Here is the revelation that is shaping my life today – stop learning God, he is present to be known.
Matthew 16:15-17 NLT
[15] Then he (Jesus) asked them, “But who do you say I am?” [16] Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” [17] Jesus replied, “You are blessed, Simon son of John, because my Father in heaven has revealed this to you. You did not learn this from any human being.
Observation
Knowing God, and walking with him, is an intimate progressive personal revelation journey. You don’t learn about him from human beings, he shares himself with you. God is not taught he is revealed. You do not learn, you become a witness, you encounter, you experience. When we teach God to others we invite them to believe, but we change what we believe, sometimes at the drop of a hat! But when God reveals himself, when I experience him, that lasts and shapes me for a lifetime.
Teachers can only share from their progressive personal revelation, it’s not a complete knowing, it’s not truth, it’s their truth. Those who teach must invite those who listen to take their sharing and speak with God, for him to bring personal revelation. There is too much belief that is not based in encounter, so it does not stand the seasons and storms of life. We are not to say “I know this about God because Fred taught me.” Why be taught about God when he is present to reveal himself? Teaching has a place, but only when it leads us to him for personal revelation. The challenge is that we have followed Fred and then Fred stuffs up and we are surprised that he is a man. Stop following Fred, God is present, be present to his presence, and receive his intimate personal progressive revelation that will shape your entire life.
Give me supernatural mysterious personal revelation any day for nothing can stand against that, even when I can’t explain it. It can’t be robbed from me, because it is in me at a level deeper than intellectual thought. It has penetrated me at a heart and soul level, it’s a knowing that is superior, so circumstances and eloquence can’t take it from me. I don’t need to defend it, it has shaped me. The heart has its reasons for believing of which reason knows nothing. This is direct revelation from God. This is how God walks with us. This is his desire always, the intimacy of a personal walk.
Application
I will learn but only to stimulate my intimate conversations with God. I will not take from others and shape my life, I will listen to the journeys of others, but have my own intimate journey with God. I will live from revelation, not new thoughts. I will not forgo intimacy with the teacher, for others musing or journeys. And I will not share my revelations without invitation to intimate personal engagement with the one who shapes my journey. I will not set myself up in place of God, but rather as one who always points to and introduces him.
Response
Thank you that you don’t want to be studied you want to share space with me. You want to be known from personal encounter and revelation not the outcome of removed observation. How mysterious and beautiful it is to be invited into direct revelation. Thank you that your ways are not learnt they are personally tutored. I love this life of intimacy.
Meditation
Meditate – Father in heaven has revealed this to you.
Consider:
Do you have life rhythms of personal experience and encounter?
How much of your God knowing is shaped by the telling of others as opposed to the experience of revelation?
JOURNEY DEEPER
