Walking Daily in the Light of God's Eternal Purpose — Stephen Kaung

Well, first of all, I want to thank you all for allowing me to be here. Being among you, I feel myself a little younger, and I feel you dear young brothers and sisters are really very privileged, because when I was young, I didn't have such privilege.

I didn't hear about eternal purpose of God at such a young age, and I do thank the Lord that you are here, and you are very serious before the Lord, and I do believe that the Lord will greatly bless you.

Now, I'm not a speaker here, but I do like to fellowship, and some brothers suggested to me that before I answer, try to answer some of your deep questions, I should fellowship a little bit with you, of what the Lord seems to exercise my heart.

Now, as I listened to our dear brothers who spoke on the theme, walking daily in the light of God's eternal purpose, I was deeply moved, and as I listened to them, a few thoughts came to my mind, and I would like to use this opportunity to share these few simple thoughts.

New Life Is Necessary for a Godly Walk

Number one, now to walk requires life. If you do not have life, you cannot walk. When you are dead, you are not able to walk. So I think first of all, to solve this question of walking, you really need to solve first this matter of life.

What kind of life do you have will determine what manner of walk you will have. Now if all you have is what you are born with, what you receive from Adam, or to put it another way, all you have is that natural life, that fallen, Adamic life, then you will walk in a certain way.

There is no way to walk otherwise, because your daily life determines your scope, your manner of walking. Maybe turn to Ephesians chapter two. Ephesians chapter two, we read from verse one, and you, being dead in your offenses and sins, in which ye once walked according to the age of this world, according to the ruler of authority of the air, the spirit who now works in the sense of disobedience, among whom we also all once had our conversation, that is, have our walk, in the lust of our flesh, doing what the flesh and the thoughts will to do, and were children by nature of wrath, even as the rest.

Now here you'll find, once we were spiritually dead, dead in sins and transgressions, our spirit was dead unto God. Even though we do have an animated natural life, that we inherited from our forefathers, from Adam.

So awkwardly, we are living, but we live by that old fallen life, and when we live by that old fallen, Adamic life, now what manner of walk do we have? Now it is clearly telling us here, we walk according to the age of this world, or to put it in a more modern way, we walk according to the fashion of this age.

To the current of this world. We walk as the rest of the world walks. That's only awkwardly, but actually, now you think you are just walking according to the fashion, the current of the world. You just follow what the world goes.

But actually, without your knowing, you are walking according to the ruler of the authority of the air. There is a ruler, an authority of the air. A spiritual realm there. And this is the spirit that now works in the sons of disobedience.

So when we live in our Adamic life, we walk according to the way of the world. That's awkwardly. But actually there is someone who is in control of this world. The Bible call him the prince of this world.

The enemy of God. The fallen angel, Satan. He is the ruler of the authority of the air. And that spirit works in the sons of disobedience. In other words, he was disobedient to God. And he put that disobedience in man.

So by nature, we are all disobedient. We are disobedient to God. And we have our behavior in the lust of our flesh. We are just moved, motivated, pushed on by the lust of our flesh. Doing what the flesh and the thoughts will to do.

We just do whatever we think we want to do. And we are children by nature of wrath. In other words, we are under the wrath of God. So that's the way that natural life will work. But then God, in Ephesians chapter 2, it continues.

But God, verse 4, being rich in mercy, because of his great love, wherewith he loved us, we too being dead in offenses, has quickened us with the Christ, you are saved by grace, and has raised us up together, and has made us sit down together in the heavenlies with Christ Jesus, that he might display in the coming age the surpassing riches of his grace in kindness towards us in Christ.

Now once, because all we had was that natural, fallen, Adamic life, therefore, it was no wonder that we walk according to the way of this world. We just follow the evil spirit. He was the one who was driving us into destruction.

But rich in mercy. And one day his grace came upon us. And in Christ Jesus, he has given us a new life. So dear brothers and sisters, today we have a new life. It is a divine life. It is God's own life.

It is in Christ Jesus. And we are born from above. We who believe in the Lord Jesus, we have this new life in us. And with this new life, then you can walk in a new way. So the Bible says, we now walk in newness of life.

There is a new life. There is a new walk. Those who have that old Adamic life cannot walk in the light of God's eternal. But those who have this new life ought to walk daily in the light of God's eternal purpose.

