The Difference Between Rhema vs Logos vs Graphe

[K2K]

More accurately "THE GREAT I WAS TO OTHERS" .

What did Jesus say or quote ? "Man does not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God" . It is not about what *was* spoken but what He *is* speaking now to the individual . It is not about writings of which we no longer have the originals to verify authenticity but about a personal message . And , how many people are living off bread made thousands of years ago ? In Hebrews , the author emphasizes "today , if you hear his voice ..." - not "today , if you read what was spoken to others a long time ago in a language not your own ..." . You can go up to the mountaintop or have someone go up for you and *wish* they are giving you a clear interpretation of it .

Tradition and Law or personal relationship .

Yes - it is so wonderful to hear His voice everyday!! (Today)

The cross made a way through the vale of sin that separated us from Him. So we can all hear what He has to say to us!!

So who says to 'meditate' as if hearing was somehow a thing obsorbed not listened to?

If meditate means remembering all those wonderful things He has said, like a remembering a wonderful meal eatten n the past, that's great. That will cause you to turn and eat of Him (listen to Him) again. He ( the Word of God) is the manna from heaven, but the manna did not last more than a day or two at most. A day if He tells you, but perhaps two if He talks to someone else and they give it to you - like the preacher at your church is supposed to be doing.

The Scriptures are not the manna from heaven. They were written thousands of years ago. The Lord who talks to you, and sometimes about the Scriptures, is the manna from heaven. He talks to you today.

 

[dkbwarrior]

The Lord has no interest in bring the Book to life, He does however have and interest in bring you to life!! So ask Him to quicken you

I pray nearly every day, sometimes many times in a day, for God to quicken me my friend. And He does, through giving me revelation from the scriptures. Verses that I may have read hundreds of times before, suddenly become clear to me, in a moment, and I wonder why I never saw that before.

You say that we can't carry a bible around with us all day long, but you are wrong. If you memorize the scriptures, you can meditate on them all day and all night. If you spend enough time in them, you will dream them at night. That is why the LORD instructed Joshua:

8This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.
-Joshua 1:8

And why David said:

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
2But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
-Psalm 1:1-3

God also speaks to me occasionally apart from the scriptures. This is a prophetic word, is rare, and when it happens, it is never contrary to the scriptures. This is how I live; however, you seem to be implying that those of us who live this way are not in a true relationship with God. Is that what you are saying?

Peace...

 

[dkbwarrior]

I would add, that many poeple listened to Jesus, (the Word made flesh) and weren't quickened. They received nothing. Is that because Jesus wasn't the Word? Why, of course not! But even if Jesus is standing in front of you speaking to you, you will not hear unless it is given to you to hear by the Holy Spirit. The Words that Jesus spoke in the flesh, as well as the Word that God spoke to the prophets, are just as powerful today as they were then, if they are quickened by the Holy Spirit.

And, as I said before, Jesus called the writings of Moses the Word of God when He said this:

9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
-Mark 7:9-13

I will listen to my Lord long before I will listen to you.

Peace...

 

[K2K]

I would add, that many poeple listened to Jesus, (the Word made flesh) and weren't quickened. They received nothing. Is that because Jesus wasn't the Word? Why, of course not! But even if Jesus is standing in front of you speaking to you, you will not hear unless it is given to you to hear by the Holy Spirit. The Words that Jesus spoke in the flesh, as well as the Word that God spoke to the prophets, are just as powerful today as they were then, if they are quickened by the Holy Spirit.

And, as I said before, Jesus called the writings of Moses the Word of God when He said this:

9And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.
10For Moses said, Honour thy father and thy mother; and, Whoso curseth father or mother, let him die the death:
11But ye say, If a man shall say to his father or mother, It is Corban, that is to say, a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me; he shall be free.
12And ye suffer him no more to do ought for his father or his mother;
13Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.
-Mark 7:9-13

I will listen to my Lord long before I will listen to you.

Peace...

Jesus is called the Word of God because He is the One that comes in the name of the God and speaks to us. David knew Him as Lord when he wrote: The Lord said to my Lord. And yes, we pick all that up via the Spirit of God. The Spirit speaks only what He is told, and we can hear that with our spiritual ears.

