Revelation: Supernatural Seeing, Saying, and Doing
David W Palmer
(Matthew 16:13–16 NKJV) When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?” {14} So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” {15} He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” {16} Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Jesus had invested a lot into his twelve apprentices: he led them, fed them, demonstrated to them how to operate in God’s kingdom, taught them, supervised their first steps, assessed, and coached them. In his final phase of preparing his protégés to take over and multiply his earth mission, he was completing their understanding of his kingdom, his person, and how to operate successfully on his level. While in this process, Jesus paused in Caesarea for an informal, but eternally significant, conversation with them.
The Master’s questions in the above passage open the way for some very interesting exchanges. He first asked, “Who do men say that I … am?” This drew some general hearsay answers. But then he asked a question to draw something out of their own hearts: “Who do you say that I am?” Now the answers become enthralling, and open a magnificent opportunity for Jesus to impart some profound truths—uncovered mysteries—foundations for operating successfully in this world through the power of the Holy Spirit; they are the keys of God’s whole kingdom:
(Matthew 16:17–19 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. … And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Even in the first sentence of his answer, Jesus already gave us two profound points: the first around the word, “blessed,” the second around the word, “revealed.” Let’s explore:
When Jesus said that Simon was blessed, he is alluding to the “blessing of Abraham” that God promised to Abraham and his “seed”—taken at the time to be Abraham’s descendants (See: Gal. 3:16, Gen. 12:7, 13:15, 24:7). However, the Holy Spirit revealed to us through the apostle Paul that this was actually a promise to Jesus—and to those who get to be Abraham’s “seed” by being “in” Christ Jesus:
(Galatians 3:16 NKJV) Now to Abraham and his Seed were the promises made. He does not say, “And to seeds,” as of many, but as of one, “And to your Seed,” who is Christ.
The Holy Spirit also said:
(Galatians 3:9, 14 NKJV) So then those who are of faith are blessed with believing Abraham. ... {14} that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
So, in Matthew 16:17 (above), when Jesus declared that Simon was “blessed,” he was saying, in effect, that Simon had met the conditions for receiving the blessing of Abraham. What Jesus said after that shows us how Peter met these conditions. But before we look at how he qualified, let’s remind ourselves of why this “blessing” is so important and worth pursuing. What exactly is “The blessing of Abraham” and what did it do for him?
As we read through Abraham’s life in Genesis, we see that the blessing not only promised him the land, it also gave him:
God also blessed Abraham’s son Isaac and grandson Jacob. We see similar benefits in their lives to the ones listed above. In addition, we see: answered prayer for healing, great multiplication, and peace with enemies. The “blessing” is a huge benefit, and we need to develop an earnest desire to walk in it by meditating on its benefits as outlined in the book of Genesis.
Let’s now listen to our Lord explain to Simon how he got into the position to walk in this amazing blessing:
(Matthew 16:17 NKJV) Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.
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Jesus gives the reason for Simon’s blessing: beginning with “for”—implying that what follows is the reason—Jesus said that he didn’t get it through “flesh and blood.” This means that he didn’t receive this information in the normal way; that is, through his five physical senses or through intellectual prowess or even through strict law keeping. Simon was blessed because he received revelation from God.
Earlier, we saw that the Holy Spirit said we walk in the blessing by faith (Gal. 3:9). Therefore, the revelation that Simon received must equate to the level of faith needed to receive the blessing. We know that faith comes by “hearing” … from God (Rom. 10:17). So revelation must be a form of hearing from God.
When Peter received the revelation that Jesus is the Christ, it exploded out of his mouth in a bold confession. This is supernatural seeing and saying. This is the mechanism of the blessing, and it is available to you in Christ today.
When we ask God for revelation (Eph. 1:16–19), walk in holy fellowship with him; and when we meditate in his word, God gives us the supernatural seeing. When this is mixed with faith and comes to maturity or harvest, it explodes out of our mouths in supernatural saying. Our faith-inspired saying is the authorization the Holy Spirit needs to operate legitimately on earth by official invitation of a human; humans have the authority here. Then the Holy Spirit can enact the supernatural doing; in other words, he fulfills the wonderful benefits of the blessing in, through, and around us.
Next, Jesus expanded his apprentices’ understanding of what else revelation from heaven is the key to. We will look at that tomorrow, but today, let’s conclude by focusing on the amazing things we have seen:
Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the Living God. No one can fully grasp this unless it is revealed to him or her from God the Father. Jesus put it this way:
(John 6:36–40 NLT) “But you haven’t believed in me even though you have seen me. {37} However, those the Father has given me will come to me, and I will never reject them. {38} For I have come down from heaven to do the will of God who sent me, not to do my own will. {39} And this is the will of God, that I should not lose even one of all those he has given me, but that I should raise them up at the last day. {40} For it is my Father’s will that all who see his Son and believe in him should have eternal life. I will raise them up at the last day.”
In verse 37, Jesus speaks of those his Father “has given me.” Father gives us to Jesus by revealing to us who Jesus is. Others saw Jesus physically, and even heard his voice; but the Father didn’t reveal to them that Jesus is the Christ, God’s son. If you have received this revelation, you are truly blessed (and a candidate to walking in the full blessing of Abraham in Christ). When you do, you come to Jesus; he will not reject you, but keep you through your time on earth; and then he will raise you up at the last day. What an amazing blessing.
For those who haven’t yet received this revelation, we can share the gospel so they can “see” him and “hear” about him—and maybe even hear from him. But only through the work of the Holy Spirit can they receive the revelation that turns them “from darkness to light.” That’s why our part particularly includes prayer and faith in God’s work.
This is what Jesus instructed Paul to do:
(Acts 26:18 NKJV) “Open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.”
“Open their eyes.” From what we have seen, this instruction includes first having faith in God’s word ourselves, praying for those to whom we are sent to preach or share with, and to present them with the truth of the gospel in love.
Today, if you already have the revelation of who Jesus is, I encourage you to press in for further revelation. Revelation is a revealing, an uncovering, a sudden seeing. When you see it with Father, you can then do the supernatural saying and enjoy the Holy Spirit’s supernatural doing.
There is so much more waiting for you from God—revelation of: the blessing, church growth, business increase, family wellbeing, dream fulfillment, assignment success, physical health, marriage enrichment, etc. Press in today; so much more is available to you right now. Draw near to God, so he can open heaven’s store of blessing for you through revelation. (And remember to tithe; it opens heaven’s windows (See: Mal. 3:10).)
(1 Corinthians 2:9–10 NKJV) … "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him." {10} But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. …
(Malachi 3:10 NKJV) Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try Me now in this," Says the LORD of hosts, "If I will not open for you the windows of heaven And pour out for you such blessing That there will not be room enough to receive it.