 God doesn't throw revelation out to just anyone. Psalms 25:14 says, The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. He reserves deep truths for those who have the right heart toward him. Consider this observation from Jesus when he told the parable of the sower...
For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them. (Matthew 13:15)
Contrast that heart with this one...
But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23)
If I have an open heart, I'll hear the word, understand it, and my life will bear fruit!
So here's the real question: Am I open to hear, or do I think I know it all and can't be taught anything else? Do I have a teachable spirit?
I'm convinced that sometimes God purposely uses unexpected ways and unlikely people to share great and deep truths with us. To hear, we might have to humble ourselves or let go of preconceived ideas. If we're too hung up on the messenger, we could miss a great blessing - just ask Naaman about that (2 Kings 5).
How To Get Revelation
First, the word of God is truth (John 17:17), and we must never deviate, add to or take away from the scriptures.
Secondly, don't forget that the Holy Ghost is the Spirit of Truth. We need the Holy Ghost to be led in to all truth (John 16:13) and keep in mind that God's Spirit will never go against God's Word. Jesus told his disciples not to start preaching until they received the Holy Ghost! (Acts 1-2)
Third, truth has always been there, but our understanding of truth may need ongoing development. Peter wrote, “But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ...” (2 Peter 3:18). Growing means there's more to learn.
Church should be the perfect setting for interactive teaching and open discussions that lead to growth and revelation in the word. Allow me to use a simple beach ball to illustrate how to get revelation...
Everyone of us approaches truth from a different angle based on how we've been taught, personal experiences, relationship with God, etc. Let's imagine we're looking at a beach ball for the very first time. From my angle, I see something round with blue, white, and yellow stripes. Someone else from a different angle agrees that it's round, but disagrees with the yellow and blue. "It's just red and white! No blue or yellow at all!
Some will end fellowship right there because of disagreement. But if we can agree to stay in the word and try to understand each other, we might come to realize that we both lack the 3-dimensional perspective. What we know individually is good and right, but incomplete. If we can reason together, forebear with one another, discuss it, and pray about it, we'll both get a more perfect understanding. This might take more than one discussion.
Later we'll meet someone else with even more understanding, and they'll blow us away by explaining how this beach ball truth is not only round and colorful, but it bounces, floats and if you let the air out, it goes flat! But he's a kook who fasts and prays a lot - way too much if you ask me - and who's gonna believe him? Ha ha. Let the air out...that's funny...
Truth and revelation may come a puzzle piece at a time. But if we have the right heart, if we're open to learn, if we pray and seek the Lord, if we read and study the Word for ourselves we'll come to understand how those pieces all connect together to form a beautiful secret the world will never see. That's how to get revelation!
 For to be carnally minded is death;
but to be spiritually minded is
life and peace.
Romans 8:6
Is it just me or have you also noticed that keeping your head and heart in the right place is real work? It takes a deliberate effort to maintain a godly perspective in a negative world. I'm not just talking about having a positive attitude; I mean being spiritually minded.
We're all born with a natural, carnal mind that tends to be focused on 3 things: I, me and mine. From birth it's all about us and what we want. As babies, we cried to get attention. As children and teens we whined to get what we wanted. As adults we've mastered all kinds of techniques to ultimately get our way, haven't we?
The spiritual mind is the exact opposite. It is others focused starting with pleasing God first. Jesus said about himself, "For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me." (John 6:38)
What is the mind of Christ? Consider this:
Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (Philippians 2:3-8)
Having the mind of Christ involves abandoning my own will and ego, putting others' needs ahead of my own, and humbling myself to serve even to the point of great personal sacrifice. Talk about a tall order! But that's exactly what Jesus Christ, the great King of Glory did for us.
Here's where the rubber meets the road: Husbands, how are we serving our wives? Are we putting their needs – physical and emotional - above our own? Wives, are you truly honoring your husband the way the Bible describes? Do you think he feels it? Having the mind of Christ should start at home!
If you're a church leader, are you doing everything you can to promote others, or is it all about you and your ministry? What are you doing so that others will increase and you will decrease?
5 Ways To Keep Spiritually Minded
 1. Read & Study the Scriptures
That sounds like no-brainer, yet on an average week, how often do we read the Bible? Most will admit "not very". It's easy to say we're too busy...except we somehow seem to have time for TV, Facebook, romance novels, etc. If we don't get into the Word of God, the Word of God won't be getting in to us! Let's not forget that Christ was the Word made flesh... (John 1:1-14)
2. Pray In The Spirit
Jude writes, But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. (Jude 1:20-21). The value of praying in the Spirit is incalculable. I write more about praying in the Holy Ghost here. See Rom. 8:26-27 3. Meditate upon the WordLearn to go beyond just reading the scriptures. Meditate upon them, let the words of Christ sink into you. Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them; that thy profiting may appear to all. (1 Timothy 4:15)4. Fellowship with other BelieversBeing with other like minded souls is a real morale boost and facilitates iron sharpening iron.5. Share the WordTeach a Bible Study to someone! It's one of the most amazing ways to learn the Word of God and become solid in what you believe. Start with a simple, free topical Bible Study and share it with a friend. Then watch what happens to you!We'll never get the mind of Christ by accident. It takes deliberate effort. But read the top verse again and remember the benefits of being spiritually minded: life and peace!
Why Should I Go To Church?
Is Not Going To Church A Sin?
Is Going To Church In The Bible?
Christians ponder these questions nearly every Sunday. Do I have to go to church? Is it a sin to not go to church? Great questions! Questions that deserve biblical answers.
