Hi Brian!

The word for this week is "manifest". We'll be looking at two different Greek words found in these verses:

Luke 8:17 For nothing is secret, that shall not be made manifest; neither any thing hid, that shall not be known and come abroad. KJV

John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. KJV

Romans 16:25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith: KJV

These are  the Greek words "phaneros" or "phaneroo". Strong's Concordance says: shining, apparent or to render apparent. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: evident, known, or to make visible or known what has been hidden or unknown whether by words, deeds or any other way. In the next verses we see a similar Greek word.

John 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. 22 Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? KJV

Romans 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. KJV

These are all the Greek words "emfanees" or "emfanizoo". Strong's Concordance says: apparent inself, to exhibit in person or disclose by words. Thayer's Greek Lexicon says: exhibit to view, to indicate, disclose, declare, make known. I believe that the most important TRUTH that we get from each of these words and from the verses they appear in is that our God WANTS us to know Him, His Word and His ways. He wants to reveal Himself to us, but He can only reveal Himself to those who press on to know Him. One of my favorite Old Testament verses is Hosea 6:3:

3 Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. KJV

"IF" we 'follow on to know' Him, we WILL come to know Him more. The Amplified Bible says it even better:

3 Yes, let us know (recognize, be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. His going forth is prepared and certain as the dawn, and He will come to us as the [heavy] rain, as the latter rain that waters the earth.  AMP

We CAN know Him just as much as WE desire and choose to know Him! This is progressive revelation as we continue to seek to know Him, but we DO have THIS promise from 1 John 3:2:

2 Beloved, we are God’s children right now; however, it is not yet apparent what we will become. But we do know that when it is finally made visible, we will be just like him, for we will see him as he truly is.

I am looking forward to THAT day, but I intend to keep learning all that I can here and now! Here is Hillsong UNITED with their new song "Know You Will":

Love and Shalom from the Swoveys!