In Romans 10:17, it declares that faith comes by or comes through hearing and hearing by or through the word of God. It is interesting and significant that God uses two different Greek words to be translated “word” depending on the place it is used each time in the Bible. The best known Greek word is “logos”. The “Logos” is the spoken word of God put into writing, known as the Scriptures, spoken into existence over approximately 1,500 years (from around 1,400 BC through 90 AD). Jesus Christ is called the “eternal living logos” based on John 1:1 that says, “In the beginning was the Word (logos), and the Word (logos) was with God, and the Word (logos) was God”. This is a clear reference to the reality of the pre-incarnate Son of God. This just means Christ pre-existed as God along with the eternal Father and the eternal Holy Spirit. At the right time in history, Christ came down into this lost world through His virgin birth and then began living as a man (the God-Man or God Himself in the flesh). That is why John 1:14 says that the Word became flesh and lived among us.
Along with “logos” and we also see the Greek word “rhema” representing the Word of God. If “logos” is the written Word of God and the eternal life of Christ, then what is “rhema”? A “rhema” is when God personalizes His Word (logos) to you and/or applies His Word (logos) to you or a situation in your life. As this happens, you are experiencing God personally and intimately through His Word. This is why Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, that Man shall not live by bread (food) alone, but by every word (rhema) that comes from the mouth of God. Out of God’s mouth (from His heart and mind and logos) will come those very personal words (rhemas plural)…insights into His character and will, encouragement or inspiration or hope when you need it the most, strength and courage for a challenge, discernment for a decision, a deeper grasp of His holiness and majesty, and an eternal number of etc, etc, etc’s. The written Word will come alive in your mind and quicken your spirit – according to your need and according to your hunger and thirst for righteousness (that overwhelming desire to know and do His will right now).
One clear example of this is in Luke 5 where Jesus had gotten into Peter’s boat to speak to the crowds along the shore. After He finished speaking to the crowds, He told Peter to go out into deeper water and let down his nets for a catch, but Peter explained to Jesus how they had just finished fishing all night and caught nothing, but Peter also said to Jesus that he would do what Jesus told him to do. Here are Peter’s words to Jesus, “But at your word [rhema] I will let down the nets”. Notice this was a rhema from Jesus to Peter….a revelation to Peter of how he could catch a net full of fish that would meet his needs and the needs of his fellow fisherman and their families. This is so awesome! Maybe you are in this situation today and you have tried and tried and tried and come up short, but the Lord Jesus gives you a rhema (that special enlightenment and direction about what you can do and should do).
Another awesome example is when Peter promised Jesus he would never forsake Him before the crucifixion. But Jesus spoke a “rhema” (a personal word) to Peter and predicted ahead of time how Peter would disown Jesus 3 times before the rooster crowed twice the next morning (Mark 14:30). As that rooster crowed the second time that next morning, Peter then remembered that word (rhema) of Jesus to him and he went out and wept in guilt and shame. The actual wording of that text goes like this, “When Peter denied the Lord, he “remembered the saying [rhema] of Jesus.”
Luke 7:1 is also a striking example where it says, “Speaking of Jesus, it states: “After he had finished all His sayings [rhemata, the plural of rhema] in the hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum”. Rhemas can come to you as you read or think about Scripture, as you are watching or listening to a biblical message on TV or the radio, or when you are sitting in a teaching or preaching event and you are hearing the Word of God expounded correctly. This means it is so important to attend services where Scripture is proclaimed and explained in all of it’s fullness and richness, so that you experience John 8:32 as you are listening….“You shall know the truth and the truth will set you free” (free to receive those rhemas from the Holy Spirit to you).
Why is this important? It is of great necessity if you want to continue growing in your faith and in your experiential knowledge of God and His will for your life (2 Peter 3:18), as you continue your pilgrimage. On any given day, you are either growing in the Lord or you are stagnating. To continue growing in faith and Christ-likeness, we must be exposed to as much of the Word of God (the logos) as possible….reading it, memorizing it, thinking about it, quoting it or talking about it, hearing it audibly, and sharing it. The precious “logos” will convey to you those “rhemas” (those personal revelations) you desperately need to grow and prosper and thrive in your Christian life (fruitfulness).
Faith comes by or comes through hearing and hearing comes by or comes through the word of God (Romans 10:17). Do you want more faith? Then get more of the Word of God into you!
Yours in Christ,
Gene
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