Paul shares the revelation and the truth of the new covenant in Galatians 1:11-12 (Amplified) saying, "For I want you to know brethren, that the Gospel which was proclaimed and made known by me is not a man's gospel (a human invention, according to or patterned after any human standards) For indeed I did not receive it from man, nor was I taught it, but (it came to me) through a (direct) revelation (given) by Jesus Christ (the Messiah)."
This revelation, that we call the New Testament, is a direct revelation from Jesus to Paul and from Paul to us, by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit's revealing this great truth, we would once again begin to make it a "human standard" and a man's gospel. Once man gets involved, without the Holy Spirit, it once again becomes the Law of works.
Man is determined to make a place of works in order to be justified before a Holy God. Man always centers in on the negative instead of the positive. That's the human nature without the revelation of the Holy Spirit. We have had man-made religions for thousands of years and in every one of them, man had to prove himself to his god in order to obtain blessing. Many centered around human sacrifice to a demon spirit that demanded blood for restitution. Others required the disfiguring or degrading of the worshipers as a form of holiness.
Even some in Christianity who were without the Holy Spirit's teaching and giving revelation, would wear underclothing made from harsh materials that caused pain, while others beat themselves in order to pay for their uncleanliness. Man has always had the need to worship and has always known that whatever god he worshiped, that god was greater and mightier than he. The only question was how to appease and approach that god.
When man grabbed onto the new covenant without the Holy Spirit, he did what he had always done and tried being his own savior. Paul said in Galatians 1:11 that this revelation came directly from Jesus into his spirit and wasn't from man at all.
A revelation is not something that is taught, but is something that is revealed. The Holy Spirit can show you something or reveal something to you in an instant, but might take you years to properly articulate to someone else. It wasn't taught to Paul, but was revealed to him by the Holy Spirit. We can only teach what we know, while the Holy Spirit can reveal mysteries that we have no knowledge of, into our spirits. In Galatians 1:16-18 (Amplified) Paul says, "To reveal (unveil, disclose) His Son within me so that I might proclaim Him among the Gentiles (the non-Jewish world) as the glad tidings (Gospel), immediately I did not confer with flesh and blood (did not consult or counsel with any frail human being or communicate with anyone)." Verse 17 says, "Nor did I (even) go up to Jerusalem to those who were apostles (special messengers of Christ) before I was, but I went away and retired into Arabia and afterward I came back to Damascus."
This revelation was so strong and so direct in Paul's spirit that he dare not go to any man and seek advice on it. He traveled to Arabia and preached what he heard and gathered a congregation of Gentiles before any of the other Apostles knew that salvation through Jesus included all men. If Paul had sought counsel from the others, then they would surely have disagreed with him.
When the Holy Spirit infuses Himself into your spirit with revelation, it's more real and alive than anything else you have ever known. Galatians 1:20 (Amplified) says, "Now (note carefully what I am telling you, for it is the truth) I write this as though I were standing before the bar of God; I do not lie." Verses 21-22 go on, "Then I went into the districts (countries, regions) of Syria and Cilicia. And so far I was still unknown by sight to the Churches of Christ in Judea (the country surrounding Jerusalem)."
Here was a man who was so completely in the Spirit of revelation that he simply went forth in the power of it and created an entirely new kingdom fro God in the Gentile nations. Paul didn't hesitate about his call or his message, but went to the world proclaiming it. The majority of the persecution Paul suffered came from the religious people and their man-made theories about God. At that time, even Peter was trying to tell the gentiles that they must be circumcised and abstain from certain meats and days to be saved.
There were many arguments among the leadership of the early Church, which continue today. Paul said in Galatians 2:21 (Amplified), "Therefore (I do not treat God's gracious gift as something of minor importance and the unmerited grace of God that was given for the forgiveness of sin and the gift of righteousness. There is no other way."
We try adding our own ideas and opinions to the Gospel in order to bring the people back into submission. We use fear tactics, Law practices, threats of sickness and disease and in some cases, rejection if we ever fail. These are all man-made religion and not God-made relationship. Many have no peace in their Christian walk because they're preached under condemnation continuously. We've been made more aware of the sin than the Sin Bearer.
As I finish this teaching in the Holy Spirit, I want to reach (by revelation), into the ministry that Jesus spoke about when He introduced Him. Jesus called Him, "Comforter, Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Stand-by." In John 14:26 (Amplified) Jesus called the Holy Spirit, "The Spirit of Truth." In the King James Version of the same verse, "He is called the Guide (to lead and guide us into all the truth)." In John 16:13 (Amplified) He is also called, "The Guide."
If you've ever hunted or hiked in a vast, unfamiliar territory, then you know the value and importance of a skilled and knowledgeable guide. If you go to Alaska or Montana hunting for the first time, then it's paramount that your most valuable equipment would be a guide. That's true when you're going to any uncharted waters, unfamiliar territory or any unknown place. Without having a guide to lead you there and back, you might not come back at all.
Never forget that the Holy Spirit is the One Who will "Lead and guide you into all truth." He will lead you into All Truth and not just some of it. We know some of the truth, but He wishes to reveal the rest of the truth to us. You can never know too much about Jesus. When we neglect the ministry of the Holy Spirit, we are limited to the natural mind and there is no revelation in it.
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