This year is going to be a year of revelation!  We’ve been reminded of how transforming just one revelation from God can be and how it is the person of the Holy Spirit within us who brings us this revelation.  Jesus said:

John 16:12-15

12 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. 13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. 14 He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. 15 All that belongs to the Father is mine. That is why I said the Spirit will receive from me what he will make known to you.”

We learned of the importance of praying in the Spirit as we pray the perfect intercessory prayer without even one intelligible word as the Spirit intercedes on our behalf (Romans 8::26-27).  We learned of the critical role of God’s written word to training ourselves to discern His voice.

God’s word is powerful and alive as the Holy Spirit is still pouring out revelation to us through it and breathing new life into it.  In fact, the Bible, itself, is a written record of God’s revelation.  66 books written by at least 40 men over the course of about 1,500 years and yet all with one author and general theme.  It’s by no means a collection of story books or fairy tales, but historically accurate accounts and poetic expressions of God’s revelation.  Peter explained:

2 Peter 1:16-21

16 For we did not follow cleverly devised stories when we told you about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ in power, but we were eyewitnesses of his majesty. 17 He received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.” 18 We ourselves heard this voice that came from heaven when we were with him on the sacred mountain.

19 We also have the prophetic message as something completely reliable, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 20 Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation of things. 21 For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.

Peter physically heard the voice of the Father with his own ears, he personally saw the miraculous power of God through the ministry of Jesus and then through His followers, the church.  He knew that none of it was a made-up story, but that it all certainly took place. 

He also was convinced that the prophetic messages of the written word were completely reliable.  He explained that, though written by humans, that their true origins were God, Himself, through the Holy Spirit.  Paul also described the written word in this way.

2 Timothy 3:16-17

16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17 so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

One of the ways in which we regularly hear God’s voice is through our minds.  It can be by means of our thoughts, our dreams as we sleep, our imaginations through visions while awake, or what we commonly call gut-feelings.  The Holy Spirit uses all of them to speak to us.

Joel 2:28-29

28 “And afterward,

    I will pour out my Spirit on all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy,

    your old men will dream dreams,

    your young men will see visions.

29 Even on my servants, both men and women,

    I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

I know that these have been my own personal experiences and we do see many examples of dreams and visions.  However, those internal thoughts and “gut-feelings”, which are most common by experience, I really couldn’t find clearl