RHEMA - God is still speaking!
Hearing God, Seeing God • Sermon • Submitted
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Word of God Speak
Word of God Speak
WDTNTK- God speaks specific words to specific people for specific situations
WDTNTKI - Communion with God involves his voice speaking to us personally.
There are two terms in the Greek New Testament that are used for the term “word”: logos and rhēma. The first term, logos, was used primarily to denote the “written word” or “total message”; the second term, rhēma, was used to denote the “spoken word.” However, these distinctions are not always maintained throughout the entire New Testament.
We have a unique
Logos
Logos
1 pet 1:23-
500 years before Christ, greek philosophers and academics like Heraclitus, Plato and Aristotle used the word Logos to varying degrees.
Greek philosophers wrestled with some big ideas.
1 the idea of the universe ( UNITY in diversity) “look at everything we can see ....”
2 the idea of “the one and the many” and they thought that “the many” necessitates “the ONE”
2 the idea that “the many” necessitates “the ONE”
3 the idea that in all of the many moving parts that make up our universe something had to have moved first ( initiating force) ( anything that moved had to have a “MOVER”)(SOMETHING MOVED) and the idea of the elements (earth, wind, water, fire) still didn’t satisfy them. They needed the Quintessential (Fifth) ELEMENT (Essential force)
the idea of the elements (earth, wind, water, fire) still needed the Quintessential (Fifth) ELEMENT (Essential force)
4 the idea that this unifying force/ Essential element was very old (ARKHE) started everything/was older than everything/holds everything together
5 they called this unifying initiating force LOGOS
John sets to writing this biography some time around 80 AD just ten years before he would write “the revelation of Jesus” and with one powerful phrase he takes this long debated Greek concept and fills it with Hebrew context. He takes a reference used in the culture to describe the highest principle of cosmic order and ties it back to “the beginning” and in doing he introduces the world to Jesus. He does not just introduce Jesus the historical figure he unveils Jesus the Son of God, the very God himself!
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
12 But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God,
23 For you have been born again, but not to a life that will quickly end. Your new life will last forever because it comes from the eternal, living word of God.
24 As the Scriptures say, “People are like grass; their beauty is like a flower in the field. The grass withers and the flower fades.
25 But the word of the Lord remains forever.” And that word is the Good News that was preached to you.
23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for
“All flesh is like grass
and all its glory like the flower of grass.
In ARKHE (the beginning)
The grass withers,
and the flower falls,
25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.”
is LOGOS (WORD)
And this word is the good news that was preached to you.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
The Greeks thought Logos / Logic was a FORCE
For you have been born again … through the living and abiding word [logos] of God. For, all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass. The grass withers, and the flowers fall off, but the word of the Lord abides forever. And this is the word [rhēma] which was preached to you (NASB).
The Christians believed Logos / Logic was a Person / The living expression / the Christ
Some scholars believe that the first 18 verses of John are the words of an ancient hymn or poem that was cherished by the first century church.
14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:
(note jw and mormons dont believe Jesus is the Logos)
Rhema
Rhema
In the pre-New Testament Greek world, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, rhema stands as a much less complex word than logos. In no way does this lack of complexity amount to a lack of potency. Particularly in the New Testament, rhema conveys a very precise, power-heavy concept. The ancient Greeks used rhema to signify the spoken word. In fact, the term “rhetor” used to mean an “orator” or “public speaker” sprang from rhema. In time, “rhetor” gave birth to the English term “rhetoric.” In his work on grammar, Aristotle notes that rhema serves as a verb and not a noun. This reveals an insistence regarding rhema being used for “actively speaking” words.
5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”
Luke 5
nevertheless at your RHEMA
These two words remain inseparable and work best together. Some people misunderstand and say that “A rhema word is a fresh word.” This statement is true. However, people sometimes use it to attribute a lack of freshness to logos. Freshness implies life while staleness signifies death. God’s logos will always remain “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” (). The fire of a true rhema word must burn on the fuel of a logos word. The speaking of a rhema word occurs first by the Holy Spirit. He takes the already spoken (and written down) logos and speaks it to the believer. This “event” provides a fresh revelation within the context of one’s current life situation.
