Charismatic Bible Studies - 1 Peter 4:7-11

[Hidden In Him]

Speaking As The Oracles Of God, The Responsibility Of Every Believer



Were the works of the Old Testament prophets just painting a picture from the past that we are no longer supposed to walk in, or should the great prophetic gifts of old still be in operation today? And is prophecy exclusively the domain of those who walk in the office of prophet, or was it a gift the entire church was called to walk in? Joel 2:28 suggests that the entire end-time church will continue to operate in them, and that from youngest to oldest they will all move in dreams, visions and prophetic utterance. And while this may not be where some of the churches are today, it appears this was indeed how things were during Peter's time, for he will now encourage those who received this letter to "speak only as the oracles of God."

7 The end of all things has drawn near. Therefore be sound-minded and watchful unto the prayers. 8 But above all, possess earnest love amongst yourselves, because love covers over a multitude of sins. 9 Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. 10 Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11 If anyone speaks, speak as the oracles of God. If anyone serves, serve as through the strength which God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory and the might for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:7-11)

"Faithful stewards of the manifold grace of God" here meant they needed to be faithful stewards of the supernatural gifts that God had distributed to all of them as congregants. The supernatural gifts were indeed manifold, and being distributed by the Spirit of God to each as He willed:

8 To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by [f]the same Spirit, 10 to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. (1 Corinthian 12:8-11)

But notice Peter did not say, "Let only the elders who speak," or "Let only the pastors who speak," or even "Let only the prophets who speak." He simply said, "Let him who speaks speak as the oracles of God," meaning any and all believers were called and required to speak as the oracles of God. This was the same thing Paul insinuated when he told the Corinthians that they could all prophesy. The gift of prophecy was much more prevalent in the early church, and the number of believers who operated in it was therefore much more pervasive:

23 Therefore if the whole church comes together in one place, and all speak with tongues, and there come in those who are uninformed or unbelievers, will they not say that you are out of your mind? 24 But if all prophesy, and an unbeliever or an uninformed person comes in, he is convinced by all, he is convicted by all. 25 And thus the secrets of his heart are revealed. And so, falling down on his face, he will worship God and report that God is truly among you. (1 Corinthians 14:23-25)

Paul also told the Corinthians that if anyone was NOT operating in the gift of prophecy that they should pray for the ability to do so. (1 Corinthians 12:31, 14:1) And Peter was now communicating the same thing, and not stressing that only the prophets speak, but that if anyone spoke it should be as the oracles of God, meaning that if anyone gave an utterance before God's people it should be by supernatural means, and he stipulated the reason very clearly: It was specifically so "that in all things God might be praised through Jesus Christ." As in Paul's teaching, when they spoke accurate prophecy over the lives of others, including non-believers, the result was often that falling down they would worship God, and profess that God was truly among them, giving Him alone the praise on honor through all they said and did.

Is prophecy still needed today? I have friends who practice evangelism through prophetic means in a similar manner, and as I will also get into, prophecy is extremely valuable in the spiritual war, and for receiving directives from the Spirit of God on what to do and what not to do. It is like hearing directly from high command, so that ministry is carried out with pinpoint accuracy rather than just haphazardly. But anyone with experience knows that there are and were complications involved, so it pays to become educated on the matter before venturing out into engaging in it.


Dealing With Complications

Similar terminology for prophecy was used throughout ancient cultures, including here, where Peter used the word λόγιον, a word commonly used by the Greeks to refer to the prophetic utterances of their own culture from antiquity. The Jews also used it when referring to prophetic matters, such as in reference to the ephod, an oracular breastplate that was worn and used by the Jewish High-Priest to discern prophetically concerning certain matters (Exodus 28:26 [30], LXX). But there was a difference between prophecies uttered by the Spirit of God and those uttered by demons, and sometimes someone within the congregation of God could be prophesying through an evil spirit. This is why they engaged in what was referred to as "testing the spirits" (1 John 4:1-6). If a spirit prophesying through someone did not attest that Jesus was God and had come in the flesh, it was an evil spirit that was speaking through the person and not God. To allow such a spirit to continue prophesying would be the same thing as allowing a demonically-possessed human vessel from the Oracle at Delphi to prophesy over the people of God, and the churches were not to allow it.



