I am hoping this
lesson will help us all to understand why it is so important to
ask God to reveal what he wants us to see as we read His word.
Without the Holy Spirit's help, we cannot understand the Word of
God. God's great gift to us is Revealed Knowledge of His Word.
Without revelation knowledge we would not understand the
scriptures and they would not come alive in our hearts.
It was first expressed by Jesus when he asked a question to His
disciples.
Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ
Matthew 16:13-17
Peter’s Revelation of Christ
13 When Jesus came to Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples
this question: “What are the people saying about me, the Son of
Man? Who do they believe I am?” 14 They answered, “Some are
convinced you are John the Baptizer, others say you are Elijah
reincarnated, or Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.” 15 “But
you—who do you say that I am?” Jesus asked. 16 Simon Peter spoke
up and said, “You are the Anointed One, the Son of the living
God!”
17 Jesus replied, “You are favored and privileged Simeon, son of
Jonah! For you didn’t discover this on your own, but my Father
in heaven has supernaturally revealed it to you. 18 I give you
the name Peter, a stone. And this rock will be the bedrock
foundation on which I will build my church—my legislative
assembly, and the power of death will not be able to overpower
it! 19 I will give you the keys of heaven’s kingdom realm to
forbid on earth that which is forbidden in heaven, and to
release on earth that which is released in heaven.”
No man had been able to reveal to Peter who Jesus really was.
Only God had that revelation and put it into Peter's heart.
Jesus was very impressed by this...He called him "favoured and
priviledged". And look at what he told Peter his reward would
be!(verses 18&19). And look how it came to pass in Peter's
ministry. And this promise was not just to Peter but to everyone
who receives that revelation! We
receive that revelation when the Holy Spirit works in us to get
saved. Someone tells us about what the Bible says about
salvation and then we act upon it, and get saved. The first step
towards Revelation Knowledge of God's plan for us. And then we
are to continue our journey on from that point.
I once heard a teacher of the Word say this. "The Bible is so
simple to understand we have to have help to misunderstand it."
In other words...we over think the Scriptures, trying to find
something to suit what we want it to say instead of just taking
it at face value and asking the Holy Spirit and then believing
it.
Jesus put it this way.
Matthew 11:25
25 Then Jesus exclaimed, “Father, thank you, for you are Lord,
the Supreme Ruler over heaven and earth! And you have hidden the
great revelation of your authority from those who are proud and
think they are wise and unveiled it instead to little children.
When Jesus was on the earth he was constantly followed by
critics and people that didn't understand who he was and what he
was doing. They were so caught up in pursuing what they thought
was right, that they missed the simplicity of what Jesus was
saying and doing. He didn't have a hidden agenda, he was there doing good
and because people didn't understand and didn't really want to
try to understand, so it was hidden from them and only shown to
those that really wanted to know the truth, and be set free.
In the same way today we have to really want to know what the
word is teaching us or we will remain blinded to the truth as
well. We all need the Holy Spirit in our lives teaching and
guiding us into all truth.
John 16
12 “There is so much more I would like to say to you, but it’s
more than you can grasp at this moment. 13 But when the
truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every
truth within you. He won’t speak on his own, but only what he
hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you
what is to come.
No one can really receive true revelation knowledge of the Word
without the Holy Spirit operating in their lives. When we got
saved the Holy Spirit was at work in us. But we have to continue
on in the plan that Jesus has for us, and that is to receive the
Holy Spirit Baptism. He never meant for us to be alone, he sent
the Holy Spirit when He went to heaven. We need to allow him
full operation in our lives.
John 16
The Work of the Holy Spirit
5 But now that I’m about to leave you and go back to join the
One who sent me, you need to be told. Yet, not one of you are
asking me where I’m going. 6 Instead your hearts are filled with
sadness because I’ve told you these things. 7 But here’s the
truth: It’s to your advantage that I go away, for if I don’t go
away the Divine Encourager will not be released to you. But
after I depart, I will send him to you. 8 And when he comes, he
will expose sin and prove that the world is wrong about God’s
righteousness and his judgments. 9 “ ‘Sin,’ because they refuse
to believe in who I am.
10 “God’s ‘righteousness,’ because I’m going back to join the
Father and you’ll see me no longer.
