We need and must have a revelation of the Lord! Reference to Jesus Christ as the Lord is so common place among Christians and non-Christians alike that it is usually accepted as a fact without it being revelation-knowledge. Consequently, even most Christians do not think to seek God for a revelation of the Lord. We need a revelation of the Lord and not just as the Lord apart from us but the Lord coming forth in us to rule and reign.
Matthew 3:13-15 Then cometh
Jesus from Galilee to Jordan unto John, to be baptized of him.
14 But John forbad Him, saying, I
have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou unto me?
15 And Jesus answering said unto
him, Suffer it to be so now: for thus it becometh us to fulfill all
righteousness. Then he suffered Him.
Why Jesus had to be baptized by John has often baffled theologians – why was it necessary? Did He have sins for which He needed to repent? John the Baptist was the forerunner of Christ. It was necessary for Jesus to receive ministry from the man of God before Him. It was a matter of divine order.
Matthew 3:16 And Jesus, when He was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him:
A whole new realm of Spirit was opened up to Jesus at this time. You will remember that the Scripture says that He increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man (Luke 2:52). Also, He learned obedience by the things He suffered (Hebrews 5:8). He wasn’t a spiritual superman; He was tempted in all points like as we are (Hebrews 4:15).
Matthew 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
God Himself speaks from heaven and proclaims Jesus as the Son of God. Then He is led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
Matthew 4:3 And when the tempter came to Him, he said, If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
This is the temptation, “If you are the Son of God…” God had just said, “This is My beloved Son,” and now Jesus is tested on it. Jesus had learned obedience by the things He suffered and was tempted in all points like as we are. Do you understand what that means? He was made in the likeness of men (Philippians 2:7). His flesh nature was as weak as any other human. Yet He had to believe He was the Son of God. Whether the voice from heaven was merely a voice to His heart or a voice that roared across all Israel, it would have been difficult to believe. His flesh nature would say, “Ah, you didn’t really hear anything.”
The weakness of human nature is the devil’s access to tempting us. More than anything else the devil doesn’t want you to believe in your relationship with God; he doesn’t want you to know who you really are in Him. The ultimate temptation is, “If you are a son of God, prove it! Let’s see some manifestation of your sonship.”
John 1:11 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not.
Now here is an interesting thing. Jesus Christ was a manifested Son of God, but the majority of His own people weren’t aware of it. They didn’t know that He was the Son of God. Another interesting thing is the fact that He didn’t put forth much effort to prove it. The important thing was that He knew it – He knew He was the Son of God! And He knew it because it was a revelation to His heart, not because He was suddenly powerful in His own self. Obviously, His flesh nature was still weak, for He said, “The Son can do nothing of Himself” (John 5:19). Again, “I do nothing of Myself’ (John 8:28). Also, “The Father that dwelleth in Me, He doeth the works” (John 14:10). This is a mark of sonship. He emptied Himself of self making Himself a channel for God to function through Him. It was the Father who received the glory.
The same principles remain true for those who are believing to enter sonship. The sons will not look glorious; they will not be spiritual supermen. They will empty themselves of self so that the Lord Jesus may be glorified in and through them (II Thessalonians 1:10). The world will not know they are sons of God and neither will they put forth effort to prove it. Their flesh nature will not suddenly cease to be in opposition to the will of God. They will know who they are because of a revelation from God. Their sonship will not be broadcasted to the world for all to know. It will be the voice of God to their hearts, and immediately the devil will try to get them to prove it. They will have the same wilderness temptation that Jesus had. Through it all, they will have to believe in their sonship; they will have to know who they are.
A revelation of Jesus Christ the Son of God as Lord is vitally important. Yet that revelation must expand into a revelation of Him as Lord in you. His throne must be in our hearts and from there He must rule and reign. It is then that you will begin to know who you are in Him. Being a manifested son does not mean that the world will know who you are; many of your own will not know you. The important thing is that you know who you are.
Copyright © 2004 by Henry DuBose