So that is the first thought that came to me. Life. Thank God for this new life. And with this new life, we are able to walk daily in God's eternal purpose. Now number two. What is walking? Walking is a daily matter.

Daily Walking Rather Than Instant Spirituality

In other words, we as believers, you know, we are always looking for some special experiences. While we come to a conference, and we expect that we will have a special, exciting, new experience. And with that kind of experience, we will be instantly spiritual.

You know, today is a day of everything instant. Before I came to this country, 40 some years ago, I never knew there would be instant coffee. And to my surprise, in recent years, I understand there are instant tea too.

Everything is instant. And among Christians, you'll find that the same mentality is there with Christians. Christians want to be instantly spiritual. So they are always seeking for some special experience.

A leaping into another dimension. And with that just one leap, they will be there. And that is a great temptation to Christians today. Especially to young people. But we need to remember that life is a daily walking.

Daily we need to walk with the Lord. And that is what the Lord is expecting us. It is true. There will be time. You will have some crises. And during those crises, you will experience something. But these crises are the result of your daily walking.

You walk and walk and you come to a turning point. A crisis. And you get some experience. It enables you to walk on further. And as you walk on, you cover a certain distance. And then you come to another crisis of your life.

You may have to make a choice. You have to make a decision. You have to renew your consecration before the Lord. In order to pass through the threshold of that crisis. And you get another experience. That will again enable you to go further on towards the Lord.

So, life is a daily walking. Now, if you neglect your daily walking. And you are only expecting crises to come. Expecting some special experience to come. Then you are in trouble. So, I do feel that we need to emphasize, underline.

That our daily walking is the most essential thing in our Christian life. If we do not walk daily with the Lord. When you come to a crisis. You will not be able to go over it. You probably will go under it.

It is your daily walk that helps you through your crisis. Now, that's the second thing that came to my mind. Now, the third thing that came to my mind was. Now, if you want to walk. You have to walk in the light.

Walking in God's Light Instead of Self-Made Light

You remember our Lord Jesus said. There are twelve hours in the day. And if you walk in the light, you will not stumble. But in the night, you cannot walk. In darkness, you cannot walk. So, we have to walk in the light.

Now, there are two different kinds of light. That we can walk in. If you turn to Isaiah, chapter fifty. Isaiah, chapter fifty, verse eleven. Isaiah, chapter fifty, verse eleven. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire.

That compass yourselves about with sparks. Walk in the light of your fire. And among the sparks that you have kindled. This shall ye have on my hand. Ye shall lie down in sorrow. You know, it is possible.

For us believers. Not to walk in the light of God. But to kindle the light of our own fire. Instead of depending on the life of the Lord. It is possible for us to live. Again, by that old fallen Adamic nature.

Now, in our discussion group this morning. This question was raised. Are we not supposed to be dead to our old man? The apostle Paul said in Romans, chapter six, verse six. Knowing that our old man was crucified with Christ.

Our old man was crucified with Christ. Now, if our old man was crucified with Christ. Then why is it? That in our daily experience. We find that our flesh. Which is the personal name of the old man. You know, the old man is singular in number.

It refers to Adam. The federal head. The culprit man. Adam. And all who are in Adam. That's the old man. Now, our old man was crucified with Christ. But flesh is a personal term of the old man. Every one of us has our own flesh.

Your flesh is different from my flesh. We all inherit from Adam. But we inherit different things from Adam. Now, why is it? Our old man was crucified with Christ. And yet, we find that our flesh. Often times, is still very much alive.

Now, why is it? Is it because the work of our Lord Jesus on the cross is not complete? Or is it because there is some misunderstanding somewhere? Now, remember. Our old man was crucified with Christ. Now, how?

He was the last Adam. So, in other words, he embraced all the Adamic race in himself. And when he was crucified, the Adamic race was finished. It is done. It is finished. Our old man was crucified with Christ.

But this fact. Eternal fact. Unchanging fact. Your condition does not affect that eternal truth. A finished work of Christ. No matter how you feel. Even if you are still today living in the flesh. It does not change what Christ has done on the cross for you.

Your old man was crucified in Him. But it is only true in Christ. It is not true in Adam. So, if you do not abide in Christ. Remain in Christ. Then you will find what was true in Adam becomes very living in you today.

So, we need to abide in Christ. Because only in Christ your old man was crucified. Outside of Christ, your flesh is still very much alive. And you need to deliver it to the cross. By the power of the Holy Spirit.

