The Church in Action

Lesson 11

Lesson Text—I Corinthians 2:1-4

I Corinthians 2:1-51 And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

Lesson Text—I Corinthians 2:1-4

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Lesson Text—I Corinthians 2:5-8

I Corinthians 2:6-76 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:

Lesson Text—I Corinthians 2:9-11

I Corinthians 2:8-118 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.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.

Lesson Text—I Corinthians 2:9-11

10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.11 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.

Focus Verse—Matthew 16:17

Matthew 16:17And Jesus answered and said

unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Bar-jona: for flesh and

blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in

heaven.

Focus Thought

Christianity is the revelation and proclamation of Jesus Christ.

Because Christians battle darkness, it is imperative that

they receive revelation or understanding for spiritual growth and development.

I. Relevance of RevelationIntroduction

Watch a child move into a new house and explore the entire premises with the gusto of a conquistador and the scrutiny of a detective. He puts his head through the doggie door, opens the closet doors, and looks into the cubbyhole under the stairs. His curious mind drives him not to accept the surface; he must see what is hidden and know what casual glances will not divulge.

I. Relevance of RevelationIn a similar fashion, believers

probe the depths of the household of faith. The spiritual nature brought to them through the new birth is curiously hungry to explore and experience every aspect of their newfound relationship with Jesus Christ and the church.

The curious child might announce, “Look, Mom, there’s a laundry chute in my room!” Discoveries evoke excitement. Spiritual revelation also evokes excitement in a believer!

I. Relevance of RevelationSpiritual discovery strengthens and builds up the believer and draws him into a new level of understanding. The continually exploring believer might announce, “Look, I found a promise in God’s Word for my situation!”

The continuing revelation of spiritual truths is relevant to every believer as he continues to search, explore, and grow in his relationship with Jesus Christ.

I. Relevance of RevelationRelevance

of RevelationComplacent believers are like a

person who lives in a house for ten years before discovering the linen closet. They settle for living in the arena designed for new believers—a good place of faith in Jesus Christ, but a place intended to be a launching pad into expanding spiritual discoveries and experiences. They say amen to the preaching and they nod at the testimony of new converts.

I. Relevance of RevelationHowever, they fail to pursue, investigate, and explore the multifaceted dimensions of the faith they have embraced. They enter the house of salvation, unroll their sleeping bag by the door, and go no further in exploring the spiritual residence God has given them. Active Christians refuse to settle for only a front-door experience of religion. They expect more from God.

I. Relevance of RevelationThey understand that abiding in a place means unpacking their suitcases into the dresser drawers and emptying their garment bags onto the clothes rod in the closet. They recognize that no one who has come home is content to continue living out of boxes. Rather, they place the dishes into the cupboards and hang pictures on the walls. By the light of revelation, they explore all the features of their spiritual home.

A. The Need for Revelation A. The Need for

Revelation

Without God’s revelatory power, mankind lives empty, half-fulfilled lives. Deep closets of meaning and fulfillment remain closed. Windows of new perspectives and divine wisdom stay shuttered fast, barring hope. For too many, including nominal believers, whole rooms and entire floors of spiritual growth lay empty, unknown, and unexplored.

I. Relevance of RevelationIn his book Pursuit of God, A. W. Tozer writes, “For millions of Christians . . . God is no more real than He is to the non-Christian. They go through life trying to love an ideal and be loyal to a mere principle.”

God does not intend for us to sulk in the darkness of a meaningless existence. His Word states, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined” (Isaiah 9:2).

I. Relevance of RevelationThe light of revelation comes through Jesus Christ: “In him was life; and the life was the light of men” (John 1:4). He fills our spiritual void with light.

True believers receive the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the Spirit they enjoy spiritual illumination. Individuals can experience the full dimensions of truth only through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. Mankind does not have spiritual vision apart from the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

I. Relevance of RevelationWithout a spiritual relationship with Jesus Christ, a person stumbles and gropes blindly through his bleak existence, hoping to stumble into enough money, enough success, enough fun, or enough popularity to make his life meaningful.

