Have Your Own Revelation

1 Corinthians 2:7-10: “But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory; ⁸ the wisdom which none of the rulers of this age has understood; for if they had understood it they would not have crucified the Lord of glory; ⁹ but just as it is written,

“Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”

¹⁰ For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God.”

Essentially Revelation is about God making Himself known by unveiling truth or disclosing some aspect of Himself in a vision or dream. Revelation derives from the Greek apokalupto (from where we get apocalypse=the revealing) meaning to uncover or unveil something hidden or secret. Deuteronomy 29:29: ”The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things that are revealed belong to us...” Ephesians 1:17: ^“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.” See also Ephesians 3:3-6, Revelation 1:1.

 

In Matthew 11:25-27 we are reminded that you can only know God by revelation from Jesus. “no man knows the Father unless the Son reveals Him...” Likewise we cannot understand who Jesus really is until revelation comes from the Father. (Mathew 16:17.) “flesh and blood has not revealed this to you...” Why do we need this? Why doesn’t God just put it all out there for everyone to know?

 

When we were made in the image and likeness of God, mankind potentially had the capacity to rationally engage with God. The vast human brain would have enabled a level of understanding to work in partnership with God in the universe. Sadly our forefather Adam chose to function independently from God using the knowledge of good and evil as his rational basis of function. All human systems of belief and understanding are now based on this principle of right and wrong, black and white, yin and yang etc.  

How do we recover our heritage? What means do we have to see as Adam saw before his fall? How do we relate to a God who is Spirit and exceeds us on every point? We are simply dependent on the gracious provision of revelation without which we are stumbling in darkness. 1 Corinthians 2:11-16: “ For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. ¹² Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, ¹³ which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit,  combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. ¹⁴ But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. ¹⁵ But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. ¹⁶ For who has known the mind of the Lord, that he will instruct Him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

It is understood through the experience of Moses in Exodus 13 that being exposed to the appearance of God is beyond human capacity. However we can understand that God progressively reveals himself by various means:

1/ In a general sense through nature: God created all of nature Romans 1:19-20: “Because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.²⁰ For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse.”Though we are humbled by the might of all of nature, it seems that a deeper revelation is required. People actually worship nature rather than the creator. See Vs 21-25.  

2/ in a general sense through the human conscience: The word conscience means ‘with knowledge’.  It is an inner knowing of one’s self. Though Adam chose knowledge, along with it cams a broad sense of morals and a sense of the existence of something greater beyond self. Romans 2:14-15. “ For when Gentiles who do not have ^[a]the Law do ^[b]instinctively the things of the Law, these, not having ^[c]the Law, are a law to themselves, ¹⁵ in that they show the work of the Law written in their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them.”

3/ in a general sense through History: The rise and fall of nations and civilizations throughout known history is a revelation of God. In his judgement upon Nebuchadnezzar, God reminds him in Daniel 4:32b: “periods of time will pass over you until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind and bestows it on whomever He wishes.” Acts 17:26-27: “ and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation, ²⁷ that they would seek God, if perhaps they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us”

Specific and purposeful revelation: General revelation targets all of humanity but God specifically targets individuals or groups with divine revelation through various means:

1/ In Jesus Christ: God is revealed in Jesus who is described in Colossians 1:15 as “the image of the Invisible God”.

2/ In miracles which are are evident throughout the Bible and throughout Church history.

3/ In prophecy throughout both the Old and New Testament.

4/ In personal experience: Paul speaks of the basis of his teaching in 1 Corinthians 2:12-13: “Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, ¹³ which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.”

Jesus brings revelation to the disciples: Luke 24:44-45: Now He said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” ⁴⁵ Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures...”

The purpose of all revelation is that individuals may come to a personal relationship with God and that relationship becomes progressively enhanced as we grow to know Him.

Revelation must be sought through prayer and study of the scriptures. It comes not with our ‘work’ but His sovereignty as He wills. We cannot claim to have revelation while we do not experience Gods supernatural involvement. The proof of all revelation is that it must fit the pattern of scripture and it must bear witness with other believers. Jesus himself submitted his revelation of scripture to others: Paul and Barnabas submitted their revelation concerning salvation for the Gentiles to the Apostles and Elders in Jerusalem in Acts 15. A revelation that was vital for you and me.