Revelation part 1
This isn't necessarily about the book of Revelation. Though we might go there. We'll see. This is about Galatians 1:12, "For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." This is about our personal relationship with Jesus. About knowing what we know no matter what anybody else says because we've heard our heavenly Father say it. Because we are listening to that still, small voice deep inside that says "I love you" with every beat of God's heart in our chests. That is the revelation that we need. And that is who we receive it from. Neither of man, nor being taught. But listening to our heart. Letting the Word of God (which is Jesus, which is love) light our path and guide our way. I always say it like this, "Do it because it's in your heart to do it." Love should be our motivation for everything we do. Even taking care of business, as I like to put it. I work hard at my job so I can pay my bills because I love my family and it is important for me to help take care of them. Love is my motivation. And as good as "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so" is... I think that should absolutely be the one and only thing we take out of the Bible; God love for us... it has to be more than that. The Divine Order of things is knowing and believing. Because you can't believe something you don't know. Faith comes from hearing and hearing from the Word (again, Jesus... love) of God. It is that revelation OF God, FROM God, that fills our WITH God. It is Jesus--God in the flesh, love in a body... God in our flesh, love in our body--revealing Himself in us, and to us, and throguh us, and as us that show us who we really are. His love reveals to us that as He is, so are we in this world. A man with love in His heart. That's who Jesus is. That's who we are. And that revelation can't come from anywhere or anyone BUT Jesus. Look at Romans 8:29, "For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren." Think about this: We were created in the image and likeness of God. But we had a problem because we didn't know what He looked like. So we didn't know what WE looked like. So we were always trying to be someone we're not. That's why, on the cross, we were CONFORMED to the image that we were already created in. And not only that, but brought into the relationship of Father and Son. From that moment on we were equipped and empowered to know God as our Father. To cry out, "Abba, Father." To know ourselves as we are known. And that kind of knowing can only come FROM our Father. That kind of knowing can only come from personal revelation. From Father to Son. Passed down from heart to heart. And that is why our personal relationship with God is so important. Why it is so important to speak to God... and to listen to Him. Prayer is a dialogue. It's not about rubbing a lamp and getting three wishes. It's about God revealing Himself to us. And in us. And through us. And as us!