Rev. Dr. Phillip S. Phinn, Contributor

PHINN

Visions and dreams are somewhat alike, but they are not the same. Usually, visions occur when one is awake and conscious, while a dream occurs when one is asleep. According to the American Heritage Dictionary, a vision may be defined as: "An unusual competence in discernment or perception, intelligent foresight, or the [supernatural] manner in which one sees or conceives a thing."

However, visions can be classified as open visions, inner perception, trances, as outlined in the Holy Bible in 2 Kings 6:17, Acts 27:10 and Acts 10:10 respectively. A vision like that of a dream is a frequent method used by God in the ministry of the prophet to deliver His messages. God calls for us, His people, to be visionaries, and this is confirmed in Proverbs 29:18 which further states, "He that keepeth the law, happy is he."

If we place God first in all things, thus, keep the law and covet the gift of prophecy, we will become great 'seers' and not mere 'lookers', being more receptive to the power of vision by revelation and or by the vision of faith, carrying greater peace, joy and happiness amid the appearance of circumstances within the tangible realm.

Appointed time

Apostle Paul implores us to be a seer, "to look not at the things which are seen, but at the things that are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal, [while] the things which are not seen are eternal". God reminds His people that though a "vision is for an appointed time, at the end, it shall speak and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry" (Habbakuk 2:3). It should be noted nonetheless that God's perfect timing may not be our idea of 'perfect' timing, but once a word is given by a prophet, it shall surely come to pass says the Lord; afterall, "he that is now called a prophet was before time called a seer" (Ezekiel 33:33, 1 Samuel 9:9).

Joseph is a biblical figure whom we can learn so much from. In Genesis 37, we see the Lord visiting him twice in dreams, but the dreams took 15 years to manifest. But surely, they came to pass. God's word revealed in this manner; a dream, had to be established. Regardless of the avenue used for communication, God's word will never return to Him void. Nonetheless, Joseph had a part to play and that was to keep the dream alive by maintaining the 'vision of rulership'. He had to see that the sun, moon and 11 stars would come to bow down before him and know that if God revealed it, it would be so. He would rule! He maintained such perception even when in prison and held on to his belief in his Creator and not his circumstances. He had faith, not fear. He saw promise not problem.

Devon Harbajan and wife Maria (right), members of the National Intercessory Prayer Network, join members of the congregation during the Word of Life Ministries international prophetic conference at the Hilton Kingston hotel on Easter Sunday last April. - Andrew Smith/Photography Editor

The Interpretation Of Dreams

A vision or dream may not be understood without the help of another. This was the case for Pharoah. Amid being an unbeliever, the Lord had spoken to him in a dream and allowed the spiritual gift that existed within Joseph, the interpretation of dreams, to give the direction for the land of Egypt for the future. So God demonstrates that through dreams, the life of a country can be transformed while, at the same time, an individual life improved through His divine hand of elevation.

God was responsible for the move of Joseph from the pit to the prison, from prison to the palace. Joseph's dreams gave him a visual image of where he would be one day, "greener pastures", and his greener pastures created prosperity for others around him because of his divinely appointed time, in the seven-year period of famine and seven-year period of abundance. His positioning by God within Egypt benefited immediate family members, but so too, masses of people. God's benefits are for one and all. He speaks to both believer and the unbeliever.

Rev. Dr. Phillip S. Phinn, president and senior pastor, Word of Life Ministries International; Email: wolmi10@yahoo.com.