Revelation, Knowledge, Understanding, Wisdom Series

Anne Bradshaw • January 17, 2023

Revelation

1/17/2023

Revelation leads to knowledge. And knowledge leads to understanding. Understanding leads to wisdom. Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge and understanding in a way that is obedient and consistent with the Word of God. First, we must seek revelation.

So, what IS revelation and how do we get a revelation? Revelation is the uncovering of a truth, and it is not something we come up with on our own. We CAN have personal “revelations,” that is things that we learn over time. As in “OH, So it works THAT way! I get this with computer programs. I’m currently learning how to use quickbooks, a bookkeeping software, but those “revelations” are not what I’m talking about here.

In the spiritual sense, “a revelation” is revealed by Holy Spirit to our soul, and it is often in response to sincere questions or quests for truth regarding the things of God. It is a result of a seeking after His will in our lives with thoughtful prayer and meditaiton upon His word. Once a revelation is given to us by Holy Spirit, we need to do something with it to hold onto it. Otherwise, because we are human, we will forget what we were shown and fall back into old ways and thought patterns.

It makes me think of the story of the 10 Talents in Matthew 25, in which the servants were given a different amount of talents (equivalent to about 15 years wages). Those who did something with the talents (invested) were given more upon the master’s return and the one who buried the talent had that small amount taken away from him altoghether. Jesus then says: “For to everyone who has, more shall be given, and he will have an abundance; but from the one who does not have, even what he does have shall be taken away.”

This story brings then brings to mind a verse in Hebrews 11:6 that says:

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

So, in reflection of what Paul says, I would say regarding the story of the “talents," that the currency in the life of a believer would be faith. In a way, it follows a similar pattern: We have to invest it, use it and the most wonderful thing about it is, that it is a gift to us (see Hebrews 11), just as the master in Matthew gave the talents to the servants. We all get faith as a gift to use. We don’t have to come up with it on our own. So striving for faith, having too little or too much is not possible.

This revelation in turn leads me to Jesus' teaching in Matthew 5:14-16 which says:

“¹⁴“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead, they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”

It may be just my tendency to take things I read somewhat literally, at first, but in the past, when I would read this passage in Matthew, I would think about a light shining as something I did. That if I lit the light of Christ in my life, than I should not hide His presence. This was my understanding or “my revelation," and personal revelations often sound good, but they are not always accurate with all of what scripture teaches. The revelations from God to our spirit reveal a truth and are always consistent with scripture and are always something we would not have otherwise thought of.

Regarding Matthew 5:14: Unlike my previous understanding, it isn’t we who light the lamp, We ARE the lamp God lights. Did you see that? I totally missed it for years. If you saw it, you are ahead of me! LOL. So WE are a light on a hill. WE are God’s creation to do the good works prepared in advance for us to do, (according to Paul in Ephesians 2:10). God did not create us to hide us. Therefore, I cannot simply choose to “follow Jesus” and keep it all a personal endeavor behind closed doors. I must shine as God intended, upon a hill, for all to see according to His design within me.

This leads to an aside I’d like to share:

I cannot adopt another person’s way of following Christ just because I think I’d like it better or it would be fun and call it “God’s plan for me!” It would totally burn me out in every way, eventually. I know because I've tried it. For example, just because I CAN teach (and did), doesn’t mean that I should assume a teaching certificate (again) and teach 3^rd graders. Okay, if I do, but unless it is quite clear to me that is what I should be doing, there is a better way to use my teaching gifts that edifies the Kingdom of God. I’ve discovered over the years that when I am obedient to the leading of Christ, what he has for me to do does not “burn me out” at the end of the day, week, month, year, etc…God’s plans for me don’t cause burnout unless I run out of “oil” to draw on. Sure, I can get tired, but usually it’s quickly remedied when I realize we haven’t kept the connection with God as I should, or a retreat of some kind is in order. We all have a part to play in the plan of God and we must be faithful to that plan. If we don't know it, seek it, try out things.

When I am obedient to His leading, shining the light of His presence takes no effort. Lamps don’t work or strive, they simply draw on the power given (oil in their day, electricity in ours). Therefore, we must simply draw on the oil He provides. It’s a covenant relationship and God is always faithful to provide the oil. We must in turn be faithful to draw on that oil and let the light of His presence shine in the way He has designed it to shine within each of us. The light often involves revelation of His intent for his people.