Reading the Scriptures is not hearing with your spiritual ears. The Spirit can talk to you while reading the Scriptures, but will you listen?

As far as "I will listen to my Lord long before I will listen to you." - that is exactly what I want you to do. But don't say I will listen and not do it.

If you have been listening to the Lord, then you must know that the Lord is a person with personality. The Scriptures can explain the He is a Wonderful Counselor, Might God, the Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace, but do you know Him as those things if you think He is the Scriptures?

He is the Word of God that speaks to you via the Spirit of God. But He does not speak to you through the Scriptures but throught the Spirit of God. He may show you something about the Scriptures, but that does not mean the Scriptures are alive.

You may call Him "teaching you" something about the Scriptures "quickening you" about the Scriptures, that is simply a case of terminology. But thinking the Scriptures are alive so as they can be quickened is wrong thinking.

You can call the Scriptures the Word of God, because they are words that He inspired others to write, but it is not those words written down that have power but rather God that has power. If someone say uses a Scriptural principle to case out a demon or heal the sick, it still wasn't the principle that had the power, but God provides the power because He said He would.

And the is this problem of living by scriptural principles and not by knowing the Lord. When He said many would heal the sick, cast out deamons and prophecy in His name but He would tell them He never knew them, they certainly knew the Scriptures and were aware of the principles God layed out in the Scriptures, but we get to know somebody by having conversations with them.

So there are people that know the Scritpures and called the Scriptures as the Word of God, but they don't know the Lord as the Word of God.

Did you not understand that is what I am pointing out.

So yes please, "listen to my Lord long before" listening to me. But if you had, how is it you did not understand that is all have have been trying to get across?

 

[dkbwarrior]

Jesus is called the Word of God because He is the One that comes in the name of the God and speaks to us.

No, Jesus is called the Messiah, because "...He is the One that comes in the name of the God and speaks to us."

He is called The Word because His presence in the flesh was the vehicle that revealed information, data, about the Father to us. That is what a word is-a vehicle that carries data. Jesus was called The Word because He was the image of the Father, wrapped in flesh. Everything He did, and everything He said, represented the Father. And the Spirit is sent to bring this information to our remembrance:

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
-John 14:26

The Holy Spirits primary job is to witness to Jesus, the Word of God, by quickening, or making alive The Word to us through remembrance of what Jesus has said, (past tense). He did not come to speak in his own voice, He came to reveal the voice of the Word of God contained in the scriptures, through remembrance of what God has said.

13Howbeit 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

Peace...

 

[Alive_Again]

So who says to 'meditate' as if hearing was somehow a thing obsorbed not listened to?

Sometimes it is absorbed. Our revelation sometimes comes in different ways in varying intensity and absorbed is sometimes a perfect analogy. If you're listening, you'll hear from the Lord all day.

To say that you heard maybe 10 times a day, you are only acknowledging part of that. The Lord is imparting revelation all of the time. We know in part and understanding is often formed. He can drop in a lot all at once or He can give you a little. Whatever pleases Him. Most of the time it is not in "words" that your mind can recognize.

Reading the Scriptures is not hearing with your spiritual ears. The Spirit can talk to you while reading the Scriptures, but will you listen?

You obviously don't believe that most charismatic Christians are not hard core followers of the Lord. If I spend hours daily in the written Word, worshiping the Lord, praying in the Spirit, praying with my understanding, listening to teaching, calling out for the plan of God in my life, asking for His very heart -- Do you think He's going to ignore me? Do you think that I'm not listening closely enough in all of this? Is their one more thing I need to repent of before I'm granted these righteous requests?

When I read the (written) Word, is their some reason the Lord is going to depart in this process? Am I a worker of iniquity for wanting revelation while I read the Word of God?

... but do you know Him as those things if you think He is the Scriptures?

I haven't met ANYONE yet who thinks God or Jesus is a book! We might call the Bible the Word of God just like we call our car "transportation". It's really a car and it's made out of metal and is supposed to run on gas. You can refer to it as your "transportation" because that is what it does for you. That is what it is to you. Not to mention, He's called it "My Word" countless times.

