Friday 6 July 2018

POWER OF REVELATION


POWER OF REVELATION

"You are blessed … because my Father in heaven has REVEALED this to you. You did not learn this from any human being. Now I say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it. And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven. Whatever you lock on earth will be locked in heaven, and whatever you open on earth will be opened in heaven." Matt. 16:17-19 NLT

Revelation is the disclosure of things previously hidden that are mysterious in nature, such unveiling releases faith and power for actualization of what has been unveiled in the natural. It is God’s Sovereign self-disclosure to transform those who receive it, and to conform them to His image, in order to make them a revelation to the world. These things are being revealed to us by the Holy Spirit [1 Cor. 2:9-12].

Revelation is truth or knowledge that is disclosed through communication with God, communicating divine truth, something that is revealed by God to humans. It comes when God speaks to our spirit and we perceive as given in the word of God. The Shunammite woman declared to her husband by revelation that  “I perceive that this is a holy man of God passing by us continually” [2 Kings 4:9]. The woman at the well of Sychar said to Jesus “Sir, I perceive that You are a prophet” [John 4:19] while Paul said “Men, I perceive that the voyage will certainly be with damage and great loss…” [Acts 27:10]

Our faith in God is proportional to the knowledge of God that we have. We are actually empowered to know and serve God much more based on the knowledge of God that we possess or information of God that we are aware of or have accessed.

“The secret things belong unto the LORD our God: but those things which are revealed belong unto us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law” Deut. 29:29

All secrets and the power to reveal them belong to God, and God has the power to give or to withhold as He will to restrain or disclose all truth, natural or spiritual, biblical or inspirational. And, when He gives a revelation, it affects believers positively, both personal and corporately. Natural men do not accept the things that the Spirit of God reveals because they are foolishness to him and spiritually evaluated or discerned[1 Cor. 2:14].

“Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern showed to thee in the mount” Heb. 8:5

The plan of God is always to replicate things on earth as a type of heavenly things, so God opens our ears to hear and our eyes to see heavenly things just like Moses was shown the heavenly tabernacle to duplicate on earth. The glory of God that backs up His works on the earth is not released until we do things according to the heavenly pattern revealed unto us.

“And when Balaam saw that it pleased the LORD to bless Israel, he went not, as at other times, to seek for enchantments, but he set his face toward the wilderness. And Balaam lifted up his eyes, and he saw Israel abiding in his tents according to their tribes; and the spirit of God came upon him. And he took up his parable, and said, Balaam the son of Beor hath said, and the man whose EYES ARE OPENED hath said: He hath said, which HEARD THE WORDS OF GOD, which SAW THE VISIONS of the Almighty, FALLING INTO A TRANCE, but having his EYES OPENED: How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, and thy tabernacles, O Israel! As the valleys are they spread forth, as gardens by the river's side, as the trees of lign aloes which the LORD hath planted, and as cedar trees beside the waters. He shall pour the water out of his buckets, and his seed shall be in many waters, and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted” Numbers 24:1-7

The Spirit of God came upon Balaam, his spiritual eyes were opened to see supernaturally, his ears were popped open to hear the words of God, and he fell into a trance and saw the visions of God in order to show prophetic revelation or insight that God gave concerning the immediate future blessings of God upon the Israelite. This is very similar to the prophetic trance that God showed to Peter [Acts 10] when he was to go to the house of Cornelius in order to inaugurate the ministry to the Gentiles.

“Then was the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever and ever: for wisdom and might are his: And he changes the times and the seasons: he removes kings, and sets up kings: he gives wisdom unto the wise, and knowledge to them that know understanding: He REVEALS the deep and SECRET things: he knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with him. I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast MADE KNOWN UNTO ME now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now MADE KNOWN unto us the king's matter” Daniel 2:19-23

God gives wisdom, knowledge and understanding and reveals deep and secret things in order to make known to us great and mighty things hidden before now. Wisdom is invariably released by making correct judgments and decisions, knowing what to know and how much and what to do with it.

Daniel was able to interpret dreams or sacred things written on walls by wisdom and understanding by revelation given to him by God. When Daniel unveiled the fact that Israelite were supposed to be in captivity for only seventy years and that the time of their release has come, he tarried and prevailed in the Presence of God and his petition was granted him such that the two most powerful archangel Michael and Gabriel had to be released to deliver the message and to confront the Prince of Persia on his behalf.