The same thing is unfortunately still possible today. As has been reported by former Satanists who have come to Christ, they regularly attend churches posing as true believers, and in churches where no restraint is placed over making sure the spirits are tested or utterances in tongues are properly interpreted, the result can be that they - or rather the demons in them - are free to utter any blasphemous things they want. The following testimony from a former High Priestess and Bride of Satan attested to this in He Came To Set The Captives Free:

If the particular church is a Charismatic church which places great emphasis on the gift of speaking in tongues, the Satanist will speak in tongues. This is no problem, as demons can speak in tongues very easily. Remember that when I was indwell by Mann-Chan I was able to address any of the foreign dignitaries in their own language fluently... But it is the custom in Charismatic churches for many people to speak and pray in tongues and the same time and without interpretation during their services and prayer meetings. Satanists take great advantage of this. During the time I served Satan, I spoke in tongues regularly in all the meetings and prayer meetings, and so did the other Satanists I was working with. No one interpreted. We were curing the church, the pastor, the members, and God, and no one knew. (Brown, He Came To Set The Captives Free, P.235-236)

There is also the potential problem of believers simply "prophesying" in the flesh, i.e. through their own soulishness rather than by the Spirit of God. The church in Thessalonica was warned that this was a possibility, and to thereforekeep the good but discard the bad, yet do NOT forbid to prophecy because of it (1 Thessalonians 5:18-22). But sometimes people feel the need to look "important" in the things of God, so they fake it even when the Spirit of God has not moved upon them to speak. There are even certain factions within the Charismatic movement that encourage everyone to "prophesy," telling them that "anyone can do it, for we all have the Spirit of God within us." This is unfortunately misleading, for while all believers who have received the word of God have the Spirit within them, it takes the Spirit resting upon someone in abudance to operate in the supernatural gifts. The Spirit must be present within them to overflowing, such as took place when the Holy Ghost would be poured upon entire congregations during New Testament times and they would all prophesy and speak in tongues (Acts 19:6). He inhabits the praises of His people, so if someone is heavily involved in Spirit-filled worship then the stage is set. His words are Spirit and Life, so if someone is deeply involved in receiving Spirit-filled revelation from the word of God then the stage is set. But if they're a lukewarm or stone cold believer who is spending no time with God and are out in the world 24/7, or worse yet deeply caught up in strife and bitterness? Telling such a believer that they will "prophesy by the Spirit of God" if they simply open their mouth and speak when the Spirit is barely present is a very spiritually misleading thing to do.

 

[Hidden In Him]

We Bear A Responsibility

So if prophecy can be so complicated to sort out, and if the enemy can use his servants to mimic it through demonic means, why still engage in it? The reason is because God protects us spiritually through the prophetic gifts, for one thing. The enemy works to destroy lives, and the prophetic gifts serve to expose his plans and thwart what he is planning on doing so that his strategies will not succeed.

I had a friend whose whole life was under attack just recently. Those serving the darkness were practicing witchcraft on him, and attempting to destroy his ministry. He was under severe depression already, and the witchcraft was on the verge of destroying his marriage and then his life. Events might have soon unfolded that would have left him divorced and living on the street, and utterly incapable of engaging in ministry any longer. But that didn't happen. The dreams we received exposed what might be coming, and he took the necessary steps to see to it that the enemy's plans were thwarted. Those dreams were supernaturally confirmed to us, though for the sake of privacy I cannot state specifically how, but who was using the witchcraft was also revealed, and we know where the trouble is coming from now. We also more recently receiving dreams that a friend of his daughter's is being targeted by a man who practices witchcraft, and she needs to be careful about not succumbing to his stalking behavior, and acquiescing just to think she will be left alone when she will be all the more subjected to spiritual enslavement by him.

We also bear a responsibility to even those serving the darkness. I once heard a prophet speaking a message in church and he spoke about this. He preached off off a passage in 2nd Kings to point out that the gift of prophecy operating through the church proves to them that there is a God in Israel, as it were. In the days of Elisha, the King of Syria became distraught, and wanted to know who was betraying his plans and strategies to the Israelites so that they were always prepared for his attacks. The answer was no one. His problem was that the prophet Elisha was simply reading his mail.