So, brothers and sisters, you find it is possible for us who have a new life. Who ought to walk in a new way. But we can kindle our own fire. And walk by its sparks. We can still live according to flesh.

We can still love the world. We can still go for things that are against the will of God. We use our natural mind. Our own reasoning power. Our own will. Kindle our own fire. Surround ourselves with our own fire.

And we think this is a light. And we walk in that light. Now, what will happen? God said, you will lie down in sorrow. So, there is only one light that we can walk in. Now, walk daily in the light of God's eternal purpose.

Christ as the Light of God's Eternal Purpose

Now, I know, as our brother mentioned this morning. When you mention God's eternal purpose, we are lost. It's such a big word. Now, what is God's eternal purpose? So, you know, I was thinking the other day.

It's... I'm just fellowshipping, talking with you. Moses said, a man's lifespan is 3 score and 10. If he is strong, it can be 4 scores, 80 years old. But I'm 82 now. So, in other words, I'm in my second childhood.

So, I'm going to baby talk. I do not understand the light of God's eternal purpose. That's too much for me. Now, what is this light of God's eternal purpose? Well, you know, to have a concept, an abstract concept as it were, you need to be grown up.

Now, as a baby, as a child, you are not able to grasp a concept. God's eternal purpose. That's too vague, too mystical to me. But, for me to recognize a person, that's easy. I know my father. I know my mother.

I know my sisters, my brothers. That's easy. So, I feel, well, how should I walk daily? I should walk daily in the light of Christ. A person. That's easy. Because the eternal purpose of God is none other than Christ Jesus.

Right? He is the purpose of God. We'll explain that later. Grown up in a few minutes. But, for the present, just say that we as believers, we walk daily in the light of Christ. We know Christ. We who have believed in Him as our Savior, our Redeemer.

We know Him. And, in John chapter 17, verse 3 said, Thank God we have eternal life in us. We have Christ in us. We know Christ. And, if we walk in the light of Christ, that's all that is needed. Do you know Christ?

And, as much as you know Him, you'll walk in His light. In John chapter 1, verse 4, it said, Now, this is the light. In Him, that is, in Christ Jesus, is life. First of all, you have to have life. And, this life is the light of man.

It's your light. Your light is not something coming from outside. Your light, in which you walk, comes from within. It is the light of life. Now, every believer has that life, in him or in her. And, this life is the light of man.

This light will shine upon your path. And, will lead you in your daily walk. In 1 John chapter 1, verse 5, God is light. Verse 9, verse 7, If we walk in the light, Now, what is that light? That refers back to verse 5.

God is... That refers back to John chapter 1, verse 4. In Him was life. And, the life was the light of man. So, brothers and sisters, remember this. Just remember this. We walk daily in the light of His.

His life within us will shine upon our path. So, we just walk step by step by that light. And, that light is glory. You know, if we walk in the light, that we have today, as God is in the light. Now, God is light.

He is full of light. To use an illustration, He probably is a hundred candles, candle light. And, when you first believe in the Lord Jesus, you have His life in you. But, the light of that light that shines upon your path is only one candle light.

Because, you just know Him as your Savior. One candle light. But, if you walk in your one candle light, as He is a hundred candle light, you have fellowship one with another. Because, the nature of light is the same.

The degrees are different. But, if you today walk in the light you have today, you will discover the next day that light will grow a little brighter. Maybe two candle lights. That light will tell you what is right, what is wrong.

That light will tell you what is your own will and what is God's will for you. That light within you will lead you. If you are obedient to the light of life you have today, then that light will grow. And, you are obedient to the increased light and light will further grow.

And, that's the way that you grow spiritually in life. So, brothers and sisters, it's very simple. Do not try to wrap your mind thinking, what is God's eternal purpose? Just think very simply. Christ is in you.

Life is in you. Learn to walk daily in the light of that. If you do, you will have fellowship with God. In spite of the fact there are still many, many darkness in you. Many things that need to be dealt with.

And yet, if you are obedient to the light of life, what the Lord within you tells you today, you have fellowship with God. And, through fellowship, you have further cleansing and your life will grow a little bit.

So, that is the way that we walk daily. Now, be careful. Do not ever try to walk contrary to the light of life in you. If you do, you will find your fellowship with God is temporarily interrupted. So, that's why, as soon as we discover we are not walking in the light of His life, we are walking maybe in the fire we kindle ourselves.

