When It Absolutely Must be Done Overnight
June 28, 2024 various changes
2nd DRAFT, will be updated with editing results.
Several edits, an addition to free will in the context of divine encounters.
When it Absolutely Must Be Done Overnight
Dreams, Trances, and Visions
Why does God use trances, dreams, and visions?
God uses trances, dreams, and visions for several reasons.
Visions, often described as mental images God bestows during wakefulness, and trances, a state of mind akin to wakefulness, are two distinct yet interconnected divine experiences. This paper tends toward dreams and trances. Most of the dreams, visions, and trances recorded in the Bible are inspired by God[^1].
Trances, a further departure from ordinary consciousness than visions, involve a partial or complete loss of situational awareness. They are accompanied by dreamlike content. With the above in mind, as the recipient returns to ordinary consciousness, they do not have the sense of having been asleep. This unique state of mind has been used by God in both the Old Testament and the New Testament.
Background
When the couple Joseph and Mary lived, Jewish marriage was often like a contract between two families. It may contain stipulations in case of divorce or death, much like today’s prenuptial agreement. The paragraphs below are based on content from various twenty-first-century counseling websites. Joseph had the same range of emotions and capacity for understanding that we have. People throughout the ages have had emotions in common from the very first man and woman. Often by what is fundamentally the same trigger, such as the death of a loved one. With that in mind, the following could represent Joseph’s actual state of mind.
Heartbroken Joseph
Joseph chose to delay intimate recreation with Mary until their marriage. Then, personal devastation. Mary is pregnant. Joseph must have had a jumble of conflicting thoughts and be in emotional turmoil, confused, hurt, and angry. Was it his fault? He respected her, but did he show affection to her? He decides to cancel wedding plans privately and sever their relationship as much as he can without embarrassing her. He had feelings for her, but the time’s rigid cultural norms dictated the wedding’s immediate cancellation.
Both believers and non-believers have reasons to discuss these. This article does not aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the topic. Instead, it focuses on specific types while excluding others.
The trances, dreams, and visions we do talk about are those that God inspired. This article does not cover these altered states of consciousness when manufactured by the person as an act of the imagination or from any spirit other than the Holy Spirit. The imagination is a powerful tool for planning and, to a degree, testing ideas.
(Eze 13:2-3 NET) “Son of man, prophesy against the prophets of Israel who are now prophesying. Say to the prophets who prophesy from their imagination: ‘Listen to the LORD’s message! 3 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: Woe to the foolish prophets who follow their own spirit but have seen nothing!”
(Eze 13.2-3 amplified paraphrase) Do not create a vision from your imagination and tell everyone it is from God. The believer may use creative imagination to discover ideas God may approve of. The person who uses their imagination to manufacture an inspiration and proclaim it is from God will be outside God’s will, and God knows it.
Many Christians testify to having an experience of God.
(Joh 10:25-27 NIrV) Jesus answered, “I did tell you. But you do not believe. The kinds of things I do in my Father’s name speak for me. 26 But you do not believe, because you are not my sheep. 27 “My sheep listen to my voice. I know them, and they follow me.”
Sometimes, the recipient needs foreknowledge for a purpose. For example, first-century people need to learn the vocabulary for standard vehicles today (e.g. trains, planes, buses, and cars). A good solution is to use a picture, as in dreams; God may use a vision, giving the person what they need to describe the future. From scripture, we can deduce that God meets each of us where we are. If today we were to have a vision of a planet-sized crystal living space[^2] permeated with God’s love, we would not have the name of it. If it is a future revelation, people living at that time should have a name for it, but today we don’t[^3] . Our only option is to describe it.
(Eze 1:16 NRSV) As for the appearance of the wheels and their construction: their appearance was like the gleaming of beryl; and the four had the same form, their construction being something like a wheel within a wheel.
The Dream - God’s Work
Beliefs
Many people believe in a god. Some trust in the God is promoted in both the O.T. and the N.T. To believe in the God of the Bible implies (some prefer “requires”) that a person sincerely tries to live according to the New Testament and other teachings that harmonize with it. Think about your beliefs regarding Christianity. Which is your favorite one? Imagine what it would take to reverse that belief so that you could sincerely declare it untrue. How many months or years of study, prayer, and discussion is required? Sometimes, God must transform a person quickly, say, by morning. Joseph was faced with a dilemma when Mary became pregnant before marriage. Joseph knew the pregnancy was not the result of him and Mary.
