BANGALORE, India -- There is a God in Heaven Who Reveals Secrets
Then the secret was revealed to Daniel in a night vision. So Daniel blessed the God of heaven. Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.
- Daniel 2:19–23, 27, 28a
When King Nebuchadnezzar demanded that the wise men and magicians in his kingdom find out the dream he had and interpret it, they were baffled. How could anyone possibly find out the dream someone else has had! But Daniel, although just a young man, knew something about His God. Daniel knew that the God in heaven, the God of the Bible, “reveals deep and hidden things.” God knows “what lies in darkness”—the things that are unknown to man. The light that illuminates darkness and uncovers hidden things is with Him. From time to time, God imparts this light to His people enabling them to see deep and hidden things. So Daniel prayed along with his friends. God in answer to their prayer revealed to Daniel what he needed to know.
God is a revealer of secrets.
Today we want to focus on the work of the Holy Spirit in bringing revelation into our lives. We discuss the need for revelation and the various aspects of the Holy Spirit’s work as the Spirit of revelation. Our desire is that you will experience the Holy Spirit bringing divine revelation into your life, being the Spirit of revelation to you.
When the Spirit Comes
John 16:13–15
The Holy Spirit is the Spirit of revelation. He reveals truth to our hearts. He speaks to us and reveals the heart of the Father. The Holy Spirit speaks to us what the Lord Jesus wishes to convey. He also tells us of things “yet to come.” All of this is part of the Holy Spirit’s present ministry to the Church. As believers, we need to desire the revelation which the Spirit of God can bring into our lives. Ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the Father’s heart concerning specific issues that you are facing—your career, your marriage, moving to a different place and so on. Ask the Holy Spirit to speak to you and prepare you for things in the future, things that the Father has prepared for you. Open your life to the Holy Spirit as the Spirit of revelation.
The Need for Revelation
What place does divine revelation have in the life of the believer? Why do we need something above and beyond what we can recognize through our five senses or be taught in our schools?
Knowing the Father
Matthew 11:27
Ephesians 1:17
No one can know the Father except those to whom the Lord Jesus reveals Him. Intimacy with the Father is not the result of diligent scientific investigation. It is not the result of deep intellectual examination. It in not even the result of religious involvement. We know the Father because the Lord Jesus reveals Him to us by His Spirit. We may have knowledge about God and this knowledge could be accurate. But this is not the same as knowing Him intimately. Knowledge about God can be acquired through education. But knowing Him comes through revelation.
Knowing the Son
Matthew 16:15–17
John 14:21
We know the Lord Jesus through revelation. Like most of the religious people during His earthly ministry, many educated minds of our day do not understand the divinity of the Lord Jesus Christ. They ridicule the Christ and take pride in their earthly learning. They do not realize how foolish they are, or realize the degree of their ignorance. Because their hearts have been hardened they are unable to receive revelation which the Spirit of God desires to bring to them. Therefore they are ignorant and their ignorance has cut them off from the life of God (Ephesians 4:18). It is only when we humble our hearts like little children that we are able to receive revelation from the Spirit of God.
For us to grow progressively in our personal revelation of Jesus Christ, we have to walk in love and obedience towards Him. Jesus said that He would reveal Himself to those who obeyed His commands. We cannot reveal Him to others any more than He has revealed Himself to us. We can make Him known to others only to the degree that we know Him personally.
Understanding the works of God
Matthew 11:20, 25, 26
Acts 4:13,14
The “wise and learned” were unable to understand the miracles that Jesus performed during His earthly ministry. They tried to reason away the mighty works of God, “Perhaps it was deception, perhaps it was the work of demons. It could be anything but the work of God.”
However, unschooled and ordinary men like Peter and John, who like “little children” followed Jesus, understood the miracles. To them it was revealed that these were the true works of God. They received the revelation that in the name of Jesus and through simple faith they could work the works of Christ. In fact even after Christ’s resurrection and ascension to heaven, these men continued ministering healing and demonstrating the miracle working power of God. Sad to say, today, many of the “wise and learned” Christian theologians, preachers and teachers are unable to understand the works of God. Many spend so much time and effort trying to dispute the miracles and signs being performed in our day. And yet, many “unschooled and ordinary” men and women continue to experience the mighty works of God in their ministry. It takes revelation to welcome the supernatural visitations of God.
Understanding the mysteries of the Kingdom
Mathew 13:10–16
Revelation leads to repentance.
The Revelation of the Scriptures
Deuteronomy 29:29
1 Peter 1:10–12
Ephesians 3:3–5
Psalm 119:18
Revealed to Us Through the Spirit
1 Corinthians 2:9–12
The Spirit of Revelation and Our Personal Lives
Luke 2:25,26
Adapted from the free APC Publication : "The Spirit of Wisdom, Revelation and Power" - http://apcwo.org/newsite/resources/publications/english/T...
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Contact
All Peoples Church & World Outreach,Bangalore
0091-80-25452617
