Living Waters Christian Fellowship - Lake Nacimiento - California

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
18 And He said to them, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
19 “Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.
20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;
24 “for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

Introduction
The blessing of revelation, understanding, inspiration, guidance, knowing about God, knowing God. What have your eyes seen? What do you know about God and the universe?

Awareness is the key to a good life - knowledge or ignorance makes all the difference. Knowing how things work. “Something your should know.”

If you think education is expensive, try ignorance. How many mistakes, loss, sadness, misery because “I didn’t know.”

Open the eyes of my heart, Lord. You’ve opened my eyes to your wonders...

1. There are many things to know v21-22

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

What is the body of knowledge of humanity? Traditions, schools, libraries, internet. What is the body of knowledge of God? The mass of an unnamed planet 10 million light years away. There are many things to know, which may be known.

2. Knowledge comes through revelation v21-24

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”
23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;
24 “for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

Knowledge comes through revelation. When the lights come on, the aha moment. George Washington Carver prayed every day for the Holy Spirit’s guidance, uses for peanuts.

3. Revelation is by His will v21-22

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.
22 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

God made us with amazing minds, ability to comprehend, understand, remember, use info.

Some things He didn’t want us to know - deep things of Satan, knowledge of good and evil, guilt and shame, so that we would be embarrassed to be naked. “Who told you?” He wants us to live in innocence, not guilt, shame and fear. Some things He does not want us to know at all.

Some things He does not allow us to know yet - understanding perfected in eternity

But there are many things He does want us to know and understand in this life. He loves to see the lights come on for us. He loves the unveiling, as in Revelation.

4. God’s people come into new levels of understanding v17, 20

17 Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name.”
20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”
21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

When have you come into moments of new understanding? Where are you now?

5. New realizations are cause for celebration v20-21

20 “Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

Jesus is moved to give thanks to His Father, rejoice in the Spirit. He got a kick out of it.

6. The main purpose of revelation is for us to know God v22

22 “All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him.”

a. Everything else we may discovers leads us into a greater knowledge of Him, because He created everything and the knowledge of all of it. Poisonous snakes - sin. Eagles - to rise above.

b. Knowing about God

c. Knowing God as a friend - the key to life and eternal life. To some religious people - I never knew you.

7. Revelation is a high privilege v24

24 “for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it.”

Be expectant, ready, pay attention, listen to God, have your eyes wide open, ready for the moment of illumination.

8. Awareness is a great blessing v23

23 Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see;

Conclusion
What have my own eyes seen? What do I know? What level of awareness do I have? Of God and His universe, His Kingdom? How has this blessed me? Others around me?

Application to My Life - What will I do with the knowledge I have? Am I prepared to receive more? What will I do with the revelations yet to come?

Communion - to be intimate in knowing Him.