Our conscience begins to bother us. The Holy Spirit within us will begin to tell us we are going wrong. Confess immediately. If we confess our sin, God is faithful and righteous. He will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness.

Then our fellowship with our Heavenly Father will be restored. And you can walk on. So, it's very simple. So, try to make your Christian life very simple. Do not make it too complicated. It's very simple.

You just walk according to the light of the life of Christ in you. And that's all that God requires of you. So, these are a few thoughts that came to my mind when I was listening to our dear brothers.

The Eternal Purpose of God and Its Meaning for Young Believers

Now, here are some questions. We know that the theme of the conference is Walking Daily in the Light of God's Eternal Purpose. What exactly is the eternal purpose of God? So, here you have the question.

How does it apply to us young people? Our brother Mike, this morning, has already answered this question. I don't know if you noticed it or if you have taken it to your heart. It is very true. When you talk about God's eternal purpose, somehow you are lost.

But first of all, let me tell you one thing. He said, how does this apply to our young people? Now, is there a difference between the young people and the old people according to God's eternal purpose?

I think you already know the answer. So, whether you are old or young, there is no difference. It all applies. The moment you are saved, that principle applies to you. You need to walk daily in the light of God's eternal purpose.

But it will be very, very fortunate if you can know God's eternal purpose when you are young. Let me tell you a story. In 1941, that's Pearl Harbor, the World War. I was in Singapore, and the war broke out.

I was stranded there. But God, in His marvelous way, led me and my wife at the last minute from Singapore in a small boat. And we were 10 days in the Indian Ocean. And finally, we landed in Madras, India.

It was a funny thing because I came from Shanghai. Now, is there anyone here coming from Shanghai? Yeah. Now, if you came from Shanghai, and if you know the old Shanghai proverbs, now, maybe you are too young to know, but if you are old enough to know, in Shanghai, we have a proverb.

If you are so unlucky, you land in India. That's our Shanghai proverb. So, humanly speaking, that was the most unlucky thing that could happen to me because I was in India. But thank God, in His marvelous way, He so overruled.

As a matter of fact, two months and a half I was in India was the most, what shall I say, luxurious days I ever lived. I lived like a priest. I was royally entertained. Why? Because in God's sovereign way.

Well, maybe I should tell you a little bit to see how marvelous is God's way. You know, when I was in Singapore, one day I was sick, and I was away in the village, resting. And a telegram came to me. An English lady, sister, who used to work with us in Shanghai.

She sent me a cable from the Philippines. She said she was passing by Singapore on a certain date. So I looked at the cable and found that it was the very day that she would arrive. So I debated with her myself whether I should go out to meet her or not.

Well, I said, well, this is a very unusual time. And probably I will never meet her again. So, even though I was sick, I went to Singapore just to meet that sister for a few hours. And when we were talking, she told me she was going to India, to Madras.

She said there would be brothers and sisters there, and then she would go to a certain place. And she even gave me her address and said to me, maybe the Lord will take you to India. You know, I laughed inside because of the Shanghai problem.

I would never go to India. You know, I was passing through Singapore on my way to Burma and take the Burma Road and back to Fiji Island. But the war broke out. And when we escaped from Singapore on that boat, a little over a hundred Chinese were on that boat, without a convoy.

And we all had to sign the paper. They could put us anywhere in the world. We are responsible ourselves. So, when they put us in Madras, we are responsible for ourselves. After ten days in the Indian Ocean, we finally arrived in Madras.

But we had no visa to India. India was under the British rule at that time. So, the government told us, go out to the sea. You shouldn't be here. You have no right to be here. So, we were stranded on the boat for two days.

We couldn't communicate. They said you were not here. And after two days, for some special reasons, because it so happened, one of the Chinese civic leaders in Kuala Lumpur, he represented us, negotiated with the immigration.

And after two days, in their talk, they discovered that the immigration chief and this Mr. Lee's, immigration chief's brother and this Mr. Lee were schoolmates in Cambridge before. So, the connection was made.

You know, in the audience, the connection is always important. And with that connection, he guaranteed the whole ship. So, I became a permanent resident in India. On the third day in the sea, when the captain announced that we cannot go to Rangoon because Rangoon fell to the Japanese hand.

