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The Big Oops Dream

Doc Tom — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 15:53:00 GMT

"I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your old men will dream dreams, and your young men will see visions." Joel 2:28

"Dreams have been objects of boundless fascination and mystery for humankind since the beginning of time. These nocturnal vivid images seem to arise from some source other than our ordinary conscious mind. They contain a mixture of elements from our own personal identity which we recognize as familiar along with a quality of `otherness' in the dream images that carries a sense of the strange and eerie. The bizarre and nonsensical characters and plots in dreams point to deeper meanings and contain rational and insightful comments on our waking situations and emotional experiences. The ancients thought that dreams were messages from the gods. Today we know that they are messages from a deep source of wisdom and understanding within ourselves. Every dream is a message from some deeper unconscious part of myself to the more conscious everyday part of myself expressed in a language that needs to be learned and understood. The dream has been called the royal road to the unconscious. A modern way of saying that would be that the dream is the window to the soul." Source: Richard J. Corelli, M.D., Stanford University

"Carl Jung, perhaps the best known contemporary of Freud’s, put forth some very insightful frameworks for understanding the symbolism and nature of dreams, including his concepts of universal personality archetypes and the collective unconscious. Yet Jung himself wrote, "I have no theory about dreams. I do not know how dreams arise. I am altogether in doubt as to whether my way of handling dreams deserves the name ‘method’. But...if we meditate on a dream sufficiently long and thoroughly…something almost always comes of it." Jung added that this something is rarely of rational, scientific nature, but rather "a practical and important hint which shows the patient in what direction the unconscious is leading him." Jung observed that dreams perform restorative, corrective, compensatory, prophetic and developmental roles in the psyche and believed that we must be ready at any moment to construct and entirely new theory of dreams." Source: Craig Webb Ph.D, Director, The Dream Foundation.

Would you like to see a very interesting response to a internet search? Try logging on to Google and place "I keep having this dream..." It's fascinating to read of people's ongoing dreams and their attempts to find their answers.

I have a number of areas to discuss in this blog pertaining to the Lord's methodology of communication - both to the Christian and the non-Christian - by way of dreams. Our discussion will center on Genesis, Chapter 20, however before launching in this matter, I would like to take a short detour for a moment. We will come around to Abraham & Abimelech, so please stand by while we take our quick "detour of thought".

Throughout the Scriptures we note that the Lord met with His people within the dream format. This is really no big deal. If you consider that most of us are running so fast throughout our day, that we "overlook" the Lord's voice, or presence. During my year's in business, replete with the legal complexities of my clients, I was so focused on "their problems" that my mental attention span was stretched to the max most of the time. Perhaps you can identify with this statement?

This is not true of my life today. My wife and I converse throughout the day on what the Lord is either speaking to us about, or actually showing us in a particular situation. It is amazing to experience His presence moment-by-moment in our lives. It also carries on when we head to bed every evening. We end our day by studying His Word and speaking with Him, (prayer) before pulling the sheets over our heads. The results of these final daily communication efforts very often carry on as we dream. His instructions, gifts, and "trips to the Kingdom" are most often experienced while we sleep and dream.

THE POINT IS good friend that when we are sleeping, our minds and focus are not on the world and our daily struggles to survive/achieve/make a living etc. It is at this point that the Lord can gain our undivided attention, thus He communicates when He can gain our attention. Not a big deal really.

My dream of June 2008 (see our ministry website) was no allusion. I was actually transported into the Kingdom - again - and truly did not want to wake up. I fought to stay there! In fact, I can't wait to be there permanently and I tell the Lord that virtually every day. My wife is of the same accord, as are my daughters who have also visited the Kingdom. This dream/vision/trip is what motivates me to tell anyone who will listen about what the Lord Jesus Christ has in store for them - if they will only submit their lives to Him. It is virtually impossible to tell me that Heaven and the Lord Jesus Christ do not exist. That is why I have so much compassion for folks like Mr. Hawkins who denies the existence of the Lord Jesus and His splendor. Mr. Hawkins, as we discussed in our previous blog, is so convinced that his mathematical mind is perfect, that he has no room for the Lord. Sad but true. I have compassion for the Mr. Hawkins' of the world.

Have you ever had plans to undertake an action, then had a dream that either told you to undertake this action, or not to do it? Most people that I have talked to about these matters have attributed these "executable dreams", to the Lord's interaction while they slept. Well the same interaction by the Lord held true with Abraham and Abimelech.

"Abraham moved south to the Negev and lived for a while between Kadesh and Shur, and then he moved on to Gerar. While living there as a foreigner, Abraham introduced his wife, Sarah, by saying 'She is my sister.' So king Abemelech of Gerar sent for Sarah and had her brought to him at his palace.

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, 'You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!'

