Experiencing Revelation

Romans 5:1-5 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
3 And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience (Greek: hupomone = “steadfastness”);
4 And patience, experience (Notice that experience is preceded by tribulation); and experience, hope:
5 And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.

The Body of Christ is experiencing many things that previously we have only known in a limited way. In the past the Holy Spirit has enlightened our hearts to many precious truths in the Scriptures. Revelation is essential, but alone it is not enough. We must experience that which the Lord has revealed to our hearts. The Word must be real and alive to us. There was a time when “God said it, so I believe it” was enough, but not now. Mental assent to a truth is not sufficient. Something more is required now. We are in a time of transition and preparation. The Lord is preparing us for a ministry, a ministry that will usher-in the fulfillment of the Word of God. Jesus said, This generation shall not pass, till all these things be fulfilled (Matthew 24:34). “This generation” which Jesus is speaking of is the Body of Christ that God is creating in this day. This shall be written for the generation to come: and the people which shall be created shall praise the Lord. Psalm 102:18. Many of us have been going through some tremendous dealings of the Lord, and this message should explain why.

Genesis 37:5-11 And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more.
6 And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed:
7 For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your sheaves stood round about, and made obeisance to my shear.
8 And his brethren said to him, Shalt thou indeed reign over us? or shalt thou indeed have dominion over us? And they hated him yet the more for his dreams, and for his words.
9 And he dreamed yet another dream, and told it his brethren, and said, Behold, I have dreamed a dream more; and, behold, the sun and moon and the eleven stars made obeisance to me.
10 And he told it to his father, and to his brethren: and his father rebuked him, and said unto him, What is this dream that thou hast dreamed? Shall I and thy mother and thy brethren indeed come to bow down ourselves to thee to the earth?
11 And his brethren envied him; but his father observed the saying.

Joseph, as a young man, received revelations from the Lord. Likewise, we have received revelations in our immaturity. Joseph’s dreams did not immediately come to pass. He was first sold into slavery and for the next thirteen years experienced some very unpleasant circumstances. They were very important years. During that time God dealt with him, creating the man He needed. Joseph was being prepared for a ministry. When he became what God wanted him to be, the Lord brought him out of the dungeon and placed him over all of Egypt, second in command to Pharaoh. Then began the ministry of Joseph. It was his responsibility to prepare for the days of famine, and to minister the bread during that time.

The famine was great. During that time Joseph’s own brethren came to Egypt to buy food. It wasn’t until their second visit to Egypt that they became aware that the man they had to deal with was their own brother Joseph. They feared for their lives when they stood before him, because they had sold him into slavery. Joseph, however, knew that it was God and not his brothers that was responsible for his time of trial. For God did send me before you to preserve life…And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. Genesis 45:5,7

Joseph had received a Word from God, and he was tried by that Word until it came to pass. It was necessary for God to prepare Joseph for his ministry. Until the time that his Word came: the Word of the Lord tried him. Psalm 105:19.

God has a tremendous ministry planned for the Body of Christ, too. And it is just as important (actually, more so) for us to be prepared for our ministry as it was for Joseph. Just as God was preparing and teaching him, so He is with us. He deals deeply with us, taking us through trials and tribulations, creating the steadfastness and dedication that is needed to make revelation an experience. Tribulation worketh steadfastness, and steadfastness, experience (Romans 5:3,4).

Joseph received his revelations in his immaturity. He wasn’t ready for a ministry. When he spoke of his dreams his brothers hated him (Genesis 37:5). Neither are we ready for the ministry God has for us until He has dealt deeply with us. We must experience the Word. It must be a living reality to us, something we have lived. Only then will His presence fill the words we speak. We glory in tribulation; that is, the work of the cross, the deep dealings of God that make the revelations from the Lord to our hearts a real experience.

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