Acts 2:17 (NKJV) ‘And it shall come to pass in the last days, says God, That I will pour out of My Spirit on all flesh; Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, Your young men shall see visions, Your old men shall dream dreams.
For Christians, there are typically four safeguards to consider before deciding to walk out God’s will and calling for our lives. These safeguards are first, a given Word from God; second, the inner witness of the Holy Spirit; third, godly counsel; and lastly, dreams or visions. God can speak to us in many different ways. Therefore, we have to be open to how God speaks to us and calls us.
The Bible records many instances in which God used dreams to speak to people. There are dreams for direction as seen in the lives of Joseph (Genesis 37:40-41), Jacob (Genesis Chapter 28) and Joseph, the husband of Mary (Matthew Chapters 1-2). There are dreams for warning as seen by Abimelech (Genesis Chapter 20), and the Magi (Matthew Chapter 2). There are dreams for revelation and kingdom plans as seen by Daniel (Daniel Chapters 2,7) and Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel Chapters 2,4). Finally, there are dreams of prophecy as chronicled in Joel 2:28 and Acts Chapter 2.
The Bible tells us that in the last days, the Holy Spirit will grant us dreams and visions, and we will be able to prophesy. God speaks to us primarily through His Word, but He will also grant us visions and dreams.
We know that not all dreams come from God, but if they come from God, we will remember them, and they will stay in our minds long after we have woken up. These types of dreams have significant meaning. Therefore, we need to be able to interpret them. We can ask God what they mean, or we can live out the calling of our lives and allow them to come to pass.
The challenge for us is to seek God’s face regarding His call on our lives. We should not do what we like or what we think is right, but rather, consecrate our lives to God so that we will live a life that is purposeful and intentional for Him. It is an exciting and rewarding journey with God. You and I will be able to sit back one day to share how He has journeyed with us; we will testify to how He has shown us favour, broken down hindrances, and brought people of peace into our paths. All the glory will be due to Him and none about us; it will keep us humble before Him and before men.
Reflection: How aware are you of God’s calling in your life right now? In what ways might God be shaping your purpose through the place He has placed you?
Sermon Series: Are You Joseph?
分辨今日神的呼召
使徒行传 2:17 神说：在末后的日子，我要将我的灵浇灌凡有血气的。你们的儿女要说预言；你们的少年人要见异象；老年人要做异梦。
对于基督徒而言，在决定是否踏上神为我们预备的旨意与呼召之前，通常有四个重要的属灵印证。第一，是神所赐下的话语；第二，是圣灵在我们里面的印证；第三，是敬虔之人的劝勉与指引；第四，则是异梦与异象。神向人说话的方式有很多，因此，我们需要常存一颗敞开的心，敏锐聆听祂如何向我们说话，也如何一步步带领我们进入祂的呼召。
圣经中记载了许多神借着梦向人启示的例子。有些梦是为了指引方向，正如约瑟（创世记37:40-41）、雅各（创世记28章），以及马利亚的丈夫约瑟（马太福音1-2章）的经历。有些梦是为了发出警戒，例如亚比米勒（创世记20章）和东方的博士（马太福音2章）。有些梦则关乎启示与神国度的计划，像但以理（但以理书2、7章）和尼布甲尼撒（但以理书2、4章）所经历的。还有一些梦带着先知性的意义，正如约珥书2:28和使徒行传第2章所记载的。
圣经告诉我们，在末后的日子，圣灵要赐下异梦、异象，并使我们能够说预言。神固然主要借着祂的话语向我们说话，但祂也会借着异梦和异象来显明祂的心意。
我们当然知道，并不是所有的梦都出于神；然而，若一个梦真是从神而来，它往往会深深留在我们的心里，即使醒来之后仍挥之不去。这样的梦常常承载着特别的意义，因此我们需要学习去分辨和领受。我们可以来到神面前，求祂向我们显明梦中的含义；也可以在顺服祂呼召的过程中，看见这些异梦一步步应验成真。
对我们而言，真正的挑战在于：是否愿意认真寻求神在我们生命中的呼召。我们不应仅凭自己的喜好，也不应单靠自己的判断去选择人生的方向；相反地，我们需要将生命分别为圣归给神，使自己活出一个有目标、有方向、并且完全为祂而活的人生。这是一段既令人兴奋、又满有奖赏的属灵旅程。终有一天，你我都能够安静回首，见证神如何一路同行；我们会述说祂如何向我们施恩，如何为我们拆毁拦阻，又如何在前方预备“平安之子”与我们相遇。到那时，一切荣耀都单单归给神，而不是归给我们自己。这样的经历，会使我们在神面前、在人面前，都更加谦卑。
默想：
此刻的你，对神在你生命中的呼召有多敏锐？在神所安置你的处境与位置上，祂正在如何塑造你的人生使命与意义？
讲章系列：你是约瑟吗？