8 Now the king of Syria was making war against Israel; and he consulted with his servants, saying, “My camp will be in such and such a place.” 9 And the man of God sent to the king of Israel, saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Syrians are coming down there.” 10 Then the king of Israel sent someone to the place of which the man of God had told him. Thus he warned him, and he was watchful there, not just once or twice. 11 Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you not show me which of us is for the king of Israel?” 12 And one of his servants said, “None, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” (2 Kings 6:8-12)

Is this supposed to be some strange thing that the people of God operate in prophetic gifts that protect them from the works of the enemy? Not at all. Peter was here teaching that if anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God, meaning it should be the natural thing for those indwell by the Holy Spirit to speak divine utterances that protect us from harm. Moreover, God's word promises that in the end-times the Spirit of God will be poured out, and everyone from youngest to oldest will move in the prophetic gifts and receive dreams, visions, and prophesy by the Spirit of God. We should all speak as the Spirit gives us to speak, to protect, minister, heal, deliver, evangelize, and teach as the Spirit supernaturally gives us to. As Peter stated, we should be using the gifts each of us has received to serve others "as faithful stewards of the manifold grace of God," and do so through the supernatural strength which only HE provides. We are called to do this so that in all things our God may be praised through our Lord Jesus Christ.


Questions & Applications

1. Have you ever heard examples of people witnessing to others by prophetic means, such that the Spirit of God Himself revealed secret details of the person's life and they were so overcome that they gave their life to Christ as a result?

2. Have you ever received dreams that you felt were a prophetic warning, either about your own life or about someone else's?

3. Have you ever prayed for the ability to prophesy or receive dreams and visions, and if so did you feel you might be "unworthy" to receive them? I ask this because while it does take abiding in the Spirit to operate in the gifts, some also face the problem of having a poor self-image, and feeling as though they are somehow "unworthy" of being used. This is of course patty false, yet the enemy uses the mindset to discourage some from ever walking in what should be considered their divine right.

 

[RandyK]

We Bear A Responsibility

So if prophecy can be so complicated to sort out, and if the enemy can use his servants to mimic it through demonic means, why still engage in it? The reason is because God protects us spiritually through the prophetic gifts, for one thing. The enemy works to destroy lives, and the prophetic gifts serve to expose his plans and thwart what he is planning on doing so that his strategies will not succeed.

I had a friend whose whole life was under attack just recently. Those serving the darkness were practicing witchcraft on him, and attempting to destroy his ministry. He was under severe depression already, and the witchcraft was on the verge of destroying his marriage and then his life. Events might have soon unfolded that would have left him divorced and living on the street, and utterly incapable of engaging in ministry any longer. But that didn't happen. The dreams we received exposed what might be coming, and he took the necessary steps to see to it that the enemy's plans were thwarted. Those dreams were supernaturally confirmed to us, though for the sake of privacy I cannot state specifically how, but who was using the witchcraft was also revealed, and we know where the trouble is coming from now. We also more recently receiving dreams that a friend of his daughter's is being targeted by a man who practices witchcraft, and she needs to be careful about not succumbing to his stalking behavior, and acquiescing just to think she will be
Questions & Applications

1. Have you ever heard examples of people witnessing to others by prophetic means, such that the Spirit of God Himself revealed secret details of the person's life and they were so overcome that they gave their life to Christ as a result?

Early on in my Spirit-filled Christian life, I noticed that things I said made others say that what I said was timely. And I've received information from pastors to me that were timely, as well.

Those who I spoke to who later became Christians never creditted me with "saving them," but recognized that I had acted as a Christian. I see myself as more of a "seed planter" than an evangelist.

2. Have you ever received dreams that you felt were a prophetic warning, either about your own life or about someone else's?

In Job we are told that dreams are sometimes "warnings in the night." Many of my dreams have dredged up negative experiences that became a warning to me to avoid them. For example, having watched too many movies, or any at all, that are occultic in nature, I'm bound to have a nightmare, which then warns me to have nothing to do with the occult.

But no, I've not been warned not to do things. I normally find, through my circumstances, whether God is "in a particular choice I've made" or not.

To begin with, I don't choose to do things that are obviously ungodly or sinful. But there are many choices we make that are neutral, and God gets to decide which direction He will bless.

3. Have you ever prayed for the ability to prophesy or receive dreams and visions, and if so did you feel you might be "unworthy" to receive them? I ask this because while it does take abiding in the Spirit to operate in the gifts, some also face the problem of having a poor self-image, and feeling as though they are somehow "unworthy" of being used. This is of course patty false, yet the enemy uses the mindset to discourage some from ever walking in what should be considered their divine right.

I don't feel unworthy at all to utilize prophecy. I just think it's presumptuous to try to exercise a gift unless God specifically guides me in that direction. I do find that it's when "stepping out" in ministry that gifts come quite freely.

