Remembering Revelation: How God Speaks and Why We Must Pay Attention

Remembering Revelation

I want to share with you today about remembering the spiritual insights and prophetic words the Lord speaks into our lives.

Lately, I’ve been deeply shaken by Revelation, and not in a scary, end-times kind of way. More like a jolt of cold water to the face. You know how it is? You go through life thinking you're on the right track, doing your best with the theology you understand, the information you have. You assume you're doing all you can. But then, sometimes, a wave of Revelation hits you, and you look back – maybe years, like 14 years in my own reflection – and you think, "How did I miss that?"

One thing that really strikes me is the contrast between God's timeline and ours. He has all the time in the world, an infinite existence. We, on the other hand, have this unexpected alarm clock that can go off at any moment, reminding us that our time is finite. We feel this pressure to get everything done before that alarm sounds. God doesn't get penalized for taking His time or for revealing things gradually. He's the Lord, the Judge, and we are so incredibly blessed to have the option to plead the blood of Jesus Christ.

But as I walk further on this Christian journey, I'm increasingly aware that there are crowns laid out before me, opportunities to step into a deeper level of God's purpose. And on the flip side, a sobering spiritual reality hits me: people can go to hell on my watch. What I once might have perceived as a casual game now feels like a high-stakes endeavor, far beyond mere chess pieces on a board.

The Thorn and the Revelation: A Personal Connection

This brings me to a passage that’s been resonating deeply with me recently, especially as I’ve been dealing with this persistent something-or-other. It’s from 2 Corinthians chapter 12, where the Apostle Paul talks about his “thorn in the flesh.” Let me read verses 2 through 10:

“I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell, God knows)—such a one was caught up to the third heaven. And I knew such a man (whether in the body or out of the body I cannot tell, God knows), how he was caught up into Paradise and heard inexpressible words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter. Of such a one I will boast; yet of myself I will not boast, except in my infirmities. For though I might desire to boast, I would not be a fool; for I will speak the truth. But I refrain, lest anyone should think of me above what he sees me to be or hears from me. And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”   

This passage has been hitting home, especially this feeling of battling something physical while wrestling with deeper spiritual truths. It feels like this current situation, though certainly not comparable to Paul’s trials, has been a lens through which I'm re-examining this very passage. It’s like I’m learning it through present-day experience.

Unpacking the Prophetic: Timing and Trust

Notice that Paul speaks of an incredible spiritual encounter that happened “above fourteen years ago.” Now, around that same time in my own life, I had some profound, supernatural experiences, Heavenly visions and revelations that I knew were undeniably from the Lord. And it's only now, as I’m going through this present challenge, that a new layer of understanding is unfolding.

Paul doesn’t go into great detail about the specifics of his spiritual encounter. And this is a crucial point about the prophetic. In this New Testament, post-cross dispensation of the prophetic gifting, we don’t just blurt out everything God tells us. We share what He specifically wants us to share. There’s a trust involved, a relationship. If we misuse or mishandle the information, He might just stop entrusting us with it. Think of it like a father and his oldest son – the father shares what he needs the son to know to carry out a task. The son doesn’t necessarily broadcast every detail; he just gets the work done.

Paul received this Revelation 14 years prior, and it seems like the fullness of its meaning was unfolding over time. He probably looked back and wished he had sought the Lord more diligently about it then, that he had grasped its significance sooner. But God’s timing is perfect, even if it doesn’t always align with our own. And the fact that Paul wrote it down means we, too, are meant to keep unpacking its wisdom throughout our lives.

The Double Edge: Revelation and Resistance

Paul then reveals a key insight: because of the abundance of revelations he received, a “messenger of Satan” was sent to buffet him, to keep him from becoming prideful. This spiritual opposition manifested as a weakness, a persistent challenge. It took Paul 14 years to even begin to fully understand the initial wave of that Heavenly encounter. The event happened then, but the understanding, the interpretation, was a gradual process, and in a way, it's still unfolding as we read his words today.