The Bible or the scriptures are given to us as truths to guide our understanding in the things that please or displease God. With Spirit-given understanding, they help align us and help provide a means of renewal for our minds. They "the verses" don't do this by themselves. The Holy Spirit is on the scene. (My car has gas in it. I can crank it up and "get there".)

We can have the expectation of sitting down in the written Word of God and meeting God their as He imparts truth to us as we read it. This could be thought of as a form of "hearing". Faith comes while I"m doing this and we know this comes from hearing the Word of God. (Hearing must really be happening!) There wasn't necessarily a single voice "heard".

He is the Word of God that speaks to you via the Spirit of God. But He does not speak to you through the Scriptures but throught the Spirit of God.

He does "fill" those containers". Why wouldn't He? He went to the trouble to assemble them over thousands of years and they typically read as He would have them read. When He wants to speak to you through the scripture, it's no trouble to make alive what's relevant for you in this hour.

There is no reason whatsoever to put us in the camp of the searching Jews who had no life because they didn't have Jesus. As they say, "We're the choir" and I'm a card carrying member of the Kingdom of God. Not only is He speaking in the reading of the scripture, but I'm finding Him as I'm searching the scripture.

It's important to point out that if I'm reading what He wants me to read, I'll be more blessed than if I'm just perusing.

He may show you something about the Scriptures, but that does not mean the Scriptures are alive.

The natural and the spiritual meet. The pages and our brains, and our spirit and the Holy Spirit. The key is in walking in what you have, and then you get some more.

But thinking the Scriptures are alive so as they can be quickened is wrong thinking.

The scriptures can and are quickened. They are thought to be "alive" because when you read them, that is often the case. Obviously, it is a spiritual book only discerned spiritually with the help of the Holy Spirit (That should end that line of thought convincingly...Right?).

...but it is not those words written down that have power but rather God that has power. ...God provides the power because He said He would.

This is exactly what we are saying. It's not a book of incantations either. It's the seeker who seeks God's will and plan coupled with faith and the Spirit of God to confirm that same Word with signs following. The power is in agreement.

And the is this problem of living by scriptural principles and not by knowing the Lord.

We can know the Lord (in part) and still have scriptural principles. We pray for understanding and walk by faith (making some mistakes). Peter did the exact same thing. No one has it "right" yet. We all know in part and are pressing in for a greater understanding. The Spirit bears witness to the truth and we walk by faith.

but we get to know somebody by having conversations with them.

We do. It's our job to pray and incline ourselves to hear. It's His job to provide the revelation in whatever measure or form He chooses. There's no point in banging your head against the wall because we don't hear voices all of the time. It is EVERYTHING to acknowledge that He does what His Word says He will do and NOT get into strife.

So there are people that know the Scritpures and called the Scriptures as the Word of God, but they don't know the Lord as the Word of God.

Did you not understand that is what I am pointing out.

I've gone to great lengths to help you understand that hearing is much more than a prophetic voice. Furthermore, the ear cannot say to the eye, "You're not listening to God like I do!"

 

[K2K]

No, Jesus is called the Messiah, because "...He is the One that comes in the name of the God and speaks to us."

He is called The Word because His presence in the flesh was the vehicle that revealed information, data, about the Father to us. That is what a word is-a vehicle that carries data. Jesus was called The Word because He was the image of the Father, wrapped in flesh. Everything He did, and everything He said, represented the Father. And the Spirit is sent to bring this information to our remembrance:

26But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
-John 14:26

The Holy Spirits primary job is to witness to Jesus, the Word of God, by quickening, or making alive The Word to us through remembrance of what Jesus has said, (past tense). He did not come to speak in his own voice, He came to reveal the voice of the Word of God contained in the scriptures, through remembrance of what God has said.

13Howbeit 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

Peace...

Acts 21:7-9 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me, And I said, 'What shall I so, Lord? And the the Lord said to me...

Had not Jesus already descended into heaven to sit at the right hand of God at that point?

When David wrote about the Christ 'The Lord said to my Lord', had the messiah already taken on flesh at that point?

When the Prophets wrote, 'the word of the Lord came to me saying...' [Ezek 25:1 or Jer 16:1 & more] who were they talking about?

Rev 19:13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.

