As Jesus taught His disciples, He often used parables or comparisons so that people could “get the picture.” Remember the saying, “a picture is worth a thousand words?”Well, last post we talked about Jesus comparing the Word of God to seed planted in the heart. Today, we want to present another picture. Throughout the Bible God’s Word is referred to as “water.”
When we get this picture, we will learn one of God’s most important concepts. There are lots of scriptures which we could use, but let’s focus on two. Isaiah 55: 10-11 speaks of God’s Word as rain and snow. It comes down from heaven causing the earth to bear and sprout. (Or causing your life to bear and sprout). But why does it say “rain and snow?” Why not just “rain?”
This part is important!
If we look at Psalm 147: 15-20, (NASB) we will get it.
He sends forth His command to the earth, His Word runs very swiftly He gives snow like wool, He scatters the frost like ashes. He sends forth His ice as fragments, Who can stand before His cold? He sends forth His Word and melts them. He causes the wind to blow and the waters to flow. He declares His Word to Jacob; His statutes and ordinances to Israel. He has not dealt thus with any nation, And as for His ordinances they have not known them.You might be thinking, What in the world are you talking about? But look very closely and you will see what God is saying.
First God sends His Word, but it is like snow or ice. In other words it is here, but it is frozen. In frozen form, God’s Word cannot water anything. it sits on top of the soil of your heart.
But then there is a second speaking and the winds blow and waters flow. The snow and ice melt and God’s secrets become unlocked – no longer frozen, but fluid, watering the earth.
When we look at the Greek words used in the Bible, there are two words for “Word.” The first is logos, and the second is rhema. Logos is like the snow or ice in the verses above. It is the Bible itself – sent to the earth by God. It’s is totally true, but sealed up so that many cannot understand it.
The second speaking is rhema. This is when God speaks it to your heart and reveals the Word to you personally. You may have read certain verses many times, but one day a light turns on and you “see” something which you never saw before. God is speaking to your heart. He is melting the ice and causing the water to flow.
Remember in an earlier blog we talked about faith coming from “hearing and hearing from the Word?”(Romans 10:17) Well the Greek word used there for hearing is rhema. Your faith comes from God speaking His Word to you personally. It’s no longer frozen and uneffective. It’s flowing with understanding and faith.
Effective prayer is based on rhema. Your sister may eat good healthy food, but what she eats won’t help you. She may share with you her good nutrition articles and recipes, but you will not benefit personally. Only when you eat the food will you benefit.
God’s Word works the same way. Your sister may have a powerful walk with the Lord based on His Word. She may share scriptures with you often. She even may try to make you see what she sees. But it doesn’t happen that way. Only the Word which you allow God to speak to you personally will bring the nourishment of faith and wisdom to you.
When Jesus walked the earth, His persecution came from the religious leaders of the day. The Pharisees and Saducees were students of the scripture and knew what it said. yet because of their hard hearts, they didn’t understand the Word. They didn’t even recognize the Messiah when he came. (Mark 4:12) Imagine that!
In my own life, I spent many years studying the bible without recognizing it as God’s Word. I had no revelation of the miracles which were available to me. But when I received Jesus and began my walk with Him, my eyes were opened. The Word began to speak to me and I began to believe it. No longer was I depressed and overwhelmed. I knew that my Lord was working on my behalf and on behalf of my children. Rhema came and so did faith!
As He taught, Jesus said, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear.” (Mark 4:8). Everyone standing there must have had ears. He was speaking of spiritual ears, or the ability to receive the rhema from God. That’s what we want. We want to have the ability not only to hear the Word with our natural ears, but with our spiritual ears as well. We want to hear God speak and His Word revealed.
Today, as you go about your day, pray that God will open your ears to spiritual things in his Word. Tell Him that you want to communicate with Him more clearly. You want to hear His voice speak to you through His Word. You want the rhema of God to come to you!
He will do it, if you ask.
Forever Upward!