On the other hand, God has never been blinded by life. He is the light of life itself. “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do” (Hebrews 4:13).

I. Relevance of RevelationTo experience real vision during humanity’s brief existence, one must follow the Guide who can see—the One who holds the light. Those who do not enjoy His light remain spiritually shriveled recluses, holed up in their limited experiences and meaningless insights.

Sin blankets the eyes of a person’s heart so that he cannot see God’s fullness, but redeemed individuals experience an entirely new dimension of spiritual insight.

I. Relevance of RevelationFor example, Peter described some of the “rooms” that those with God’s enlightenment have found: faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and charity (II Peter 1:5-7). On the other hand, the spiritually blind soul has not discovered these dimensions of existence, and “he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off” (II Peter 1:9). Clearly, spiritual blindness is healed when one is “purged from his old sins” (II Peter 1:9).

I. Relevance of RevelationThose who continue to live in sin

cannot see God in His fullness. The psalmist wrote of those who “sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron; because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High” (Psalm 107:10-11). However, there is hope for sinners: “Then they cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses. He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.

I. Relevance of RevelationOh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” (Psalm 107:13-15).

In addition to a person’s internal battle with darkness or spiritual blindness, the enemy also has cast a spiritual shadow across all humanity. Mankind must “wrestle . . . against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Ephesians 6:12). This darkness has created a gloomy reality for mankind, causing him to think of gloom as the norm.

I. Relevance of RevelationBut God has designed us to be “children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (I Thessalonians 5:5).

Without the help of God, mankind would be most miserable. Our hope lies in Him who “hath delivered us from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13).

I. Relevance of RevelationWhen Peter experienced the revelation of the mighty God in Christ, Jesus informed him that “flesh and blood hath not revealed it” but that his illumination came from the “Father which is in heaven” (Matthew 16:17). Flesh and blood, or human resources, cannot create true revelation or spiritual illumination.

I. Relevance of RevelationAfter His resurrection, Jesus spoke with the disciples and illuminated to them the deeper meanings of the passages “in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms. . . . Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures” (Luke 24:44-45). If Jesus Christ has not opened a person’s understanding of the Scriptures, the Bible remains only stories and moral lessons.

I. Relevance of RevelationMan can study, research, and

observe many things in our modern world, but he cannot comprehend the things of God without divine assistance because “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (I Corinthians 1:25). The mysteries of God’s nature, strength, love, and eternal plan stretch way beyond even the understanding of the most brilliant human minds. The full knowledge of God is more than just academically acquired; it is spiritually discerned.

B. The Provision of Revelation

B. The Provision of Revelation

God never intended for us to continue in spiritual blindness, groping in darkness. He wants us to see. First, He wants us to see Him. Tozer writes, “If we co-operate with Him in loving obedience God will manifest Himself to us, and that manifestation will be the difference between a nominal Christian life and a life radiant with the light of His face.”

I. Relevance of RevelationJust as Moses’ face shone after encountering the presence and revelation of God, so also should our encounter with God shine through our lives.

II Corinthians 4:6

“For God, who commanded the light to shine out of

darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the

knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus

Christ” (II Corinthians 4:6).

I. Relevance of RevelationIn addition to revealing Himself, God wants to reveal to us His plan for our lives. He wants us to see the whole spiritual house.

He wants us to know the thoughts He thinks for us, how much He loves us, and the place He has prepared for us in eternity. None of these riches would be ours except for the provision of the power of God that He has revealed to us through His Word and Spirit.

I. Relevance of RevelationGod has revealed Himself to us in this age through both His Word and His Spirit. In searching out the mysteries and wonders of life, the psalmist said, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” and the “entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple” (Psalm 119:105, 130). Further, the “deep things of God” are revealed by the Spirit of the Lord (I Corinthians 2:10; Ephesians 3:5).

I. Relevance of RevelationWithout the power of the Lord’s Word and Spirit, we would not experience any depth of life’s purpose, for all our understanding would lie on the surface of human observation.

