Our God, who is Lord of Heaven, earth, and the creator of all things in creation is a Holy Trinity. Three distinct, divine, eternal persons yet they are one. God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy Ghost.
Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (Matthew 28:19)
As the entire creation itself testifies that there is a God, trinities can be found everywhere. From the microscopic protons, neutrons, and electrons... to the visible forms in nature such as the three states of water, or the family unit consisting of father, mother, and children. Even our government system is composed of trinities. Our executive, legislative, and judiciary branches for example. Or the courts consisting of judges, attorneys, and juries. That being stated, man himself is a created trinity. The apostle Paul made this clear in his letter to the Thessalonians.
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Thessalonians 5:23)
I was taught that the spirit is that eternal part of you that communes with God. This is the part of you that God speaks to. He is a Spirit and speaks spirit to spirit. The soul is comprised of your mind, will, and emotions... this is what is referred to as the heart. Lastly is your physical body. Paul later alluded to this truth with the Corinthians when he compared their bodies with the temple of God.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16)
The temple could be divided into three sections. The Outer Court. The Sanctuary or the temple itself. And lastly the most Holy Place or Holy of Holies where the Ark of the Covenant was kept. Once a year, the high priest could enter the most Holy Place to commune with God and atone for the sins of the nation. So you may be wondering what all of this has to do with dreams. Well, it is my understanding that there are times when God Himself will reveal things to us by dream... Spirit to spirit.
For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falleth upon men, in slumberings upon the bed; Then he openeth the ears of men, and sealeth their instruction, That he may withdraw man from his purpose, and hide pride from man. (Job 33:14-17)
Interestingly enough, God speaks through situations and circumstances first. For God speaketh once, yea twice, yet man perceiveth it not. And when we rationalize and explain away, the Lord may speak by dream. Once the Lord reveals something to your spirit, the battle for understanding begins. This takes place on the battlefield of the soul. I actually covered some of what goes on here in the spiritual warfare series that ended not long ago. Your enemy will do everything possible to hinder you from coming to understand what God has shared with you. This is why we must approach God for His knowledge, wisdom, and understanding as it concerns what He reveals.
It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter. (Proverbs 25:2)
Lastly, once we have understanding comes the battle in the physical realm... the will to act. God must be sought for guidance in what to do with what we now understand? How do we conduct ourselves in a way that is pleasing in His sight?
On another note, there is a difference between dreams and visions. According to the Scriptures, God will make Himself known through visions, but He reveals His plans through dreams.
And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream. (Numbers 12:6)
Also, there is nothing unscriptural about keeping a dream/vision dairy.
I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. (Habakkuk 2:1-3)
Dreams usually originate from one of three sources. So how can you tell if a dream is from the Lord or not? Dreams that are not of God are usually incomplete. If you can remember them they usually fade with time. But if it is God, it will be with you possibly for the rest if your life.
The second source is the enemy. There is such a thing as a spirit of fear that is not of God. This is a strong man spirit... and one of the areas it resides over is nightmares.
For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)
You can expect these kinds of dreams to occur sometimes because the enemy is trying to disrupt what is going on between you and God. These dreams don't last long, however the fear associated with them can linger at times and should be rebuked in the name of Jesus.
The third source would simply be your own mind. Maybe you had to much pizza before bed, or you're stressed out about work or something...
For a dream cometh through the multitude of business; and a fool's voice is known by multitude of words. (Ecclesiastes 5:3)
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