House of Hope Online

January 12, 2025

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Last week, we talked about the power of the word of God in our lives.  We said the word provides wisdom, spiritual growth, and a sword of the Spirit, which we should use along with the full armor of God, to stand firm against the schemes of the devil in 2025.  Psalms 1 teaches that the one who delights in the law of the Lord, and meditates on it, will be like a tree planted by streams of water, fruitful and drought-resistant, and therefore prosperous in whatever he or she does in this life.  Jesus said in Luke 8:15 that the one who holds fast to the word will bear fruit with perseverance.

Today I want to continue to meditate more on how the word of God has power in our lives and how that power is especially important to us as we enter 2025.

Logos vs Rhema

It is interesting to note that there are two Greek words used in the New Testament for “word of God.” One is “logos,” and the other is “rhema.”  Logos means the written word of God, as recorded in the Bible, and rhema is the spoken word of God, which could be a prophetic utterance, a word spoken onto our spirits, or it could be a spoken quotation of the written word of God. 

For example, last time we looked at Hebrews 4:12

Hebrews 4:

 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

The Greek word for “word of God” in verse 12 is “logos” and as such it refers to the written word of God.  Therefore, the writer of Hebrews is saying the Bible is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and it can pierce our soul and spirit, and judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

We said last time that the soul is comprised of our mind, will, and emotions, so the written word of God can pierce our mind, our will, and our emotions.  This means the Bible can change your mind about something and change your will.  It changes what we value in life.  The written or logos word of God can also change our emotions.  We may be angry about something, or depressed about something, and the written word of God can change our feelings.  The Bible is capable of ministering to our feelings when we are sad, hurt by others, or jealous of others.  This makes the logos word of God a tremendous weapon of warfare for us in today’s world.

Last time, we also looked at Ephesians 6 and the full armor of God.

Ephesians 6:

 13 Therefore, take up the full armor of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.

 14 Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS,

 15 and having shod YOUR FEET WITH THE PREPARATION OF THE GOSPEL OF PEACE;

 16 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil [one.]

17 And take THE HELMET OF SALVATION, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Interestingly, the Greek for “word of God” in verse 17 is “rhema” and so this passage means that the sword of the Spirit is the spoken word of God.  This makes sense because prophetic words and words of knowledge, which must be uttered, come from the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. 

We made the point last time that all the other pieces of the armor of God are defensive, or protective.  Only the rhema word of God, as the sword of the Spirit, is an offensive weapon.

In Matthew 4, Jesus, while being tempted by the devil in the wilderness, said this about the word of God:

Matthew 4:

 3 And the tempter came and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

 4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD.’”

The Greek word used by Jesus here is “rhema” so Jesus told the devil that the spoken word of God is what we should live by.  The spoken word proceeds out of the mouth of God through the utterance of the Holy Spirit.

The broader point that Jesus is making here is that living for bread, or living for finances to buy bread or clothes or whatever you need, should not direct your steps.  Instead, you should live by what God is speaking into your spirit, whether it be a prophetic word, a word of knowledge, or the preaching of the written word, all of which constitute the rhema word of God.

Early in my business career, I had to make that choice.  I had to decide between the path that would buy more bread, or the one that proceeded out of the mouth of God.  God spoke rhema words into my spirit and directed me to parts of His logos word to shine a lamp unto my feet and make a roadway in my wilderness.   More recently, I recounted in earlier podcasts how God spoke the rhema word “I’m not going back to Egypt” into my spirit as I dealt with the disappointment that I needed heart valve surgery despite praying for healing.

The point here is that we need both the logos and rhema word of God to direct our steps.  It would be nice if we could find a verse of the logos word that told us which job we should take, or exactly what direction we should take in the wilderness.  But the truth is, we need the rhema word as well to direct us.

Importance of Spiritual Gifts

The rhema word of God requires spiritual gifting unless one is simply quoting the logos word.  The Apostle Paul addresses the importance of spiritual gifts and the benefit to believers of moving in the gifts of the Holy Spirit.

1^st Corinthians 14:

 1 ¶ Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual [gifts,] but especially that you may prophesy.

 2 For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in [his] spirit he speaks mysteries.

 3 But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification and exhortation and consolation.

 4 One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself; but one who prophesies edifies the church.

 5 Now I wish that you all spoke in tongues, but [even] more that you would prophesy; and greater is one who prophesies than one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.

 6 ¶ But now, brethren, if I come to you speaking in tongues, what shall I profit you, unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?

Paul emphasizes the spiritual gifts of prophecy, speaking in tongues, and words of knowledge.  These comprise rhema words because they are spoken. 

One word of caution – any rhema word you get, whether spoken into your spirit, or spoken by a prophet or pastor, should line up and be consistent with the logos word from the Bible.  God would never contradict Himself.

In Thessalonians 5, Paul teaches us not to despise prophetic utterances, but to carefully examine them.

1^st Thessalonians 5:

 16 ¶ Rejoice always;

 17 pray without ceasing;

 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 19 Do not quench the Spirit;

 20 do not despise prophetic utterances.

 21 But examine everything [carefully]; hold fast to that which is good;

 22 abstain from every form of evil.

Verse 19 is significant.  Do not quench the Spirit, which means do not avoid, or prevent, the move of the Spirit which leads to prophecy and the other gifts.  But Paul does warn that we should examine everything and hold onto only that which is good.

So, what is good?  Only words that are consistent with the logos word of God should be accepted as good words. 

So, we need rhema but must exercise care to make sure what we are “hearing in the Spirit” is consistent with the Bible.  Is your favorite prophet speaking words that are consistent with Biblical prophecy?  Is the God your pastor or teacher is describing consistent with the loving Father in the logos word?

Relevance in 2025

As we move into 2025 and beyond, it is even more important that we be directed by both the logos and rhema word of God.  Jesus prophesied that deception would increase as we approach the tribulation.

Matthew 24:

 3 And as He was sitting on the Mount of Olives, the disciples came to Him privately, saying, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what [will be] the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?”

 4 ¶ And Jesus answered and said to them, “See to it that no one misleads you.

 5 “For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will mislead many.

Matthew 24:

 10 “And at that time many will fall away and will deliver up one another and hate one another.

 11 “And many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many.

 12 “And because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.

 13 “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved.

 14 “And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come.

Notice how often Jesus is saying that many will come to “mislead many.”  Many will come even in the name of Jesus, and many false prophets will arise to mislead many.  Therefore, the church is not immune to the increase in deception, so Paul warned us to be on the alert and examine everything as we move forward during these days.

And as Jesus said in Matthew 4:4, we shall live on every rhema word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.

Let us pray.

Father God, thank You for Your logos and rhema word, and for the armor of God, which includes the sword of the Spirit.  Help us to live, not on bread alone, but on every rhema word that proceeds out of Your mouth.  Let us desire earnestly the spiritual gifts, that we might hear Your rhema word and prophesy for the edification of others.  Help us to examine everything carefully and hold fast to that which is good.  And finally, protect us, Lord, from the many who will mislead many in the coming days.  Grant us Your wisdom and knowledge and understanding to know Your will in 2025 and beyond.  In Jesus’ name we pray.  Amen.