Hebrews 4:12 “For the word of God is quick,

and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword,

piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,

and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the

thoughts and intents of the heart”

(Hebrews 4:12).

I. Relevance of RevelationWe cannot understand the Word

of God through mere techniques of secular research. Rather, we pray and fast as we study God’s Word until illumination dawns on us. “We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation” (II Peter 1:19-20). Consequently, we seek to understand the Word of God through the Holy Spirit.

I. Relevance of RevelationAn unopened Bible sheds no

more light than a sunrise behind a closed window shade. Only by the opening of the Word through preaching, teaching, and intense study will lives shine with the radiance of God’s light. A believer must rightly divide the Word of truth to have a life that becomes perfect, thoroughly equipped for all good works (II Timothy 2:15, 3:15-17).

A human being cannot force God to share divine revelation any more than he can force his skin to tan.

I. Relevance of RevelationA tan develops on the skin of those who repeatedly expose themselves to the sun. They do not make it happen; the sun does the work. The person being tanned, however, made the choice to expose himself to the sun.

In similar fashion, divine revelation occurs in the hearts of individuals who bask prayerfully in God’s Word. Repeated exposure to anointed preaching, thorough teaching, and inductive Bible study will expose an individual to the radiant presence of God, which will change the person’s countenance.

I. Relevance of RevelationHowever, the radiance of revelation that will shine in one’s face is not a permanent arrangement. Just as a tan fades with time, so the believer must continue to spend time beholding the glory of the Son lest the glory fade from his face.

Ephesians 1:17-18 “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” (Ephesians 1:17-

18).

I. Relevance of RevelationWe need the power of the Spirit

working within us to open our eyes. Spiritual revelation is rare for the unspiritual person. If a person lives in the Spirit’s power and consistently studies the Scriptures, however, he will discover more revelations as “the inward man is renewed day by day” (II Corinthians 4:16). While God has ordained for His church to follow teachers, pastors, evangelists, prophets, and apostles, He also promised that the Spirit of truth would teach us all things (John 16:13).

I. Relevance of RevelationThese promises come to those

who want to “move in” and abide in the “whole house” of God’s church. People with full lives are not those who merely attend church three times a week. Rather, fullness comes to them when they allow the Spirit of God to abide in their lives all week long. These are the believers who need very little counseling or repeated correction from their pastor for they have learned how to live by faith and hear from God in their daily situations.

Luke 6:21

“Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled”

(Luke 6:21).

I. Relevance of RevelationA person’s desire to know gives God the opportunity to reveal. The hyperactive child discovers the trash compactor in the new home before his parents do because he is curious. Anyone could have found out what the house contained, but only the investigator does. The hyper-curious believer finds truths others have overlooked. Complacency causes a person to bypass God’s best truths and opportunities.

I. Relevance of RevelationA complacent Christian might exclaim, “I’ve gone to church for decades and never saw what that new convert just showed me from the Bible.” God reveals the unknown, unseen things of Himself to those who hunger and seek after His truth.

It amazes many people to learn that the Lord intentionally hides truth from non-seekers.

I. Relevance of RevelationThe Lord’s disciples asked Him, “Why speakest thou unto them in parables?” Jesus answered, “Because it is given unto you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it is not given. . . . Therefore speak I to them in parables: because they seeing see not; and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand” (Matthew 13:10-11, 13).

I. Relevance of RevelationThose who hunger, who ask, who pursue the Lord for truth receive a special promise: “Blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear” (Matthew 13:16). What a wonderful blessing to obtain!

Some mistakenly believe that revelation leads a person into new truth. However, a light does not create the room—it merely reveals what already exists. As we probe the depths of God’s truth we will only discover what is new to us.

I. Relevance of RevelationForever the Word of the Lord “is settled in heaven” (Psalm 119:89; I Peter 1:23-25). While we cannot improve on the truth that already exists, God wants to continually add new dimensions to our understanding of truth.