“Let me tell you, my friends, that the gospel I preach is not of human origin. I did not receive it from any human being, nor did anyone teach it to me. It was Jesus Christ himself who REVEALED it to me” Gal 1:11-12 GNB

In as much as Jesus Christ Himself declared that we should go and teach the nations [Matt. 28:18-20], it is safe to be taught by men who has been ordained and called by God. But here Paul is talking about a more excellent way of being taught the Holy Scriptures which is the revelation of Christ through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who inspires us through the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that the eyes of our understanding can be enlightened or illuminated [Eph. 1:16-19] and we all with open heart can be transformed by the renewing of our minds and through the workings of the Word of God and the Holy Spirit [2 Cor. 3:16-18] until we all behold the Lord Jesus as in a mirror and hereby be transformed into His own image in an ever increasing splendor. [Romans 9:22; 1 Cor. 12:3; 1 Cor. 15:1; 2 Cor.8:1]. We must read, study, meditate in the word of God; have continual fellowship with the Godhead and connect with the Holy Spirit to have access to hidden matters in the kingdom of God.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in spirit, and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes: even so, Father; for so it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me of my Father: and no man knows who the Son is, but the Father; and who the Father is, but the Son, and he to whom the Son will reveal him. And he turned him unto his disciples, and said privately, Blessed are the eyes which see the things that ye see: For I tell you, that many prophets and kings have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” Luke 10:21-24

Webster’s dictionary described transformation as: “A change of heart in man, by which his disposition and temper are conformed to the divine image, a change from enmity to holiness and love”. It takes greater insight of Jesus to achieve this. Remember those that know their God [in an ever increasing measure], shall be strong and do exploits [Daniel 11:32]. It is a continual process and the more we change, the more we behold and become more like Jesus.

Jesus Christ emphatically declared that babes in Christ denoting the humble and lowly were given access to divine truths unlike the Pharisees and the Sadducee who are supposed to be custodians of divine truth but only knows letters that kills for the Messiah came and they were not able to discern Him.

Had Paul’s teaching been "according to man", he might have consented to a compromise or will not stand with conviction when opposition arises; and he might reasonably accommodated Jewish idiosyncrasies. Paul declared ... "I am not at liberty to please men" affirmatively declaring … "for my gospel comes directly from Jesus Christ" he said. He gave formal notification to the readers of his gospel with all promptness and conviction knowing it came directly from Christ and without being tainted or mixed with the philosophies of men, indoctrination or denominational beliefs.

“It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows) such a one caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man, (whether in the body, or out of the body, I cannot tell: God knows) How that he was caught up into paradise, and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter” 2 Cor. 12:1-4

God is always at the center of unveiling mysteries when it comes to season of revelation such that knowledge that draws wisdom to us is unveiled and where the word of God is, there is awesome release of power once we stand by faith believing that it shall be so as revealed by God [Eccl. 8:4].

There are many ways by which such revelation is effected; could be by vision, dreams; reading, studying and meditation in the word; or even angelic visitation like that of Daniel to make us know what has been previously hidden until then. Such words and visions are of superhuman character and origin. Praying in the Spirit, hunger for God, being expectant to hear from God and humbleness to learn from others will also help our quest for revelation knowledge.

For Paul, this simply mean that Christ was made known to Paul so that he now know who Christ is, what powers Christ had, the fruit and the gifts of Christ through the ministry of the Holy person, the personality of Christ as the first begotten Son of God and even much more who the believers are in Christ having made known to us the mystery which is Christ [Holy Spirit and His anointing] in us, the hope of manifesting the glory that Christ left behind for the saints [Coll. 1:27, John 17:21]
So Paul’s gospel was given to him by insight and deep spiritual perceptions. Jesus Christ dying for our sins, Jesus Christ living to save and to rule, and beholding "the good news" of salvation and deliverance! His advent in hell and subsequent victory over Satan! Apostle Paul from Christ received great insight to publish wide as the world the Good News. As the light of this revelation penetrated his spirit, he recognized, step by step, the fact of the resurrection, the import of the crucifixion, the divinity of Jesus, His human mediator-ship, the virtue of faith, the doctrine of Grace, the Glory of God given to us, the office of the Holy Spirit, the futility of Jewish ritual and works of law, and all the essential principles of his theology.

“But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother's womb, and called me by his grace, To REVEAL his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus” Gal 1:15-17

Paul was so desperate to know God that he spent quality time in the Arabian Desert. Desperation has also brought multitudes to a place of seeking God. Jesus said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, and those who are persecuted.” He could have said, “Blessed are the desperate…for they shall see God”. We must have a “do not disturb” sign on our souls in order to lock in with God and desperately seek God until we see and hear things that deifies or spirit like Paul.

