The revelation of Jesus Christ must first be personally worked within an individual... before it can be made manifest corporately in Christ's body. These are some questions that we all need to ask ourselves. Not just superficially, but really examine our hearts. Take a good look at where we are in our Christian walk.
What is lacking in the church systems of today?
What is lacking in the lives of believers today?
Why are we so ineffective in reaching the lost?
Are we living a victorious Christian life?
When others look at us, do they see Christ?
Are we growing spiritually, or are we stagnant?
We could all benefit greatly from a good dose of honest self-evaluation. We all know what we would like to be... but seldom do we attain to even our most modest goals. How can we change the situation? There is only one answer to all the above. What we as Christians need above all else, is a Revelation Of Jesus Christ.
Each one of us, individually, need to know WHO it is that we believe in. We must no longer be willing to settle for second hand knowledge.
Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17-23 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: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all.
These are just nice words... without the revelation of what they mean.
We can receive the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation into the deep things of God.
We can know and understand the hope to which we are called.
CHRIST IS the Universal and Supreme HEAD of the Church, and we are His Body.
As such, we are to be filled with the full measure of Christ Himself... Who makes everything complete. We are far more familiar with the interpretations and doctrines of men than we are with the teachings of Christ. Christ is the LIVING WORD. We need to experience the revelation of Jesus Christ personally... in our own hearts and lives... or we will never be changed.
Galatians 1:12 For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Religion is man's attempt to control God. To figure out explanations for the mysteries of eternity and neatly categorize all the questions and answers, thus enabling the leaders to control the people. The problem with this is that the pat answers are no different than the dead letter. They do not convey life. Jesus said, in John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
Why do we listen to men... when we have direct access to the source of all life? Could it be that we are not encouraged to press into a personal relationship with God? What will change when we receive the revelation of who Jesus is? EVERYTHING! Our ideas, our beliefs, our attitudes, our actions... all will be drastically different. Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. The revelation of Jesus Christ will most definitely transform our lives.
Deuteronomy 4:29 But if from thence thou shalt seek the LORD thy God, thou shalt find him, if thou seek him with all thy heart and with all thy soul.
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Even now Jesus is standing at your hearts door. Will you let Him in? Are you willing to have the eyes of your understanding opened? We will never be overcomers in our own strength. It is only as we submit to the dealings of the Holy Spirit in our hearts and lives that we can begin to grow-up in Christ. It is only as we receive a personal revelation of Jesus Christ that we can be transformed. We need much more than imaginings and hopes and dreams. We need reality. It is only as we come to see the LORD of LORD's as He really is, that we can become like Him. I pray that our hearts may be overwhelmed with an insatiable desire to see Him as He Is, not as we have imagined him to be. Here is a description of what to expect:
Revelaion 1:11-18 Saying, I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last: and, What thou seest, write in a book, and send it unto the seven churches which are in Asia; unto Ephesus, and unto Smyrna, and unto Pergamos, and unto Thyatira, and unto Sardis, and unto Philadelphia, and unto Laodicea. And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp two-edged sword and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive forevermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.
Go on and read for yourself what the Lord had to say to the seven churches. Place yourself in each one, as if the Lord were speaking directly to you. You will readily see those things that Jesus commends them for... and the things for which they are reprimanded. How much better for us to examine ourselves now, while we can still make changes and do something about it... rather than have the Lord come to us in wrath.
We are not ready to stand before God face to face.
We too, would fall at His feet as dead.
Christ is all in all, the beginning and the end.
He is God's full expression of love... and He is coming to execute God's wrath upon all unrighteousness.
All too often, we are unbalanced in our perception of Christ. Seldom, if ever, do we think of Him as He IS, Glorified and having put all things under His feet. Our thinking influenced by our traditions and teachings, and is not in accordance with the WORD. This is manifest in how for granted we take our salvation... and how unacquainted we are with the need to hold fast to a reverential fear of the Lord. We are not prepared for the Lord's coming... though we have heard about it all of our lives.
Hebrews 9:28 Even so it is that Christ, having been offered to take upon Himself and bear as a burden the sins of many once and once for all, will appear a second time, not to carry any burden of sin nor to deal with sin, but to bring to full salvation those who are [eagerly, constantly, and patiently] waiting for and expecting Him.
It is time to grow up in Christ. We need to get beyond thinking of Jesus as a babe in a manger, or hanging upon the cross at Golgatha. Those aspects of Christ's life on earth were beautiful and important... but He is not there anymore. It is time to start seeing Him as He is today.
HE IS RISEN!
HE HAS ALL POWER AND AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND IN EARTH!
HE IS THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS!
He is coming again... first in a people whose hearts are prepared to receive HIM.
Are you ready?
May we all fall on our faces before Him... and seek for our own personal revelation.
Amen & Amen
Cathy Morris
1/3/2003
