and
they shall become one flesh. That's how the story starts. And when Jesus came there was a
hole that was put in His side, blood and water flowed out,
and from that sacrifice God birthed the church, the
body of believers worldwide that are in
relationship with Him. And at the end of the
story, Jesus and the bride come together in a wedding
feast, bone of his bones and flesh of his flesh. You and I were created for
intimacy, for union with God. Paul understood this. When writing about how a
husband and wife should connect, he quotes Genesis,
therefore a man shall leave his
father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and
the two shall become one flesh. He continues, this
mystery is profound, and I'm saying that it refers
to Christ and the Church. God's intention is
for every marriage that it would point towards
the depth of connection that he desires to
have with every person. You and I were created
for relationship, and that type of relationship,
that marriage-type of relationship
between us and God-- well, that's a mystery
for another time. But for now, I pray for you
that you would know His heart. That you would respond to
His desire for relationship. You would respond to His
desire for commitment, and that you would deepen your
commitment to Him because He is longing for more. He is longing for you.