So lets recap
LOGOS = Eternally unchanging, (immutability of God extended to scripture) set, stationary, written and spoken word of GOD for me, (potential promises for me)
RHEMA = Spoken word, Logos freshly applied, revelatory, specific word of God to me, (specific promises)
Have you ever had this happen?
45 And He opened their understanding, that they might comprehend the Scriptures.
Have you ever had this happen?
You are reading your bible and spending time with God and the passage you have read before just jumps off the page and you feel like you are seeing it for the first time? thats Rhema!
What is the function of a Rhema word?
What is the function of a Rhema word?
45 Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures,
Luke 24:
Establishes Identity
8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, declares the Lord.”
My life verse has not ceased to frame my identity in Christ and in Ministry
Jer
17 But you, dress yourself for work; arise, and say to them everything that I command you. Do not be dismayed by them, lest I dismay you before them.
17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.
18 For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land— Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
17 “Therefore prepare yourself and arise, And speak to them all that I command you. Do not be dismayed before their faces, Lest I dismay you before them.
18 For behold, I have made you this day A fortified city and an iron pillar, And bronze walls against the whole land— Against the kings of Judah, Against its princes, Against its priests, And against the people of the land.
19 They will fight against you, But they shall not prevail against you. For I am with you,” says the Lord, “to deliver you.”
who am I
how does Jesus see me?
2. Confirmes Trajectory
Story of Oasis City
10 Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations.
10 Go out through the gates! Prepare the highway for my people to return! Smooth out the road; pull out the boulders; raise a flag for all the nations to see.
who i am
direction
2. Confirmes Trajectory
instructions on how or when to proceed
14 So He said, “No, but as Commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” And Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped, and said to Him, “What does my Lord say to His servant?”
Joshua 5:
Say = Dabar =Word (what word do you have for me ) instructions /directions for the seige of Jehrico
3. Shows us the path to Victory
Identity
Jesus used a Rhema word about a Rhema word to battle the Devil.
4 But he answered, “It is written, “ ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ”
3. Shows us the Victory
Three times Satan tempts Jesus. In one instance even tries to get Jesus to use a scripture (general promise/potential promise) to get Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple. Jesus responds with a confident rhema (It is written)
Rhema gives us wisdom and
Eph 6
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
Sword of the spirit, which is the RHEMA of God.
4. Reminds us of our Destiny
2003 Oasis received a RHEMA promise about reaching the nations in the midst of an attack on the method and style of the ministry.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
consistently reading the peerless written Word (logos) provides fuel for the Spirit to ignite a burning word (rhema).
consistently reading the peerless written Word (logos) provides fuel for the Spirit to ignite a burning word (rhema).
13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is the Word of God.
15 Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.
17 and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God,
The very personification of logos has a sword coming out of his mouth (). His followers also, have a “sword of the Spirit, which is the Word (rhema) of God” ().
Start speaking rhema and begin seeing the fulfillment of his logos in your life!
Rick Warren: Perhaps you've had a quiet time—when you get alone with God and read the Bible—where a verse that you've read a hundred times suddenly jumps out at you, and you think, "I've never seen that before!" Or suddenly you see a new way to apply it, and at the end of the day, you find out it was exactly what you needed for that day. That's a rhema. God's Spirit took a general word to everybody and applied it to you in a personal and practical way.
Perhaps you've had a quiet time—when you get alone with God and read the Bible—where a verse that you've read a hundred times suddenly jumps out at you, and you think, "I've never seen that before!" Or suddenly you see a new way to apply it, and at the end of the day, you find out it was exactly what you needed for that day. That's a rhema. God's Spirit took a general word to everybody and applied it to you in a personal and practical way.
RT Kendall: "Chase after a rhema word and you'll probably never get it. Seek God in His Scripture, and He'll give you a rhema word when you need it.
"Chase after a rhema word and you'll probably never get it. Seek God in His Scripture, and He'll give you a rhema word when you need it.
Yonggi Cho : LOGOS is like Rice , Rhema is like cooked rice, we need the Holy Spirit to cook the Logos and give us rice to eat...