Episode 6 Wisdom and Revelation Part 1

In this Episode I bring a candid review of Episode 1 through 5 and then begin to discuss the need for Wisdom and fresh Revelation in our lives. “Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life ... and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly” (Matthew 11:28–30 from THE MESSAGE). Let's Go!!!

Transcript

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Well, welcome everyone to another episode of Unchained Table, where we will look into the Word of God to bring to the table topics that to some may seem controversial. We do this in order to raise the awareness of truth. Truth that sometimes may divide us, but it shouldn't be ignored either, because facing our differences in the light of truth will bring true biblical growth. Hi, I'm Jim Bell, and I am the host of Unchained Table. So at the time of this recording, my stats on Buzz Sprout, that is my podcast publisher, show that 48 people have downloaded episode one. And this podcast has 148 downloads total, which I know is made up of some of the original 48 listening to subsequent episodes. So I don't know who in this audience has heard all five of the previous episodes. But if not, I hope you will. If you have listened to all five episodes and were paying attention, there's a progression or pattern to those first five episodes. And it's to that pattern I wish to speak today. Then we're going to get into wisdom and revelation part one. So what makes this show controversial, at least in my eyes? I might be flying under the radar with some of you, but hopefully if you have been paying attention, God is speaking, God is speaking to you and shaking up some things in your mind and breaking some chains. And trust me, it won't be long, and someone or something will challenge the freedom you found. Then you will see the controversy. So let's review. In episode one, we set the premise of the show, stating that traditions that have been handed down through generations can be good, but many times they cloud the Word of God, and even in some cases make it useless, because we are following those traditions more than seeking to correctly line up with Scripture. Then we moved on to the unity of the Spirit that Jesus prayed for in John chapter 17, because we are so divided with these traditions that we are incapable of completing the mission that Jesus Christ has given us to take the gospel to all the world. Jesus said in John 17 that the world would know that the Father had sent him because of our unity. I think you can see that we're failing. Listen, the world is burned out on religion from every angle. And some believers have even made Christianity just another religion. And as religions go, we can't even agree with ourselves. That is the need for peace and a harmony that maintain the unity of the Spirit, spoken of in Ephesians 4.3. So then in episode 2, we talked about having proper judgment. And there discovered that Jesus didn't really tell us not to judge in Matthew 7. He was teaching us how to make proper judgments. The world is so sick of hearing about all the rules and expectations that when they hear you're a Christian, they're like, don't judge me right off the bat. The reason they think Christians are judging them is because there is such a long list of sins that we can't even agree on ourselves that spell what a C-H-R-I-S-T-I-A-N is to them. So in episode three, we answered the question, what is sin? There are many teachings from Scriptures that define what sins are plural in the flesh. And there's no way we can live a sinless life without Jesus. And he said in John 16, verses 8 and 9, that the Holy Spirit's job when he came after the cross was to convict the world of sin. And he said, the world's sin is this. They don't believe in the one whom he has sent. They don't believe in the one whom God the Father has sent to pay the price for sin, our Lord Jesus Christ. It's unbelief that's the world's sin. Unbelief in Jesus. So the world hears that and they say, Oh, well, great. Without any other understanding, they say, well, then I can just believe in Jesus and I will be healthy, wealthy, and wise, and it will be like heaven on earth. And because we don't teach suffering correctly, they think we are full of it when they see us suffering. So in episode four, we talked about trials and sorrows, because there's a great need for this to be taught well to believers today. Some teach victory so strong that it makes you want to give up if you're not completely overcoming in every area of life. While others teach if you're not being beat up, trodden down, defeated, and penniless in some way that you're not worthy of his name. Then, because the world thinks we think we are perfect, they stumble again when they see us make mistakes, not understanding that our perfection in Christ is a declaration of righteousness spoken over us when we are born again. And what they are witnessing is the process of God making us like Christ. So then finally in episode five, we discussed the difference between justification and sanctification. Justification is the immediate and complete declaration by God the Father that we are righteous in the blood of Jesus Christ when we accept Him as Lord. While sanctification is the process of making us holy as the Holy Spirit leads us out of a life of unbelief. So that's the first five episodes in review. And I hope that you will listen to all of the first five episodes as I pour out my heart with one simple message. And that message is this we need to trust Jesus. We need to rest in his completed work of redemption, and we need to yield to the process of the Holy Spirit working in us. Which brings me back to episode six as we begin to take a look at wisdom and revelation. This will be part one, and we will finish it up with part two and episode seven. Let's start out with Paul's prayer to for the Ephesians in chapter one, verse seventeen. This is the English Standard Version. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, may give you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. So Paul was praying for the Ephesians, and he was praying that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of Glory, would give them, would give the Ephesians the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. And so we know that that is something that God desires for all of us. That He would give all of us the spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. Now many critics of the congregations that walk more in what we call the gifts of the Spirit hear the word revelation and they groan. So if you are one of those that are skeptical of these quote unquote spirit filled believers, I want you to really hear this explanation of revelation. It's pretty simple. This definition is from Rick Renner's book called Sparkling Gems. The word revelation is from the Greek word apocalypsis. It refers to something that has been veiled or hidden for a long time, and then suddenly, almost instantaneously, becomes clear and visible to the mind or eye. It's like pulling the curtains back out of the way so you can see what has always been just outside your window. The scene was always there for you to enjoy, but the curtains blocked your ability to see the real picture. But when the curtains are drawn apart, you can suddenly see what has been hidden from your view. The moment you see beyond the curtain for the first time and observe what has been there all along, but not evident to you, that is what the Bible calls a revelation. Now let's apply the meaning of this word to the realm of spiritual truth. The truth we now grasp and enjoy has always been there in the realm of the Spirit. But it was veiled, hidden to us. It wasn't time for the truth to be revealed yet. So it remained obscured from our sight, even though it was always there. But once the right time came and the Holy Spirit removed the veil that obstructed our view, our minds instantly saw and understood. When this occurred, you and I had a revelation. Can you remember times in your past when you suddenly saw something in the Bible you had never seen before? That truth had been there all along, but it had been hidden from your eyes. Then suddenly one day it was as if someone pulled the covers off that verse and it literally jumped off the pages in front of you. You saw it. You understood it. You had a revelation. This is why I am always encouraging you to let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth. Don't just trust men. Don't just trust me. Pray. Read the word. Read these scriptures. Pray for that revelation. Some of you are always saying, I wish God would speak to me. Yet He probably is speaking to you all the time. Well, I know that He is. But are we listening? And I'm telling you that anytime you are reading the Word of God or listening to a message and suddenly you have understanding that was the Holy Spirit giving you a revelation. Are you praying for wisdom concerning anything right now? Maybe a new job offer, a move to another city, how to get out of debt, maybe all three. In spite of all the books written, there really is no seven step process to work it all out. We need God to give us wisdom and revelation that uniquely applies to our situation. Another way to look at this is in Proverbs chapter four, verse seven. It says wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom, and in all your getting get understanding. In other words, God can give you wisdom concerning something, but unless you get understanding so that you can put that wisdom to work, it is useless. Listen, are you tired, worn out, burnout on religion? Come to me, get away with me, and you'll recover your life, and you'll learn to live freely and lightly. That's Matthew chapter eleven, twenty-eight through thirty from the message. Let me read it again. Are you tired, worn out, burnt out on religion? Come to me, get away with me, and you'll recover your life. And you'll learn to live freely and lightly. Wow, what an invitation. Most of what the world witnesses as Christianity today is man-made. And it's amazing to me that through it all, God is still able to get the job done. But that is the most amazing thing about it all. He has chosen us. He's chosen to use us. He's chosen to partner together with us and put his spirit in us to work through us to get this job done. That is the revelation that we need to have the most. For all the wisdom gained, all the doctorates earned, all the mega churches built, all the ornaments and trappings, all the lights and smoke and music, if they do not help people develop a true relationship with the Holy Spirit as He helps us walk in what Jesus Christ has provided for us, we have failed. He wants us to be blessed. But all of our struggle and striving to accomplish it ourselves, all of our work and toil to earn the blessing, actually choke it out. So you go to the altar at the end of a service one week. One group of people may say, You don't have enough faith to receive what you're praying for. Another group says, You're not asking correctly in line with his will. And yet another group will say, I think you have some unconfessed sin in your life. What is the right answer? At any given time, one of those answers might be given to you, but is that what you really need? For without wisdom and fresh revelation from the Spirit of God, at the point of our need, we are just fishing in a dark pond. We are his children. He is blessed with our presence just like any father would be. He welcomes us in and desires to share with us the riches of heaven. All he asks is one thing. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and all these things will be added unto you. Matthew six thirty-three. Let me say that again. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, not our own righteousness, his righteousness. The righteousness that he gives. And all these things shall be added to you. See when you believe that he's made you righteous and that you're worthy to come into his presence, then you can begin to receive the things that he's provided for you. Seek Him. Seek His kingdom. Trust that He loves you and receives you. Believe that He hears you and cares for you. Understand that He knows your every need and wants you to know and experience Him as He reveals Himself to you. Let me leave you with this. Colossians two fourteen says concerning the things that were against us in our sin. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. Believe that, trust that, and come to Him today expecting a fresh revelation for your life. One that will free you and empower you to follow Him with all of your heart. So until next time, let the Holy Spirit guide you into all truth, yield to his working, and stay unchained.