By Ted Stellern

Reveal: to make something public or generally known. Does God want to reveal Himself to His people? He has been making Himself known from the first creation of men and women on the earth. He spoke and walked with Adam and Eve in the Garden but they didn’t listen to His commands. This was the beginning of a recurring problem as His people were drawn into evil by the devil. The Israelites, God’s chosen people, were privileged to see God on Mt. Sinai, hear His words through Moses and see the most amazing of His mighty works. Yet, they still rebelled and built a golden calf.

What else could God do to reveal Himself? He came to us all in human form in the person of Jesus. He came to reveal what God was really like – an all-loving, all-caring Father. Jesus said, “I and the Father are one”(John 10 :30). He had to teach in parables because of the hard hearts of the people. Jesus quoted Isaiah when the disciples asked Him why He used parables. “You shall indeed hear but not understand, you shall indeed look but never see”. Jesus says in Matt 11:27, “No one knows the Son except the Father and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” So, how do we get to know the Father as He wishes to be known. The only option is to spend time with our Father and ask for the grace of Revelation. We are inherently children of the Father. That is our identity and we have power and authority as God’s people. So, what happens when we don’t spend time in quiet adoration listening for the Father to speak to us? It is like going through the drive-thru lane, skipping the payment window and then proceeding to the next window and asking for our food. Everything of value takes time, energy and commitment to achieve. Building a personal relationship with the Father is no different. Some people have a difficult time getting close to the Father because of their history of difficulties with their earthly father. This wound from their youth is termed by Chuck Hornsby and Leif Hetland as a “father wound or wounding.” If you suffer from this type of wound, seek ministry.

Father God wants us to know how much He loves us as His sons and daughters. We can know that love by spending time with Him and letting Him speak to us. He is willing to reveal to us our weaknesses, where we need to repent and what totally radical charisms He has for us in the Holy Spirit. We can ask Him for our needs. We can recognize His love for us in the way our brothers and sisters pray for us, serve us and spend time with us. God wants to reveal Himself and help us with our tough decisions.  “He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all,  how will He not also, along with Him, give us all things” (Romans 8:32).