11 “And ‘judgment’ because the ruler of this dark world has
already received his sentence.
Revelation knowledge comes from the Holy Spirit at work in our
lives as we make the decision that we want to know what God's
Word says. If we seek His face and ask for his wisdom, he will
give us revelation of things that others can't even comprehend.
Luke 10:21
21 Then Jesus, overflowing with the Holy Spirit’s joy,
exclaimed, “Father, thank you, for you are Lord Supreme over
heaven and earth! You have hidden the great revelation of this
authority from those who are proud, those wise in their own
eyes, and you have shared it with these who humbled themselves.
Yes, Father. This is what pleases your heart: to give these
things to those who are like trusting children.
The religious people in Jesus' time didn't want to know the
truth. They were so caught up in rules and regulations that they
had lost sight of what was important, and that was to know God
and who He was and what He could do, and what we mean to Him.
They could not understand Jesus and why he did what he did and
what drove him. It was the compassion of God and the desire to
do His will that moved Jesus.
Matthew 14:14
14 So when Jesus landed he had a huge crowd waiting for him.
Seeing so many people, his heart was deeply moved with
compassion toward them, so he healed all the sick who were in
the crowd.
If they had taken time to follow him as the disciples did, they
would have understood his mission. But even Peter was the only
one that received the revelation of who Jesus was, before the
rest of them got saved and filled with the Holy Spirit. And I
don't think he fully understood that revelation until that
happened either. None of these men were saved until after Jesus
died and rose again.
In the same context we need to not only be saved, but we need to
get filled with the Holy Spirit to be able to understand the
word. I was saved when I was five. I had a good understanding of
salvation and knew a lot about the Bible, but never fully
understood the depth of so many of the truths of the New
Testament until I got filled with the Holy Spirit when I was in
my 20's. And am still learning and getting new revelations each
time I read a scripture, no matter how many times I have read it
before. The Word should be fresh every time you read it, as long
as you allow the Holy Spirit to teach you each time you get into
the Word.
Many of the Old Testament prophets, even though they weren't
saved, sought God and were open to Him to reveal Himself to them
and became sensitive to His voice. They managed to persuade
Kings because of this. A good example of this was Daniel. Read
his story and see how he believed God no matter what
circumstances came into his life and no matter how the devil
tried to stop him. He was a faithful and loyal servant of God
and as a result God gave him great gifts.
Daniel 2:28a But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets
29b And He who reveals secrets has made known to you what will
be. 30 But as for me, this secret has not been revealed to me
because I have more wisdom than anyone living, but for our sakes
who make known the interpretation to the king, and that you may
know the thoughts of your heart.
Read the entire chapter of Daniel 2 to see what this is all
about. But the main thought was that he was given the gift of
interpreting dreams and God used him and he was rewarded for it.
If you read the whole book of Daniel you will see the full story
of Daniel and find out just how dedicated he was to seeking
God's face by spending time in pray and study. His life was
spared many times because of this.
Moses and Joseph were two more men that God used mightily
because they sought after him. The amazing thing is that they
did not have the Bible to go by as it had not been written yet.
They just wanted to know if there was a God and He revealed
himself to them. And God used both of them to save their people.
David was just a shepherd boy that God used to rule a nation. He
hungered for God and God's spirit came on him.
1 Samuel 16
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or
at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the
Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward
appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 11 And Samuel said
to Jesse, “Are all the young men here?” Then he said, “There
remains yet the youngest, and there he is, keeping the sheep.”
12 And Samuel said to Jesse, “Send and bring him. For we will
not sit down till he comes here.” 12 So he sent and brought him
in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And
the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” 13 Then
Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of
his brethren: and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from
that day forward.
These are all Old Testament men that the Spirit rested on. Think
of how dedicated they were to seek after a God that not only
could they could not see Him, but not able read about in some
cases...and some did not even know that He existed, but followed
the voice of the Spirit drawing them in, and were able to be
open to communicating with Him and did in one form or another.
And believed that He was real!!
But we are born again children of God. We have
His written Word. If we spend time in God's presence and seek
His face and read His word, God will reveal Himself and His Word
to us and we will see great and mighty things happen in our
lives as well.
