There exists an invisible, spiritual, supranatural realm from which this visible, physical natural realm was created.
"By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible."Heb. 11:3.
The realm of
"For the word of thecross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are beingsaved it is the power of God...For indeed-Jews ask for miraculous signsand Greeks search for wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, -to Jewsa stumbling block and to Gentiles -foolishness, but to those who are -thecalled, both Jews and Greeks, Christ -the power of God and -the wisdomof God." 1 Corinthians 1:18, 22-24 (New American Standard Version)
A good illustration of the difference between these twoconcepts of "supra" and "super"is the attributes of the fictional character Supermanä. Supermanä is a naturalman (that is, he possesses a physical mind and body and existsin the physical universe), with some rather unique and astounding abilitiesdue to his extraterrestrial heritage. For instance, he has unequalled strengthwith any other earth-born creature. He’s faster than a speeding bullet,more powerful than a locomotive, and able to leap tall buildings in a singlebound. These skills, although they surpass the abilities of normalhuman beings, are nevertheless natural abilitiesshared by both Supermanä andother people. The difference is the degree to which Supermanä possesses these natural abilities greater than ordinarymen. Since these attributes are common toboth Supermanä and "normal"people, they are referred to as supernatural.
In addition to these super-natural abilities thereare some abilities Supermanä hasexhibited in the comics, cartoons, and movies that are totallyoutside the realm of possibility for human beings. For example,Supermanä has been knownto fly at extremely high altitudes, even outside the atmosphere of earthwith no ill effects and without the aid of mechanical devices. He seemsto be able to withstand all sorts of radiation with no protection, withthe exception of kryptonite,of course. Bullets bounce off his chest, he has X-Ray vision (except throughlead), and he is able to tunnel through the earth with his own body andendure temperatures of thousands of degrees. This is not simply an extensionof natural abilities; it is outsidethe parameters of what ordinary mortals can do. It is supra-natural.
The spiritual realm is not just a souped-upversion of the natural realm. It is totally different and outside of thenatural realm and cannot be perceived merely through the intellect andthe five senses or other natural means. It must be perceived throughrevelation. Revelation, according to Vine's Dictionary ofNew Testament Words, is "an uncovering"and "is used in the New Testament of (c) thecommunication of the knowledge of God to the soul." Easton'sBible Dictionary states that revelation is "anuncovering, a bringing to light of that which had been previously whollyhidden or only obscurely seen"
"Yet we do speak wisdom amongthose who are -mature; a wisdom, however, not of -this age nor of the rulersof -this age, who are -passing away; but we speak God's wisdom in a -mystery,the hidden wisdom which God -predestined before the -ages to our glory;the wisdom -which none of the rulers of -this age has understood; for itthey had understood it they would not have crucified -the Lord of glory;but just as it is written, -THINGS WHICH EYE HAS NOT SEEN AND EAR HAS NOTHEARD, AND WHICH HAVE NOT ENTERED THE HEART OF MAN, ALL THAT GOD HAS PREPAREDFOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM.
-For to us God revealed them-through the Spirit; 1Corinthians2:6-10 (New American Standard Version)
"...But a -natural man -doesnot accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are -foolishness tohim; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised."1 Corinthians 2:14. (NASB)
Revelation is a FUNCTION of faith.
"... and without faith itis impossible to please God, for anyone who comes to Him must believe thatHe exists, and that he rewards those who diligently seek Him." Heb. 11:6.
Revelation, Faith and The Knowledgeof God
Revelation results from an exerciseof faith in God. The individual believesthat God exists (without any natural, verifiable support)and God rewards the faithof the individual with a revelationof Himself. Faith is an unchanging trust and total reliance on God thatresults in obedience to His commands and conformity to His character.
Faith and revelation are dynamicprocesses, not static events. The first expression of faith resultsin the first revelation of God. Additional expressions of faith are requiredto receive additional revelations from God. These expressions of faithand revelation are cumulative (as are their opposites: unbelief andconcealment) and meant to grow. Revelationgrows through the exercise of faith.
