Gifted with Revelation

You are trapped in a dark room and can't find the door. You can't think of a way out. You can't grope for and find the way out. You are getting increasingly worried and desperate. Then some kind Person turns on the lights for you. Now you can see your way around. You can even see the One who took pity on you and enlightened you. What a revelation!

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ. Galatians 1:12

All scripture citations are from the English Standard Version (ESV) unless otherwise noted.

The Spiritually Blind Need Revelation

Revelation is a saving gift of grace every time it comes our way. God reveals something we couldn’t grasp without His help.[1] We could have all the knowledge, facts and earth-bound understanding at our fingertips and still not know a thing of real, spiritual value. We could even read the Bible day in day out, study and argue it with the best of them, and still not be transformed by the truths it contains. Even with the Bible, perhaps especially with the Bible, we need heaven's perspective and the Holy Spirit's help to see, understand and deeply believe truth in a way that will liberate us.

God Reveals Himself to Us

God gives His saving truths to us. God also reveals Himself to us. He didn't have to do that: He might have been able to save us by giving us saving knowledge alone—by revealing truths to us. Instead, God chose to save us by revealing Himself to us—by revealing the One who is Truth to us.

Revelation is intensely and inseparably personal—salvation is nothing less than the revealing of Jesus Christ to a soul lost in darkness. [2]  We are intended not just to know about God, but to intimately know God Himself. To know Him for ourselves. Revelation is designed to draw us deeper into the endlessly fascinating Mystery of who He is.[3]

God Reveals Truth to Us

Revelation is also designed to liberate us so that He can live in us and we can live through Him. In any moment no matter what our situation, if we knew the truth from God's perspective, we would be singing with the angels. God wants us to re-gain His perspective, to see truth through His eyes, so that we can see our way to recover the path of life we lost due to our Fall from grace.

The main things standing in our way are the things we already believe as true. These are often so deeply held within us that we don't question them or even recognize that they are there. It's become our way of seeing the world, of judging and understanding people and events and of assessing our own situation, hopes and concerns. Our deepest beliefs are held tenaciously within our hearts, often locked down tight by our minds.

God Reveals Ourself to Us

Revelation, therefore, is also about God revealing things about ourselves to ourselves. Who we really are—both in our fallenness and in our new life—are mysteries that require God to unveil.[4] It takes the considerable power of the Spirit's revelation of a truth for it to get past our mind and penetrate our deep heart. When that kind of light dawns, it always ushers forth a "new day" in our lives. Here's the way Oswald Chambers put it in My Utmost for His Highest (January 13th):

If you are going on with God, the only thing what is clear to you, and the only thing God intends to be clear, is the way he deals with your own soul.

Never settle for head knowledge alone. Press in to know the Lord![5]

Next "Free Gift" to Open

Gifted with Salvation  Have you just been saved? Get used to being saved. It is a whole new way of life. When the Lord put in scripture three times that everyone who calls on His name would be saved, He wasn’t wasting the ink.[4] He knows He will have to save us often. Like toddlers who need a lot of looking after so do we: From reminders that come in the nick of time, to deliverance from oppressive feelings, to helping with problems at work, at home, with finances, etc. Make sure you know how to call His number!

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Revelation Scriptures

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. Proverbs 4:18

The king answered and said to Daniel, "Truly, your God is God of gods and Lord of kings, and a revealer of mysteries, for you have been able to reveal this mystery." Daniel 2:47

"Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel." Luke 2:29-32

In that same hour he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him." Luke 10:21-22

Now to him who is able to strengthen you according to my gospel and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery that was kept secret for long ages. Romans 16:25

"What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him"—these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. 1 Corinthians 2:9-10

And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:13-14

For I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it, but I received it through a revelation of Jesus Christ… But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately consult with anyone. Galatians 1:12,15-16

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him. Ephesians 1:17

Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:13