So, we are going to Madras. Immediately, I said, well, Madras, that sister mentioned about Madras before. So, I looked at the map and find her place. And on the map, it was pretty near. So, I told my wife, if the Lord brought us to India, now we have to contact that sister and see the brothers and sisters.

Have some fellowship with the brothers and sisters. And fortunately, well, God knows, I didn't throw away that address. I still have that address with me. So, when finally, we were able to land, before that, I sent a cable to that sister.

I said, we are here, near Madras. We would like to see you. And we went to a hotel. And after a day, a cable came back. I asked them to cable to the travel agency because I had no address. And the cable came back.

It was not sent by her, but by her hostess, Lady Ogle. Maybe some of you heard of her name. She was a title lady. And she sent a cable to me. She said, my home is yours. Come immediately. You know how much it touched me and my wife at that time.

We were refugees, stranded in a strange country, knowing nobody. And suddenly, someone whom we have heard, but we have never met, a sister in the Lord. She said, my home is yours. Come immediately. So, I told my wife we have to go.

It took a day, a night, and another half a day, train to the mountain. It was the best summer resort place in India. The Nigli Hills. You know, that sister, she was all by herself. She inherited wealth.

Millionaire. But, when I met her, she told me, her parents died, left her with wealth. Her husband died, left her with title. Her doctor was the Queen's doctor. And she lived in Italy. She has a marble palace in Italy.

And every year she would go back to England. She was a believer. She attended Catholic Convention, the famous Catholic Convention every year. But she felt life was meaningless. No meaning to life. No purpose.

One year she went to England. Before the Catholic Convention, she attended the Swanic Convention. And the Swanic Convention was Mrs. Penn Lewis' convention. Some of you may have read her books. So, she went there.

And she listened to a young man speaking on God's eternal purpose. For the first time she heard God's eternal purpose. And that transformed her whole life. She began to see that there is meaning, purpose.

And later on, she got led to India. And her service was, she bought some beautiful homes on the resort places, staffed them with maids and servants. And every summer, she invited God's servants to come to rest.

And she served them. That's her ministry. And as a matter of fact, when I met her, she said, the Lord already told me, you will be here. Because every winter she prayed, whom shall I receive from, for the following summer.

And God told her, Egypt and China. Because she lived a very close life with the Lord. So you see, God's eternal purpose is very, very essential. Now, if you know God's eternal purpose when you are young, how fortunate you are.

That sister already spent a number of years, when I met her, she was already in her sixties. She felt life was meaningless, purposeless, with all the wealth. But, when she knew God's eternal purpose, time is linked with eternity.

The way you live in time will determine your eternity. And it makes you feel how precious is the time. How precious are the days that God allowed to live on this earth. You know, often times, I work in the morning.

I will pray, Lord, thank you for giving me another day. That you may finish your work in me. So, brothers and sisters, knowing God's eternal purpose is very, very essential to your spiritual life. You need to know God's eternal purpose when you are young.

That will save you from wasting many, many of your days. And make your days meaningful. You live for God's eternal purpose. Now, what is God's eternal purpose? If you read Ephesians and Colossians, these are the two books that especially tells you what is God's eternal purpose.

God's Eternal Purpose Is Centered in Christ and His Body

The reason why God's eternal purpose seems to be so difficult is because it is a mystery. You know, the Bible says it is a mystery. It is God's wisdom in a mystery. It is God's top secret. And God has that purpose in Him before He created anything.

But He is not able to reveal that purpose to anybody. Why? Because it is so glorious. He has to prepare for the revelation, unveiling of that mystery, of that purpose in His heart. Generations to prepare until at the fullness of time He sends His only begotten Son into this world.

Born of a woman, born under law, that He may deliver us from the curse of the law, that we may receive sonship. And it is only after the finished work of Christ on the cross then God is able to open up that secret, purpose of His heart.

So, in Ephesians you will find that the purpose of God's heart is centered upon His beloved. Purpose is focused. It's all in His Son. He loves His Son. And it is because of His love for His Son, He created all things.

He created us for His Son. That His Son may head up all things. His Son is the heir of all things. That is God's eternal purpose. So, that's why I say, if you are not able to receive a concept, at least you are able to receive a person.

You will see that it is God's Son. That is God's eternal purpose. And together with His Son, God said, I will give Him a helmet, the body of Christ. It is not two centers, Christ and the Church. Two centers, no.

