Receiving Revelation: Living by God’s Voice

The book of revelation in the Bible

Jesus declared, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). Our lives were never meant to be sustained only by natural resources; rather, God intends us to live in relationship with Him. At the heart of this relationship is communication – God speaking and us listening. This is where revelation becomes essential.

The word revelation means “to take the cover off something hidden.” God has answers for every area of our lives, but many of those answers are not written word-for-word in Scripture. We need the Holy Spirit to uncover them and make them known. Jesus Himself taught that the church would be built on the revelation of who He is (Matthew 16:17-18). The Apostle Paul prayed that believers would receive “the Spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him” so that our eyes would be opened to God’s purposes (Ephesians 1:17-18).

The Source of Revelation

Revelation does not come from human reasoning but from the Holy Spirit. Paul writes, “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. But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit” (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). The Spirit is our teacher (John 14:26), our guide into truth (John 16:13), and the One who shows us things to come (John 16:14).

This means revelation is not limited to understanding Scripture; it includes insight into God’s plans for our lives, clarity in decisions, discernment about our motives, and even foreknowledge of things ahead. The Holy Spirit acts like a divine life coach, pointing out the way forward.

How Revelation is Received

The Holy Spirit dwells within us and communicates spirit to spirit (1 John 2:27). Sometimes this comes as inward impressions – spontaneous thoughts, words, or feelings. At other times, God may give visions or dreams, much like He did with the prophets (Acts 10:10, Daniel 10). Whatever the form, revelation will never contradict God’s Word or His character. Instead, it sheds light on hidden things, giving us wisdom, direction, and deeper intimacy with Him.

Positioning Ourselves to Receive

While revelation is God’s gift, Scripture also shows that we can posture ourselves to hear Him more clearly:

1. Hunger and Desire – Proverbs 2:4-5 urges us to seek wisdom as silver and search for it as hidden treasure. God promises to fill the hungry (Matthew 5:6). Passion and pursuit attract His voice.

2. Fasting – Ezra fasted with the people of Israel to seek “the right way for us and our children” (Ezra 8:21). Fasting doesn’t move God—it unclutters our hearts and sharpens our spiritual sensitivity.

3. Meditation – Jeremiah said, “Your words were found, and I ate them, and Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart” (Jeremiah 15:16). Meditating on God’s Word and His past works opens our hearts to fresh revelation.

   
   

Living by Revelation

Revelation is not just information – it is an invitation to transformation. When God speaks, He reveals who we are in Christ, what He has called us to do, and the greater plans He has prepared. As we learn to listen, we begin to live not by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.