In many areas of life, change is not instant, but gradual. When we understand this to be a normal process, we will be free from the frustration of growing
up in the Spirit.
First Corinthians 2:10 in The Living Bible says, “For the Spirit searches out and shows us all of God’s deepest secrets.” Those deep secrets are
hidden for — not from — those who will seek Him. It is the Holy Spirit Who will bring insight to our spirits. He will begin to develop
a thought, an idea, or an impression. The secret of success in the Kingdom of God becomes clearer and clearer when we realize that God’s promises are
truly ours.
Abram’s experience helps us see how the Holy Spirit will bring deep change in us. God first spoke to Abram and revealed to him that he would be the father
of many nations (see Genesis 12:1-3). Abram believed what God said about him, even though at that time he had fathered no one.
Romans 4:20,21 adds depth stating: “He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being
fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform” (NKJV).
Abram was “fully persuaded.” Once the promise was revealed to him, he put it on like a coat and wore it at all times. Yes, he made mistakes, so there is
still hope for you and me. But even in his mistakes he did not leave behind what God had revealed to him.
God declared Abram to be the father of many nations; and in Abram’s thoughts and imaginations, he was becoming all that was spoken of him. We must allow
the promises of God’s Word to influence our imaginations. Then we must give liberty to the impressions of the Holy Spirit through our imaginations.
Jesus said, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is unclouded, your whole body will be lighted up” (Matthew 6:22 Twentieth Century).
The transformation began in Abram as he consistently trusted in God’s Word. Then Isaac was born—the child of promise; the child of revelation, imagination,
and action. The principles are clear. God is teaching us (1) to regain what was lost to man at Adam’s fall, (2) to cause His will to be done in the
earth, and (3) to be transformed into His likeness and follow the headship of the Holy Spirit.
The Apostle Peter was dramatically changed as the revelation came to him that Jesus was the Christ. Jesus said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah,
for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter…” (Matthew 16:17 NKJV).
Peter’s name had been Simon which comes from the Hebrew name meaning “obedient hearer.” But because he heard revelation from the Holy Spirit, Jesus called
him Peter which means “a large piece of rock.” What Peter heard was revelation, and he was being transformed into a rock by that revelation.
When we build our lives on the revelation of God’s Word the storms of life may come in torrents and the winds may beat against us, but we won’t collapse
because our lives are built on the rock of God’s Word!
