You old snake in the grass!
I dreamed that I was with someone else shooting bad guys. He had a big gun that look like something from an 80s TV show. I was shooting down all the bad guys no problem. It looked like they were all shot but I was worried and hurriedly reloading my guy fearful that there was still a sniper out there. I asked the other guy for some ammo and he gave me his bullet belt and mine had a few left on it. I was loading all these into the cartridge and my children were there and I was telling them to watch out cause there still might be gunfire. And I was worried that the bullets that I was loading might go off. There was some dust where I was putting them and thought it might be gunpowder that would set off the bullets.
I woke up at 5am and when I can’t sleep I usually read my Daily Bible but I felt led to pick up my Life Application Study Bible. I had an old sermon stuffed in it. I reviewed it and realized this sermon held the meaning of my dream. Pastor Ed Silvoso preached on Luke and stated that there was a hostile spiritual climate in Luke chapters 1-9 but after chapter 10 and through to 24 there was a favorable spiritual climate. Silvoso said that in a favorable spiritual climate you are no longer confronted by the devil.
The online dream dictionary states that “to see a bullet or bullets in your dream, indicates anger and aggression directed at you or someone else.” I believe God is telling me that I have moved from a hostile spiritual climate to a favorable one (maybe in one area of my life). That I need to put away the bullets (anger and aggression) and my fears (and worries about my children) and stop preparing for another attack. If I put away my bullets I don’t have to worry about insignificant things (dust) setting off my bullets.
Pastor Silvoso pointed out a four step strategy when things turn to a favorable spiritual climate.
1. Bless them (Luke 10:5)
2. Fellowship with them (Luke 10:7)
3. Minister to their felt needs - offer prayer (Luke 10:9a)
4. Proclaim or preach the gospel. (Luke 10:9b)
Pastor Silvoso said Jesus sends us out before him to the places He plans to visit to do these four steps with with signs and wonders (Luke 10:1).
Let me take it a step farther past his sermon. Jesus said, “I have given you authority over all the power of the enemy, and you can even walk among snakes and scorpions and crush them. Nothing will injure you.” (Luke 10:19). As we apply this four step strategy we will be walking among snakes and scorpions. I see snakes and scorpions as symbolic of people. Snakes are clever, guileful, and deceitful to others and themselves. My grandmother used to say “you old snake in the grass” when someone was acting sly or sneaky. Scorpions are poisonous with their stinging comments, gossip, slander, and foul language.
My step-father said one of my best qualities is that I’m honest so it’s not surprising that I STRUGGLE WITH THE SNAKES DECEITFULNESS> I’m more insightful and intuitive than clever like a snake. I’ve been called a weasel before because I weaseled into a good deal (but not dishonestly!) like a good job or benefit or bonus, but I’m not a snake. I don’t struggle with scorpions as much because I also have a critical and condemning side that can be poisonous too. I guess I’m more forgiving with scorpions because I also need grace in that area. Sometimes snakes and scorpions claim to know Christ or be a Christian. That’s not surprising because even demons admit to knowing Jesus (Mark 3:11, James 2:19) and the devil disguises himself as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:13-14).
Lastly, to tie this back into my dream I don’t need to prepare for an attack and load bullets anymore because God has moved me into a spiritual climate where I can now walk among snakes and scorpions without fearing injury.
One Christian pointed out that God has transformed the hierarchy at his work and he has found more favor. We have lived in our townhouse complex for a few years and God has recently moved in a two Christian couples who we have befriended. I think this coincides with the changing of the spiritual climate both at my work and in my neighborhood. Lastly, when we move into a favorable spiritual climate we start to see salvations occur around us, as demonstrated in Luke chapter 19.
Jesus responded, “SALVATION HAS COME TO THIS HOME TODAY< FOR THIS MAN HAS SHOWN HIMSELF TO BE A TRUE SON OF Abraham. For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost."
Luke 19:9