We live in a damaged and imperfect world, so many of us believe something that, if stated differently, would be closer to an accurate description of our faith. None of us are omniscient; each of us has incomplete knowledge.
God Sometimes uses dreams and others to communicate concepts the recipient may know but have rejected. It could be that God wants people to shift from one well-accepted, distinctly Christian theology to another. We commonly think of denominations as each having a part of the overall Christian ministry, which results in something they do best. But let us extend that to accepting each well-accepted Christian theology as handling particular types of problems best. We can get into trouble during a debate when each side pushes the other side into a more extreme position than before the discussion. The argument sometimes escalates passion for each side’s opinion. Passion is a very strong emotion that can degrade people’s reasoning ability. Think about what may be required to change a deeply held belief. You probably would not change it in a few days of studying and talking to friends. To change some of our deeply held beliefs may require years of study, prayer, and discussion. Sometimes, God needs something we believe, or perhaps an emotion, changed quickly. God knows each of us perfectly. HE is the perfect theologian, He is the perfect counselor, and He knows you best. Do you have a problem? At the very least, start with a prayer to your Heavenly Father.
You may think a particular belief is accurate or inaccurate. But consider for a moment that the nature of truth, which God cares most about and wants us to know, might not be what some of us think. Consider that it is not a book or a set of beliefs. It is a person.
(Joh 14:6 ESV) Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus could have referred to the law, but judicial context is not the answer when describing the Christian religion. Do you think Christianity is more like that of a perfect father, watching over, loving, training, and teaching his daughter or son? Many of us do; this can be one area where the Holy Spirit participates.
Understanding Joseph would require knowledge of his past experiences, the teachings he has been exposed to, his culture, and probably much more. Let us consider how culture may or may not have influenced Joseph’s decision about his fiancée.
Each culture has etiquette norms; we have emotional encoding linked to various actions. For example, you invite a family over for dinner at 5 PM, but on that day, you can’t get home until 4 PM, which you discover is when your guests arrive. They apologize, and you assure them it is OK while feeling embarrassed and offended. This situation violates etiquette and can be linked to feeling embarrassed. How long would it take to learn to break that automatic response? God can change a person in fifteen minutes, overnight, or whatever period He knows is required, and sometimes He does this through a dream or trance.
When God transforms an established Christian, He does it for a purpose. Perhaps He needs you to fill a role in the church you believe you are unsuitable for. Your Father’s transformations will leave you perfectly balanced in emotions, self-esteem, and understanding. Again, when He transforms, it is for a purpose.
A Dream
One evening, as Joseph starts transitioning from wake to sleep, an angel visits him. The angel says what no other angel in the history of the world has ever said: your fiance’s pregnancy did not result from Mary having relations with another man.
(Mat 1:20 NKJV) But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.”
An angel is tasked with delivering a message from Joseph’s, loving Father in heaven: “Joseph, my boy, it’s going to be OK.”
(Mat 1:24 NKJV) Then Joseph, being aroused from sleep, did as the angel of the Lord commanded him and took to him his wife…
Joseph’s Experience
There is a similarity between a trance and how an element of Joseph’s dream is described. Some readers may want to look up the five verses in the King James Bible that contain the word trance. This paper is weighted toward New Testament cases.
As an aside, the words ‘dream,’ ‘dreams,’ ‘vision,’ and ‘visions’ appear more than ninety times in the KJV Bible.
Medical Illustration
Many modern medical treatments are painless or nearly painless. Most procedures are scheduled, and everyone knows when they will take place. Sometimes, patients must change how they do something after the procedure. For example, they may chew food on one side for a few days or use a walking aid during the recovery. So, there is the possibility of great change taking place while the patient does not feel it.
When God changes a person`s understanding and provides a new set of emotions on a given topic, He can do so perfectly and without pain.
Another Way to Learn About God
God has given us all a fall-back method of learning truths: knowledge gained from research and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Knowledge of God arrived at through study may not always be accompanied by the proper amount of passion for them. We discuss this in the next paragraph.
