Thursday, September 3, 2015

The Word of God – Part 1 – Meanings


Michael teaches us this week that there are three Greek words used in the Bible for the word translated "word."  The first word "graphe" usually translated "scripture" is the literal ink and paper upon which the word of God is written. This is the word used in 2 Timothy 3:16:  “All Scripture (graphe) is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for correction which is instruction in righteousness.” This is the written Word of God which shall come to pass according to God's sovereign will. The scripture itself cannot save. Rather, the scripture leads to the Savior Jesus Christ, the Word of God made manifest in the flesh. Jesus Christ is the message and the meaning of the Word of God.



The second Greek word translated "word" is "Logos" which is the eternal and unchanging Word of Truth. The Logos is the Word of God, and Jesus Christ is the Word (or Logos) of God made manifest. The Word (Logos) became flesh and dwelt among us – John 1:14.  According to Hebrews 4:12, “For the word (Logos) of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

The third Greek word translated "word" is "rhema." This is the spoken word which activates the power of God upon the lips of a true Believer. The Word of God becomes active when God speaks His word in and through His Believer. In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said: "man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." According to Romans 10:17, "faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word (rhema) of God." There is power in the spoken word, so be careful what you say.  In Matthew 12:36, the warning is not to use the word (rhema) idly but to use it carefully and for God's purposes.

The effectiveness of the Word depends on the person speaking the "rhema."  In Genesis, Israel blessed his son Jacob instead of his first-born Esau. Part of the blessing to Jacob was "He will be established with new wine and with grain."  There is power in God's blessing, spoken according to the Word of God, by those to whom God has given authority to speak. Jacob's wife named her son "Son of my grief." However, the child's father, Jacob, had God's authority to name him "Benjamin" which means "the son of my right hand" or "the son of my hand of blessing." In Genesis 49:5, Simeon and Levi would be scattered throughout the land according to the words of their father. However, even though both tribes were  declared "scattered," the tribe of Levi was blessed by God because they stood against Israel when Israel bowed down to the golden calf in the wilderness.



There is power in the spoken word and they have an effect on others ...  even more so when they are the words of God’s Word. Ephesians 4:29 says "let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers."  Proverbs 12:14: “A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompense of a man's hands shall be rendered unto him.”  According to verse 18, The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing

We shall continue with tomorrow with Michael’s teaching on “The Word of God”.

In Christ, Brian

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