When I was a young and impressionable new Christian just
beginning my quest for truth and to know God and His word, I came across this
wise statement from a respected minister and Pastor of a large movement in the
60’s who said “you can’t go beyond what you are taught”.
Many years of study and research later, I came to the
realization that there also is no shame in not knowing what you don’t know. But
there is a problem with refusing to consider truth that may be new to you and
therefore uncomfortable for you to assimilate into your current knowledge base.
Once upon a time everyone believed the world was flat and
that if you got in a boat and began to sail in one direction you would
eventually fall off the earth.
(It wasn’t, and you wouldn’t)
Once upon a time all medical professionals believed that bloodletting
was the way to cure diseases.
(It wasn’t, and they killed more
patients than they helped)
Once upon a time men believed that flying was just for the
birds.
(Until a couple of brothers
named Wright dared to think differently)
Once upon a time each
individual Christian trusted in the Holy Spirit to lead and guide them.
You heard that right.
There was no waiting for Sunday morning and a sermon to instruct
them. Each believer was able to receive
direct instruction from the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus instructed His disciples in Acts 8 to wait for the Holy
Spirit, which would give them the power to be witnesses to Him, He was
indicating that all disciples from then and for all time would be filled with
the Spirit in order to carry out the mission; to be witnesses to Him. The mission hasn’t changed and neither has
the method of revelation.
We are BLESSED to have the valuable reminder of the written
revelations for us to study and learn from, but they are not a substitute for or
in place of the direct inspired revelation available to us from the Holy
Spirit. Nowhere in scripture are we told
that the written word REPLACES revelation, but that it is in addition to! (Romans 15:4)
Main stream churches have been teaching for CENTURIES that
the only way to hear truth is through showing up on Sunday mornings to hear preaching.
Just because something has been taught
for a long time doesn’t make it the truth.
It just makes it a misrepresentation that hasn’t been corrected…
yet.
It’s time we correct this
misreading of Paul’s words in Romans 10:14 How then
shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they
believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a
preacher?
While it is entirely true that unbelievers need to hear the gospel, because they cannot receive direct revelation from the Holy
Spirit as they have not yet been “born again”, this isn't true of Believers. Without the indwelling Spirit an unbeliever needs someone to “reveal the truth” to
them through the foolishness of preaching. This is the true “work of
the ministry”. (See
2Corinthians 5:18-20)
But Believers do have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit! God expects believers to hear Him and receive
wisdom directly from His Spirit.
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
Jesus Himself clearly teaches that
it was by revelation from the Holy Spirit that we would learn and grow in Him.
John 14:26 But the Comforter,
which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach
you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have
said unto you.
Paul taught the same in his
letters to the gentile believers.
1 Corinthians
2:10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searches all things, yea,
the deep things of God.
Ephesians 3:5
Which in other ages was not made known unto
the sons of men, as it is now revealed
unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit;
During my continuing quest for truth, I spent time with a
Presbyterian minister who insisted that God doesn’t talk to people. The only Word of God is what is found in the
Bible.
Yet the bible itself declares
that if everything Jesus taught were to be written down the world could not
contain all the books! (John 21:25)
And Paul, who had only the Old Testament to work from, might
never have trusted and shared the GREATEST new revelation we ever received –
GRACE
I’ve read the book of Colossians numerous times. This very morning, God gave me a NEW
REVELATION. See if you can spot it, too.
Colossians 1: 9 For this cause
we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire
that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and
spiritual understanding;
10 That ye might walk worthy of
the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing
in the knowledge of God;
Paul would surely not pray for something that wasn’t possible! That they, having no “written word” to study as the New Testament didn’t exist
yet and being gentiles, very likely didn’t possess the Jewish scrolls of the
Old Testament, would be FILLED WITH THE KNOWLEDGE OF GODS WILL.
It can only be that Paul knew they, like himself and
all believers, would have knowledge revealed to them by the Holy Spirit.
We read exactly that here in Romans 8:14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God,
they are the sons of God.
This leading by the Spirit is that which Jesus taught and we read in John 14, that the Spirit would teach us "all things". Not some things, not a few things, but "all" things!
So why are so many not hearing direct revelation from the
Holy Spirit? Because we are not being taught!
The bible clearly teaches that God never changes, but that
He is always changing US. If history teaches us anything at all it is that what worked
well in the past isn’t necessarily the best way forward.
There is no shame in not knowing what you don’t know. But now you know.
We will find answers in Gods written word, ABSOLUTELY.
But we will hear from Him as long as we make sure we are not too busy to
listen! He still speaks, He has always
spoken and He will continue to speak.
2Timothy 2:15 Study to show yourself approved unto God a
workman who needs not to be ashamed, RIGHTLY DIVIDING THE WORD OF TRUTH.
The revealed, written word of God gives us a foundation,
instruction and guidelines to keep us from going off in any which
direction.
2
Timothy 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable
for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that
the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
The Word of God works hand in hand with revelation when the
believer is listening to and being led by the Holy Spirit, Who will give wisdom and
knowledge for specific situations.