What is church anyway?
Most Christians in America view church as a weekly event. Church is a Sunday morning activity especially for the children. But is that what the Bible says? Does the Bible say I should go to a certain building, sit in a pew, sing a few songs, put money in the plate, and listen a pastor preach week after week?
From my early teens I was a regular church attender. Sunday mornings, Sunday evenings and Wednesday nights we were in church.
Later, I became a full-time minister and regularly preached all the things I was taught. One foundational truth I learned was to never add to or take away from the Word. The Bible is truth (it doesn't just contain truth), it's our final authority (overriding church handouts and by-laws), and THE source of all of our doctrine (regardless of denomination, visiting preacher or our beloved Aunt Maggie).
So what happens when the minister searches the scriptures for direction on how the church is suppose to function, and can't find most of the things he's been taught? Does he brush his concerns aside and just keep going like he has year after year? Or does he practice what he's preached to others and lay aside his own beliefs in favor of the truth of the Word of God?
When Jesus confronted the Pharisees about their traditions and teachings, I laughed. When Jesus confronted me about my teachings and traditions, it wasn't so funny. As I recall, it was a time of fear and trembling.
 I believe there are thousands of church leaders today shaking in their shoes because they know the Bible does not support the pattern of church they were taught and currently live by. That fear is partly financial. They are like the buggy whip maker watching something called an automobile make it's way down the road without a horse.
If you go to church, why do you? Have you ever searched the scriptures to understand your relationship with other believers? You might be surprised to see what the Bible says! You might also be on the edge of a whole new life in Christ!
For some scriptural answers to the question, "Do I have to go to church?" Click Here to fast forward to Part 2 of this topic.Visit our Contact Page to add your name to our email list to get future updates!
 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish
ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the LORD your God
which I command you.
Deuteronomy 4:2
The headlines today are alive with talk about people burning the Koran. Interesting that burning Bibles, removing Bibles, and forbidding Bibles has been going on for quite some time and for some reason it's not news. Apparently it's not a big deal that the foundation of our faith is regularly assaulted. Well, it's not just news; it's a battle. The longest running war on earth has been between the Word of God and Satan. Remember the scene in the Garden of Eden? The serpent came to Eve in all of his subtlety and got her to question the Word of God. Then he lied to her and told her that she wouldn't die if she ate of the fruit of the tree in the midst of the Garden. The father of lies, lied. Imagine that! She ate, so did Adam, which introduced sin into the world and death that follows sin. Is there anything Satan won't do to get us to disobey God? I doubt it. I believe he'll do all he's allowed to do. In these last days I believe he's working overtime because the coming of the Lord is near and his time is short. I've found a repeated command in the scriptures that is pertinent to today. It's a theme throughout the Old and New Testaments. You can find several scriptures on this in the Bible studies here on the site. Here's one of them: Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (Proverbs 30:5-6) Throughout the scriptures, God commands us to not add to or take away from the scriptures. His word is pure. It is truth. If we change it, it is no longer perfect. If we compromise it, it is no longer God's word. I grew up with King James Version. After reading the Bible through one year, I decided to go through it using a different version. I noticed slight differences here and there but didn't think much about it. After about three weeks into the new reading, I honestly felt like I was going through the motions of eating without getting fed spiritually. That's the only way I can describe it. I went back to the KJV and got fed again. The usual claim I hear about different versions is that the newer ones are easier to read. They really say the same thing without the archaic “thees” and “thous.” I bought that idea until I had Bible studies with people who used different versions. They were not necessarily easier to read and there were clear changes. Disturbing changes. Let me give you one example. Do you know what will happen to those who's names are not found in the Book of Life? It's a little different than a $5.00 fine. Here's the answer... And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:15). That's the KJV. Is that difficult to understand? Now see this for yourself. Compare Rev. 22:19 in the KJV and in the NIV.Is there a difference? Is it a "little" difference?
I wrote earlier that I felt a difference using the King James Version. Some would argue back to me that I shouldn't use “feelings” to validate the KJV. Fair enough. Let me ask this: Has God made a real difference in your life? How have you explained that change to your friends? Did you use a scientific instrument to verify that change or was there an unmistakable change in your heart and mind that became evident in your actions? I went back to the King James Version because of how I felt, and what I saw comparing versions. I've also sought God over and over about this. He's answered me time and again. Later, someone showed me a video about a college professor's six-year study into different versions. What Gail Riplinger has uncovered is at least interesting. For me it was hair raising. I've included portions of interviews she's given to a Christian TV show below. They're short and worth a few minutes of your time. If you're like me, you'll probably do some more online research about Gail Riplinger. Keep in mind that the internet is a great tool. But since anyone can write anything and post it, it can be as accurate as a bathroom wall. Gail has been highly praised and viciously persecuted. I don't agree with everything she presents, but I believe she does make a strong case. She didn't change my mind on using the KJV. Rather, she validated what God had already showed me. You'll obviously draw your own conclusions. Have you Asked God about his Word? Do you think he has an opinion on the subject? Take the Bible studies and compare verses. Do you see additions and subtractions? According to the scriptures, how does God feel about that? Ask him. He'll answer!Enjoy these older, but thought provoking videos...
Dr. Frank Logsdon, member of the translation committee for the New American Standard Version (NASB), has denounced his work on that Bible and urged all Christians to return to the Authorized Version, commonly known as the King James Bible. Says, "‘I'm In Trouble With The Lord." Read More Here...Please share your thoughts and pass this along to others! Thanks!
|
RSS Feed