II. The Great Biblical Mysteries Revealed

The Great Biblical Mysteries RevealedUnbelievers stand perplexed

when considering the big mysteries of life. They turn to one another to discuss, question, and decide answers to mankind’s dilemmas. However, they will never find truth while looking through the smoky glass of carnal perception. One must submit himself to hold to the Master’s hand and allow the light of Jesus Christ to open his understanding.

I. Relevance of RevelationConsider the following questions, which reflect levels of revelation a person can experience.

1. “How did we get here?” It is natural for mankind to ask the source of his origin. Most individuals come to a point when they ponder where life began—and why. One becomes dissatisfied with the pat answers others have given him. The self-absorbed person will accept a godless answer. The spiritually hungry person will embrace the concept that an all-powerful being placed him on the planet for a reason.

I. Relevance of RevelationThe revelation of the Creation will

greatly illuminate a person’s understanding. This revelation will transform a simple walk down the forest trail into a spiritual experience as one sees meaning and confirmation of divine creation in every leaf, every web, every stone. However, to understand the mystery of human existence, one must ask another probing question.

2. “Is there a God?” For individuals of faith these first two big questions find their answer in the very first verse of the Bible.

Genesis 1:1

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth”

(Genesis 1:1).

I. Relevance of RevelationMore than linear discovery of information, however, the human heart desires to know the answer to these questions by intuition, exploration, and revelation. The revelation of God is near to individuals who possess a heart that is hungry to know Him and to know truth. Consequently, no individual has an excuse for failing to seek out and investigate God and His truths.

Romans 1:19-20 “Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them. For the invisible

things of him from the creation of the world are

clearly seen, being understood by the things that

are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that

they are without excuse” (Romans 1:19-20).

I. Relevance of RevelationBy his own evil inventions,

mankind can pervert the Creation to the point of making it something to worship and serve. On the other hand, by humble faith and submission to the Almighty, and through His divine power of revelation, mankind can discover the depths of God’s creative power and recognize His existence. This represents a measure of knowledge that transcends mental information; it is the embracing of a mystery unveiled by the Spirit of the Lord.

I. Relevance of Revelation3. “How must I be saved?” Once

a person recognizes the power of an omnipresent God who created and rules the hearts of the faithful, the next logical question involves whether one has the favor or disapproval of this powerful Being. The revelation of one’s lost condition without God leads him to take the first steps toward God through faith and repentance of sins—turning from sin toward God.

I. Relevance of RevelationFurther, a person’s search for God leads him to explore the Word of God and leads him to a person who can expound the revelation of the mystery (I Corinthians 1:21; Mark 4:11). Step by step, one’s spiritual eyes begin to open to the joys of repentance, receiving God’s forgiveness, experiencing the cleansing of water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the refreshing presence of the Holy Spirit, speaking with other tongues as the Spirit gives the utterance.

I. Relevance of Revelation4. “What does the Bible mean?”

As a person continues down the path of progressive revelation of truth, he begins to see deeper meaning in the whole of Scripture. Just as many people of Jesus’ day could see only the story of the parables, His disciples learned from Him the meaning behind the story of the parables. In similar fashion, many people have read the Bible but have seen only interesting stories.

I. Relevance of RevelationHowever, spiritual hunger propels the truth-seekers to plunge into the depths of the Word, and they discover even deeper and greater truths of God.

• Noah’s ark. The story of Noah no longer serves as just a story about a boat loaded with animals. Now the individual sees how the story teaches spiritual truths about God, separation from the world, and salvation from sin and destruction. (See I Peter 3:20-21.)

I. Relevance of Revelation• Escape from Egypt. The story of the Exodus becomes more than just a drama of escape from Egypt as one sees the symbolism of the blood of a spotless lamb at Passover and how it represents the blood of Jesus Christ shed on the cross. He further recognizes associations between the story and the truths of repentance of sins, water baptism in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and receiving the Holy Ghost.

I. Relevance of RevelationHe comes to see how their escape from the enemy’s bondage is akin to mankind’s escape from bondage in sin.

5. “Who is Jesus Christ?” As one continues to seek to know God, he soon endeavors to understand the identity of the One who gave His life on the cross. What a powerful insight to know that “God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory” (I Timothy 3:16). (See also Colossians 2:1-3.)

