Today’s message is a continuation of our last post entitled, “When God whispers in your ear.” The Holy Spirit of God can speak through the Logos Word found in the Bible and the Rhema Word when the Lord speaks to your mind when you need direction or facing a decision.
Rhema (utterance) vs Logos (written)
Remember Logos is objective. That means that the Bible applies to all Believers. You would think that the Bible would be difficult to misinterpret, although some do.
The best way to be sure you are correct in your interpretation of the scriptures is to look at the “preponderance of scripture”. In other words, looking at multiple scriptures that speak to the same truth.
Never base a doctrine or faith issue on one verse of scripture. “Line upon line, precept upon precept.” Isaiah 28:10 & 13
The three stages of learning:
- Knowledge- the accumulation of information, facts of data.
- Understanding- making connections that help all of the information makes spiritual sense.
- Wisdom- is when your understanding helps you apply what you have learned in practical ways to your life.
When the Holy Spirit speaks the Rhema word to you it is usually to build your character. That you would become more like Jesus.
To become more like Jesus, what does that mean?
- In Matthew 20:20 James and John’s mother asks Jesus to reserve seats of honor for her sons. Jesus rebukes their request and then makes clear why He came to earth. In verse 28 Jesus says, “I came to serve not to be served!”
The work of the Holy Spirit
Being transformed into the image of Jesus is a work of the Holy Spirit as He brings the words of the Bible to memory in important decisions about righteousness.
As Believers in Jesus Christ, we have His imputed righteousness. We did not earn it or deserve it. Our faith in Jesus has made us righteous in the eyes of God.
We are righteous in the realm of the spirit, as believers we are expected to walk in righteousness in our daily lives. That means we are to do what Jesus would
Romans 12:2, “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”
Your character is changed as you are led by the Holy Spirit, to be conformed to Jesus.
Romans 8:29, “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.”
Learn to recognize the voice of God’s Holy Spirit
The 3 voices you have to be able to identify- Self, Satan, and God.
- The voice of self-interest is the hardest voice to ignore…
- Never interpret Scripture on self-interest (What benefits you if it is at someone else’s expense. Remember James 4:3, “You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.”
The Word applied to your life is Rhema
Rhema is subjective and open to interpretation. Like visions and dreams, there are 3 stages…
- The revelation – is how God speaks to us. Dreams and visions are only valid when supported by the Bible. Other ways that God speaks- in our minds we see images or pictures, in our minds we hear the Lord speaking what we have learned from the Bible.
- The interpretation – always ask the question… is this about me?
- The application – is this something I want or is the Lord challenging me to change. Very often the Lord will ask you to do something you don’t want to do!
Personal examples (testimonies)
- Anger issues I dealt with. James 1:19, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
- Integrity in giving my word
- Integrity in being an honest worker for others
- Realizing that it is not about me, but it is all about Jesus and pleasing Him.
Seek first the Kingdom of the King! Not your own kingdom!
Practice makes perfect. Determine to be faithful in the little… Luke 19:11 The Parable of the coins.
Matthew 6:33, “But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.”