When you need revelation from God

“And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 16:17 ESV)

Revelation: The act of revealing or disclosing, especially a dramatic disclosure of something not previously known or realized; an epiphany, usually an experience of sudden and striking spiritual realization. 

God gives us revelation in many ways

God has revealed Himself throughout history through what He has made, by His prophets, by His angelic messengers and by those led to speak by the Holy Spirit. No matter how the message is carried, however, it must always agree with and never contradict what is written in the Bible.  

Revelation comes when God enlightens the eyes of your heart

“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of him, having the eyes of your hearts enlightened, that you may know what is the hope to which he has called you, what are the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might.” (Eph. 1:17-19 ESV) 

Revelation comes through God’s Word

“The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130 ESV)

Revelation comes through what He’s created

“For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.” (Rom. 1:20 ESV)

Revelation comes by the Holy Spirit 

“But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:26 ESV)

“For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.” (Rom. 1:19 ESV) 

Therefore…

“Making your ear attentive to wisdom and inclining your heart to understanding; yes, if you call out for insight and raise your voice for understanding, if you seek it like silver and search for it as for hidden treasures, then you will understand the fear of the Lord and find the knowledge of God.” (Proverbs 2:2-5 ESV) 

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.” (1 Cor. 2:12 ESV)

Quote:

“A God whom we could understand exhaustively, and whose revelation of Himself confronted us with no mysteries whatsoever, would be a God in man's image, and therefore an imaginary God, not the God of the Bible at all.” - J.I. Packer