Heard the Word

God Revealed

* Logos is used to refer to the constant, written word, which is recorded in the Bible. (John 1).

* Rhema is used to refer to the instant, personal speaking of God.

Acts 10:36-48 (ESV)

36) As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),

37) you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed:

38) how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

39) And we are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree,

40) but God raised him on the third day and made him to appear,

41) not to all the people but to us who had been chosen by God as witnesses, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead.

42) And he commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one appointed by God to be judge of the living and the dead.

43) To him all the prophets bear witness that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”The Holy Spirit Falls on the Gentiles

44) While Peter was still saying these things, the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word.

45) And the believers from among the circumcised who had come with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out even on the Gentiles.

46) For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and extolling God. Then Peter declared,

47) “Can anyone withhold water for baptizing these people, who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have?”

48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked him to remain for some days.

* What is the Word?

John 1:1–3 (ESV)

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

He was in the beginning with God.

All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.

The Word - the plan, statement, formulation, thought, concept, expression of God.

Jesus Christ is the word of God.

“The exact image of his person.”

Person - essence or substance.

The word is God expressing himself finitely in the existing world.

Jesus Christ is the invisible God expressed, disclosed in knowable form.

Colossians 1:15–16 ESV

He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation. For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

Hebrews 1:3 (ESV)

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high,

The phrase “radiance of the glory of God” can be expressed as the shining forth as the self of God, and the divine emanation. Which is the word made flesh, Jesus Christ.

Faith’s origin is in the word.

The Apostle Peter said “The world was framed by Christ.”

God created the world by his spoken word,

God said and it was...

Romans 10:17 (ESV)

17) So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

I like what how the NET translated it.

Romans 10:17 (NET)

17) Consequently faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the preached word of Christ.

- Hearing the gospel of Jesus Christ as the crucified and risen Savior.

At the day of pentecost the word was presented.

Acts 2:41 (ESV)

So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.

We are saved by the word!

Acts 4:4 (ESV)

But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

You gotta hear it!!!

You need to respond!

Acts 4:31–32 (ESV)

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

Now the full number of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one said that any of the things that belonged to him was his own, but they had everything in common.

We can’t be ashamed to preach the gospel.

We have to preach it with boldness!

We need to be full of the Holy Ghost.

We need to be full of the word!

Acts 13:48-49 (ESV)

48) And when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord, and as many as were appointed to eternal life believed.

49) And the word of the Lord was spreading throughout the whole region.

Talk about counterfeit Christians, anointings, gifting, callings and Christians.

Talk about the importance of having a divine calling.

A divine calling is something that you cannot achieve on your own.

Reference to Jeremiah, “It was like a burning fire shut up in my bones!”

Acts 16:25-34 (ESV)

25) About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,

26) and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.

27) When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped.

28) But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.”

29) And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas.

30) Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

31) And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.” / That’s (Acts 2!)

32) And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house.

33) And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family.

34) Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.

Some how we got away from Acts 2.

Somehow we got away from gospel centered preaching?!?!

The devil has been working overtime to take away preaching!

But we will continue to preach the word of the lord!

Reference Matthew 16:18 (ESV)

The gates of hell will not and cannot prevail!!!

Conclusion: The Word of the Lord will continue to increase and prevail.

Acts 19:20 (ESV)

20) So the word of the Lord continued to increase and prevail mightily.