Trances

Trances are a meditative type of state, which God takes you into in order to communicate with you. They are like having a dream while you are awake. All of a sudden, God’s presence comes and you are caught up in a trance. It is often so real that it seems to be happening. These can also be accompanied by an ‘Open Heavens.’

Some trances will appear so real it is as if they are happening!

After his death and resurrection Jesus had already told the disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation.” Mark 16:15 They had failed to do this. In fact most of the Apostles had stayed in Jerusalem Acts 8:1 instead of going. Peter had travelled throughout Judea, Galilee and Samaria Acts 9:31-32, and ministered amongst the Jews, but then got stuck at Joppa Acts 9:43.

God had thrown a reminder in by sovereignly leading Phillip to the Ethiopian eunuch Acts 8:25, who was converted, but the church seems to have ignored the significance of this!

In Acts 10 v 9-48, Peter falls into a trance, the heavens open and three times a great sheet is lowered containing all types of animals, crawling creatures and birds. He is told to “Arise kill and eat”. He objects, saying “By no means Lord for I have never eaten anything unholy and unclean.” God counters with “What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy.”
As he meditates/reflects on this the Holy Spirit tells him “Behold three men are looking for you. But get up, go downstairs and accompany them without misgivings, for I have sent them Myself.”
Some God fearing gentiles then turn up. They have come on behalf of their master, a God fearing gentile, who was sent a vision of an angel and told to go to the house where Peter was staying Acts 10:1-8. Peter goes to their master’s house, shares the gospel and has his first gentile converts. Peter’s trance thus changed his world view as he truly realized for the first time that the gospel is for all creation not just the world wide Jews.

Notice that although Peter obeyed the leading of the Holy Spirit and shared the Gospel with the Gentiles Acts 10:23-48, he then went up to Jerusalem to check it out with the other Apostles Acts 11 to make sure that he was doing the right thing.

In some visions and trances it is possible to interact with what is happening e.g. Ezekiel 3:2, Isaiah 5, Zechariah 1:9, 2:2, 3:5, 4:4, 5:6, 6:4, Rev 5:5, 7:14 – if in doubt try and see what happens.

Next
1. Introduction.
2. God's nature as creator and communicator.
3. The role of the Bible.
4. Turn aside when you notice something.
5. Be careful what you worship.
6. The Holy Spirit quickens things.
7. Hide and seek using parables.
8. Ask the Holy Spirit.
9. The inner room is where we meet with God.
10. The importance of peace and stillness.
11. Don't hurry God will speak.
12. Waiting and longing takes us higher to a place where God acts.
13. What price do we have to pay?
14. Holding a word for a time and part of the whole picture.
15. How do we know it's from God/Act in faith?
16. Jesus is open to persuasion!
17. The Language God uses to communicate.
18. God communicates through our sensory organs.
19. God communicates primarily to the heart.
20. God offends our mind to change our heart.
21. Listening depends on your heart attitude.
22. Circumcision is the cure to a hard heart!
23. Listen to your heart
24. Eyes.
25. Lift up your eyes.
26. Make sure your vision is clear.
27. Ears/hearing the voice of the Lord.
28. Reach for higher levels.
29. How God communicates - impressions.
30. Seeing with the eyes of your heart.
31. Visions.
32. Open visions.
33. Trances.
34. Signs.
35. Dreams.
36. Conclusion.
Media
Please sign the guestbook
Home.