Revelation There was a time when most of the known world thought the earth was flat, that you could sail off the edge of it. Until some brave adventurers decided to give it a go, sailing beyond where that edge would have been, the truth of the earth’s actual form could have remained concealed. This revelation, though, was just the door to many more realities that required this initial understanding. Gravity, the atmosphere, the moon’s revolution around the earth, our revolution around the sun, seasons, and countless other realities were beyond the revelation of the earth’s roundness for those who weren’t satisfied and content with just one revelation. There is a reality of who we are in God’s creation that is only known through revelation that comes from Him. While much is clearly stated in scripture, who He really is and His provision for us are discovered not just by studying, but by a relationship with Him in the Spirit. Jesus indicated that Peter’s identification of Him as Christ was revelation he received from the Father and not from flesh or blood. It wasn’t enough, though, for him to just ride on this one revelation. As He remained in fellowship with the Father and then later became filled with the Spirit, there was an unlimited discovery of who Christ was and His place in Him. There is for each of us a wonderful discovery of Jesus as the Savior, forgiving and delivering us from sin and its consequences. However, there is an opening in this truth to an unlimited source of revelation by His Spirit that will continue steadily throughout eternity for those who are inspired to see and know more. Every open heart that treasures what has already been discovered is positioned to continue on an endless journey of enabling revelation from the Father. Notes Revelation isn’t enough without attending. Proverbs 29:18 (MSG) 18 If people can't see what God is doing, they stumble all over themselves; But when they attend to what he reveals, they are most blessed. The movements of God are preceded by His revelations. Amos 3:7 (NLT) 7 Indeed, the Sovereign LORD never does anything until he reveals his plans to his servants the prophets. Revelation of Christ comes only from the Father Matthew 16:13-18 (TPT) 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 truth of who I am 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! Though Truth never changes, it’s revelation is strategic Ephesians 3:4-6 (TLB) 4 I say this to explain to you how I know about these things. 5 In olden times God did not share this plan with his people, but now he has revealed it by the Holy Spirit to his apostles and prophets. 6 And this is the secret: that the Gentiles will have their full share with the Jews in all the riches inherited by God’s sons; both are invited to belong to his Church, and all of God’s promises of mighty blessings through Christ apply to them both when they accept the Good News about Christ and what he has done for them. Only the open heart retains gains and moves on to greater revelation Matthew 13:11-12 (TPT) 11 He explained, “You’ve been given the intimate experience of insight into the hidden truths and mysteries of the realm of heaven’s kingdom, but they have not. 12 For everyone who listens with an open heart will receive progressively more revelation until he has more than enough. But those who don’t listen with an open, teachable heart, even the understanding that they think they have will be taken from them. For those already in faith, there is much greater revelation by the Spirit Ephesians 1:15-18 (TPT) 15 Because of this, since I first heard about your strong faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and your tender love toward all his devoted ones, 16 my heart is always full and overflowing with thanks to God for you as I constantly remember you in my prayers. 17 I pray that the Father of glory, the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, would impart to you the riches of the Spirit of wisdom and the Spirit of revelation to know him through your deepening intimacy with him. 18 I pray that the light of God will illuminate the eyes of your imagination, flooding you with light, until you experience the full revelation of the hope of his calling—that is, the wealth of God’s glorious inheritances that he finds in us, his holy ones! There is no true revelation of God apart from knowing Him by His Spirit. 1 Corinthians 2:9-14 (TPT) 9 This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers. 10 But God now unveils these profound realities to us by the Spirit. Yes, he has revealed to us his inmost heart and deepest mysteries through the Holy Spirit, who constantly explores all things. 11 After all, who can really see into a person’s heart and know his hidden impulses except for that person’s spirit? So it is with God. His thoughts and secrets are only fully understood by his Spirit, the Spirit of God. 12 For we did not receive the spirit of this world system but the Spirit of God, so that we might come to understand and experience all that grace has lavished upon us. 13 And we articulate these realities with the words imparted to us by the Spirit and not with the words taught by human wisdom. We join together Spirit-revealed truths with Spirit-revealed words. 14 Someone living on an entirely human level rejects the revelations of God’s Spirit, for they make no sense to him. He can’t understand the revelations of the Spirit because they are only discovered by the illumination of the Spirit. Reality already resides within, ready for Spirit revelation. John 16:13-15 (TPT) 13 But when the truth-giving Spirit comes, he will unveil the reality of every truth within you. He won’t speak his own message, but only what he hears from the Father, and he will reveal prophetically to you what is to come. 14 He will glorify me on the earth, for he will receive from me what is mine and reveal it to you. 15 Everything that belongs to the Father belongs to me—that’s why I say that the Divine Encourager will receive what is mine and reveal it to you. The basis for all revelation – the love of Christ Ephesians 3:14-18 (TPT) 14 So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, 15 the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. 16 And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. 17 Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. 18 (18-19) Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Song: Revelation Overview: God’s ways and Word are Truth that, when revealed and attended to, bring great blessing, but great stumbling if unseen. God’s movements are preceded by Revelation through His servants. Revelation of who Christ is is the bedrock on which the Church is built and comes only from the Father. Though Truth is unchanging, its revelation is strategic and progressive. Reception and application of revelation come only to hearts that are open to building on what they’ve received. Function faith on received revelation is but the entrance to much greater revelation. Any unveiling of God comes only by the Spirit. Reality is already resident on the inside, ready to be revealed by the Spirit of Truth. All revelation from the heart of God is based on the ever-expanding understanding of His love. Prayer: Father, I am so blessed and grateful for the way you’ve brought the revelation of Christ to my heart through your servants and by the Spirit. In every glimpse into the unlimited revelation of You, I am drawn to know and show You more. Find in me a heart that is open and receptive to build on this incredible relationship I have with You to be effective in Your kingdom for Your purposes and for Your glory. Let Your love ever ground my beholding in the greatest reality of Your heart. Declarations I am attentive to the voice of God and responsive to His revelation. The eyes of my understanding are being enlightened by the Holy Spirit. I have received the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Christ. I treasure what God reveals and walk faithfully in His truth. Because I receive revelation with an open heart, greater revelation is being given to me. I will not live by human understanding alone but by every word that proceeds from God. Jesus Christ is being revealed in greater measure in my life. I am growing in the knowledge of God's love, purpose, and power. The Holy Spirit is leading me into all truth. I am positioned for continual growth, continual discovery, and continual transformation. God's plans and purposes for my life are being made clear. I will know Christ more deeply today than I did yesterday. My heart remains open, teachable, and hungry for God. I will walk in the light I have received and be entrusted with greater light. My life will reflect the revelation of Jesus Christ to the world around me.