The Eyes of the Lord

Each aspect of God – the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit – is omniscient because they fully share all divine qualities as part of the unified Trinity.

Not only does He see everything, but also God evaluates every action and judges whether it is Good or Evil in Ecclesiastes 12:13-14.

Ecclesiastes 12:13–14 KJV 1900

13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. 14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.

This all seeing, all knowing, of every secret thing is not simply to “catch you in the act” of evil.

It is also that

God Knows Your Circumstance

This all seeing nature of God is one of the Old Testament names for God that is first seen in Genesis 16:13.

Abram had a promise from God that He would be the father of Nations. But Abram did not have any children.

His wife Sarai, offered her servant, to provide a son for Abram.

This caused trouble between Sarai and Hagar the servant. Hagar fled because of the harsh treatment.

Hagar then had an encounter with “the angel of the Lord”, who gave her specific instruction about what she was to do.

Genesis 16:13 KJV 1900

13 And she called the name of the Lord that spake unto her, Thou God seest me: for she said, Have I also here looked after him that seeth me?

Where “Thou God seest me” is the Hebrew name for God, “El-Roi”, which means, “God who sees.”

The origin of this particular name of God is not a story of condemnation or judgement for evil.

God not only new her circumstance, but had a plan to take care of her and Ishmael her son.

Hagar had a “Special Revelation”, an encounter with God that rescued her and her unborn child.

Hagar went back to Abram, where her son was born.

God also spoke to Abram and changed his name to Abraham (Father of a great multitude) and changed his wife's name from Sarai to Sarah (Princess).

We Learn through Instruction or Experience

Hagar learned through “Special Revelation”, what is called a theophany, a direct encounter with God.

Abram became Abraham as he learned through this same kind of “Special Revelation”, a direct encounter with God that is recorded in Genesis 18:1

Sarah, learned through Abraham’s experience and God’s promise to Abraham was fulfilled through her.

Why did God help Hagar?

Lets look at Psalm 33:18

Psalm 33:18 (KJV 1900)

18 Behold, the eye of the Lord is upon them that fear him, Upon them that hope in his mercy;

We don’t have all of the details, but it is likely that Hagar was a young woman, obedient to Sarah as a servant, taught about God by Abram.

It is likely that Hagar was innocent in her actions.

After being becoming pregnant, and being rejected by Sarah, she was alone and unable to defend or protect herself so she cried out to God.

And lets also look at Psalm 34:15

Psalm 34:15 (KJV 1900)

15 The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, And his ears are open unto their cry.

Why did God bless Abram?

Lets look at Genesis 18:19

Genesis 18:19 KJV 1900

19 For I know him, that he will command his children and his household after him, and they shall keep the way of the Lord, to do justice and judgment; that the Lord may bring upon Abraham that which he hath spoken of him.

God knew Abram. Abram left his homeland and went to the place God had told him to go. Abram had shown himself faithful and obedient to God’s call.

What God saw and knew about Abraham was that he would “command his children and household”, that he would “do justice and judgement”

We see God intervening and doing good for those that “do good”

Peter takes the quote from Psalm 15:3 and adds a comment about those that “do evil” in 1 Peter 3:12

1 Peter 3:12 KJV 1900

12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

Special Revelation

God reveals the difference between good and evil in several ways.

The Bible - what we have learned through the lives of “holy men of old”

“Special revelation” is the teaching about God and his works that he has given to us through the prophets and apostles and which is now contained in the Bible.

Special Revelation through Dreams

Dreams are one of the many mediums of special revelation. God used dreams in the Old and New Testament to direct and protect them.

Joel 2:28 is quoted here in Acts 2:17

Acts 2:17 KJV 1900

17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:

There was a warning that came to Joseph in Matthew 2:12-14

Matthew 2:12–14 (KJV 1900)

12 And being warned of God in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed into their own country another way. 13 And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and take the young child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him. 14 When he arose, he took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt:

Special Revelation through Prophecy

Prophecy is a gift of the Holy Spirit by which a human being is given specific insight or knowledge, the ability to speak God’s plan and purpose relating to specific events.

2 Peter 1:20–21 KJV 1900

20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Special Revelation through Theophanies

God is always and everywhere present, but a theophany is an exceptional visible display of that presence.

This is the account of Hagar as recorded in Genesis 16:7–14

Paul had an experience with Jesus in Acts 9:3-6

Acts 9:3–6 KJV 1900

3 And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: 4 And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. 6 And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.

John had an encounter with Jesus in Revelation 1:12-19

Revelation 1:12–19 KJV 1900

12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. 14 His head and his hairs were white like wool, as white as snow; and his eyes were as a flame of fire; 15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace; and his voice as the sound of many waters. 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength. 17 And when I saw him, I fell at his feet as dead. And he laid his right hand upon me, saying unto me, Fear not; I am the first and the last: 18 I am he that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death. 19 Write the things which thou hast seen, and the things which are, and the things which shall be hereafter;

Special Revelation through Visions

Visions are experiences that manifest God’s will, plans, and/or perspective.

Visions differ from dreams in that they may come whether asleep or awake.

‌In the New Testament, visions had great significance:

The birth of John the Baptist in Luke 1:22

The revelation of Gentile inclusion in Acts 10:1-48

Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, not a Jew, had a vision telling him to call for Peter.

Acts 10:1–6 KJV 1900

1 There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of the band called the Italian band, 2 A devout man, and one that feared God with all his house, which gave much alms to the people, and prayed to God alway. 3 He saw in a vision evidently about the ninth hour of the day an angel of God coming in to him, and saying unto him, Cornelius. 4 And when he looked on him, he was afraid, and said, What is it, Lord? And he said unto him, Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God. 5 And now send men to Joppa, and call for one Simon, whose surname is Peter: 6 He lodgeth with one Simon a tanner, whose house is by the sea side: he shall tell thee what thou oughtest to do.

Peter had a vision telling him to go to a gentiles house which was unlawful for a Jew. But God said to him in the vision, “What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.”

Encouragement Stephen’s vision during his martyrdom in Acts 7:54–56

Paul’s vision of the third heaven in 2 Cor 12

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

These special revelations come through the Holy Spirit and are described in 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

1 Corinthians 12:4–11 KJV 1900

4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal. 8 For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit; 9 To another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 10 To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues: 11 But all these worketh that one and the selfsame Spirit, dividing to every man severally as he will.

God is working through the Holy Spirit to lead, guide, encourage, comfort, and protect us.

These gifts are also described as “grace that is given to us” in Romans 12:4-18

Romans 12:4–18 KJV 1900

4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: 5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. 10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another; 11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; 12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; 13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality. 14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. 17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.

This is not the same as the fruit of the Holy Spirit

Galatians 5:22–23 KJV 1900

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

How to Receive the Holy Spirit

Acts 2:1–4 KJV 1900

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.

Acts 10:44–48 KJV 1900

44 While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. 45 And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, 47 Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? 48 And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.

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