The gifts from God are exceedingly pleasant. They are not just pleasant, they are a testament to God’s love and care for us. Consider it a gift from God whenever you receive anything from the Holy Spirit, such as the gift of discernment or how to address a person or an audience. When God the Holy Spirit speaks to us, at that moment, we know it is God, and He is always correct. When we research, study, and learn about mystical phenomena, it can lead to rigid dogmatism. Our homes have smoke detectors. We who study Christian concepts must find a way to create a “smoke-detector” for when we become doggedly closed-minded that our belief is correct. When we fall into it, we must learn to sound an internal alarm triggered when we say, “But God doesn’t work that way.” Every one of us is broken. But God has provided a well-accepted Christian theology (perspective), which you will thrive in.
What no person or unseen evil being can take away from you is your experience of the invisible God.
Change
What we believe is true can change fast. One minute, we thought it was a nice day, only to look out the window and discover it was raining the next minute. However, we also have deeply embedded beliefs that we cannot change quickly. There are several reasons for this, some of which were mentioned earlier.
Some readers have used speed-reading techniques. You may have noticed that when using those for recreational action-packed fiction, your comprehension occurs much faster than the emotional response. The body chemistry of emotions takes time to change. There is a more profound emotional response to social offenses in real life, which can be very hard to change.
What God Can Do
Consider the transformative power of God. He can bestow a new understanding of deeply held beliefs in a miraculously short time. More than that, He can alter our emotional reactions tied to these beliefs, whether in the span of a night or an hour. This divine intervention leaves the believer in a state of balance and peace, a testament to the profound changes that can occur through His grace.
Sometimes, we argue with God. Perhaps this is one reason God uses other states of mind when talking to us. This would be useful for reversing early Jewish religious thinking about foods or gentiles.
(Act 11:5-9 NIV) “… I saw something like a large sheet being let down from heaven by its four corners, … 6 I looked into it and saw four-footed animals of the earth, wild beasts, reptiles and birds. 7 Then I heard a voice telling me, ‘Get up, Peter. Kill and eat.’ 8 “I replied, ‘Surely not, Lord! Nothing impure or unclean has ever entered my mouth.’ 9 “The voice spoke from heaven a second time, ‘Do not call anything impure that God has made clean.’
Summary
God gave Mary a more important assignment than any other human. Did it matter that Mary was a woman? Of course not, except she could do naturally what men are incapable of, and that is keep a developing human within her, healthy. A husband for Mary was part of God’s plan for Jesus’ family. Mary became pregnant, and Joseph knew the child was not his. Devout Mary, likely Joseph too, and a legal and social injury to both parents. How could Joseph accept Mary? How could Joseph have the proper attitude toward the unborn child? Joseph knew quite well the teachings of religious leaders.
God moved, and a man changed overnight. God reversed Joseph’s understanding of the pregnancy overnight, and I believe He imparted a peaceful, balanced emotional state regarding it—precisely what babies and children need from their fathers.
Conclusion
You know when God gifts you an awareness of experiencing Him. Some people testify to having a dream they attribute to God. When they are from God, their source is unmistakable in the moment.
This is yet another reason to spend time one-on-one with God. If you do not already have regular private sessions with God, how about deciding to do so now? When you do, confess anything you think you need to, and do what you can to be humbled before God. Make a fresh commitment to obey as you become aware of His will. Ask God to teach you what He is like, then wait before Him. If something comes to mind for you to change, then start making that change now. Be patient. Continue seeking God, asking Him to teach you what He is like.
(Luk 11:8 GNB) Well, what then? I tell you that even if he will not get up and give you the bread because you are his friend, yet he will get up and give you everything you need because you are not ashamed to keep on asking.
To Seek or Not to Seek
Should we seek to experience dreams and trances? Probably not. Primarily, we should seek our Savior, love Him, be near Him, and do His will. Secondarily, to love and appreciate others. When God puts a man or woman in an altered state of consciousness, it could be to communicate something to them quickly. It could be to communicate concepts outside the person’s vocabulary and familiarity. People may be less argumentative in this peculiar state of awareness. When the believer has returned to ordinary consciousness, they may have severe challenges to face. If God’s message is unsettling and disruptive, they may also be given peace that can only be from God, a sense of being emotionally alert and balanced. Perhaps the most significant concern of the believer will be how other believers will respond when they learn of it.
