Revelation is the supernatural release of wisdom, knowledge, or understanding about something—divine inspiration. It isn’t just a new idea that helps us think about something differently—it causes literal change in our beliefs and understanding and may alter how we approach and respond to situations. When we receive revelation, there is an inner expansion that takes place—a quickening of our spirit. It is usually accompanied by a mental moment where an idea clicks into place. Oftentimes after receiving it, the revelation seems so obvious that we don’t know why we didn’t understand or realize that particular concept before.
Revelation typically comes to us in one of four ways:
- Directly by download from the Holy Spirit without prompting stimuli.
- Download from the Holy Spirit during a prompting stimuli such as reading, meditation, worship, etc.
- Through listening to teachings by others (a very specific prompting stimulus).
- Given to us by angelic messenger.
In reality, the Holy Spirit is the one who quickens all revelation within us, so regardless of the delivery method all of them are ultimately His work. Jesus spoke of the Holy Spirit’s revelation-giving power in John 16:14 saying, “He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.” The exact manner in which we receive divine inspiration is not always that important. In other words, it doesn’t matter if an angelic messenger delivers a missive or if we realize that same something while reading our Bible. What is most important is the internal transformation that occurs.
To be clear, information and revelation are not the same thing. I can listen to people talk about things I have never heard before, and as a result I will gain knowledge—new information. But something must take place on a spiritual level within me for that information to become revelation, and that is the key we are looking for. Why does it matter if something is inspired as opposed to learned? It comes down to impartation.
When we learn an idea, we have head knowledge. It is a mental construct that has no further ability or power beyond how we apply it with our minds and actions. With any form of divine inspiration, however, it carries virtue with it and creates inner transformation. In other words, when we receive revelation from heaven, we have in that moment received an impartation of something that makes changes in our soul and spirit. And, as we have discussed previously, once we receive something, we can give it away. Yet again, this is also a means by which we can receive impartation even if we are alone—as we engage the Holy Spirit He will reveal things to us, and as He reveals things to us they become implanted within our spirits and we can nurture that inspiration and let it grow and bear fruit.
In order to take advantage of this, it helps to understand how we can position ourselves to receive. Theoretically, receiving new revelation is not something we can make happen at will. By that I mean that if we were to decide right this moment that we wanted new revelation, it doesn’t mean we will suddenly be struck with a heavenly download. All wisdom and knowledge is there for the taking, and desiring new revelation can certainly influence the speed at which we receive it—it’s just not generally as fast as flipping a switch and turning a light on. Matthew 7:7-8 tells us, “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.” If we desire inspiration, we can look at that verse and trust that God will give us what we ask, but we must learn to be patient and go through the process.
This is an excerpt from my book “The Power of Impartation.” If you have found this informative or interesting, then consider picking up a copy of the book, available on Amazon (click here) in both print and e-book, and soon to be on audiobook.
