I have insights in the next few posts you do not want to miss.

There’s a lot of speculation regarding the “imprisoned spirits,” 1 Peter 3:19, and to some commentators, more questions than answers regarding Peter’s writing of Christ in 1 Peter 3: 18.

First Peter 3:18, is one of the more revealing Scriptures in the New Testament concerning Christ’s personal testimony. It ties in nicely to the story of Christ in the book of Hebrews and other New Testament writings.

I believe many commentators miss the revelation in this verse and the wisdom it was meant to give. I will cover this later in the series.

(When we think of Jesus, many, including myself, think of him in terms of his water baptism, his 40-days in the wilderness, his ministry, and ultimately Calvary.  

But there is much, much more to Jesus. My upcoming “death and resurrection” series will cover Christ’s personal journey, which prepared him for his public ministry, which continues to this day.)

Commentaries (and Translations)

Commentaries provide valuable information on the history, events, culture, people and times of the Bible. They’re a great “historical” read; offering much analysis, speculation, opinions and insight.

They’re also a great resource for comparing new insight and revelation to earlier beliefs and ideas, and to the literal Hebrew and Greek and the author’s interpretation.

Many commentaries are a good baseline, shedding additional light on a word or particular verse. They’re a reference the Lord can either build upon or diverge in another direction.

Oh, the tremendous blessing we receive from those who have gone before us, who have labored in the word, and given their lives to the study and analysis of the Scriptures we hold so dear.

Influence of the Church and Personal Beliefs

Commentators, in the absence of personal revelation and testimony to the contrary, generally default to the level of revelation and understanding in the church at large – the theology of their day.

(Where their personal revelation and understanding differs from the church, they may be constrained to not veer too far from accepted norms, at least publicly, for fear of being ostracized and branded by the church.)

All of us, commentators included, are limited in our influence to advance the kingdom of God and the work of Christ by the degree and depth of our personal journey, new birth, and “baptism” in Christ.

Simply stated, we can’t go beyond who we are and the gifts and level of Christ in our life. You can only impart what’s been imparted to you, and speak truth in grace to the extent truth in grace has been imparted to you.

How much Christ personally reveals about himself to a commentator, and a commentator’s willingness to share, influences how much of “Christ” we get in their writings.

Commentators and translators are limited by the scope and depth of their own testimony, and may limit what they share depending on the grief they may suffer from sharing revelation and experiences outside the norm of Christendom.

Our Testimony – Personal Revival – Christ’s Invitation to Surpass Those Who Have Gone Before You and Me (Ephesians 4:13, 20-24; Revelation 12:11)

What we can impart to others in truth and grace is limited to who we have become and are becoming in Jesus Christ. It is the design of God, to advance the kingdom of Christ out of the overflow of Jesus in us.

There is a corporate understanding and there is an individual understanding. An individual may be behind or ahead of the church at large.

There are always forerunners and pioneers pushing the boundaries of the church and advancing the kingdom of God.

History has shown, by and large, the corporate church is resistant to change until and at such time the wave of God’s Spirit sparks a revival and becomes overwhelming. (Case in point, the Charismatic Renewal/Jesus Movement in the 60s and early 70s)

Sparks of revival just don’t happen. They are preceded by preparation, revelation, and insight – old truths restored and revealed in new ways.

Many come into revival on the backside receiving the fruit of the labor and benefit of those who plowed the hard soil years in advance.

I think you’ll agree this is the story of Christianity. Christ is the perfect example, who plowed the hard soil, sacrificed every earthly position and possession, dyed to sin to walk in newness of life – birthing forth everything we have in God today.

Jesus is the greatest revivalist of them all. He birthed the church, started the church, and to this day continues to feed and parent it as a father does a child.

Those who labor in the word, e.g., commentators and translators, present their best in the resources and testimonies of their day.

But they are not a substitute for our own personal journey, revelation, and testimony of Jesus Christ. The story of the church is “advancement,” and not the “status quo.”

Jesus wants us to drink from new springs of water and feast on an even greater banquet, one richer, deeper, and more complete, than was provided in the past.

Simply, Jesus invites those who hunger and thirst for more of God into greater intimacy, connection, and ultimately union with him.

Will you and I settle for less when the king of the universe is knocking on our door?

The Womb

Within the womb of the church, new truths and revelation are birthed at great expense and stress.

The seed, conception, and budding of revival is hidden in the womb of the church. It’s noticeable, evident, but not overly disruptive nor significantly life-changing to friends, family and onlookers.

It’s a time of congratulations and reflection of what may be.

But when the baby is born from the womb, disruption and change take root. Newness has come forth, bursting old truths revealed in new ways. A life to be reckoned.

