007 Personal Revelation

Then the Apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2, 

9 But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 10 But (and a very big but) God has revealed them to us through His Spirit…

Then in verse 12

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.

Verse 14

But the natural man (not born-again) does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

And finally, in verse 16

For “who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct Him?” But we have the mind of Christ.

Can you see it now, everything God wants us to know He reveals to us through His Holy Spirit, who lives in us!

Illumination and Rhema

Now recently we have been talking about how God speaks to us. In Episode 5 we introduced the idea of the Illumination of scripture by the Holy Spirit. In Episode 6 we talked about the power of “recalled” scriptures as we discussed the difference between the Logos word and the Rhema Word. 

Personal Revelation

There is a third way in which Jesus reveals, through His Holy Spirit, His truths to us and it is called Personal Revelation. Personal revelation is when you have a sudden insight into a truth that you could not have figured out yourself. 

It is not intellectual understanding, but it is an “ah-ha” moment when you see the truth and the truth sets you free from lies or untruths that have kept you blinded or in bondage. This revelation is divine in nature, that means it come from God. Jesus said to those who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed, and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” John 8:31.

I’ve chosen three examples or cases of divine personal revelation to help give us insight into what it is.

Case 1, Revelations of Paul in Galatians

Paul’s history: 

1. born after the crucifixion of Jesus, 
2. originally called Saul of Tarsus, 
3. a Pharisee, 
4. converted on the road to Damascus, Syria (Acts 9), 
5. now known as Paul. 
6. Wrote 13 of the books or Epistles of the New Testament.
7. New Testament 27 books, 4 gospels, 1 rev, 22 epistles, 13 by Paul
8. Apparently by Personal Revelation as we will see.

Galatians 1:

11 But I make known to you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached by me is not according to man. 12 For I neither received it from man, nor was I taught it, but it came through the revelation of Jesus Christ.

13 For you have heard of my former conduct in Judaism, how I persecuted the church of God beyond measure and tried to destroy it. 14 And I advanced in Judaism beyond many of my contemporaries in my own nation, being more exceedingly zealous for the traditions of my fathers.

15 But when it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb and called me through His grace, 16 to reveal His Son in me, that I might preach Him among the Gentiles, I did not immediately confer with flesh and blood, 17 nor did I go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles before me; but I went to Arabia, and returned again to Damascus.

18 Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem to see Peter and remained with him fifteen days. 19 But I saw none of the other apostles except James, the Lord’s brother. 20 (Now concerning the things which I write to you, indeed, before God, I do not lie.)

21 Afterward I went into the regions of Syria and Cilicia. 22 And I was unknown by face to the churches of Judea which were in Christ. 23 But they were hearing only, “He who formerly persecuted us now preaches the faith which he once tried to destroy.” 24 And they glorified God in me.

Galatians 2:1 Then after fourteen years I went up again to Jerusalem with Barnabas, and also took Titus with me. 2 And I went up by revelation, and communicated to them that gospel which I preach among the Gentiles, but privately to those who were of reputation, lest by any means I might run, or had run, in vain.

Communion…

Another example regarding Paul is the revelation of communion, one of the two ordinances given by Jesus, the other is baptism.

1 Cor 11:23 For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you: that the Lord Jesus on the same night in which He was betrayed took bread; 

24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same manner He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood. This do, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” 

Case 2, Peter Confesses Jesus as the Christ the Messiah in Matthew 16:13-19

13 When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”

14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. 

18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.

Peter had a divine personal revelation! He didn’t figure it out using logic, he simply knew the truth! The deity of Christ is a truth known only by divine revelation.

Case 3, “Doubting Thomas”, John 20:24-29.

The first time the risen Jesus appeared to the Disciples, the disciple Thomas was absent. Later the disciples said to Thomas, “We have seen the Lord.” Thomas replies, “Unless I see in His hands the print of the nails and put my finger into the print of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” Thomas demanded proof before he would believe.

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and while Thomas was with them Jesus appeared in there midst, and said to Thomas, “Reach your finger here, and look at My hands; and reach your hand here and put it into My side. Do not be unbelieving, but believing and Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” 

In the simple statement, “My Lord and my God!” Thomas understood through personal revelation Jesus was God! Notice that Thomas didn’t say my Messiah, or Christ, or savior or deliverer! He says “my God!” (Joseph and Mary Christ?)

Now I will agree that seeing the Risen Jesus would help us with our faith in Him, but listen to what verse says, 29 Jesus said to him, “Thomas, because you have seen Me, you have believed. Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

 So, what is Personal revelation? It is when God through the Holy Spirit gives you the grace to believe (or have faith) in the revealing or revelation of His Truth. The truth is that Jesus is God and eternal life is found only in Him. He really is the way, the truth and the life (John 14:6).

My prayer for you is that you would receive the personal revelation that “Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God.”