Is It Necessary To Receive A "Rhema" Word?

[PastorJoey]

Rhema Word?



Hello everyone,
Pastor J here.

First of all I want you to know that I am full fledged Word of Faith. I cut my teeth on Hagin, Copeland & Capps. Mabye its just the Pastor/Teacher in me but I feel its is necessary to address the excesses that have been taught in the body of Christ concerning the "Rhema word".

I believe in receiving a "Rhema" word. I think its great when the words seem to "leap off the pages" of the bible when I read them, or the Spirit "quickens" a verse to my heart, when it is "made alive" to me, etc...

However the excess teaching about the rhema word is that it is mandatory for the word to be rhema to you in order for faith to come or to receive its promise.

Example: With the Rhema word teaching, it would be taught that until tithing becomes "rhema" to me (or becomes revelation), the windows of heaven wont be opened to me, neither would "with His stripes you are healed" bring healing to me unless it was "rhema" to me.

To believesomething, is a decision we make, not a feeling we experience.

If I just begin to say what God says about my body, finances, etc... I am choosing to "lean not to my own understanding" but acknowledge Him... Proverbs 3:5

This verse alone shows we dont have to have a "Rhema word". With a Rhema word we would understand.

Thank God we can understand somethings, but we dont have to wait to understand to receive of them. Obedience to the Word is the key.

I believe that God rewards us according to our obedience to His word with or without a Rhema. I dont have to understand Gods word to obey it & receive its promise. The Rhema can come afterwards when the promises are received.

Ex. Luke 6:38- "Give and it shall be given..." doesnt have to "leap off the pages" to me in order for me to obey and receive its promise. All I need to do is obey & give & God will do His part "cause men to give to my bosom".

Although it is important for the word to be quickened to us, it is not necessary for faith to come.

In my own experience many things in Gods word didnt become Rhema to me until after I obeyed & received the promise.

As I was discussing this with a friend of mine, I believe that it was the Lord which spoke to me and said, "If its true what they say about the "Rhema" word, then when a murderer stands before me at judgement, they could just claim that "thou shalt not kill" had not yet become rhema to them". Or, a thief could claim, "thou shalt not steal" was not 'rhema to them' etc..."

Then I realized that If it were true that I must receive a "Rhema word" to receive the promises of the Word, it would also be true that I would need a "Rhema word" to receive its commands.
I would like your imput on this.
Thanks,
Pastor J

 

[KleinerApfel]

Sounds sensible to me Pastor J.

This reminded me of a comment on another thread lately:

"Choose to believe until faith comes."

As we walk in the light we have, more will be continually revealed.

Blessings, love Sue

 

[victoryword]

Good stuff PastorJ

 

[PastorMike]

Your line of reasoning sounds very good and I wouldn't argue with it but

If its true what they say about the "Rhema" word, then when a murderer stands before me at judgement, they could just claim that "thou shalt not kill" had not yet become rhema to them". Or, a thief could claim, "thou shalt not steal" was not 'rhema to them'

Firstly they don't or can't receive a rhema word they just need to get saved...the issue here being not did you receive a rhema word but did you receive Jesus...

Example: With the Rhema word teaching, it would be taught that until tithing becomes "rhema" to me (or becomes revelation), the windows of heaven wont be opened to me, neither would "with His stripes you are healed" bring healing to me unless it was "rhema" to me.

Tithing is not one of those things we need a rhema word for...it is a command from God and it is conditional..."you do your part and I will do mine"

Healing then I believe needs a rhema word form God...I used to be presbyterian...one day as I sat reading my bible in Matt 8:16-17

Matt 8:16-17 When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with his word, and healed all that were sick:That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.
(KJV)

The word became rhema to me...for the first time in my life I believed healing is for me... Anytime symptoms have attacked me since that day (12 years ago) I just quote the word God gave me...I don't need 253 healing scriptures I just need the one that God gave me (the one that became rhema to me)... So I would say that we need a rhema...

 

[PastorJoey]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for your response to my post (and the constructive criticism). You make a valid point. I agree a person who is a murderer could not have been a christian. To believe that they could be saved would make me ask the question, "What then were they saved from? High fructose corn syrup? White bread? Mabye, but they werent saved from their sins."

What about Rom. 12:1,2 where Paul beseeches believers to present their bodies as a living sacrifice?
You might respond that it is a command and doesnt need a "Rhema" to obey it. However it takes as much or more faith to obey a command as it would to receive a promise.

Again, I agree that one can receive "Rhema" words. It is Rhema to me that I will never beg bread. It is Rhema to me that I will not die of sickness, and it is Rhema to me that I will spend eternity with Jesus. But I've received healing before it became Rhema to me & I have had my needs miraculously supplied even while I was still in the "prove me now" stages of my christanity.
I dont doubt that you received a Rhema word concerning your healing, but there is more than one way to receive the promises of God.
"I believe that God is wanting to take us from believing and standing on scripture verses, to believing & standing on the truth that those scriptures convey." Shata-lama-sondo!
I realize that quote may be misunderstood. I just say it as it comes to me, which sometimes isnt the best.
I pray that it would be received in the spirit it was given.

As Bro. Hagin always said, "With everything it is always best to stay in the middle of the road. It is best not to get into the ditch on either side."
Pastor J

 

[PastorMike]

I agree Pastor J that above all we need to just stand on the word...there were times when I just had to grit my teeth and not back off the word...but I believe personally that the reason we need to stand on the word is to allow the rhema to come...and that is just my opinion and yours is equally valid...God bless...Mike.