The gift that I particularly enjoy is "wisdom." I do know how to act in an uninspired, foolhardy way. And so, I long to have my mind set right. ;)

For what it's worth, I strongly lean in the direction you lean in, towards a supernatural experience with God, replete with supernatural phenomena, whether dreams, visions, or prophecies. Miracles, signs, and wonders of various kinds should follow any ministry we participate in. We don't try to produce them--they just show up.

Most of the "miracles" I see in my own life consist of circumstantial coincidences. God does cool things like gave my wife and I our 1st house when my 1st and only child was born.

My brother's 1st born was born the last day of the year (a tax deduction/exemption). His oldest son's 1st born was born on New Year's Day a couple of days ago! ;)

My wife's favorite brother was born on Christmas Day. My brother was born on Friday the 13th! ;)

 

[Hidden In Him]

In Job we are told that dreams are sometimes "warnings in the night." Many of my dreams have dredged up negative experiences that became a warning to me to avoid them. For example, having watched too many movies, or any at all, that are occultic in nature, I'm bound to have a nightmare, which then warns me to have nothing to do with the occult.

I came to find quite early on that the dreams Christians often referred to as " nightmares" are actually legitimate dreams of God, only they are warning of something rather dire that could be coming if the right steps were not made to prevent it. I've encountered several who didn't want to take that position, and simply believed that if a dream was negative then it was "not of God." But how can He warn us prophetically of something negative coming if the only thing we will receive is that everything will come up smelling like roses in bloom?

 

[Hidden In Him]

The gift that I particularly enjoy is "wisdom."

I can see that : )

 

[RandyK]

I can see that : )

Thank you, but often I'm very foolish. Many times I've had to learn "the hard way." I'd like the less painful path, if that is possible! ;)

A little story.... Many years ago when I was in a small Bible School with only about 30 students, meeting in my pastor's home... There was this lovely old woman, single all her life and very dedicated to teaching the Scriptures. What a lovely spirit she had!

She told us that she had made mistakes in life, and she said she prays we never have to learn the way she did!

She asked us what we needed to learn from the Bible? Nobody answered, and so I said, "We need to know the entire Bible!"

She promptly began a course that took us through a sketch of the entire Bible. I will *never forget* when she got to Proverbs, she smilingly looked at all of us and said, "You sluggards! You need to be disciplined," or something to that effect.

I've never forgotten. She wasn't being harsh--she just wanted to plant in our heart the idea that we *must* ask God for wisdom if we would avoid terrible mistakes. I remember her name: Elizabeth Sharp (died many years ago).

 

[RandyK]

I came to find quite early on that the dreams Christians often referred to as " nightmares" are actually legitimate dreams of God, only they are warning of something rather dire that could be coming if the right steps were not made to prevent it. I've encountered several who didn't want to take that position, and simply believed that if a dream was negative then it was "not of God." But how can He warn us prophetically of something negative coming if the only thing we will receive is that everything will come up smelling like roses in bloom?

No, I quite agree with you. I finally realized that. It was a slow realization for me, because like many I was raised in the public schools with all of its humanism and psychology. I thought dreams were independent of God, and merely a way our brains defragment, or something like that.

I do think we are recharging, in a sense, but for the Christian all things are designed by God to aid us in many ways. Dreams are often given by God to warn us when our minds have gotten out into Left Field.

Having come to recognize this I've noticed, further, that some dreams stand out as messages from God, while many others are purely a way of uncluttering our minds from our worries, etc.

I've had other kinds of dreams that you might think unbelievable--I'm not really weird about all this--it's simply true. I had one dream, quite awhile back, in which I knew I was dreaming. I was actually able to *fly!* ;)

Well, never mind. The dreams that have been from God were really important because 1) it told me I was saved, and 2) it warned me about the occult.

There was one dream where demons were coming after me, and I cried out to Jesus for help. At that precise moment a neighbor's door banged, and I awoke. It confirmed that I had been in a Christian cult. In this case, the dream seemed less from God than from the Devil. But God used the dream to show me His deliverance.

Anyway, I believe in the supernatural--I'm just very honest about what I think, wrong or right. But I would rather err on the side of the supernatural because our God is supernatural. If we cut Him off, where will we be?

I'm not going to dig up messages where they don't exist. But some Christians have been given the unique ability to interpret things. You may have this gift, as I've listened to your experiences.