But Abimelech had not slept with her yet, so he said, 'LORD, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn't Abraham tell me, 'She's my sister'? And she herself said, 'Yes, he is my brother.' I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.'

In the dream God responded, 'Yes, I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die."

Now the first thought that has always persisted when I have studied this passage is the cowardice of Abraham. Here is a fellow that KNOWS that he has been called and personally chosen by the Lord. The Lord has continually appeared to Abraham, including the most recent power-visit at the Oaks of Mamre prior to the annihilation of Sodom & Gomorrah. Let's face the facts good folks, if the Lord Jesus Christ were to personally appear to either you, or me as He did with Abraham, would we seriously doubt His ongoing presence in our lives?

I can assure you that my 3 visits into the Heavenly Kingdom throughout my lifetime have convinced me beyond any doubt that the Lord Jesus Christ is actively involved in my life. My wife will testify that I have absolutely no fear about anything. That is not an understatement. The very worse thing that could ever happen to me is that I could be killed, or die and oh big oops! I'm in the Kingdom to stay - Halleluiah!

The Scriptures do not indicate that Abraham consulted the Lord pertaining to his plans to move around. It appears in this chapter of Genesis that Abraham decided to move into Abimelech's kingdom and thus he did. No formal visit with the Lord as to "Lord should I move my family over here to this area, or do you want us to stay put?" Please keep in mind that the Lord told Abraham in Chapter 12, Verse 1: "Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father's family, and go to the land that I will show you." These instructions clearly indicate that the Lord had a plan in mind for Abraham. All Abraham had to do is ask about virtually everything in his life and the Lord would be faithful to respond. The same holds true with you and I today. All we need to do is ask, then listen - and respond as He directs. Example:

In our previous blogs, I noted how my wife and I arrived at the decision to move to our present location in the Northwest. We were living in a very upscale neighborhood in Southern California. I was actively involved in my profession and my wife taught school. "Things" were progressing very well.

I had a dream about moving to our present home in Washington. I seriously questioned the Lord on this matter, however in obedience to His leading, during my wife's "Spring Break" we boarded a plane and flew up to our present city. Believe me good friends we were not impressed by what we saw. After three days of "looking around" our city, wee returned to our home in Southern California. I was absolutely positive that I had made a mistake and misunderstood the Lord's instructions. I did however request that "IF" this was His plan for us, that He please have patience with me and provide yet another confirmation. I did not ignore, argue, nor refuse to obey Him...I needed clarification.

I had another dream shortly after our return to Southern California. The Lord provided a very clear picture of a particular house on a street here in our town. He told me that He was going to bring a Revival to this town and that I was to serve Him in this matter. He indicated that we were to move into this home, located on this particular street, and the He would confirm this to me when we returned to this city.

We boarded a plane back to Washington and I was instructed to call a local church that was an affiliate of the church that we were attending in California. I asked if there was a realtor in the church that leased homes in the city. We received a call back from "Rhonda" who said that she was a realtor but did not specialize in leasing homes. The reason that she was calling us was that she had just sold a home to a couple in the church. This couple was in need of someone to assume their lease so that they could move into their newly purchased home. Rhonda picked my wife and I up at our hotel and drove to this particular street - the very one that was in my dream!

I told Rhonda, "ok, you will find this a bit odd, however I will point out the home that we are to lease. Please do not tell me what house it is on this street."

Rhonda looked at me like I was insane, but she complied with my request. We approached the home that we were to lease and I pointed it out. I said, "It's that house" and Rhonda visibly choked and said, "yes it is."

We signed the lease, returned to Southern California and moved approximately 3 weeks later. We are still here and Revival has indeed begun.

As noted, the Scriptures indicate that Abraham did not ask the Lord if he was to relocate to the Negev and into Abimelech's territory. It appears that he upped and moved his family without asking.

Please keep in mind that Sarah was an old lady. In Chapter 21 of Genesis, Sarah freely admits that she is elderly - like a very senior citizen. Despite this "age thing", Abraham tells everyone that Sarah is his sister and not his wife. Abraham feared that if anyone wanted to take his wife away from him, that he could well be killed.

Remember the Lord's ongoing promises to Abraham concerning that he would be the father of a great nation?? Like where's your faith Abraham??? I can assure you good reader that I would die to defend my wife - as you would do for your wife. What was Abraham's problem??

I believe that Abraham knew that he was in trouble when he left the Oaks of Mamre without the Lord's permission. I shutter to think about if I had said "no" to the Lord when he told me to move to our present location - especially after 2 consecutive dreams, complete with an exacting description of the home we were to live in! Oops - not a good thing.

Now Sarah, who has just lied to the Lord, (Chapter 18), happily slips away from Abraham and enters into the Harem at Abimelech's headquarters. What is the problem with Sarah? Why didn't she say something like, "Hey, I'm a married woman - like a very old married woman and possibly pregnant as well." ?

