Revelational Knowledge

                                       How to Receive Revelation Knowledge
“ . . . many preachers today have trouble understanding the spiritual content of First
Corinthians, much less the operation of that content.”
I bless the day I discovered Paul's source of revelation knowledge! Actually, I not only discovered
that source, but I can also show you how to enter into it yourself (if you want to) to receive
everything God has for you.
Called as an apostle to the Gentiles, Paul probably received more revelation knowledge from God
than any man alive other than Jesus. But Paul didn't receive this revelation just because he was called
to be an apostle. As Jesus said, For many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14). No, Paul
received revelation knowledge because he decided for himself to go into God as far as he could go
and receive everything God had for him.
Before you pass this off too lightly, remember of all the apostles, Paul was the one who was born
out of due season. He hadn't been a part of Jesus' earthly ministry. In other words, the original twelve
disciples walked with Jesus prior to His ascension and were directly taught by Him. But everything
Paul received, he received by revelation.
Now, before we find out how Paul received revelation knowledge, think about this: His revelation
was every bit equivalent to what Moses received for the entire nation of Israel when God presented
Moses with the Ten Commandments and the detailed instructions of the Law. What the apostle Paul
received from God was as intricate and detailed concerning the operation of the Body of Christ as
was Moses' revelation concerning the disbursing of the Law.
When I started studying the book of First Corinthians to understand more about how Paul received
revelation knowledge, I realized something: The entire letter was written to people whom Paul called
"baby Christians" of a carnal mind! That was a little scary to me, because many preachers today have
trouble understanding the spiritual content of First Corinthians, much less the operation of that
content.
Look at what Paul says in First Corinthians 3:1,2: And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto
spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. I have fed you with milk, and not with
meat: for hitherto, ye were not able to bear it, NEITHER YET NOW ARE YE ABLE.
Notice Paul's words in verse 2: ...Neither yet now are ye able. In other words, Paul went on to write
the entire book of First Corinthians to the carnal minds of baby Christians who were not able to eat
the meat of the Word. Because he was writing to carnal baby Christians, Paul attempted to reveal
his source of revelation knowledge in chapters 2 and 3 so these baby Christians could also tap into
that same source. Paul was encouraging the Corinthian believers to take their Christianity beyond
a carnal walk of the senses into an intimate relationship with God.
As you may have guessed, the source of revelation Paul talked about in these chapters involves a
believer's personal relationship with the Holy Spirit. We will find out more about this source as we
go further into this teaching.
As believers, we don't have any problem understanding that being full of envy and strife qualifies
a person as one who is of a carnal mind. First Corinthians 3:3,4 confirms this: For ye are yet carnal:
for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as
men? For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?
Paul accused the Corinthian believers of being carnal for following after men, but he wasn't talking
about doing away with the offices of apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, and teacher or the ministry
of these offices to the Body of Christ. So what was Paul talking about? He was trying to get the
Corinthian church to look past the ministry of men and to focus instead on the ministry of the Holy
Spirit. Paul wanted them to realize that only the Spirit of God could transform their lives and literally
cause them to become what they were hearing and learning from their teachers.
Notice what Paul goes on to say in verses 5 and 6: Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but
ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man? I have planted, Apollos
watered; but God gave the increase.
What did Paul mean when he said that he had planted and Apollos had watered? Paul was saying that
he had planted the Corinthians in the Kingdom of God by leading them to Christ. Then Apollos came
along later to water the seed of the Word in their hearts, teaching them about Jesus Christ, the
ministry of the Holy Spirit, and how to grow in the knowledge of God. But as Paul says in verse 6,
it was God by His power who actually gave the increase.
Now, here's the amazing thing about this: Paul wouldn't have talked to the Corinthians in chapter 3
about their running after men and about God giving the increase if Paul hadn't already revealed his
source of revelation knowledge in chapter 2. After all, it does no good to reprimand a carnal
Christian for running after man rather than God unless you go on to show him how to personally
enter into God so God can give him the increase. Only then will he avoid building incorrectly upon
the foundation of Jesus Christ.
In First Corinthians 3:9, Paul describes the formation of the Body of Christ by calling us both God's
HUSBANDRY and God's BUILDING. Like every building, we must have a foundation. Paul goes
on to describe his ministry as a wise masterbuilder who received grace from God to lay that
foundation. Of course, as Paul revealed in I Corinthians 1, that foundation is Jesus Christ crucified,
which is ...unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; but unto them which
are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God (vv. 23,24).
As part of God's building, you are called by Him to be a lively stone. That means you are to fulfill
your ministry as a co-laborer in the Body of Christ, always building on the revelation that Paul laid
as a masterbuilder, which is "JESUS CRUCIFIED."