I. Relevance of RevelationThe concept of the mighty God in

Christ empowers all the revelatory truth of God’s Word. Many people have groped blindly through the pages of the Bible hoping to understand this great truth. However, mere verse memorization and Scripture analysis yield only limited understanding. The glorious facets of the Incarnation come not only to the natural mind, but to one’s spirit “because they are spiritually discerned” (I Corinthians 2:14).

I. Relevance of Revelation6. “What happens after I die?” By

scriptural revelation, the believer knows the hope the future holds for those who obey God and love Him. God shows us the mystery that “we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed” (I Corinthians 15:51). What a great expectancy for God’s people as they await the fulfillment of the promise!

The unbelieving live in dark uncertainty about the future.

I. Relevance of RevelationTo the believer, however, the Scriptures reveal that God’s people “are not in darkness” and that day will not “overtake” them “as a thief” (I Thessalonians 5:4-5, 9). We are people of the light for the truths of God have shined into our lives through the illumination of the Spirit!

III. The Church Propagates the Revelation of Jesus Christ

The Church Propagates the Revelation of Jesus Christ

A truth-proclaiming church provides a continual source of positive spiritual energy. Spiritual revelation creates two enduring side effects: joy (I John 1:3-4) and peace (Luke 1:79). When entering an assembly of people who proclaim the revelation of the mighty God in Christ, one finds both vibrancy and tranquility in the Spirit.

I. Relevance of RevelationRevelation also builds faith. An

atmosphere of illumination by the power of God is an atmosphere of expectancy. People who are excitedly discovering and following the revealed truths of God will attract followers. These followers do not come for the show or the program, but they seek spiritual satisfaction like that which they observe in the lives of spiritually alive believers. Further, they desire to discover fresh insights to age-old dilemmas.

I. Relevance of RevelationRevival churches spawn revelation in the hearts of believers who attend (Matthew 5:14-16). New insights and fresh understanding come regularly to those whose hearts yearn for more of God. Hunger for truth brings to seekers a feast of God’s revealed Word. Jesus promised His disciples, “If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; and ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:31-32).

I. Relevance of RevelationToo many churches today are

satisfied to slog through ritual and form. They defend the narrow constraints of their denomination instead of pursuing the truths of God’s mysteries. However, Paul warned that these who have “received not the love of the truth . . . God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: that they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness” (II Thessalonians 2:10-12). (See also Jeremiah 13:16; John 3:19-21; II Peter 2:1-4.)

I. Relevance of RevelationLet us not follow this gloomy path.

Believers should pray for the efficiency of those who serve in ministry. Paul pleaded with established believers, asking them to pray “also for us, that God would open unto us a door of utterance, to speak the mystery of Christ” (Colossians 4:3). (See also Ephesians 6:19.) For the revival of revelation to continue, we must pray that there be “free course” for the continued propagation of truth (II Thessalonians 3:1).

III. The Church Propagates the Revelation of Jesus Christ

ConclusionA life full of the revelation power

of Jesus Christ is like a house with every light on and every room clean. This is living spiritual life to its fullest, and it does not depend on marital status, social standing, financial success, or age. As a person grows in God’s grace, each year’s journey accompanied by his intense study of the Holy Bible will be another trip of increasing illuminations of spiritual understanding.

I. Relevance of RevelationHowever, one’s spiritual life will fade if he expects the newness to last without giving it continual attention. He must continually work at maintaining his relationship with Jesus Christ. On the other hand, the Scriptures clearly warn those who allow their relationship with Christ to grow dull and cold.

Acts 28:26-27 “Saying, Go unto this people, and say, Hearing ye shall hear, and

shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and not perceive: for the heart of this people is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of

hearing, and their eyes have they closed; lest they should see with

their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them” (Acts

28:26-27).

I. Relevance of RevelationThe kingdom includes two groups: those who are “unskilful in the word of righteousness” and those who “by reason of use have their senses exercised” to perceive spiritual mysteries (Hebrews 5:13-14). May all God’s people join the latter group!