Change has come. And it will grow and mature and bring forth its own unique gifting’s, talents and personality, uniquely created, and intimately connected with its creator.

And so, it is with revival.

Is revival growing in you? Has the word of God been planted in the soil of your heart, waiting the rain of God’s Spirit? Are you preparing for and expecting a harvest of righteousness and seed-bearing fruit?

Old Truths Revealed in New Ways

Today, we partake of the word of God in light of those who have gone before us, but we are not obliged to feed upon everything they fed upon. In fact, we are commanded by the word to go directly to the tree of life to receive fresh manna and fresh water.

Old truths revealed in old ways will be insufficient to carry you and me above the flood waters of evil separating us from the land of Canaan.

And old truths revealed in old ways will be insufficient to defeat the Canaanites in your land and mine.

An Example

The Lord has blessed me with insight and understanding (a little of which I’ve shared in this series) concerning Christ’s personal journey and baptism, which he pioneered for you and me.

There are Scriptures about Christ commentators struggle and wrestle with, trying to understand what they mean. A number of times they openly admit it’s impossible to reconcile the literal Greek with the theology of the church.

And in those instances, invariably, commentator’s default to complexity and conjecture and any number of roads that can somehow connect them to commonly accepted thought and theology.

They’ve done the best they could with the plate before them.

Translators follow suite, interpreting and writing certain Scriptures through the lands of accepted theology, instead of the clear text of Scripture. Thankfully, interlinear translations show notations where this is done so the reader can decide what path to pursue.

I’ve given a couple examples in this series having to do with the matter of the Second Coming of Jesus.

In some Scriptures where the coming of Jesus is mentioned the verse has been designed (translated) in such a way it gives the impression and sense the coming of Christ is at some distant future time.

And so where “come or coming” in the New Testament is used in reference to Christ it is generally interpreted and phrased to mean the literal physical Second Coming of the Lord.

When in fact the context of the Scriptures I discussed refers to the “coming” of the Lord to reveal himself in grace to the believer, you and me, now, today – to complete the mandate of his Father to bring healing and restoration to the orphaned of God.

Christ never left his church. He is here, now, laboring among us, personally committed to those he calls and chooses.

Growing Revelation of Christ

The banquet table of the Lord continues to grow, mature, and develop, with more and more revelation and understanding being offered to you and me.

We honor those who have gone before us, but we do not limit ourselves to their understanding, nor to the church at large, but seek God for greater revelation and insight for deeper intimacy and connection with him.

Let’s not be like Israel of old and those who resist revival and the deeper things of God, but seek God for a greater measure of Christ and the Spirit of God.

God is not chintzy.

God desires to bestow greater and greater measures of Jesus Christ as we are able to entertain, steward, and partake of the greater riches and depth of the Lord Jesus Christ and commission he has for you and me.

We live in a dark time and hour. We need everything Jesus has for us in the word and Spirit, to mature and grow in the things of Christ.

We need everything we can receive in Christ to stay ahead of the rising tide of sin and depravity in our culture, the maturing wounds and brokenness within us, and the enemy’s heart and desire to sabotage and destroy our lives.

The grace and revelation of Jesus Christ races ahead of sin and is here now, to take you even deeper and richer in Jesus Christ, your whole body, soul, and spirit.

There is a growing hatred and animosity to Jesus Christ and the things of God. We see it in our culture and its’ messages. It has many faces and masks.

Opposition to Christ is being intimately woven into the fabric of humanity to be revealed at some future time in fullness, an alternative to Christ.

You and I do not want to be here when righteousness is removed and evil is given free reign.

Let’s ask God to prepare our hearts and like Peter, go deeper in Christ, prepared and made ready for the revival floods of God’s Spirit and word.

***

In closing, in case I leave you with a wrong impression, about private revelation and commonly held beliefs, well…

The history of revival and personal revelation usually start with a few. Over the last 500 years, Luther, and revivalists following after, testify to that.

The kingdom of God is advanced and boundaries expanded by pioneers God chooses. That is how the church grows, matures, and receives greater light and revelation in its journey to bride hood.

The word of God is not something to be categorized and dissected as if it is some static, inorganic matter.

On the contrary, the word of God is active and alive, shining brighter and brighter reflecting the glory of Christ, ever increasing in the heart of man. Greater light yields greater revelation, insight and understanding.

The word of God emanates from the living person of Christ. The ink on the pages we read in the Bible connect us to him. He is our source and our life.

Jesus is keen on revealing himself to you and me, and taking us to places in him we could not have imagined. We have unprecedented opportunities today to advance the kingdom of God.

Will we make the most of our time and opportunity to bear good fruit unto him and others, and usher new things into Christ’s kingdom?

Blessings, Drake