I'm aware of this kind of thing, although with me it's different. I could study the Scriptures for a hundred years, and not get anything out of a particular passage until somebody near me is asking about it. Suddenly messages come into my head with ideas that I've never seen before. And I think, I hope they don't think I knew this stuff already! ;)

God brings the interpretation when it is needed. And His gifts are irrevocable. So if He's given you that gift, you're right to use it, develop it, and bring God to others through it!

 

[hawkman]

2. Have you ever received dreams that you felt were a prophetic warning, either about your own life or about someone else's?

I have shared this once but here it is again .

I had a short disturbing dream one night. The dream was this. My wife and I were being chased around our car by a man with a gun, there was no where to hide and the dream ended with us kneeling on the ground with the gunman ready to shoot us beside our car. I woke up and sat straight up in the bed in a cold sweat. I thought, this is not good at all. The year before I had a dream that I did live out in real time, now after that happens to you your dreams become serious for you, just saying.

Once a year my wife and I visit a dental school to get our teeth cleaned and help the students have some practical training and we save a little coin too. On the morning of our appointment at the school we got up in plenty of time to be in our car at a certain time. But no matter what we did that morning we could not get ready and get out the door , it was so strange because if we need to be out the door at certain time we are ! So we left about 30 minutes later than we thought we should. About half way into our drive of and hour and a half we come upon an intersection with many police and cars lined up at a stop sign, one car had a bullet hole in it's drivers side window. We saw the soles of their feet of people sitting on the ground next to the cars at the stop sign.

At this time my mind went back to my dream, I had told my wife of my dream too . It was a somber trip the rest of the way to the dental school. My wife's blood pressure was too high so they would not clean her teeth. They did clean my teeth and I had a first year student and that means it was a very slow process and more time than usual. At noon the students have to stop no matter if they are done or not with the patient. So we were later than normal going back home. We took the same route going home and before we got even close to the intersection where the shooting took place we were directed by a road crew to a different route and we got lost and had to refer to road maps and took about an hour extra getting home. (Unknown to us at the time the gunman had returned to the scene of the shooting to shoot at people some more). So we missed being shot at twice in one day! So did God keep us from getting out the door than morning at our decided time? I believe so. Later we found out what happened at the intersection.
https://www.wbrc.com/story/31760126/man-dead-after-shootout-police-chase-in-blount-co/

 

[RandyK]

I have shared this once but here it is again .

Wow, I was just telling my wife the other day and confessing that sometimes circumstances just get the better of us, and though I complain I must simply submit to God and let things be, whether we are on time or not. God must have a reason for everything He does in our lives, and we just have to trust Him.

I'm so glad you simply went through the circumstances God put you through, because there is safety in following God and letting Him be the driver.

 

[Hidden In Him]

Anyway, I believe in the supernatural--I'm just very honest about what I think, wrong or right. But I would rather err on the side of the supernatural because our God is supernatural. If we cut Him off, where will we be?

Exactly. Personally (and I say this at the age of 60, after walking with Christ for almost 40 years now), if it stands out to me at all - good, bad, scary, anything - I will take a dream to be communicating something to me from God. I find when I seek Him out I will find the answers. But that's after years of interpreting, and even then it takes seeking Him in prayer.

As for the common believer, and the common man on the street, I think the same is actually true that the Lord is trying to speak to them, but whether they will learn to tune in to it or not will remain the question.

 

[Hidden In Him]

I'm aware of this kind of thing, although with me it's different. I could study the Scriptures for a hundred years, and not get anything out of a particular passage until somebody near me is asking about it. Suddenly messages come into my head with ideas that I've never seen before.

This is actually the way dream interpretation works as well, btw. You can look at something and just be drawing a complete blank. But then you pray, and suddenly a light comes on about some part of it. I call it a "key." Something opens up, and once that does, other pieces start coming together as well, until a full interpretation eventually forms.

Scripture interpretation and Dream interpretation are actually very closely akin to one another in that way.

 

[RandyK]

This is actually the way dream interpretation works as well, btw. You can look at something and just be drawing a complete blank. But then you pray, and suddenly a light comes on about some part of it. I call it a "key." Something opens up, and once that does, other pieces start coming together as well, until a full interpretation eventually forms.

Scripture interpretation and Dream interpretation are actually very closely akin to one another in that way.

Actually that is what I was trying to say, that these "gifts" are similar. They are both supernatural revelations that transcend the circumstances. God gives you a "key," which opens everything up for you.