The secret of the Lordis with them that fear Him; and He will show them His covenant. Ps. 25:14
Faith and Revelation work together to produce theknowledge of God. It is the knowledge of God, or the lack thereof,that separates the righteous from the wicked, the saved from the lost,and the blessed from the damned. There is no possessionof greater value than the intimate, life giving, knowledge of God.And this knowledge of God only comes through the life of faith. Romans1:18-32 describes the results of a life devoid of the knowledge of God.
For although they knew God,they neither glorified Him as God nor gave thanks to Him, but their thinkingbecame futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. Rom. 1:21.
Furthermore,since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God,He gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done.Rom. 1:28.
Butthanks be to God who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christand through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved andthose who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other,the fragrance of life. 2 Cor. 2:14-16.
God wants to communicate with usfrom the invisible, spiritual, supranatural realm but this communicationcan only come through spiritual revelation, and spiritual revelation onlycomes through living and active faith. The foundation for living a Spirit-filledor more accurately, a Spirit-controlled life is to be a manor woman of faith. To become a man or woman of faith requires hearing andbelieving the Word of God.
So then faith cometh by hearing,and hearing by the word of God.
Rom. 10: 17.
The Word of God: The Wellspringof Faith
The Wordof God is the source from which faith is brought into existence.Without faith it is impossible to please God. Without revelationit is impossible to know God. God has provided His Word so thatfaith can be established.
The term "Word of God", is often used interchangeablyand synonymously with the writings (scriptures) of the Holy Bible. However,the Bible itself indicates that the Word of God (orWord of the Lord) is much more than the Scriptures, predates them,and indeed, actually predates the entire Creation.
In the beginning was the Wordand the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1.
For since the creationof the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature– have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, sothat men are without excuse. Rom. 1:20.
The heavens declarethe glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after daythey pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. Thereis no speech or language where their voice is not heard. Their voice goesout into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. Psalm 19:1-4.
The Word of God is theexpression or communication of God from Himself to us. We communicatewith one another through words or through symbols and objects that canbe represented by words. In a similar way, God communicates with us throughHis Word. Sometimes that Word is expressed in various forms,but the end result is that God expresses Himself to us so that we can perceiveHim. By giving us His Word God provides a foundation from whichfaith can be launched, revelation can reciprocate and the knowledge ofGod can generate.
Since the Word of God is the expression of God Himselfto us, it is proper to refer to the Word of God as "He" rather than "it".Therefore, He speaks through creation. He also speaks to us directly Spiritto spirit. The Holy Scriptures are thewritten records of what God has spoken in the past and how man has respondedto Him. The manifestations of the HolySpirit (as recorded in 1 Corinthians 12 and commonly called "gifts" ofthe Spirit) are God speaking to us today. God’sultimate expression of Himself to us is found in the person of Jesus ofNazareth, the Anointed One (Christ or Messiah), and the only begotten Sonof God.
In the past God spoketo our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways,but in these last days he has spoken to us by His Son, who he appointedheir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. The Son is theradiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustainingall things by His powerful word. Heb. 1:1-3.
When we discuss God we are dealing with the invisible,spiritual, supranatural realm. Perception of that realm comes only throughrevelation. Revelation comes through God’s response to expressions of faith.Faith comes by hearing (in contradistinction to listening to) theWord of God. It is important for us to discern theWord of God and the Spirit of God from all other words and spirits.This is accomplished through pure devotion to what God has already said,in the Holy Scriptures. The Scriptures (or theBible) are the written record of what God has said in the past, man’s responseto His communication, and God’s response to man’s response. Godis a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him. The reward God gives tothose who seek Him is further revelation of Himself. Thewriters of the Bible and many of the personalities discussed therein, weremen and women who exercised faith and diligently sought God. Asa result, they received revelation of God and revelation fromGod. They, in essence, became God’s spokespersons on earth. That isthe meaning of the word prophet, someone who speaks forththe mind and will of God.
