Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Revelation


Above the expanse over their heads was what looked like a throne of sapphire, and high above on the throne was a figure like that of a man.  Ezekiel 1:26

We must have a REVELATION OF CHRIST JESUS, OUR LORD if we are ever going to be transformed from spiritual immaturity to spiritually mature. It is the apostle Paul who helps us to understand that it takes more than intellectual knowledge to live in Christ and grow spiritually.

Paul originally considered Jesus to be an imposter and he was set on destroying the revelation that had come to Christ’s followers. Paul’s experience on the road to Damascus brought his whole way of thinking, all that he had learned intellectually through the scriptures to a blinding halt!   Notice in Acts 22:10 when Christ revealed Himself Paul didn’t ask, “What would you have me do Jesus of Nazareth?” but rather “What would you have me do LORD?” It’s important to see that in that encounter Paul recognized the authority and the power of the resurrected Christ and the position he had been given by the will of the Father.

Thereafter Paul’s life was guided by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit began to unveil the revelation of Christ to him. This had to occur before he could bring this revelation to the church. Paul’s experience helps us understand the depth of his letters to the church.  Paul fervently prays in Ephesians 1:17, 18 “. . . that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious FATHER, MAY GIVE you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.”  We too must have a fresh and ever increasing revelation of Christ Jesus to be transformed from spiritual immaturity which results in divisions and schisms in the Body of Christ. Galatians 1:15 reads, “But when God, who set me apart from birth and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal His Son in me so that I might preach Him among the gentiles . . .” Note, pleased to reveal His Son in me; Paul’s not talking about his encounter on the road to Damascus, but the revelation coming from the Father who was pleased to give it to Paul.  We read about the church claiming all spiritual gifts but divisive in 1 Corinthians 3:4, “For when one says, “I follow Paul, and another, I follow Apollos,” are you not mere men?”   Paul asked in 1 Corinthians 1:13, “Is Christ divided?”  These corrections coming to the Body of Christ didn’t come from a book; they came from “it pleased God to reveal His Son in me.”   A revelation of Christ began to bring transformation to Paul’s religious beliefs. 

We send our children to school to increase in knowledge. Knowledge delivers them from ignorance and they’re able to function in society.  In this same way we who are born again of the Kingdom of God, accept the process of maturing and growing so we can reach the position where God is pleased to release more revelation of Christ Jesus.  Psalm 25:14 reads, “The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant known to them.” Revelation doesn’t come automatically.  Paul speaks of revelation as being a mystery in Colossians 1:26, “. . .  the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints.” Then he calls himself a steward of the mysteries in 1 Corinthians 4:1, “So then, men ought to regard us as servants of Christ and as those entrusted (stewards) with the secret things of God.”  We have failed to teach this to the Body of Christ and she is suffering from immaturity which results in divisions and schisms. 

Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17 “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ the glorious Father may give you the spirit of wisdom and revelation so that you may know Him better.” The revelation of Christ Jesus is for the whole Body of Christ, not just the apostles and prophets.  The Word of God always challenges our spiritual lives. Jesus Christ spoke in John 6:63, “The words I have spoken to you are spirit, the flesh counts for nothing; it destroys the flesh and brings increase to the new man, the new creation.”  You will not get this revelation based on how often you attend your fellowship or sit in the pew and listen to one man.  Revelation will come by the will of God.  It is the pleasure of God to give it to you.  Prov. 3:32 reads, “. . . for the Lord detests a perverse man, but He takes the upright into His confidence.”  He’s referring to friendship between two persons.  Growth and fruitfulness in a relationship will come about by trusting and knowing one another which brings you into the intimate thoughts in confidence with one another.  God is telling us He can’t bring us into His secret chambers without us realizing His thoughts are pearls. Our Lord Christ Jesus mentions an important word in Matthew 11:27, “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father . . .” God’s not talking about knowing Him physically, but the greatness, the riches, and the mysteries in Christ Jesus.    Those who are driven by this passion to know Christ will say like Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1 (KJV), “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” Paul tells us how he continually searches for Christ in Philippians 3:13-14, “. . .  but one thing I do – forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, PRESS toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” The daily hunger and passion for Christ lead us to the fullness of Christ. Remember, “No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.   God’s good pleasure reveals the Son in us; it is not in how much we read or listen to teachings.

When we receive a revelation of Christ we come into the knowledge of the destiny of man in Christ. As you allow the Holy Spirit to lead you through the scriptures you begin to know the purpose of the church, the purpose of every member of the Body of Christ and the true nature of the Body of Christ.  We can’t exhaust the knowledge of the depths of Christ written in the scriptures; only by the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation do we see the spiritual reality underlying them. Understanding this, we walk in obedience to the Holy Spirit and come to know what true ministry is.

Ministry is not doing a lot of things even though they may look good.  Ministry is a Person; Christ!

Ministry is not doing a lot of things even though they may look good. Ministry is a Person; Christ!  God is not impressed by what you do; the question is what is the motivation behind your actions, what’s governing your motives and your interests?   Is Christ working through you to bring increase to the Body of Christ?  Jesus said, “I will build my church.” The purpose of the five-fold ministry is to perfect the saints as written in Ephesians 4:11, 12. These are gifts given by the Head of the church and they work only by the power of the Holy Spirit.  There is so much confusion as to who’s an apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist or teacher.  It is sad to witness the condition of the church. Many pastors have been taught “If you’re not under the covering of an apostle, you’re not a church.” This must be corrected! God is raising up servants to release LIFE to God’s people; not carnal interpretations of the scriptures which keep God’s people from coming into the fullness of Christ.  The further away we get from our Life source, the more we depend on plans, programs and organizations of the flesh to keep God’s people together. 

Jesus said in Matthew 18:20, “For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.”  Our covering is the love and grace of God in our surroundings.  These are the true riches found in Christ Jesus.  If you are in Christ Jesus and have gone through the death and resurrection with Him, the heavens are open.  John the Baptist took the Son of God and submerged Him in the river Jordan and the Word of God says when He rose up from the water the heavens were opened and the spirit descended (Luke 3:21-22).  The heavens are open for God’s children; we have every right to come into the presence of our Father.  Paul considered this the mysteries of Christ.  God is not some force in the air or some power out there; HE IS OUR HEAVENLY FATHER. When you read the scriptures the Holy Spirit will help you know His thoughts because you have received the Spirit of God to know the most intimate things of God (I Corinthians 2:9-10). God’s desire is revealed when He says in Genesis 1:26, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness.” Our Heavenly Father’s will is to have children that are an expression of His thoughts and walk according to His good pleasure. Jesus said in John 8:36, “You will know ME, and you will be set FREE.” 

 My heart overflows with worship!! The Lord is great. Our God is a loving God, a merciful God and every morning as the sun rises His grace and His mercies are renewed.  He has planned our day!  Listen to the Holy Spirit and he will guide, direct and discipline you in love.  My prayer for you is to submit to your Heavenly Father and grow in Christ.



Every dealing of God in our lives
and in the life of the whole church
begins with a personal revelation -
a deep, inner discernment of God’s will -
a disclosure of spiritual existence
we were blind to before.

(Manfred Haller)



How infinitely blind we are
to the fullness and glory of Christ
if we do not know Christ in His power
and ourselves in our weaknesses,
as revealed to us personally by the Holy Spirit. 

(Charles G. Finney)


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