The Life of Faith (Pt. 3) - Scriptures, Revelation & Teaching

Last week, we discussed how to see the invisible by grasping the realities already established in God. Though our circumstances may not always align with His promises, we must trust that He has freely given us all things and prepared our path long before we were born.

This week, we began with Psalm 139:16, which affirms that God always concludes before He starts. What feels like a new beginning for us is simply stepping into what He has already finished. Everything we need already exists in Him; no situation is beyond His foresight, and His plan is always good.

To understand faith, we must recognize that God has already established everything in Himself. Faith is about stepping into His completed work. Just as Jesus came in the volume of the book written about Him, our lives have also been ordained before we even began. Even when we struggle to see His plan, the truth remains—He has already written our story.

Diving deeper into our topic from last week “How to see the invisible”. We emphasized 3 ways—Scripture, Revelation, and Teaching.

Scripture

In Matthew 17:20, the disciples failed to cast out a demon—not from lack of effort, but unbelief. Jesus said even mustard seed faith can move mountains—faith makes the impossible possible.

In Luke 4:14-20, Jesus declared, “Today this scripture is fulfilled”, revealing that He walked in what was written about Him. He didn’t rely on supernatural encounters but on Scripture as the key to the unseen.

In Luke 24:13-35, two disciples walked with the resurrected Jesus but did not recognize Him—their eyes were restrained. Even after He explained Scripture, they still didn’t see. Only when He broke bread did they know Him—showing that true understanding comes not from seeing, but from knowing Him through Scripture.

Scripture is spiritual, not just mental, and only the Holy Spirit can open it. Even theologians can miss the truth without revelation. The disciples’ eyes opened because they stayed with Jesus long enough—Scripture reveals itself to those who persist in understanding.

Psalm 119:162 says, “I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great treasure.” True joy comes from seeing God’s promises, not just reading them. Never take Scripture for granted—every page holds life-changing truth.

Revelation

Revelation is another way we see the unseen. What God has prepared for us is revealed by His Spirit (1 Corinthians 2:9-10). Even before the Bible was published, faith and salvation existed, because the Holy Spirit reveals truth to our hearts.

Revelation is also experiential (epiginosko), not just head knowledge. Just as Mary believed the angel’s word, we can also receive truth through that kind of revelation without contradiction of Scripture—if it contradicts, it is not from God because every true revelation aligns with Scripture.

While Scripture provides general promises, revelation gives specific direction. The Bible may not name our jobs or future children, but these revelations can be through dreams, visions or encounters as seen in the lives of Joseph and Moses.

Also, Prophecy and Scripture must be balanced. Rejecting either leads to error. "Do not despise prophecy, but test all things" (1 Thess. 5:20-21).

Teaching

We cannot find truth on our own—the Holy Spirit is our guide (John 16:13). Even when we read Scripture or receive revelation, we need His guidance to understand it fully.

Jesus emphasized teaching, and as He taught, people were healed—their eyes opened to truth. Teaching reveals what we didn’t know before and strengthens faith.

The woman with the issue of blood believed touching Jesus' garment would heal her—where did she learn that? In Genesis 3, after Adam sinned, God asked, "Who told you?"—showing that what we believe comes from what we hear. When we doubt or fear, we must question the source of our beliefs.

As the Word is taught, the Holy Spirit moves, bringing personal revelation. We may hear one thing but receive insight for another—because when teaching is active, the Spirit works in every heart.

In Acts 10:44, as Peter preached, the Holy Spirit fell instantly—teaching accelerated what usually happens in steps. When we gather, we don’t just hear the preacher—we hear God. Even casual conversations can be prophetic—a simple word can be someone’s answer.

Romans 10:14,17 says, "How can they believe if they haven’t heard? And how can they hear without a preacher?" Faith comes by hearing—and hearing happens through teaching.