But that night God came to Abimelech in a dream and told him, 'You are a dead man, for that woman you have taken is already married!'

Can you possibly imagine Abimelech heading to bed for the night, just as we all do, and having the Lord personally appear to him with this message? Talk about shock! "You are a dead man" and Abimelech had absolutely no doubt that this was an undeniable fact. May I respectfully point out that the Scriptures do not reference that Abimelech was a believer. However, Abimelech had absolutely no doubt as to the Person who was addressing him in this disastrous dream:

'LORD, will you destroy an innocent nation? Didn't Abraham tell me, 'She's my sister'? And she herself said, 'Yes, he is my brother.' I acted in complete innocence! My hands are clean.'

Thus, Abimelech puts up his meager defense of taking an unknown woman, i.e, "kidnapping" as he must have done many times before. Be that as it may, the Lord does not argue with Abimelech's ongoing lust problems, nor his willful taking of women from their families. The Lord, in His mercy and grace, simply tells Abimelech:

'Yes, I know you are innocent. That's why I kept you from sinning against me, and why I did not let you touch her. Now return the woman to her husband, and he will pray for you, for he is a prophet. Then you will live. But if you don't return her to him, you can be sure that you and all your people will die."

Please note that this dream was so real that Abimelech never questioned who he was actually speaking to. May I again respectfully point out that I never questioned the Lord when He provided the picture of the house and the description of the street wherein we moved to Washington. I, like Abimelech, had absolutely no doubt Who was telling me what I was to do. We, like Abimelech, never questioned the Lord and obeyed His instructions.

Dreams are a way to grab our attention. It is absolutely necessary however to pray these things through until they are confirmed by the Lord. Upon our initial visit to our present city back in 1993, we had some very serious doubts. I openly asked the Lord if I had been mislead by the enemy? I asked Him to please confirm if in fact, that this was His plan for my wife and I. If that was the case, then I asked Him to please confirm this move to us in such a way that we would have absolutely no remaining questions, or doubts. He did just that.

Abimelech did not require any additional verification from the Lord. That was quite obvious.

If you feel that the Lord is speaking to you in a dream and/or vision, it is very important to pray it through. Don't rush. Wait for Him to provide you with either a confirmation, or a denial, before launching into a course of action. He is faithful and as He did with my wife and I, an undeniable response was provided.

I would like to conclude our discussion with a thought for your prayerful consideration throughout the week. Here is Abraham, the "Father of the Jewish Nation" who continually demonstrates a lack of trust, faith, and obedience in the Lord. His life is riddled with this character flaw, yet the Lord never gave up on Abraham. He continually blessed him, had patience with him, and never gave up protecting for his needs. If the Lord did this for Abraham, then He will do the same for us. We like Abraham, belong to Him and the Lord Jesus Christ has promised the He will never leave, nor forsake us. Despite what we are "Going through" today please keep in mind that He is faithful. He has provided us with a one way ticket through this life and into His Kingdom - the rest don't matter good friend.

Blessings, Tom

The Red Fez Sez

Doc Tom — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:29:00 GMT

Just a very quick note to let you know that we have launched a book on the Shriners, i.e. "The Ancient Arabic Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine". If you would like more information on this "thriller" please visit our ministry website and link over to the "Resources" page.

So Are You A Dirty Rotten Sinner?

Doc Tom — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 18:26:00 GMT

"Then the Lord appeared to Abram and said..." Genesis 12:7

"Some time later, the Lord spoke to Abram in a vision and said to him... Then the Lord took Abram outside and said to him..." Genesis 15: 1-5

"When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the Lord appeared to him and said, 'I am El-Shaddai - God Almighty. Serve me faithfully and live a blameless life..." Genesis 17:1

"The Lord appeared again to Abraham near the oak grove belonging to Mamre. One day Abraham was sitting at the entrance to his tent during the hottest part of the day. He looked up and noticed them, he ran to meet them and welcomed them, bowing low to the ground. 'My Lord," he said..." Genesis 18: 1-3

"Physics was the reason for the Big Bang, not God, according to scientist Stephen Hawking. Because there is a law such as gravity, the universe can and will create itself from nothing," the professor said in his new book, in a challenge to traditional religious beliefs. It is not necessary to invoke God to light the blue touch paper and set the universe going," he wrote in his book "The Grand Design," extracts of which are printed in London newspaper The Times. source: Fox News, Technology, Sept. 02, 2010

I am aware of the ever-growing Presence of the Holy Spirit within the Body of Christ as we progress through these last days. The Last Great Revival that is currently busting loose throughout the country, including the growing reports of miracles, is proof-positive of how short time really is before the Rapture hits town. Therefore as I receive the calls, note the Presence of the Lord in my travels around the area, and the testimonials via email, absolutely nothing surprises me anymore. These are exciting times.

