I was a bit shocked to read in Ecclesiastes that Solomon said that there will always be books and reading too much will confuse you.  God understands that we will never learn everything about any subject.  When I was a young woman, I learned the importance of studying and reading the Bible.  I thought that information about God would transform my life.

I did my daily Bible reading.  I read and studied books that my church recommended.  But my worries and concerns didn’t seem to be changing.  Then I found a book.  Go Home and Tell was written by Bertha Smith, a missionary in China. Something happened as I read her book.  I began to see things beyond the pages.  I could see myself and my short comings.  I also saw who I could become through the power of the Holy Spirit.  While I didn’t understand it at the time, I received my first revelation from the Lord.

There is a powerful difference between information and revelation.  From that day, I was able to see beyond the information found of the pages of the Bible.  Sure, I wanted to understand what the author was saying to the people to whom it was written; but like a mirror held before me, I could see things in my life that needed changing.  I began to see some of what God was seeing when he looked at me, his child.  I saw future possibilities and godly results that were available for me.

Each time I teach or share with the members of Special Gathering, a ministry within the mentally challenged community, I desire to help them to receive more than information about God.  The revelation of God’s word is a powerful thing.  I pray that God’s supernatural power will reach out and help each person to see and hear the needs and desires of their own hearts.  I pray that they will understand their potential and how God can use them.

One of our teachers is uniquely gifted in helping our members discover God’s purpose in their lives.  Several of our members are seeing how much Jesus sacrificed for them.  They are discovering supernatural revelations from the Scriptures.  These revelations extend beyond the black and white words on the page.  ”Each week,” the teacher reports, “we see new growth. Last week, after Brian talked about his health problems, Denise said, ‘Let’s pray for him right now.’  They gathered around him and prayed.  I didn’t need to say a word.”  One of the higher functioning members has become her co-teacher.  Betty has always been jealous of another member but that jealousy has turned into love as they pray together and learn God’s word sitting at the same table, sharing a Bible.

Can people who are developmentally disabled understand complicated theology?  No.  Can they understand God?  Oh, yes.  In fact, armed with revelations of God, they can understand better than the rest of us.

What are some of the things God has shown you from the Bible?  Do you see these things while reading or while talking about the passage?

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Need a new outlook?

Perhaps a new hat will help.  In this case, one size does not fit all.

Photos:  China by Herman Verbeek and Bible Class by Prayingmother