Revelation comes in a place of desperation and seeking God as if our lives depends on it. Desperation is when we come to a place where we realize the answers are critical and our spiritual stability, maturity and next level depends on greater insight and disclosures we get in the Presence of God. Remember that in the Presence of God there is fullness of joy and pleasures forever more [Psalms 16:11]

“And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink” Gen 21:19

The well of water was there all the while but Hagar did not see it, just like the ram caught in the thicket when Abraham was to sacrifice Isaac was there all the while on Mount Moriah, but when men obeyed God or press in deeper to know like Daniel pressed in, God will both reveal and provide what is needed per time to His beloved children.

The power and possibilities of the revelation of Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, provide the answer to discouragement, sickness, agony, harassment of demons and the likes. When spiritual vision grows dim, discouragement is a result; just like the days of Eli when two generations were wiped out because the knowledge of the word of God were scarce and there were no vision resulting in no insight or revelation. But when you dig deep in the word of God and in the place of waiting or panting after God as the hart pants after the water brooks, the water gate of insight will be released and we will know the truth that sets free.

Revelation knowledge changes our perspective of God, changes our perspectives of ourselves and the purpose of God for our lives and even the actions that we need to take based on the spiritual information that has been revealed unto us. The Shunammite woman and her husband built an upper room chalet for Elisha based on the insight she received through the Holy Spirit [2 Kings 4:9]. Greater faith, passion for God, spiritual works and focus on the mission at hand is also developed. With a word from God, nothing can stop us from pioneering and doing what God would have said to us to do like Paul putting his face like a flint going to Rome.

The story of Eli and his two sons is contrary to that of Samuel the prophet who had the testimony that ... “And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground. And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD. And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD REVEALED himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD” [1 Sam. 3:19-21]. Grace of God releases knowledge from the Throne Room that is powerful enough to break all forces standing against or militating against birthing forth the will of God at that time.

Elisha was able to pick in the spirit that the heavenly hosts of angels that were with them when the Assyrians came for battle were much more than the thousands of men of war that came against them and so faith in the deliverance ability of God was established in his heart [2 Kings 6:8-23].

Yes, we live in difficult times: natural catastrophes like tsunami, earthquakes, flood, tornadoes; changing culture, bad economics, negative news, and numerous personal challenges. But are these days more difficult than the days of the apostle Paul? Hardly not! The same power and possibilities that were open to the saints then in God are open to us now. It is the duty of God to conceal a thing but we as kings and priests must search them out and do exploits with it. Revelations are like gold and silver that is buried deep underneath the earth, we are to sell everything we have in order to purchase so that such revelation and insight will take us to the mountain top where we can see all the possibilities and possess our possessions in God.

“There is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor anything that has been kept secret but that it should come to light.” Mark 4:22

Jesus promised to reveal all of the hidden or concealed secrets regarding His Kingdom. Is it not amazing! Jesus told His disciples that He had many things to tell them, but they were not ready for those things [John 16:12-15]. Jesus continued to say that when the Holy Spirit would come, He would guide them into all truth and tell them on earth things that He, the Holy Spirit, was hearing in Heaven. He would take Jesus’ things and reveal it to believers. That season is now because the Holy Spirit has come!

What an encouraging promise! The Holy Spirit will reveal things that have been hidden in Christ and show them to us, as one who takes a trusted friend into His bank vault and reveals His secret treasures and riches. The apostle Paul prayed that the Ephesian church would have such an experience of the revelation of Christ’s rich inheritance [Ephesians 1:15-19], and also the fellowship of the mystery which will be revealed to and through the Church [Ephesians 3:8-10].

Revelation transforms, and that doesn’t stop with the one who sees or hears it! When we preach from past revelation of truth, it establishes those who hear, and that is good. But when we preach from current revelation of what the Lord is saying, it has a greater impact and brings dramatic change. It not only changes the one to whom God gives it, but it will affect others who hears it with a ripple effect!

True conviction is born out of revelation knowledge and it is not the finding of some dark, polluting deeds in our life; it is the feeling of the pollution, the godlessness, the self-seeking of our evil hearts and the great response of change to become more like Jesus by doing away with all superfluity of naughtiness and receiving with meekness the engrafted words of life that is able to save our soul [James 1: 21-25]. Invariably where there is this kind of knowing, we have the assurance of restraints against all ungodliness and the respectability of knowledge high enough to bring us up into a class of blessings, favor, grace and glory.

“But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear. For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them” Matt. 13:16-17

Joses Hizkiah

Unfailing Life Int’l Ministry

www.uliministry.org

joseshizkiah@gmail.com