Blessed are your eyes

Anticipation fills the room. Admirers of the master sculptor’s works have gathered with great expectancy. In a prominent place before the small crowd stands the latest work of the great artist. Hushed tones of focused conversations fill the atmosphere… all voices speak of that which will soon be seen. The partial shape and general size of the new work are evident to the anxious onlookers… but the beauty and craftsmanship of sculptor’s creation are not yet to be observed… there is a tremendous focus on the veiled object in front of them. They know that soon what cannot be seen… will be! The revelation of the master’s efforts is at hand… and the followers are on the highest level of anticipatory curiosity possible. They will soon see what only the master’s eyes have beheld! And… they will never forget what they see! There is a process to building the Kingdom. Jesus said He will it upon a rock. While He is (as He declared) the rock (of stumbling) there is a chosen process of building this spiritual building of which this “rock” is the chief corner stone. The building process is demonstrated in Matthew chapter 16, we see that Peter gained understanding, which moved him out of the category of “stumblers”. It is imperative that the “would be” citizen of God’s Kingdom understands this process… lest he stumble over the very thing he needs to build upon! To the fortunate few who are of a true Kingdom mind-set this stone is precious… to the disobedient this stone is disallowed… rejected… stumbled over! Upon Peter’s declaration of Jesus’ Messiahship, the Lord declares Peter to be blessed… then He explained why… “flesh and blood did not reveal it”. The revelation of Christ’s identity came by spirit. Paul wrote, “No man can call Jesus Lord, but by the Holy Ghost”. While one may read, study, memorize, and meditate on the scripture (and these are necessary to ascertain facts and to become familiar with God’s word) the building process is not complete until understanding is gained. It is possible to read and study but not understand. Paul wrote to the Corinthians concerning the nation of Israel, “But their minds were blinded: for unto this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the Old Testament; which veil is done away in Christ. But even unto this day when Moses is read the veil is upon their heart.” (II Corinthians 3:14 &15) The Jews read and studied, but did not understand. In the words of the Apostle the veil was “untaken away”. The word “revelation” means to “unveil”! An unveiling of the rock is essential to understanding, there is a process to revelation… it is the Kingdom building process. The process is explained to Peter by Jesus. “And I say unto thee! Thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell (death) shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatsoever shall be bound on earth shall be bound in heaven. And whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” Peter was given keys to both bind and loose (that’s what keys do!) The binding and loosening is done on earth, but heaven stands behind the process. The process of unveiling is twofold and correlates to binding and loosening. When Peter received understanding of Jesus’ identity the kingdom building process of binding and loosening was operating. As we observe the scene it may appear only one step was involved… revelation. However, revelation cannot happen until one’s attention is directed toward that which is to be revealed. For and unveiling to have full effect the veiled object must be presented (still veiled) and a curiosity to know what is covered by the veil must arise. Jesus masterfully directs the disciple’s attention toward the veiled object… the stone… Himself!!! “Whom to men say that I the son of man am?” “Whom say ye that I am?” The first key is the “key of mystery” (Who is Jesus?) This mystery is of heavenly origin… the mystery of the kingdom of heaven. It is an area of spiritual work so often overlooked by kingdom workers. We are so anxious to see people receive revelation that the first step of “kingdom mystery” is bypassed! The disciples were presented with a veiled truth that came to them in the form of the question; “whom say ye that I am?” This was the key of binding… or mystery… for they could not by natural means know the answer to it (see Luke 10: 21). Their minds were bound by the question… by the mystery. However, this enigma did have a spiritual purpose. The mind, not being able to come up with the spiritual answer, must give way to the spirit as quest for the answer is undertaken. The spirit of man then is loosed to receive by revelation coming by God’s Spirit to the spiritual riddle that has also come by the Holy Ghost to the seeker! We are able to see that which has only been seen by the master! And… we will never forget! “Blessed are the eyes that see the things that ye see” ~ Jesus For further reading on the subject check out my book: Receiving Revelation