Pithy and Profound
When we define, and distinguish between revelation, inspiration, and illumination what can you add personally to these definitions and examples.
- Revelation- God’s disclosure of his own nature and his purpose for mankind;
Example, one day I saw a squirrel running around a tree, rolling around and just having fun. It brought pleasure into my heart and mind. I thought that squirrel was only doing what God created it to do and it brought pleasure to me. Revelation 4:11 says, “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created” (KJV). My revelation was that when we do what God has created us to do, we bring Him pleasure.
Another revelation God gave me was when I was spending the day watching the Experiencing God videos. I had fallen asleep and woke up to rewind the video to the point where I had slipped off into sleep and in my mind heard “Go wipe the dust off of that table.” I thought to myself, Man I don’t want to get up. I am kicked back in this Lazy Boy. But if that is God speaking to me He will tell my why. So, I got up and dusted off the table. I sat back down and said, Okay God, tell me why I did that. Again, I heard in my head, “That is what I do with sins, I wipe them clean.” I thought to myself, that was God speaking to me and it lines up with His will and word.
- Inspiration- the supernatural influence given to man, 2 Timothy 3:16-17. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works” (KJV)
I believe that when I rely on God in writing papers, articles, sermons, discourses and the like He gives me the words to write and speak.
- Illumination- to make aware, to open our understanding, to shed light on. (Ephesians 1:17-18).
When I first came across Matthew 5:28, “But I say unto you, “That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart” (KJV). I thought that is much different than the world’s view of you can look just don’t touch. Keeping this verse in mind, I ran across other verses like Proverbs 6:32, “But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul” (KJV). We can destroy our own soul by lusting after a woman.
2 Corinthians 7:1 comes to mind now, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (KJV).
The light keeps shining brighter as we seek to learn God’s word and become aware of His truths…
In Christ,
Greg