 

[PastorJoey]

Mike I agree. The Word should become rhema to us. Meditation on any subject long enough will definitely bring the word to life to us, especially those subjects we are particularily graced to teach.
Good to hear from you again,
Pastor J

 

[godson777]

Something that I have struggled with is believing with my heart (and not just my head) that healing is mine. Yesterday I received "Healing Scriptures" by Kenneth Hagin and began to read them out-loud and preach them and meditate on the healing scriptures. I found that as I was doing that faith began to rise inside me. As I continue to do that tonight and consistently in the future it is going to enter into my spirit more and more and I will walk in divine healing. I have more confidence today than ever before that truly, truly, truly, healing and health belongs to ME!

 

[SavedByGrace3]

I am not WoF so I cannot debate....
But I have issues, not to be addressed here for the above reason.
Here is something else to consider.
Is it possible that when we were born again that all truth was imparted to us within that anointing? It exists there, howbeit in some seed or infant form... awaiting to be activated and energized by various and sundry means (such as "faith that works (is energized) by love).
These verses take on new meaning:

1Jo 2:20-21 KJVA
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jo 2:27 KJVA
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

 

[KleinerApfel]

Is it possible that when we were born again that all truth was imparted to us within that anointing? It exists there, howbeit in some seed or infant form... awaiting to be activated and energized by various and sundry means (such as "faith that works (is energized) by love).

Oh yes! Hadn't thought of that, but since "we have the mind of Christ" that would make sense!
It's all there, just awaiting activation, germination, growth!

Blessings, love Sue

 

[godson777]

I am not WoF so I cannot debate....
But I have issues, not to be addressed here for the above reason.
Here is something else to consider.
Is it possible that when we were born again that all truth was imparted to us within that anointing? It exists there, howbeit in some seed or infant form... awaiting to be activated and energized by various and sundry means (such as "faith that works (is energized) by love).
These verses take on new meaning:

1Jo 2:20-21 KJVA
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jo 2:27 KJVA
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

If we already believe everything in our spirit, why is it that often Christians don't receive healing or finances, or whatever they are praying for? It's not because God has changed, it must be related to faith somehow. If we already believe things, then why don't they always come?

 

[victoryword]

I am not WoF so I cannot debate....
But I have issues, not to be addressed here for the above reason.
Here is something else to consider.
Is it possible that when we were born again that all truth was imparted to us within that anointing? It exists there, howbeit in some seed or infant form... awaiting to be activated and energized by various and sundry means (such as "faith that works (is energized) by love).
These verses take on new meaning:

1Jo 2:20-21 KJVA
20 But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things.
21 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.

1Jo 2:27 KJVA
27 But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.

Here we go again Didi

You want to close one thread up but then you bring a similar debate over here.

Perhaps you are simply asking a question. I will start by answering your question with a question to you. Are we to now take 1 John 2:27 and say that every born again Christian has the whole Bible in their spirit? Should we now imply that there is no need to study or meditate on the Word of God? No need to renew the mind? There are no longer any need for the ministry gifts (after all, I have heard some people take 1 John 2:27 and tell me that they no longer have a need for a pastor or to go to church because the Holy Spirit is there to teach them)?

If all of this is true and all of the knowledge is in them then why did John have to write this epistle to inform them of this? Shouldn't they have already known that this truth was in them?

One of John's reasons for writing this was due to the gnostics (or anti-christs) running around deceiving God's people. John wanted them to know that the Holy Spirit in them was well able to over come the antichrists and their deceptions:

Little children, it is the last time: and as ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now are there many antichrists; whereby we know that it is the last time. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would no doubt have continued with us: but they went out, that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. But ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye know all things. (1 John 2:18-20)
​

The Holy Spirit is with us to protect us from DECEIVERS. The Holy Spirit Himself is the Spirit of Truth, and He is to GUIDE us into all truth:

Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. (John 16:13; see also 1 John 4:6; 5:6)
​

If we have to be GUIDED into all truth that means that we are not quite there yet and we have a continual reliance upon Him. Furthermore, He will only guide us into what He Himself hears, and only THAT will He speak to us (sounds like what we call a "Rhema word"). So unless the BIble contradicts itself (and I don't believe that it does) then 1 John cannot mean what your question might imply.

And remember, the Holy Spirit is not only the Spirit of Truth, but God's Word is also the Word of Truth (John 17:17; Eph. 1:13; James 1:18).

 

[PastorMike]

I agree VictoryWord and also the "sword of the Spirit is the rhema of God"...Eph 6:17...God bless, Mike.

 

[victoryword]

I agree VictoryWord and also the "sword of the Spirit is the rhema of God"...Eph 6:17...God bless, Mike.

Excellent Scripture

 

[J4Jesus]

Let the Scriptures Determine Your Theology, Do Not Read Your Theology into Scripture.

I like that!
I say dont try to explain the Word of God by your experiences
but explain your experiences according to the Word of God !!

 

[victoryword]

I like that!
I say dont try to explain the Word of God by your experiences
but explain your experiences according to the Word of God !!

I like your motto too

 

[J4Jesus]

I like your motto too

victoryword

Thanks! Glad you like it. The reason I say that is when something negative happens people use their experiences as an excuse. They usually blame God but never themselves. They say God is "teaching them something" etc etc.
If they would just go by the Word and not feel they have to try to explain to everyone "why" it happened. We dont have all the answers. But it is clear Jesus said:

John 10:10
The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

 

[pneuma]

I do believe it is important for christrian to increase in faith they have to receive that Rhema word. When Jesus told peter upon this rock I will build my church... he was talking about the rhema word peter received. Churches are built on rhema words. However if u didnt get a rhema word then you still need faith to tithe or believe whatever the logos word is says. Paul said that anything not done in faith is sin. Whether its a rhema word or not faith is essential to please God. Even if you dont have full understanding your faith step will allow God grace to come into your life activating revealed word in your life.