Rhema

Isaiah 30:21 “Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “This is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand Or whenever you turn to the left.”

Have you ever heard the voice of God?

It’s not uncommon for the world to question God’s voice, they doesn’t understand how this could be, but among the faithful who desire to follow the Lord in all He commands, it is critical. The hope that we can attain God’s will for our lives would be made so much easier if the Lord would just audibly speak to us and tell us what He wants us to do…..but He rarely does…or does He?

Hearing God

Romans 10:17 “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

I’ve heard many say they can’t hear God’s voice, so if this is true how is this encouragement by Paul relevant? I would suppose the encouragement was meant to show us it isn’t as difficult as some have postulated.

What Paul was encouraging was this: “So faith proceeds from (spiritual) hearing; moreover this hearing (is consummated) through a rhēma-word ( /rhḗma) from Christ“

I believe the more we understand how to hear God’s voice, the more we will strive to listen. Learning to hear His voice takes practice, a process of quieting oneself to hear, and a desire for fellowship with Him.

What is a Rhema word?

Luke 2:51 “And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings(rhema) in her heart.”

The words of Jesus were instructive, insightful, wise, new, and even prophetic. The fulfillment of Messianic prophecy was happening on a daily basis as Jesus walked the earth, Jesus taught continually as they traveled between destinations and yet some of His words set deeper than others. This was true among the followers of Christ in that day and they are true today as well.

Have you ever read the Word of God and suddenly a scripture that you’ve seen a hundred times speaks new life into you? This Word that you’ve read becomes a rhema word in your life. It is as if the Holy Spirit says, “this is for you now“, and sets it forth into your spirit to ponder and give life. The application of this word is relevant to you for what your going through.

The Truth of God’s Word has relative meaning all of the time, then there are the times when it has specific meaning. Some will say that the rhema is not just spiritual understanding as given by the Holy Spirit, but a word delivered at the right time for you to receive it.

“The Bible gives the factual knowledge of God, His Word, Will and Way, His plan and purpose for mankind. Fact, however, is not faith. But, fact (Scripture) can become faith when it is quickened by the Holy Spirit and mixed with heart belief. The writer of Hebrews revealed this truth when he said, ‘The word [logos] did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it’ (Heb. 4:2). The Logos plus the Holy Spirit quickening and faith equals a rhema from the Lord.”

Hamon

The Logos

John 1:14 “And the Word (logos) was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”

The Lord Jesus is the embodiment of the Word(logos). The logos is the expression of a thought. If you had a thought and wanted to express it to someone you could tell them about it, illustrate it, or demonstrate the idea by your actions—-Jesus is the expression of the Father or the logos to us.

The Father wanted to express Himself to us and so Jesus came down to us and did just that. He was and is the very expression of God’s love.

It was by the Logos that Jesus cast out demons, taught the people, healed disease, and established the Kingdom of God.

But there is another aspect of the logos…..

Matthew 12:36 “But I say to you that for every idle word(rhema) men may speak, they will give account(logos) of it in the day of judgment.”

There is the established Truth of God which is foundational and then there is the way we relate that Truth to others.

If you have ever flown in a plane and looked down upon the topography of the land, you have a perspective that someone in the midst of the valley wouldn’t have. You can see the peaks and valleys for miles, you can see the way out of a canyon and where it leads.

Someone who has been through trials has been walking with God and consequently has been given perspective. They have seen the Truth of God’s Word be made alive by each circumstance the Lord has brought them through. The perspective that is gained by applying faith from the rhema word is what teachers can relate to others. Now if a teacher relates God’s Truth falsely, they don’t relate Truth, they relate a lie. They are dishonoring God’s Logos by deceiving others with a rhetoric that usually builds themselves up and diminishes God’s glory.

It is for this that teachers are held under greater scrutiny.

False Teachers

2 Peter 2:1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, as there will be false teachers among you also, who will stealthily introduce destructive heresies, even denying the Master having bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction.”

There have been many false prophets in this world. Many have made bold statements regarding elections while others continually spout things that are meant to increase giving. These prosperity gospel preachers have lined their pockets with idle words meant to build their own empire.

These false prophets will be brought under judgement.

Good and Faithful

In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word(rhema) that proceeds out through the mouth of God.”‘ …Can we say that man shall not live by bread alone, but by the Word of God recorded in the Bible? No. We are not saying that the written Word of God is of no use, but that logos—the Word of God recorded in the Bible—is of no use to us by itself. …Both logos and rhema are the Word of God, but the former is God’s Word objectively recorded in the Bible, while the latter is the word of God spoken to us at a specific occasion.

Watchman Nee

A passage of the logos can move into being rhema if it becomes shown to apply to the specific individual.

Good teachers are those who are lead by the Spirit and apply Truth rightly.

It is imperative that if you feel called to teach, disciple, or lead in some form that you first go to the source of your calling and remain in fellowship with Him continually.

A good and faithful servant not only applies God’s Truth but they live it out. It is so important that we take our walk seriously. We can talk all day long about the patterns of right living but if we don’t live by these principles, we invalidate our testimony.

The expectation isn’t that teachers or preachers are perfect but that they live faithfully, honestly, and humbly before God. When they make mistakes, they readily admit them and repent of them, this is the least of God’s expectations for us.

Means of Salvation

Romans 10:8-9 “But what does it say? “The word (Rhema) is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word(Rhema) of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.”

Your confession of faith is a rhema word of belief. It arises from a heart of repentance and forgiveness and proceeds from confession to accountability…living out your faith before God.

Where does this word come from?

The Holy Spirit places the word of Truth in our heart then we are called to trust in Christ alone. The Spirit of God then leads us in our new found faith by sanctifying our lives to become more like Christ. All belief arises from God’s call. He speaks the ‘Rhema’ word to you and then you have a choice to accept it.

1 Corinthians 2:1 “And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech(logos) or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God.”

Paul was saying that it wasn’t by his authority that he delivered the word but by God’s authority vested in him. The Word comes from God, evangelists simply relate God’s truth.

Jesus said:

John 6:63 “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words(rhema) that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

When we are called to be salt and light, we are called to not only live like Jesus, we are called to deliver the rhema Word to others. The Lord has placed us in a position that He originally held. It is a place of great honor but should likewise be given the utmost respect. If we live contrary to that standard or speak contrary to His Truth, we blaspheme His name.

What is your calling?

Is your calling to be a believer in Christ or do you relate it more to your profession or responsibilities as a parent or friend?

If we keep a right perspective in what we represent and who we live for, we will see our lives align with God’s will and the Word of God will be living and active in you.

God’s Word is True—-are you true to His Word?