Most Christians know the story of Easter by rote, but for many the full reality of it has not entered into their hearts. They have little revelation about Jesus Christ and His work on the cross.
Without revelation in our hearts we end up with a sterile religion, empty of any power to change us on the inside or enable us to do the things Jesus said.
Word Insight: Revelation (Grk. Apokalupsis): an uncovering, to take off the cover; disclosure; the drawing away of the veil of darkness.
God’s power in those who believe
Many people fail to understand that the power of the indestructible life that bought Jesus out of the grave is in those who believe. They do not know how to break free from fear and guilt, lay hands on the sick, or use their spiritual authority as a believer.
The Apostle Paul understood the danger of dead religion! This is why he prayed for the born-again believers at Ephesus; He knew they’d need revelation if they were to benefit from all that Jesus had made possible for them.
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ … may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation [disclosure] in the knowledge [full recognition] of Him. I pray that the eyes of your understanding [deep thought] be enlightened [to shed rays], so that you may know [to see] … [Ephesians 1:16-23].
Paul then enumerates what he hopes they’ll see by revelation:
1) Hope of His [God’s] calling.
2) Riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.
3) Surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.
Faith is in the heart
All that Jesus did for us is true, but we must allow the Holy Spirit to make it real to us in our heart because this is where faith is. Spiritual truths must be seen and known in our heart, as well as in our mind, if they will benefit us at all.
- A natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness [locked out] to him and he cannot understand them because they are spiritually appraised (1 Cor 2:14).
- For God has revealed them through the Spirit; … Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God that we might know the things freely given to us by God (2 Cor 2:10, 12).
Prayer
Years ago I memorized Paul’s prayer and prayed it often—until the revelation of all that Jesus had made possible through His death and resurrection began to enter into my own heart. I invite you to join me this month in praying Paul’s prayer for revelation from Ephesians 1:16-23.
My latest blog post
Check out my blog post on the power of the cross: https://judithdoctor.com/bible-study-what-did-jesus-do-for-you-on-the-cross/
May the grace and peace of God our Father be with you,
Judith Doctor