This makes me think about my own experiences. Those powerful spiritual encounters I had around 14 years ago? I’ve recently realized that I might have mishandled them. I’m going to share what I’ve learned, so hopefully, you won’t make the same mistakes.

Honoring Heavenly Encounters: Frontlets Before Our Eyes

It’s so important to understand that our Heavenly encounters are not fleeting moments to be forgotten. They are precious gifts, meant to be honored, treasured, and kept “as frontlets before our eyes.”

Right now, I want you to take a moment. Remember a time, if you’re a Christian, when the Lord shared a revelation, a dream, or a vision with you that you knew, without a doubt, was a Heavenly encounter. What did you do with that Revelation? Did you write it down? Did you journal it and then let it gather dust? How often do you consciously bring it back to the forefront of your mind?

In my own case, with those super profound encounters, I essentially shelved the idea. I wrote them down, but then I kind of filed them away. My thinking was, “Well, the Lord is sovereign. He’s God of all creation. He’ll bring it to pass in His own time.” And while that’s true, I didn’t actively keep those prophetic promises as frontlets before my eyes, like Joseph did.

Learning from Joseph and Abraham: The Power of Remembrance

Think about Joseph. Remember his dreams of the sheaves bowing down and the sun, moon, and stars paying him homage? Imagine if he had just shrugged them off. Instead, even when he immaturely blurted them out to his brothers and parents (which might have actually been part of God's plan to refine his character over time), those prophetic images stayed with him. When he was in the pit, in prison, falsely accused – those dreams were a lifeline, a reminder of God's promised future. He kept those spiritual seeds alive in his heart.

Similarly, consider Abraham. God promised him that he would be the father of many nations. Every time Abraham looked at the stars, he remembered God’s prophetic word: “Your descendants will be as numerous as the stars.” Every time he saw the sand of the sea, the same reminder echoed. He actively rehearsed and held onto those spiritual promises.

Scriptural Keys to Remembering

The Bible is full of instruction on the importance of remembering what God has spoken and done.

Exodus 20:8-11 commands us to “Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.” The word “remember” here carries the idea of bringing something back to the body, making it a present reality. When we, the body of Christ, come together, we are in a sense reassembling, remembering who we are in Him. We are to remember the Sabbath, to keep it set apart, just as God rested after creation. This is a weekly reminder of God's work and our dependence on Him. We are called to remember the times God has delivered us.

Habakkuk 2:2-3 says, “Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Habakkuk received a prophetic vision and was instructed to write it down clearly so that others could understand and run with it. Paul received his vision 14 years before writing about it in this way. The Lord wants us to document these spiritual encounters; to keep them before us so we can act on them and so that even after our time, the vision can continue to impact others.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 instructs, “And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” This passage emphasizes the constant, intentional immersion in God's Word and His promises. The idea of “frontlets between your eyes” speaks to keeping these truths constantly in our thoughts. Writing them on our doorposts and gates serves as a constant visual reminder, much like Abraham looking at the stars. Our homes should be sanctified spaces where God's Word is central.

A Call to Remember and Act

So, before I wrap up today, I want to urge you to go back to those times when the Lord shared something significant with you. If you haven't already, start a habit now of journaling your spiritual encounters. You can use a physical journal, an electronic one, even use hashtags to categorize them.

Rehearse these moments. Like Joseph, like Abraham, ask yourself: what plan is God unfolding in my life through these prophetic insights? The pieces of the puzzle will start to come together as you grow in Jesus. You’ll begin to understand what the Lord meant in those past revelations, especially when you face challenges. Just as Joseph could trust in God’s plan amidst false accusations, and David could encourage himself in the Lord during times of intense pressure, remembering God’s past spiritual communication will sustain you through difficult seasons and lead you toward your promised reward.

Thank you for spending this time with me. If this message has resonated with you, please consider sharing it with your friends and family on social media or via email. Let’s encourage each other to dig deeper and go higher in our walk with the Lord.