Right here is where man's ministry leaves off and the Holy Spirit's ministry begins. This is why Paul
called the Corinthian believers carnal for following after men, saying, "One says, `I am of Paul,' and
another says, `I am of Apollos.' But who are we but ministers by whom you believed? It is GOD who
gives the increase" (vv. 4,6).
I will always be a teacher in the Body of Christ for the maturing of the saints, but there are some
things I cannot give people. As a teacher, I can teach all about Jesus crucified, healing, covenants,
love, faith, and hope. However, I cannot open up people's hearts and put all these truths inside of
them.
Where does my ministry leaves off and the Holy Spirit's ministry begin in your life? At the point
where God wants to reveal to you your individual calling as a lively stone in the building of God.
The Holy Spirit then starts to give you what no man can. Only He can give the anointing and the
equipping for your divine call, no matter what that call may be.
Through the power of the Holy Spirit, God will work in your life to bring forth faith, love,
anointings, and a spiritual understanding of the things of God. No man can give that to you, for it
is only God who gives the increase.
So let's go back to First Corinthians 2 to find out the source of Paul's revelation knowledge; then we
will be able to go to God ourselves and receive from Him what no man can give us. Notice what Paul
said in First Corinthians 2:7,8: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden
wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this
world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Whenever the popular detective, Sherlock Holmes, solved a mystery, he did so by first finding
isolated clues that were usually not obvious to the casual observer and then by putting those clues
together in such a way that he solved the mystery.
Now let's apply that same principle to God's plan of redemption. It was necessary for the Cross to
be hidden in God as a mystery. That doesn't mean the clues didn't exist, for they did exist all the way
through the Old Testament. But the clues weren't obvious enough to solve the mystery of Christ
crucified. Certainly if the princes of this world had solved the mystery, they would NOT have
crucified the Lord of glory! As you know, IT WAS NECESSARY FOR JESUS TO DIE AND BE
RAISED AGAIN! This is why Paul said what he did about the Old Testament saints in verse 9: But
as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the
things which God hath prepared for them that love him.
But then the most incredible thing happens between verses 9 and 10: THERE IS A CHANGE of
COVENANTS, and Paul begins to reveal the source of his revelation knowledge in First Corinthians
2:10-12: But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea,
the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is
in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not
the spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely
given to us of God.
Between verses 9 and 10, Jesus Christ is crucified and the Holy Spirit is given to the Church. The
change of covenants has taken place.
The Holy Spirit came all the way from Heaven to solve the greatest mystery of all time. His
commission was to reveal to us the wisdom of God - the same wisdom that had been hidden in God
since before the foundation of the world.
First, the sins of the whole world were laid on Jesus. Then came the commission of the Holy Spirit
- not only to reveal the Word, but to work with every believer in fulfilling the Great Commission to
go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature. Thus, what none of the Old Testament
saints had access to because it was hidden in God in a mystery, God has now purposely given to us
WHO BELIEVE through the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
Now that Jesus has died for the sins of every man, God wants every man to hear what was once
necessarily hidden. This mystery is now made available to every believer who will yield himself to
the Holy Spirit. That is why verse 12 says, We have received ... the Spirit which is of God; that we
might know the things that are freely given to us by God.
Consider this question: Why did Jesus say that the Holy Spirit was given to Him without measure?
Most answer that nothing could limit the power Jesus walked in because He was the Son of God. He
could heal anyone, anywhere, anytime. But if this was the case, why couldn't Jesus do mighty
miracles in His own hometown, (with the exception of healing a few sick people)? The Word gives
the reason: It was THE PEOPLE'S UNBELIEF.
We see, then, that the operation of the Holy Spirit was restricted in Jesus because of other people's
unbelief. So what did Jesus mean when He said He received the Holy Spirit without measure?
I can tell you the answer to that question. Jesus was the first Man since Adam to be born spiritually
alive. The Bible therefore calls Jesus "the last Adam."
Jesus told His disciples that the Holy Spirit was WITH them and, after His death, would be IN them.
You see, the Old Testament saints were not capable of being baptized in the Holy Spirit because they
were spiritually dead. Consequently, the Holy Spirit (who was WITH them and not IN them) would
move upon them for a season according to God's purpose or plan. This was called a "mantle,"
referring to a cloak that was draped over the outer garments of a person.
But as believers, we have not received a mantle, or an outer spiritual "garment." We have received
the baptism, or the infilling, of the Holy Spirit on the INSIDE of us. He has come to abide WITHIN
us forever.
Jesus said He received the Spirit of God without measure because He was the first spiritually alive
man since Adam who was capable of being baptized in the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit was not
forced to rest outwardly upon Jesus' life in the form of a mantle; rather, He came without measure
and baptized Jesus' whole being. In the same way, the Holy Spirit has come to us - not in a measure
(or a season), but to STAY.
Hebrews 8:11 tells us one of the benefits we enjoy as a result of being born again and filled with the
Holy Spirit. We can be directly taught by the Spirit of God concerning spiritual things: And they
shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all
shall know me, from the least to the greatest.
This verse outlines the difference between God's dealings with Israel as a nation when He gave them
the Law, and His dealings with us who have received the Holy Spirit. The Law consisted of the Ten
Commandments, a diverse set of ordinances, and various types of blood sacrifices. Consequently,
everyone had to be taught to know God through the Law, for it was impossible for a spiritually dead
man to know Him through the new nature of the rebirth. But now we can know Him from the least
to the greatest because He has written His laws in our hearts and in our minds (Hebrews 8:11)!
So here is the question: If all of us, from the least to the greatest, can know God because we have
received the infilling of the Holy Spirit, just exactly how does the Holy Spirit search the deep things
of God to reveal them to us? We know the Holy Spirit was Paul's source of revelation knowledge,
but what did he do that was so different from everyone else who was filled with the Holy Spirit in
his day? What caused Paul to be so full of revelation knowledge?
First Corinthians 14:18 is the verse that shows us what made Paul different from every other minister
of his day: I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all.
Was it a coincidence that Paul: 1) operated in more revelation knowledge than anyone present in his
day, and 2) prayed in tongues more than any other Holy Ghost-filled person of his day? No! I can
guarantee you that it wasn't coincidental. There is a spiritual link between tongues and revelation
knowledge. But what is that spiritual link?
The spiritual link between praying in tongues and revelation knowledge is in the understanding of
the word "mysteries." To help us understand this link, Paul mentions this word three times between
chapters 2 and 14 of First Corinthians.
• Paul's first mention of the word "mysteries" is in First Corinthians 2:7, where he says, But we speak
the wisdom of God in a MYSTERY, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world
unto our glory.
• The second time he mentions "mysteries" is in First Corinthians 4:1, which says, Let a man so
account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the MYSTERIES of God.
• Finally, Paul's third mention is in First Corinthians 14:2: For he that speaketh in an unknown
tongue speaketh not unto men, but unto God: for no man understandeth him; howbeit in the spirit
he speaketh MYSTERIES.
Let me show you the link between praying in tongues and revelation knowledge. It's very clear from
First Corinthians 14:2 that when a man prays in tongues, he is speaking the same mysteries of God
that Paul talked about earlier in chapters 2 and 4. It is significant that in the same letter where Paul
told the Corinthian church he was thankful he spoke with tongues more than them all, he also told
them that God had made him a STEWARD of the mysteries of God.
A steward is an administrator. A rich man would hire a steward to act as an administrator over his
wealth and goods. The steward would make sure that there was no waste and that the rich man's
goods were protected against misuse and thievery.
Thus, in order for Paul to be a good steward of the mysteries of God, he had to protect those
mysteries against infiltration of false doctrine, against legalism, against Satan's hatred of the Church,
etc. Paul did that by allowing the Holy Spirit to pray those very same mysteries through him hour
after hour in tongues. Paul knew that his practice of praying MUCH in other tongues was the key to
expanding his spiritual understanding of the revelation of Christ to the Church.
Let me tell you why. The word "tongues" is an old King James English word for "language."
Therefore, it would be proper for you to say, "When I pray in an unknown language, I am speaking
mysteries." Like any other language, tongues carries within it thoughts, expressions, and entire
sentences - more articulate than any man-created language on the face of the earth. God uses it to
express the mystery of everything that Christ, the Hope of Glory, is on the inside of you.
When the Holy Ghost is able to express mysteries through your spirit, those mysteries will eventually
manifest themselves in your understanding. Your praying in tongues literally frees the Holy Spirit
to move on your mind with revelation knowledge, insight, wisdom, and a greater understanding of
spiritual things. Paul himself was the proof of this when he wrote of his understanding of the
revelation of Christ.
Are you like me - desiring to walk in revelation knowledge for yourself? Do you want to be led out
of carnality into the deep things of God? Do you want to get beyond the milk of the Word and allow
the Holy Spirit to communicate the meat of the Word to you? Do you want to understand what is in
Paul's teachings?
Well, when you pray in tongues, you are praying the same things that are recorded in Paul's epistles.
So keep on praying! Go to the mouth of the river yourself and jump in. IT'S ALL YOURS FOR THE
ASKING!