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UNDERSTANDING REVELATION

I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. John 10:10 NKJV

THE BASICS

Every human being has a spiritual connection. Every human being has a spirit, a soul and a body. Every human being receives communication from external spiritual beings, perhaps even in combination, be it demons, angels or the Lord Himself. The born again one has had his spirit made alive again by the presence of Christ in him. Recently I have heard commentators on TV mocking Christians for saying we hear from Jesus, as if that represents mental illness, even though they themselves would have to admit that they get ‘thoughts from out of nowhere’ from time to time as well.

The spirit of man is the portal through which the spiritual realm communicates with the soul, and thus the mind, of any and every man.

This is why the Word admonishes us to lead captive every thought to the obedience of the word of Christ. I tell our people to think about what you are thinking about, and ask yourself, “Why am I thinking about that?” Is that day dream from God, the enemy, or the pizza? Revelation comes to the five senses of the inner man. You can see it, hear it, smell it, taste it and feel it. Sometimes, it is almost imperceptible to discern how you got the revelation, so we say you just ’know it.’ Revelation can never contradict the spirit of the Word.

There is a great example of this truth in Acts 16.

Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him…Acts 16:3 NKJV

Religious people will always adhere to the letter of the Word. Spirit led people will seek to follow the spirit of the Word. Paul was the same man who wrote in Galatians Five that if you are circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. Here, in Acts Sixteen, he circumcises Timothy. Why? The spirit of the Word is the love of God in action. Paul broke the rules out of love to make Timothy more appreciable to the Jews who were there. Timothy out of love, as a living sacrifice, was giving up his rights to help those others to believe. Revelation will always flow with the spirit of the Word.

FLESH OR SPIRIT?

My sheep hear My voice… John 10:27 NKJV

Before smart phones and caller ID, there were just basic phones. If the phone rang, you would pick up the phone, politely identify yourself, and wait for the caller to identify themselves. If it was my wife, or my children, many times they would just start talking without identifying themselves, because they knew that I knew their voice. This understanding of ones voice came from daily fellowship. You understood the nuances, the inflexions, the tones in their voice that would often communicate more than their actual words.

The same is true with the Lord. You learn His voice by spending time with Him daily, listening to Him, and, at times, listening FOR Him, waiting until He speaks. Many times the tone and inflexion of the Lord speaks as loudly as His words.

One time, I was all excited, all worried about homosexuals taking over the whole culture. I said, “Lord! What about these homosexuals?” while expecting a Sodom like firefall. He laughed! Then He said, “Just get them saved, and I will clean them up!” Another time, I had twenty minutes to preach to five hundred people, and I felt I was supposed to teach on speaking in tongues, then lead them into receiving. I said, “Lord, are You sure???” He said, “What? You think I can’t handle this…? Then He told me specifically what to do, how they would react, and how I was to handle it. Everything He said came to pass, and hundreds received.

You also want to develop self awareness to know when your soulish weaknesses are speaking, or are trying to inform the conversation. I know my strengths, weaknesses, bias, desires and limitations. There are times when you can do it, and then there are times when only you through Christ can do it. Do you see? Just being self aware will help you in avoiding soulish mistakes in discerning the voice of the Lord.

THE LORD IS TALKING DAILY

For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, so that I should heal them.’ Matt 13:15 NKJV

This is such a great, explanatory verse that I had to quote it in its entirety. God is always speaking! I learned so much about the Father when I became a father.  Your baby children only see what is in front of their noses, care only about their immediate needs or desires. You as the parent see the whole picture and know how you must plan and prepare for every one of their needs. You teach them, warn them, lead and encourage them from the moment they are born. Do you let a day go by without speaking to your babies? Unthinkable! Same with the Father…

God is always speaking, but at times we grow incapable of hearing, which He says is why we don’t get healed. Our spirits become dull, which is one reason why speaking in tongues much is so key to hearing revelation, because of what the gift does to our spirits as we operate it. In the recent immersion-style Holy Spirit seminar in Kabale, Uganda, the first thing we had the students do is speak in tongues and read the Word all day long for two days. This was major preparation for the learning and the miracles that ensued.

GOD CHANGES HIS MIND?

“Thus says the Lord: ‘Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.'” Isa 38:1 NKJV

And the word of the Lord came to Isaiah, saying, “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: “I have heard your prayer, I have seen your tears; surely I will add to your days fifteen years. Isa 38:4-5 NKJV

Revelation can change when and if the circumstances change. There is such flexibility in the Spirit that the rigid people miss it. Oh my goodness, there can’t be any deviation in the liturgy of the service!

And the dream was repeated to Pharaoh twice because the thing is established by God, and God will shortly bring it to pass. Gen 41:32 NKJV

Remember always that the Word of God declares God’s will. He came that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. If you get revelation that appears to give in on those promises, then fight for the promises. Hezekiah had no son at the time, and his death would have brought an end to the kingly line of David. It doesn’t tell us how long Hezekiah prayed, only that he prayed until he got the breakthrough. Some people hear from God and they passively give up, when God is trying to get them to fight! Only when a word is given twice is it confirmed and set in stone. Revelation can change when the circumstances change!

RHEMA WORDS BUILD FAITH

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word (RHEMA) of God. Rom 10:17 NKJV

Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me. Acts 27:26 NKJV

Revelation is a RHEMA from God. Revelation is not automatic. It has to be believed and held in the heart until it comes to pass. Elijah had to pray and hold that word in his heart about no rain for three years and six months. Every time a cloud appeared in the sky he had to shake his finger and say, NO! NO! NO! No rain until I say so! Revelation will give you spiritual faith that will bring such peace and confidence that you can endure the test, and succeed.

Now take this word and go talk to God, and listen to Him. Let Him reveal the words, the truths and the instructions, that will take you to a new level in your abundant life with Him. Love you!

Remember dear ones, we must be about our Father’s business…