This morning my wife told me of a "dream" that "was so real that I must believe it to be real". She was taken into heaven wherein she was given "a massive hug", that she could "still feel", from my mom. My wife was then provided with a grand tour of my mom's "massive home" and my wife could not grasp the beauty, peace, and magnificence of my mother's "palace". It has been about 4 hours since we had this discussion and my wife is still walking around in a "stunned" condition.

Remember my last visit to the Kingdom? I have my observations on our website and I am still "stunned" over this visit. How can one simply describe the Lord's Kingdom???

Abraham experienced an ongoing relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ throughout his earthly lifetime. You will note that when He, along with His heavenly escorts, (most likely Michael and Gabriel), appeared at the Oaks of Mamre, Abraham RAN over to them and fell on his face in worship.

It is very apparent that Abraham could well identify the Lord Jesus because of his ongoing "face-to-face" relationship with the Lord throughout his lifetime.

Think for just a moment please about Abraham's friendship with the Lord of ALL. Despite the fact that the Lord promised Abraham that he would have a son who would provide him with generations of decedents, that would be numbered "as sand on the sea shore", Abraham failed the test. He had an illegitimate son with Hagar - despite the Lord's direct assurances on an legitimate heir.

How about when Abraham "bargained" with the Lord at the Oaks of Mamre over who would be ultimately destroyed at Sodom & Gomorrah? Think about this little maneuver for just a moment:

Abraham was told to take his family and leave town: "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." Genesis 12:1-2

He failed to listen to the Lord and took Lot, his nephew, with him. The result of this disobedience were ongoing "problems" with Lot that still plague the Jews to this day.

Therefore as Abraham "bargained" with the Lord to spare Lot's family who live in this deplorable and morally despicable place called Sodom, the Lord continued to love Abraham. Despite his ongoing "so will you destroy Sodom if you find xxx faithful people" challenges, the Lord displayed His patience with the one He blessed. In the final count, Lot and his daughters were salvaged, in respect to Abraham by the Lord.

How about when Sarah literally laughed at the Lord, then followed it up with a direct lie to His face? (Genesis 18: 10-15)

The Lord Jesus Christ still loved Abraham and Sarah, despite their ongoing doubts, unbelief, and "problems" following His promises to them. At the time of the Lord's physical appearance at the Oaks of Mamre, Abraham knew Him so profoundly, that he ran over to Him and worshipped Him. Think about that for just a quick second please. The Lord Jesus had made so many visits to Abraham throughout his lifetime that Abraham could recognize Him even at a distance.

Yesterday I met a very "intense" lady who looked me in the face and asked me a very pointed question pertaining to a well know evangelist. She said: "What do you think about .....?"

I simply stated that ............ was a member of the Family of the Lord Jesus Christ and that I was commanded NOT to judge anyone within the Family. That was my reply. The lady then immediately softened and related how she had been judged by her friends, to the degree that she no longer attended her "small group". She went on to state: "I'm nothing but a no good rotten sinner and I have no place in the church".

My reply to her brutal self-condemnation was the above story on Abraham and Sarah. If the Lord Jesus never ceased in His love and patience with Abraham and Sarah, then why would He give up on us? After all, the Bible clearly states that the Lord Jesus loved us so much that He died on the Cross at Calvary so that we could have eternal fellowship with Him. (John 3:16)

The Lord never judged, nor condemned Abraham, or Sarah. The Lord continually appeared and ministered to Abraham and Sarah. Why would it be any different with the Family of Christ today?

Stephen Hawking, like so many people living on the earth today, cannot justify the existence of God. The reason? Stephen Hawking simply isn't looking for the Lord Jesus Christ. Mr. Hawking has no room in his life for Christ, nor does he wish to have Him there. "Reason dictates" that God simply doesn't exist.

Shall I condemn Mr. Hawking for his limited views? Absolutely not. My job is to be available to discuss the Lord Jesus Christ to those "Steven Hawkings" that the Holy Spirit may bring to me throughout my lifetime.

The difference between myself and Mr. Hawking remains in the absolute fact that I have been where Mr. Hawking hasn't. Like Abraham, I have come to know the voice of the Lord as He speaks to me. Mr. Hawking has not come to understand, nor recognize the Lord's voice.

Like Abraham, if the Lord Jesus were to physically appear to me, I would run to Him, fall before Him and worship Him as my Lord and Savior. He has proven His love, patience, and faithfulness to me over these 45 years of walking with Him. I would know Him wherever, or whenever I saw Him.

We are all Abraham's and Sarah's - there are no exceptions. If therefore the Lord Jesus Christ loved, ministered, provided, and appeared to Abraham and Sarah, then will He do the same for us? If we are to use the Bible as a basis for our lives on this earth, then the absolute, undeniable answer is "yes". All we need to do, each and every day, is "Serve Him faithfully and allow Him to give us a blameless life".

Blessings, Tom