Watchman Nee used to say this. He, in speaking of the revelation of God's word, indicated that often God gives a minister of the word just a word or a few words, which then translate into a much larger message. It is a means of divine communication, and God can transfer information in a second--just like light.

 

[RandyK]

This is actually the way dream interpretation works as well, btw. You can look at something and just be drawing a complete blank. But then you pray, and suddenly a light comes on about some part of it. I call it a "key." Something opens up, and once that does, other pieces start coming together as well, until a full interpretation eventually forms.

Scripture interpretation and Dream interpretation are actually very closely akin to one another in that way.

It's interesting. Years ago I would read how Joseph or Daniel would have or hear of a dream, and then interpret it in ways that seem to go far beyond what they were seeing. I thought, "How could Joseph perceive some objects as years?"

But it's plain that these objects are purely "keys," as you describe them. The interpretation is uncovered by the objects when touched upon unveil a lot of information that must come straight from God. The revealed information far exceed these "keys."

I think the "key" can either establish a divinely revealed motif, which puts together everything else, or it simply is a ground for our faith on a particular occasion, out of which comes a lot of information.

 

[Br4nd0n]

1. Have you ever heard examples of people witnessing to others by prophetic means, such that the Spirit of God Himself revealed secret details of the person's life and they were so overcome that they gave their life to Christ as a result?

Yes. This man said to a street preacher that his mom had to call him and apoligize for abandoning him when he was younger for him to believe in God. He had her number for a while but he would never call her. They prayed. She called immediately. The preacher said he had to answer the phone. It was the deal. He answered and she said sorry. He hung up and prayed to Jesus. He called her back. She gave her life to Jesus 4 days before that.

2. Have you ever received dreams that you felt were a prophetic warning, either about your own life or about someone else's?

Yes.

 

[hawkman]

3. Have you ever prayed for the ability to prophesy or receive dreams and visions, and if so did you feel you might be "unworthy" to receive them? I ask this because while it does take abiding in the Spirit to operate in the gifts, some also face the problem of having a poor self-image, and feeling as though they are somehow "unworthy" of being used. This is of course patty false, yet the enemy uses the mindset to discourage some from ever walking in what should be considered their divine right.

God takes the defective and broken people of the world and uses them to His glory, people like Paul in the Bible someone headed in totally the wrong direction. I have had my doubts like why is it me You are using? But more in the past than now. I say to God use me for what ever I can be used for, let me be a vessel for Your use.

 

[Hidden In Him]

It's interesting. Years ago I would read how Joseph or Daniel would have or hear of a dream, and then interpret it in ways that seem to go far beyond what they were seeing. I thought, "How could Joseph perceive some objects as years?"

But it's plain that these objects are purely "keys," as you describe them. The interpretation is uncovered by the objects when touched upon unveil a lot of information that must come straight from God.

Personally what I think happens is that the Lord builds a certain "vocabulary" with the interpreter, if you will. I know which dream you are referring to, and I once recall wondering how he automatically equated certain things in that dream as well. But I suspect Daniel had already seen similar imagery in other dreams and therefore understood the symbolism based on what he'd seen elsewhere.

It's also possible he simply received word of knowledge even if he hadn't seen that symbolism before, but it struck my as curious as well

 

[Hidden In Him]

Yes. This man said to a street preacher that his mom had to call him and apoligize for abandoning him when he was younger for him to believe in God. He had her number for a while but he would never call her. They prayed. She called immediately. The preacher said he had to answer the phone. It was the deal. He answered and she said sorry. He hung up and prayed to Jesus. He called her back. She gave her life to Jesus 4 days before that.

That's powerful.

 

[Hidden In Him]

God takes the defective and broken people of the world and uses them to His glory, people like Paul in the Bible someone headed in totally the wrong direction. I have had my doubts like why is it me You are using? But more in the past than now. I say to God use me for what ever I can be used for, let me be a vessel for Your use.

I used to go through the same things, especially concerning revelation concerning the written word. I would see. things others weren't seeing, and it was like, "OK, why am I seeing this when others are not?" But you grow more accustomed. I assumed it was because God looks upon the heart, and He knows I would not take glory unto myself, or use spiritual authority to simply try and exploit people for money, or any other type of spiritual abuse.

And it's strange... the ones who think they are unworthy are the ones who are, whereas the ones who think they are all that and completely worthy are actually the ones who are not. Sort of an amazing thing, but as the scripture says, "He exalts the humble but abases the proud."