EPISODE 667 – HEARING GOD’S VOICE 18 – How Do I Hear God’s Voice? 13 — MORE ON VISIONS, DREAMS AND TRANCES 4

HEARING GOD’S VOICE 18 –

How Do I Hear God’s Voice? 13 — MORE ON VISIONS, DREAMS AND TRANCES 4

“And he said, “Hear my words: If there is a prophet among you, I the Lord make myself known to him in a vision; I speak with him in a dream. Not so with my servant Moses. He is faithful in all my house. With him I speak mouth to mouth, clearly, and not in riddles, and he beholds the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid to speak against my servant Moses?” 

Numbers 12:6-8 (ESV)

If you have followed this discussion, you should have clarity about the difference between dreams and visions.

A vision is an evocative impression or a revelational imprint of images or pictures in a person’s mind that articulates a hidden event or situation. Meanwhile, a dream is a projected image and imaginary transaction or deep thoughts that engage a person’s soul and mind while asleep.

A vision may sometimes be experienced even with the optical eyes and not just in the mind. There are times when the physical eyes are enabled to see literally into the spirit world to behold hidden things, even as a person still sees natural things.

Discussion on these items is important because believers do have such experiences often. And as a believer, you must have a proper understanding of such issues. Some are careful to engage in this kind of conversation and even don’t open themselves up to receive visions because of the fear of getting into error.

As long as you submit your mind and thoughts to the revelation of the Word of God, your experiences will be guided by the authority of the Word.

Apart from dreams and visions, there is also what is referred to as Trance.

Dreams, Visions and Trances are biblical.

Most people confuse these three experiences and use them interchangeably. Especially between a vision and a trance.

In Acts 10, you will find how two people had two unique prophetic experiences.

Cornelius was an Italian Centurion, who was a devout man and had a vision, which led to his conversion.

In that same chapter, Peter also had a prophetic revelation. But the experience of Peter the apostle was different from that of Cornelius. Cornelius had an open vision while Peter had a trance.

“a devout man of extraordinary character who worshiped God and prayed regularly, together with all his family. He also had a heart for the poor and gave generously to help them. One afternoon about three o’clock, he had an open vision and saw the angel of God appear right in front of him, calling out his name, “Cornelius!” Startled, he was overcome with fear by the sight of the angel. He asked, “What do you want, Lord?” The angel said, “All of your prayers and your generosity to the poor have ascended before God as an eternal offering.” Acts 10:2-4 (TPT).

This wasn’t a dream. He literally saw the angel by way of vision. His eyes were opened to see and to hear.

The Greek word for vision in this context is “horama” which means that which is seen. It is to have a view of a spectacular moment.

Cornelius’ vision wasn’t an imagination and not just a mental picture.
This means visions cannot be limited to a mental imprint. They are both mental imprints and the capturing of a live event in the spirit realm.

People mostly experience these while in prayer. The place of prayer is a place of visions and spectacular prophetic experiences. Whenever you pray or delve into the word of God, your spirit ascends to see far beyond the normal and optics.

After this amazing vision of Cornelius, God quickly sent a prophetic message to Peter to help have confirmation and to receive the message from Cornelius.

“The next day around noon, as Cornelius’ men were approaching Joppa, Peter went up to the flat roof of the house to pray. He was hungry and wanted to eat, but while lunch was being prepared he fell into a trance and entered into another realm. As the heavenly realm opened up, he saw something resembling a large linen tablecloth that descended from above, being let down to the earth by its four corners. As it floated down he saw that it held many kinds of four-footed animals, reptiles, and wild birds. A voice said to him, “Peter, go and prepare them to be eaten.” Peter replied, “There’s no way I could do that, Lord, for I’ve never eaten anything forbidden or impure according to our Jewish laws.” The voice spoke again. “Nothing is unclean if God declares it to be clean.” The vision was repeated three times. Then suddenly the linen sheet was snatched back up into heaven. Peter was so stunned by the vision that he couldn’t stop wondering about what all it meant. Meanwhile, Cornelius’ men had learned where Peter was staying and at that same moment were standing outside the gate. They called out to those in the house, “Is this where Simon, the Rock, is staying?” As Peter was in deep thought, trying to interpret the vision, the Spirit said to him, “Go downstairs now, for three men are looking for you. Don’t hesitate to go with them, because I have sent them.” Acts 10:9-20 (TPT)

Peter’s experience was not referred to as a dream or a vision. It was referred to as a Trance. The Greek word for Trance is, “ekstasis”. Which means the displacement of the mind or bewilderment. It is used to describe a moment of ecstasy. It is a state where a person is caught up into a different realm.

John the apostle had this experience several times while writing the book of Revelation. Most of what he referred to as “I was in the spirit” were trances.

You transit from one state into a different realm, while you are physically in the same location but your inner man has travelled into a different realm.

It is a moment of awe and amazement.

During trance, one can also see a vision. Thus trance goes together with a vision. Within every trance, there is a vision.

God is able to communicate with the believer through such means to enforce his message.

Yet all these experiences are subject to the governing rule or constitution of His word. There is no experience of such which transcends the light of the Word of God.

I call you blessed.

Shalom!