Revelation and Expectation

I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what He will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint.  Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.   Habakkuk 2:1-2

Habakkuk stationed himself at the highest point, a place used for watching, in order to hear the revealed word of the Lord.   

Expectation is part of the journey into greater revelation.  If revelation is 'lifting the veil' on truth, then a life of eager expectation acknowledges that there is 'veiled truth' waiting to be discovered.  Part of the Father's joy I believe is in watching His children enter into this journey of discovery and delight.  If we are not looking for or expecting the Father to reveal anything to us, we will be much less likely to see or experience it when He does.  Our paradigm and experience of revelation is greatly influenced by our expectation.

When we are together with our kids, we tell them secrets that we wouldn't tell anyone else.  Our not-so-frequent times together are usually full of each of us sharing our journeys and 'inside info' that only family would share.  Their relationship to us positions them and gives them access to our family secrets.  As sons and daughters of the Father we, too, are already positioned for access to Him and the secrets of His heart.

With revelation comes an invitation, "come up higher".  Revelation sheds light on what was previously in darkness and we choose whether or not we will step into that light.  Revelation always requires a shift.  The new revelation brings an enlargement of our thinking that often feels uncomfortable at first.  We struggle to find our footing.  The temptation is to go back to the old and familiar.  We often delight in the discovery of revelation, but not always the process.  New revelation must be received, worked out, and stepped into.  Our careful handling of the revelation we receive positions us for more and advancement.

Testing comes in the areas where we have received revelation.  We must demonstrate that we have laid hold of the truth through our tests.  We move upward and onward as revelation is worked out in the day to day realities of our life.  

Much of the modern day church is starved for revelation.  Like gaunt holocaust-like dwellers existing on yesterday's bread, they live unaware of the abundant supply available for them.  Proverbs 29:18 tells us that 'Where there is no vision(revelation), the people perish'. 

The Children of Israel lived off the daily manna given to them with strict instructions not to store it for another day.  Exodus 16:4 says that the 'manna rained down like bread from heaven'.  They were totally dependent on this other worldly supply.  Jesus told us that 'man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God'.  Our life source is the word that comes from His mouth.  Without it we perish.  Without it we stumble in the dark.  Without it we resort to man's wisdom and man's best attempts to live in the light.

Man's attempts will always fall short.  Man's attempts leave a hollow void.  A void always cries out to be filled and the temptation is to make up what is lacking with day old manna. 

Our insistence on living on yesterday's manna produces an effect similar to the rotting smell of the Israelites attempt to store the manna(Ex. 16:19-20).  There's just something stinky about it. 

The mark of revelation is the light and life it brings.  Our spirit leaps and responds to revelation because it is the nourishment we are wired to need.  As believers, it is written into our DNA. Receiving new revelation is one of the greatest joys and privileges we can experience.  Like Habakkuk, I want to position my self to look, watch, and expect revelation.