Four Basic Levels of Revelation: Psalms 25:4-5
“4) Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” Psalms 25:4-5
David yearned to know God in His fulness. He wanted God to teach him His ways. He would have given everything to know the fulness of God that is ours in Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Yet his prayer is so relevant. It should be the yearning of every child of God.
I want to use his prayer as a launching pad for our ongoing discussion of how God speaks to people. Today we are going to look at this subject through the lens of what is called “revelation.” This word simply means “ways God reveals Himself and His will to mankind.” I believe there are four basic levels of revelation that God can use to speak to people. Let’s look at them briefly.
First, we have what is often called “General Revelation.” This is the witness of Creation, the heavens and things like God sending His sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust. (Romans 1:18-20, Psalm 19:1-6, Mathew 5:45) General Revelation proclaims that “God is” and that “He is powerful.” It is a witness that God gives to all people.
Second, there is what could be understood as “Special Revelation.” This relates to things like biological heritage, human conscience, unique life circumstances, personal blessings or trials and opportunities to hear the gospel. (Psalm 139:13-18, Romans 2:14-15, Acts 8:27-38, James 1:13-18, Romans 10:8-15) We all have a different life story, but God works through our unique circumstances to make Himself known to us.
Third, there is what is called “Biblical Revelation.” This refers to the complete, inerrant and infallible Word of God. The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself to mankind. (2 Timothy 3:16-4:5, 2 Peter 1:2-4, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Revelation 22:18-19) Cursed is anyone who adds to it, takes away from it or twists it’s meaning or message.
But then there is a final category that can be understood as “Spirit Revelation.” This is for born-again believers only. Jesus talked about it in John 14:16-18 and verse 26. He also mentioned it in John 16:7-15. This refers to the teaching, guiding and illumination ministry of the Holy Spirit available for believers.
Paul also talked about this revelation in Ephesians 1:17-19. The implication is that the renewed human spirit as a result of salvation can be tuned into the Holy Spirit for amazing communication and communion with God. Paul prayed that every new believer would be “given a spirit of wisdom and revelation into the knowledge of Christ.” What an amazing prayer. It might be the New Testament version of David’s prayer recorded in Psalm 25.
Paul further expounded on “Spirit Revelation” in 1 Corinthians 2:4-3:3. There is no limit to how deep this revelation can become for the Spirit filled man or woman in pursuit of God. (Vs 10) It encompasses the full scope of what we have been studying related to “Zoe life.”
Unfortunately, many if not most Christians remain in an infant state and are stuck in sinful and carnal bondage. They need spiritual milk because they would choke on biblical meat. (See 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:11-14) They both grieve and quench the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
The goal of the Freedom Quest Workshop that I teach is to break every sinful bondage and set captives free. The goal of spirit/Spirit Quest is to help you move on and understand your new life in Christ and point you toward spiritual maturity, walking by the spirit/Spirit and discovering the power of God for life and ministry. I want to help you embrace “all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) I want to help you enter the Promised Land that is yours in Christ.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“4) Make me know Your ways, O Lord; Teach me Your paths. 5) Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day.” Psalms 25:4-5
David yearned to know God in His fulness. He wanted God to teach him His ways. He would have given everything to know the fulness of God that is ours in Christ through the indwelling Holy Spirit. Yet his prayer is so relevant. It should be the yearning of every child of God.
I want to use his prayer as a launching pad for our ongoing discussion of how God speaks to people. Today we are going to look at this subject through the lens of what is called “revelation.” This word simply means “ways God reveals Himself and His will to mankind.” I believe there are four basic levels of revelation that God can use to speak to people. Let’s look at them briefly.
First, we have what is often called “General Revelation.” This is the witness of Creation, the heavens and things like God sending His sunshine and rain on the just and the unjust. (Romans 1:18-20, Psalm 19:1-6, Mathew 5:45) General Revelation proclaims that “God is” and that “He is powerful.” It is a witness that God gives to all people.
Second, there is what could be understood as “Special Revelation.” This relates to things like biological heritage, human conscience, unique life circumstances, personal blessings or trials and opportunities to hear the gospel. (Psalm 139:13-18, Romans 2:14-15, Acts 8:27-38, James 1:13-18, Romans 10:8-15) We all have a different life story, but God works through our unique circumstances to make Himself known to us.
Third, there is what is called “Biblical Revelation.” This refers to the complete, inerrant and infallible Word of God. The Bible is God’s written revelation of Himself to mankind. (2 Timothy 3:16-4:5, 2 Peter 1:2-4, 2 Peter 1:19-21, Revelation 22:18-19) Cursed is anyone who adds to it, takes away from it or twists it’s meaning or message.
But then there is a final category that can be understood as “Spirit Revelation.” This is for born-again believers only. Jesus talked about it in John 14:16-18 and verse 26. He also mentioned it in John 16:7-15. This refers to the teaching, guiding and illumination ministry of the Holy Spirit available for believers.
Paul also talked about this revelation in Ephesians 1:17-19. The implication is that the renewed human spirit as a result of salvation can be tuned into the Holy Spirit for amazing communication and communion with God. Paul prayed that every new believer would be “given a spirit of wisdom and revelation into the knowledge of Christ.” What an amazing prayer. It might be the New Testament version of David’s prayer recorded in Psalm 25.
Paul further expounded on “Spirit Revelation” in 1 Corinthians 2:4-3:3. There is no limit to how deep this revelation can become for the Spirit filled man or woman in pursuit of God. (Vs 10) It encompasses the full scope of what we have been studying related to “Zoe life.”
Unfortunately, many if not most Christians remain in an infant state and are stuck in sinful and carnal bondage. They need spiritual milk because they would choke on biblical meat. (See 1 Corinthians 3:2; Hebrews 5:11-14) They both grieve and quench the ministry of the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 4:30, 1 Thessalonians 5:19)
The goal of the Freedom Quest Workshop that I teach is to break every sinful bondage and set captives free. The goal of spirit/Spirit Quest is to help you move on and understand your new life in Christ and point you toward spiritual maturity, walking by the spirit/Spirit and discovering the power of God for life and ministry. I want to help you embrace “all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ.” (Ephesians 1:3) I want to help you enter the Promised Land that is yours in Christ.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
