REVELATION KNOWLEDGE - IS IT CONDEMNING OR UPLIFTING
Revelation knowledge about "personal things" is a trust from the Lord. He reveals things to us about personal areas in the lives of people so we know how to pray against the strongholds in their lives. He also shows us things in the lives of others that the enemy can and will use to tempt and snare us with the sins of other people.
There is a "season" or "right time" to confront people "personally" with what the Lord has revealed to us secretly. The perfect illustration of this is where Nathan the prophet confronted King David about his adultery with Bathsheba and the murder of Bathsheba's husband.(2 Samuel 12)
In the process of receiving revelation knowledge from the Lord we need to exercise care in discerning whether our calling is to confront or to treat the revelation as the work of the Holy Spirit in safeguarding our own lives, and in the case of shepherds to keep our flocks from harm or disaster. We need to pay particular attention to the alarms sent to our spiritual senses of perception by the Holy Spirit or we'll find ourselves playing into the hand of the enemy as he works to "steal, kill and destroy".
There is another side to this that concerns the "public" reading and preaching of the Word. The Word of God is very effective at revealing what's in the hearts of people and addresses every area that God says we are to stay out of. The importance of being faithful in sitting under sound teaching and preaching of the Word of God can't be overemphasised. Nor can the practice of faithful personal reading of the Word of God.Nehemiah 8:1 - 9:5 is a wonderful example for us in the life of the Israelites. After a long absence from public reading and explanation of the Word of God, the Israelites again heard the Word of God. It was a joyful experience for them and moved many of them to repentance and recommitment of their lives to the truth.
The Word of God discovers and reveals to us the condition of our hearts.Hebrews 4:12 says, "For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart."
Both pulpit and pew ministers basically fall into one of two catagories:those who walk in condemnation and those who walk in grace. They both preach, teach and exercise the same Word of God. But there is big difference in these two camps. Those in the condemnation camp are motivated by a spirit of self-righteousness and try to whip people into shape. Those in the grace camp are motivated by compassion and try to lead people out of error and into the Light. And it's all too easy to stand with a foot in both camps.
A lot of the time when we say "the Lord has shown me" it can be taken by people as "condemnation" if the Holy Spirit hasn't already cultivated their hearts and made them ready to receive something from the Lord. When this happens people feel alienated and think we are intruding into their personal space. We have to be careful "how" and "when" we use these words. Especially when they are directed toward individuals.
There is a proper time for public disclosure of sin. Ananias and Sapphira are perfect examples of this. (Acts 5) However, the public disclosure of the personal sins of people seeking forgiveness during altar calls (something that happens far too often by misled ministers being given revelation knowledge) serves only to foster distrust in the Lord and those whom He has anointed and gifted. Public disclosure of sin is the responsibility of those seeking forgiveness. (Nehemiah 9:2, Matthew 3:3-6, 1 John 1:9)
God has faithfully equiped the Body of Christ with every spiritual gift necessary for us to be a mature and effective body of believers. In our zeal to use our gifts let's be careful not to abuse our gifts lest we hinder and damage the work of the Holy Spirit in those whom He is working in to heal and restore.
COPYRIGHT - DAVE KRALIK 2000
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