Only one center. But, united with Christ is the body, the Church, you and me. So, brothers and sisters, this is God's eternal purpose. God's purpose is that the Son may be all. That you may be transformed and be conformed to the image of His beloved Son.

That you may be united together with Him as His body. Now, that is God's eternal purpose. Walk in the light of that eternal purpose. Walk in the light of Christ. The life of Christ within you will lead the way.

Whatever is not of Him, the light will shine upon that very thing and say, it has to go. And let it go. And whatever is of Him, He will build it in within you. You will be transformed and according to His image.

You will be like Him. That's why sermon on the mount is so important. The character of Christ be your character. By the working of the Holy Spirit in your daily walk. So, walk in the light of God's eternal purpose.

Now, that is the meaning of it. So, as young brothers and sisters, you are really fortunate that you can start right away. Not wasting your days and walk in the eternal purpose of God. Walk in Christ.

Rooted and grounded in Christ. Build up in Christ. And build up together in Christ. Now, that's the application. So, I hope that may answer. Now, the second one. Given our theme. Now, actually, these questions should be answered by our speakers.

Individual and Corporate Readiness for Christ's Coming

Given our theme, how is being ready corporately for His coming different from being ready individually? Let me repeat. Given our theme, how is being ready corporately for His coming different from being ready individually?

Now, we are all looking forward to the coming of our Lord. This is the day that Christians throughout the generations and the ages are looking forward to. He is with us in spirit. But one day we will see Him face to face.

And that is our blessed hope. Now, how are we going to be prepared, ready for His coming? Is there any difference between being made ready corporately or being made ready individually? Now, brothers and sisters, when we are talking, we can say this is individually, this is corporately.

But as a matter of fact, you can distinguish them, but you cannot separate them. You know, our tendency is to separate our individual readiness from corporate readiness. Individual preparedness from corporate preparedness, you cannot separate them.

It is true we are members one of another. We are all individuals. And individually we need to be ready. That's true. But remember, we are in the body. So you are not alone. We grow together. We make ready together.

And it is only when we are together, we are able really to be made ready. Let me put it another way. If you read Romans chapter 8, it looks as if you are to be ready individually. Why? Whom He has foreknown, He has foreordained that you shall be conformed to the image of God's Beloved Son.

Whom He has foreknown, He has called. Whom He has called, He has justified. Whom He has justified, He has glorified. He is leading many sons into glory. So that seems to be individuals. Because we are individually responsible to be matured, to be perfected in Christ Jesus.

But on the other hand, when our Lord Jesus will come back, He is like the bridegroom, coming back for His bride. And the bride is composed of all who are His, to be made ready for Him. So you find that we need to be prepared both ways.

Individually we need to seek the Lord and allow the Lord to really be built in within us. As Colossians chapter 1 said, to be perfect in Christ Jesus. Individually we need to be perfect in Christ Jesus.

Matured in Christ Jesus. Let Christ be matured in us. We are conformed to His image. Individually. But you cannot grow just by yourself. You have to grow and make ready with your brothers and sisters.

Because the Bible said we are to be fitted together. United together. Ministered to one another. There are many lessons that you cannot learn alone. You have to learn in the body. You learn your limitation in the body.

Because if you are all by yourself, you do not know how limited you are. But if you are in the body, you know your limitation. And it is very important to know your limitation. You have to learn how to fit in with one another.

When you are all by yourself, you may think you are perfect. But when you begin to touch other brothers and sisters, immediately you find you are not perfect. There are things that need to be chopped off.

Things need to be chiseled. Things need to be smooth in order to fit in with your brothers and sisters. Many lessons of the cross you cannot learn all by yourself. You have to learn corporately. So we have to be ready together.

And that is the reason why we need fellowship. So, in other words, we need to be there is the individual side, there is the corporate side, but you cannot separate them. You have to go on together to be really made ready for His coming.

Different Revelations and Degrees of Light Concerning the Body of Christ

Now here is another question. Is it possible for two believers who are both seeking the Lord to receive a different revelation concerning the same Christian principle? For example, many Christians view the body of Christ and its functioning differently.

I think it is a very good question. Here you have two believers. They are both seeking the Lord. And yet they receive different revelation concerning the same Christian principle. And they use the body of Christ as an example.

Let me put it this way. So far as principle is concerned, you cannot have different revelation on the same principle. In other words, the truth is one. But it is possible for us to receive different aspects of the same truth and also different degrees of the same truth.