Next time we will look at “knowledge”

Blessings

Anne

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Get Ready

By Anne Bradshaw • May 29, 2025

Hear His voice, and Go

He Invites Our Participation

By Anne Bradshaw • May 8, 2025

Dear Reader, It has been on my mind this morning the incredible gift we have in Christ to be members of the Family of God, the Church Jesus is building, citizens of the Kingdom, joint heirs with Christ. We are in His Good Care, always. I’m sure you have also had moments when the appreciation for this gift seems to eclipse the momentary business of daily life. I’m sure you would have your insights as well to add. It is from this place that I am sharing today. My husband and I take time each morning to pray together for family, the Church and the nation. Today when we were praying for our nation and for the people of God, we prayed for those who hear His voice that they would choose obedience above the temptations and the insecurities that they may experience. We prayed for Congress, especially, to be focused on good stewardship of the office they are holding and accomplish the pressing needs of the nation rather than simply the “easy” stuff they can agree on. Our prayers were for those who are not being good stewards of the power and influence they have been given, would now make choices according to the Law of the Spirit of Life or be removed from their places of power and influence until they can fulfill their oath of office responsibly and faithfully. It occurred to me amidst the prayer time, that God really doesn’t need our approval to accomplish His plan. He doesn’t need anyone to be obedient. He invites it. He designed the covenantal relationship with us to not be dependent upon us because He is somehow lacking in something we have, rather He includes us because it is His good pleasure. When I say he doesn’t need us, I mean that He is God all by Himself. He doesn’t need anything from us in order to maintain His sovereignty and Grace and accomplish His plan for humanity that is already in the works. When I was young, I used to think that if I stopped believing in God He would simply vanish. It was quite a revelation to realize I was not that powerful and that whether I believed or not, approved or not, was happy, sad, faithful or disobedient, God was still God. He is faithful to His covenant regardless of my momentary lapses or victories. He loved me and wanted me to have the abundant life promised. Then I learned an even greater truth. It’s not about me. Never was. There is no personal plan of God for my life. It isn’t all planned out. He just knows what is in store and prepares me in advance with all the skills and ability I need to enjoy, endure or receive all that is ahead of me. He’s in my corner, but not for my sake… It’s for everyone. It’s for His kingdom, His righteousness working through me so ALL can have an abundant life promised. I just have a small corner in a much bigger purpose in which to work and follow His leading. It’s not about me... I find that incredibly freeing. I can’t make a mistake that messes up His plan. I’m not that powerful. I am free to choose. I am offered leadership and favor according to His good will for me, for all. If the consequences of sin are experienced, it is because sin carries its own punishment. And sometimes that punishment spills over to others. A drunk driver could have an accident and kill other people. The other people didn’t do anything wrong; the evil of alcohol abuse is at fault. But God still cares and is not defined by the accident. He takes care of His people, but that doesn’t mean we don’t experience the fall out of evil in our world. He promises to walk with us through it. He promises His justice. Evil wears out because it “eats its own” just as a wasting disease will “eat” the host until there is nothing left to survive, then the disease also dies with the host it destroyed. This is evil. God never designed our bodies to host wasting diseases. He didn’t design us to sin. We were meant for more. Evil things have been happening behind the scenes of our government for years. It is now being revealed. Pray with us that the evil will not only be brought to light, but that it will also receive the just judgment of God and His righteousness through His people who are even now, building impenetrable cases to process. We pray for them. We must keep the courts in our prayers that the just judgments of God would be able to work successfully. We must not be discouraged when judges make rulings that are prejudiced, excessive, biased and unfair. Why? Because our hope is in the Lord who is above all and sees all and is faithful to His Covenant with those who believe. God always wins. Those who confront the evil of death, doubt and despair, are not forgotten. The mothers and fathers who lost children to fentanyl, brought in and distributed illegally in our nation, are not forgotten. The people struggling to pay debts, to provide for family and be good stewards are not forgotten. What is needed is for the Church Jesus is building to realize the power of her voice among the nations to make a difference; speak forth the will of God, His one Will, His Just Judgments. What we have currently is a church that is praying in a dozen or more different directions. Because God has Chosen to work through us, is it not important that we steward that responsibility corporately with accuracy rather than personally? Is it a surprise that personal agendas are most likely not God’s agenda? If it is the Church’s mandate to push back darkness and administrate the principles of the Kingdom of God upon the earth, is it any wonder evil has gotten a foothold when we are so busy looking after “me, myself, and I” our own local church food banks and Sunday morning services rather than speaking as one with the whole church against the evil that is even making the food banks necessary? Here's a thought: Maybe those who run the food banks (for example) wonder what purpose they would have if the food banks were not necessary? (just a thought) Would they pray to end the need for something in which they are finding fulfillment? Could the concern for fulfillment, validation, and significance apply to any other Church-run organization made necessary because of the works of evil? I wonder, how many have read Matthew 23 lately? Maybe it isn't that. Maybe the sincere concern for others cannot see past the momentary need to the corporate power of the Faith of God and the one Church Jesus is building to confront the evil source and heal the root of the need. Something to think about, anyway... Grace and peace, my friends. Anne