Way, way back, just after the flood, God established a symbol of miraculous outcome when He flung the rainbow in the sky as the clouds parted and the rain ceased. I am still fascinated by the beautiful colors suddenly visible when the sun catches a prism somewhere around me. Sometimes the rainbow is a spectacular arch majestically spanning the horizon and other times it is only a few inches long right here in front of me inside the house.

The rainbow is always there, the colours always available. We need light and an optical element to see it. If you angle a piece of reflective glass into the sunlight, you will see the rainbow. Without those special elements, we do not see the rainbow, although it is there to be seen. How many more things do we need to see in the unseen world around us, for which we lack the elements of vision?

This is a fascinating spiritual challenge. When Jesus encountered the blind man just outside Jericho [Mark 10:46 -52] He asked: What do you want me to do for you?

It should have been obvious. He was blind, reduced to begging and apparently a well-known sight. His name and the name of his father are mentioned. He shouted to Jesus to have mercy on him and was not put off by the people silencing him.

When Jesus noticed him, the same people who silenced him, encouraged him to draw near. He drew near in a way that threw his whole means of existence away. His outer garment was his license to beg. The authorities issued these garments to certify that he was truly blind and has a valid reason to beg. Bartimeaus ran to Jesus, cloak flying and left behind on the ground. His outreach was so complete that his whole being was directed towards Jesus. There was no doubting his faith – it was visible.

When Jesus asked what he wanted he answered with his heart, his lifelong desire poured out: Rabbi, I want to see. Jesus commended his faith and granted his request.

The prayer of the blind man should in actual fact be the first prayer that every child of God prays. To truly see your life, this world, circumstances and people with the optical elements of the spiritual world, is the first and foremost benefit of insight and understanding through the Holy Spirit. A heavenly perspective is a gift. To see the rainbow of provision when your circumstances darken your vision.

You need the illumination of the lamp stand of the Tabernacle on the Word of God to be able to be fed and not go hungry. Only the illuminated truth will satisfy your hunger. [See Pebbles nr 6 on the three sections of the desert Tabernacle.]

To read the word of God with insight and understanding is called revelation knowledge. It is the goal of every child of God to gain a new perspective by the renewing of its mind. We already know the scripture in Jeremiah where God promises to show us great and mighty things when we call on Him [Jeremiah 33:3] and Isaiah 52:6 where He calls Himself the God who speaks. These scriptures are core truths in our process of drawing near.

An example of revelation knowledge is when you are reading the Bible and a verse leaps off the page, hits you between the eyes, and God says, this is for you right now. It is what church-talk calls a rhema -word, a moment when you hear the voice of God Himself through Scripture. It is faith in action, faith encouraged and faith answered. The result is a heart-felt satisfaction and level of trust that can never be false or faked.

Revelation knowledge, in the first place, reveals our true selves to us. When Peter met Jesus the first time, the effect of God in human form, revealed his own sinful nature and he fell to his knees and cried in Luke 5:8: Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!

Revelation knowledge, in the second place, reveals Jesus in all His glory – in other words who He is. When the same Peter boldly declares Jesus to be the Son of the living God, Jesus says: [Matthew 16:17]

Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah. For flesh and blood have not revealed this to you, but My Father Who is in heaven.

Revelation knowledge comes from God Himself.

This is the knowledge that changes us from the inside out. It touches your spirit, as it is a direct response to the Holy Spirit in you, it touches your soul – meaning your mind, will and emotion. Even your body responds with tears in your eyes, spontaneous joy and laughter and the lifting of your hands in praise or dancing. It does not matter in which church you are, or in which religious tradition you were brought up – it is always a blessing to respond physically to the Holy Spirit. Lock that bathroom door and raise your hands above your head, smile or chuckle and praise and thank your loving Father for His Word to you. Take those first steps in dancing and loosen up. Praise God with you body! Are you willing to shed the cloak of begging for the healing of your blindness?

In ancient times a woman’s hair was a source of pride. The immoral woman, who wished to seduce a man, showed off her hair with braids and ornaments. This is one of the main reasons the “good” girls and married woman covered their hair in public. Headscarves were the sign that your womanhood is not for sale. Today, of course, Christians do not wear the outward sign of virginity or marriage and have to live their lives to show the world their true state of womanhood. Now – lift your hands above your head to show God you will praise Him above and beyond everything you might have to be proud of.

Most importantly: Revelation knowledge changes your thinking and that change is the measure of maturity in your spiritual journey.

When you have true insight in God’s goodness and faithfulness, you will pray in faith. Faith-prayer opens up the riches of the glory of God in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19:

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Spiritual maturity is your secret power, your control over evil, your power-walk in the invisible kingdom on earth, your resurrection out of dead works and victory over darkness around and in you.

Victory over death in al its forms, is our true purpose. Remember our purpose statement for studying the Word? Philippians 3:10, 11 [Amplified]:

For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly, and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection which it exerts over believers, and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed in spirit into His likeness even to His death, in the hope that, if possible I may attain to the spiritual and moral resurrection that lifts me out from among the dead even while in the body.

Writing this Paul declares that he has not attained it yet but he is looking forward to what lies ahead, forgetting the things of the past. [Philippians 3:12,13]

We have to deal with our past to attain spiritual maturity. Walk in the full forgiveness promised in the Word. Throw off the cloak that reduced you to begging and symbolizes your blindness. Psalm 85:5:

You, Lord, are forgiving and good, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Paul was a spiritual giant in my eyes. How on earth could I attain just a measure of his maturity?

Let us go back to Jesus and His words to the woman at the well in Samaria – a fascinating picture and deep lesson.

Look out for Pebbles nr 16.