The Scriptures enable us todiscern the Word of God. By hearing the Scriptures, withour heart as well as our ears, faith is produced in our lives. As we learnto hear God through the Scriptures we can develop the faith to receiverevelation to hear God’s voice in our daily lives. We can begin the processof growing in our knowledge of God without fear of deception. Thus is theultimate goal of the Spirit-controlled life: Hearing God and walking inobedience to His commands.
The Holy Scriptures: The Reservoirof Revelation
Since we are dealing withan invisible, spiritual, supranatural realm that can only be perceivedthrough revelation, it is importantto have a reliable standard to authenticate the identity of the spiritualentities and communication we receive from that realm.
God has provided such a standard through the writingsof the Bible. In the Bible, God has recorded His communication with humanityover the centuries. The Bible is the reliable sourcefor validating or invalidating our encounters with the invisible, spiritual,supranatural realm.
Knowledge of God comesthrough revelation.
Revelation comesthrough faith.
Faith comesby hearing the Word of God.
The Word of God is God’s communicationof Himself to us.
The Bible is the written record of God’s previousrevelations and communications of Himself to men.
The Bible (or Holy Scriptures)is the Word of God, but the Word of God is more than the Bible!
For the Word of God is 1ivingand active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even todividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts andattitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12.
The paper and ink that are used to print the Scripturesare not living and active. It is the message and the MessageSender that the written text reveals that is the living and activeWord of God. Two different persons, one exercising faith and the othernot, can read the same words and the results will vary tremendously. Theone who reads with faith will receive a revelationof God. The one who reads without faith will only receivean increase of natural knowledge at best or confusion and misunderstandingat worst. The Bible is the reservoir of the revelation of God but onlythose with living faith can drink its living water.
Jesus demonstrated the difference between the Wordof God and the Scriptures when he reprimanded theJews for their unbelief:
And the Father who sent me hashimself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice norseen his form, nor does His Word dwell in you, for you do not believethe one He sent. You diligently study the Scriptures becauseyou think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scripturesthat testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. John5:36-40.
The Jews were entrusted with the very words of God inthe Holy Scriptures. Yet many did not approach the Scriptures in faith,and they failed to recognize God’s ultimate communication of Himself whenit came in the person of Jesus of Nazareth. It is vitally important thatwe approach the Bible with faith in order to benefit from its wealth ofrevelation of God.
... How from infancy you haveknown the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise forsalvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathedand is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.2 Timothy 3:15-17.
Above all, you must understandthat no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation.For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, butmen spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit. 2 Peter1:20-21.
A proper attitude and response to the Holy Scripturesopens the door to faith and revelation. When theScriptures are regarded as the Word of God the possibility for faith torise in the heart is attained. The next step is hearing whatthe Scriptures are saying by t the message and acknowledging the authorityof the Message Sender.
What follows is an appropriate action in response to themessage.
This subsequent action in response to the message is anact of faith. Activefaith results in a revelation of God. God responds to faithand the individual perceives it internally and on occasion observes itexternally.
The Scriptures are the foundation for faith and revelationof God. By examining what God has already revealed in the Bible, we havea standard by which to judge all other manifestations from the invisible,spiritual, supranatural realm. God wants to communicate with us by HisSpirit through the Scriptures and by other means, but He does not wantus to be deceived, misled, manipulated or exploited by false messages ormessengers.
... Man does not live on breadalone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. Deuteronomy8:3.
Let the prophet who has a dreamtell his dream, but let the one who has my word speak it faithfully. Forwhat has straw to do with grain?" declares the Lord. "Is not my word likefire," declares the Lord, "and like a hammer that breaks rocks in pieces?There fore, I am against the prophets who steal from one another wordssupposedly from me." Jeremiah 23:28-30.
For receiving revelation and living a Spirit-controlledlife, the Bible is our point of beginning. We need to feed on and digestthe principles and commands of Scripture in order to safeguard ourselvesfrom deception, manipulation and exploitation.