We surrender to God and learn to move deeper in faith. As we grow in our state of compliance with God, He then uses us and works through us. As much as it is up to us, we always seek the Giver.
God can wholly change people, cognitively and emotionally, but also with a balanced peace. When Christians live sincerely in obedience to God, God can use them, but the person may need to be changed. So, we spend time with God; we practice compliance with His will because we love Him, and that is because He first loved us.
Amidst the challenges of our world, our primary focus should be to live according to God’s will. There are often two terminology paths to the same goal. In one person’s sincerest moment, they pray, come Holy Spirit, fill us; we need you. While another person’s most earnest prayer is, you have raised me from the miry clay; I can do no good unless you will it; You are in control.
God’s work is perfect, but you may expect many new challenges in areas where you have little experience when He changes you.
Some say the church is perfect, and some would disagree. We can be certain of this: Never, never give up on the church and the Christian faith. There is no need for that.
Notes
- See comments on Balaam after Conclusion
- Such as Revelation 21.10
- Sometimes, we find the answer in a sacred text.
Additional Information
Aside: Balaam
The word trance is used in verses associated Balaam. Readers with experience or knowledge in the gifts of the Spirit may want to consider the commentary on Balaam found at Got Questions, and the article What is the doctrine of Balaam? https://www.gotquestions.org/doctrine-of-Balaam.html
This article’s author believes that the commentary above is a good starting point, offering valuable clues to the truth about Balaam. However, it’s important to note that there is always more to be known. Because this website is intended to help Christians turn toward the Christian faith, we need to understand what is real and what is theory and identify clues as to the nature of God. Therefore, this question is worth considering in a later paper: How was Balaam’s trance possible? We all must seek the Lord, be patient, and wait for His divine guidance to teach us.
Free Will
If free will is a human attribute in the likeness of our creator, then we should choose to pray, “Not my will, Lord, but your will.”
Given how some divine encounters are reported in the Bible and what we know about dreams, it would seem that God partly violates free will when He uses them. For those who believe in free will, any action God may take that violates a part of free will causes a conundrum. There may be more than one solution to this problem. But here is a solution that coincides with Biblical instruction: Christians should learn to obey God, then proceed at deeper levels of obedience as the Holy Spirit reveals them. There could come a time when the Christian sincerely prays, I surrender all to you—all of me, my time, all I do. There is only one way to move into this spiritual state, but there are many ways to say what that state is and how we describe our role in moving toward it. Many would testify that it is impossible without the Holy Spirit to sincerely and deeply surrender all to God. This is precisely why we sometimes hear a born-again believer pray, “come” to the Holy Spirit. While another believer who has been given a different way to say the things of God may pray, Father God, your laws, your precepts, your covenants all speak the truth about you; change me, mold me, so that I may move more deeply into fellowship with you, for it is not you that changes.
If free will is critically essential, and our obedience to God’s assignment requires His controlling guidance, as can be the case with the inaugural manifestation of a gift of the Spirit, then perhaps we should all surrender to God as deeply as we can. As we learn more, we surrender more. Surrender is the willful transfer from self-reign, made possible by free will to God-reign. When some people pray, they include the phrase “God is in control.” This may testify to their commitment to God, perhaps their obedient walk as a child of God; it may be a statement of praise or another way to express self-surrender to God. There is a way to join the sincere prayer of another Christian in spirit regardless of their intended meaning.
This Website
This website is a resource to help those who know their spiritual life could be better and you are seeking. Therefore, our interpretations of scripture and how we state theology will always tend toward what is reasonable. We hope some people have life observations that make sense with the theology stated here. Theology is a theory. God is real. Theology exists as printed material. God exists as a person.
In the Christian faith, only God lives in unapproachable light. The Spirit of the Living God is our point of contact and His presence in other Christians. We can know many things about God, but we will never fully know all about Him; there will always be something more. Who wrote theology? Theology should explain our observations of the observable, natural world and direct readers to the one true God. Theology should not be a statement of what we must strive to imagine.
(1Ti 6:16 KJV) Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen.