From Information to Revelation

A Journey of Faith and Healing

In life, you will always encounter seasons where only the hand of God can move you forward. It is supposed to be that way; it reminds us of our humanity and God’s divinity. Anything in your life that is not captured in God, will not sustain you, it will not bring you peace or happiness.
The woman suffering from the issue of blood (Luke 8:43 – 48) captured a revelation, “if I could just touch the hem of His garment I will be made whole”. Despite her prolonged suffering and failed attempts at finding healing, she persists in seeking out Jesus. She finds Jesus’ location and touches the hem of His garment, it causes power to come out of Him and instantly she is healed. She never had a conversation with Him before this, but what she did have was a revelation. Jesus recognized that someone touched him, but the disciples were confused because there were so many people touching him. However, Jesus responded to her faith. This woman had what we still need today, which is faith.
Romans 10:17 says “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God”. Faith comes from somewhere. Faith is produced from the revelation of God’s word. Revelation is not information. Information comes from the mind. Revelation comes through the Spirit of God. You can hear something as information, for example, we always say we are children of God but for many people that stays on a surface level as information. We hear it, we read about it, and we sing songs about it, but the difference between information and revelation is how you live your life. Because the person who has captured the revelation in God of what it means to be a child of God, they are not easily shaken! They know that if the God who created everything is my Father then He sees me, He’s a good father, and he would not withhold anything good from me. So even when I’m going through a trial, even when it feels like I’m going through a test, even while suffering, He must know that this is good for me. You’re not easily shaken and asking: “God, where are you?”

In Matthew chapter 16, we see the difference between information and revelation. Jesus was asking his disciples who do they say that I am? The Bible says: “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am? They replied, “Some say John the Baptist, others say Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” This is information; this is what they are processing through their mind. They see Jesus healing people and doing all these wonderful things. Elijah raised the dead, so he must be a prophet. A powerful prophet. But Jesus responded “But what about you? Who do you say that I am?” Simon Peter answered, You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus answered him by saying “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.” It was the difference between information and revelation. Simon received a word from the Spirit of God. When studying the Bible, you will notice that Peter had a unique quality because something about Jesus was revealed to him. When you have a word from God, you have the thing! That revelation will be the vehicle that gets you to the place where God wants you to be.
To make this personal, I’ll share some of my testimony. When my youngest son was born I went through mental turmoil. It was as if a switch was flipped in my mind and I could not shut it off. I eventually sought out therapy and was diagnosed with PTSD. I was sexually abused and the enemy used that to completely riddle me with fear, anxiety, and overwhelming panic. For 3 years this went on, I would cry out to God in prayer asking Him to heal me. Every night I went to bed believing that when I woke up the next day I would be back to “normal.” One night, in prayer, I cried out to God. I said “Lord, how long are you going to leave me like this, how long do I have to live like this? God, how many times do I have to ask You and You do nothing!?” I quietly, in my mind, heard the word “Habakkuk”. I thought what on earth is that, is that in the Bible? To my surprise, it was! I opened my Bible to Habakkuk and was blown away by the first couple of sentences which read; “How long, Lord, must I call for help but you do not listen? Or cry out “violence”! but you do not save?” (Hab. 1:2) That night I went from information; my God hears me, to revelation MY GOD HEARS ME! Through additional prayer and direction from the Lord, I was delivered at the Asbury Revival and the Lord completely restored my mind. If I had a choice, I would have preferred to be delivered on the first day… Not three years later except then I wouldn’t be here sharing this story with you. Looking at it now I am so thankful for what I went through.
So what happened, God spoke a word, and He gave me The Word and I stood on that. The solution was not something grand. He was saying I hear you, if you will just stand on the Word of God, and hold on to what I’m saying to you then you have the thing already! And the emery knew if she gets a word then I cannot cripple her with fear to get an access point. The Word of God becomes your defense of every attack and lie of the enemy. Find a word for what you are going through and stand firm on that scripture. Whatever area in your life that you are having anxiety over shows that you have information and not revelation. The Lord says, “Seek me and you will find me when you seek me with all your heart”. Ask the Lord to make His word come alive for you. Ask Him, “What does it mean to seek you? Lord, open my eyes. God, what does this word mean for me?” Engage with the Holy Spirit and in the Word. No matter the obstacles we face in life we already have the authority over it because God said so in Luke chapter 10:19 “I have given you the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.”
The revelation in the Word will produce faith and the evidence of revelation is peace. Your miracle is in the Word. The Bible says “He sent His Word and healed our diseases.” Move in the power of His Word. I want to encourage you today, that wherever you are lacking faith in your life, wherever you are lacking peace, whatever area has crippled you with anxiety, seek God! Engage with the Holy Spirit. Ask Him questions, ask Him to give you a Word about your particular situation, and stand on that. I remember when I was asking the Lord for a scripture for my children and He gave me Isaiah 54:13 “All of your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.” It may not look like that now for all my children but I declare it daily and that is the promise I stand on for them. I know all of God’s promises are yes and amen and that it will come to pass. Stand firm on His Word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.

Unforgiveness and Your Salvation

Let’s talk about Matthew 6: 14-15 “For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

I want to bring some clarity to this verse because I have heard it preached on and taught about in a way that, simply put, makes Jesus’ crucifixion in vain. I want to start this out by saying

UNFORGIVNESS WILL NOT TAKE YOUR SALVATION AWAY!!

You know how I know this to be true… because Jesus Christ bore all that unimaginable beating and was crucified on the cross for ALL sins!

But let me back up because I never want anyone to just take my word for it. I will add scripture references. Unforgiveness can be an issue and will cause a hardening of your heart and possibly cause you to miss out on some earthly things God has in store for you. However, unforgiveness will not take your salvation away. When someone accepts the FREE GIFT OF SALVATION through Jesus Christ, all their past, present and future sins (including the sin of unforgiveness) are washed away! Hebrews 10:10 says “Our sins are washed away and we are made clean because Christ gave His own body as a gift to God. He did this once for all time.”

It is very important when reading your bible to keep it in context. My greatest advice on understanding scripture is

#1 Pray for understanding before reading and

#2 Context, Context, Context!!

Yes, Matt. 6: 14-15 was said by Jesus Christ, but to put it in context this was said BEFORE THE CROSS! Jesus was teaching about forgiveness to the Jews, (in this passage to His disciples), who were trying to gain God’s approval through fulfilling the Law. A lot of Jewish people believed that strictly adhering to the Law with their behavior was enough to earn forgiveness from God. But Jesus revealed to them that despite their efforts, they did not measure up. In Romans 3:23 – 24 we learn that we all fall short, but praise God for the redemption of sin that came by Jesus Christ! “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” He was preparing them to receive Him as their Lord after He paid the price for their sins on the cross. Matthew 15:24 “He answered, “I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel.”

After the Cross

In Acts 4:12 and 1 John 2:12, we can see a very important difference in what Jesus is speaking to us now AFTER THE CROSS. WE HAVE BEEN FORGIVEN! JESUS HAS ALREADY PAID THE PRICE FOR OUR SINS! We do not forgive others so that God will forgive us. We CANNOT EARN our forgiveness. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9. Today, we forgive others because we have been forgiven!

PRAISE GOD!!

Photo by Felix Mittermeier on Pexels.com

R​eferences:

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

I am writing to you, dear children, because your sins have been forgiven on account of his name.” – 1 John 2:12