The scriptures teach that faith is born in us as we hear the rhema word of God (Romans 10:17). Since “rhema” is just another way of saying “revelation”, we can confidently say that faith also comes by revelation, without revelation it is impossible to please God, and revelation without works is dead.
For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. (Galatians 1:12)
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
(Ephesians 1:17)
How that by revelation he made known unto me the mystery… Which in other ages was not made known unto the sons of men, as it is now revealed unto his holy apostles and prophets by the Spirit; (Ephesians 3:3-5)
Revelation comes when the Holy Spirit opens our understanding of scripture in a way that 1) surpasses conventional wisdom, and 2) is always confirmed by two or more diverse scriptural passages (witnesses).
But the word of the LORD was unto them precept upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little; that they might go, and fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken. (Isaiah 28:13)
The prophet is saying here, by the Holy Spirit, that the word of God is meant to be understood through inspiration of God, “line upon line, here a little, there a little”, not by merely reading and studying the text, but by bringing it to God in prayer for revelation of the deeper meaning. He warns that all who deny this approach to learning scripture will “fall backward, and be broken, and snared, and taken”.
Jesus said much the same thing in the book of Matthew:
Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. (Matthew 13:13)
The Lord says here that He spoke in parables for a reason, so that the ones who desired to learn the true meaning of the parable would come to Him in private to receive this “revelation”, while the rest would simply go away confused without receiving the hidden blessing.
Far too many in the body of Christ today get their understanding from reading Bible commentaries or listening to teachers in their local church or the media. This may well explain why the church is in the state she’s in, “having a form of Godliness but denying its power.” This was never the Father’s intention. He has always desired that we come to Him directly to receive revelation of His word, for it’s only through revelation that a genuine faith is born in us, a faith to move mountains in Jesus’ name.
It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.
(John 6:45)
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