Because we have trouble understanding how God is One, we have trouble understanding that Jesus Christ is our Lord that was been given the words of God. The Father, by giving out Lord His words, and the Spirit by passing them on to us both Glorify the Son.

When you talk on the phone you don't say the phone talked to me do you? But the phone picked up what was said on one end and passed them on to you on the other end. So was it the phone talking to you or the person on the other end talking to you. Is it the Spirit talking to you or the One who is called the Word of God speaking through the Spirit that you are talking to?

So it is that we tell people that they need a personal relationship with Jesus the Nazarene, and the He is our Lord.

To be sure, there are some that see the light but they don't "understand the voice of the One who was speaking" to me.

Paul preach Jesus Christ, and that is who I am preaching. He is the One who I call Lord, like David. Like the prophets of old, He comes to me saying. This happens through the Spirit of God, and God is One, but the name of my Lord is called, "The Word of God" He is the One who is clothed in a robe dipped in blood.

So do you see things like David, like Jeremiah & Ezekiel, like Paul, and like John who explained that He is called "The Word of God". Are you glorifying the Son like the Father and the Spirit?

Is your message the same as the Fathers who said, "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

That is my message. Yes I understand that I hear my Lord via the Spirit of God which is a person. And Yes, I have heard via the Spirit the Father talking to the Son like David did. The Lord does say to My Lord, and I sometimes pick that up with my spiritual ears, thanks to the Spirit of God. Still I peach Jesus Christ and it is He who is called "The Word of God". And blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord.

'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene,

I thought all Christian understood that we preach Jesus Christ, and that He went to the cross. He is clothed in a robe dripped in blood and His name is called, "The Word of God", and He explain the some would not see Him again until they said blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Paul saw Him, and if you read you will see that the Spirit of Christ appeared to Paul later and gave him other instructions. David knew Him as Lord, the prophets including Abraham knew Him as the word of the Lord (Gen 15:1,4) And it was through Him all things came into being.

So the Father glorifies the Son by giving Him the Word of God, and we are to come into agreement with that. The Son then gives the words of God that are for us (our daily bread) and gives them to us via the Spirit of God. The Spirit of God though a being becomes like the phone in a conversation or perhaps a ambassador from a King, and gives those words to us. The Spirit for all purposes is invisable, and the King Jesus Christ is the Word of God we are communicating with.

Still the Spirit of God is not the only spirit, so test the spirits. The Spirit of God always glorifies the Son not Himself!!

1 Jn 4: 1-3 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God; and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

There are New Age groups and others that love to tell people about the Spirit of God but are not glorifying Jesus Christ. The spirit they are listening to is glorifying itself, and that is not what the Spirit of God does!!

 

[K2K]

Sometimes it is absorbed. Our revelation sometimes comes in different ways in varying intensity and absorbed is sometimes a perfect analogy. If you're listening, you'll hear from the Lord all day.

To say that you heard maybe 10 times a day, you are only acknowledging part of that. The Lord is imparting revelation all of the time. We know in part and understanding is often formed. He can drop in a lot all at once or He can give you a little. Whatever pleases Him. Most of the time it is not in "words" that your mind can recognize.

Frist - True- 'Our revelation sometimes comes in different ways' but we preach the the word of God (hearing words from God) because it is by conversations (commnication) back and forth that we get to know Him. Reading a book doesn' mean you know the author. Nor does seeing a movie mean you know the director. So we tell people that they have to get to know Him, which means having conversions with Him.

So you can have a conversation all day with the Lord, and Jesus explained that He said only what the Father told Him, so He must have been hearing all day long, but face it, we don't.

Second - God does not give us revelation all the time! There is something written about keeping Him close, also about turning back to Him, and Him going after His sheep. We can have that 'revelation' (and I think the word revelation might be a bit much in this case) all the time if we did listen all the time. That is we can get instructions and teaching from Him all the time if we listen or we can wonder off, maybe turning back or not. He we find us if we do, but saying God gives us revelation all the time means that we never wonder off, turn away, etc.

Also I confess - my hearing from Him a dozen or so times a day is poor. Yet, might thinking about Him (meditating) is not the same thing as hearing (getting instructions and teachings) from Him. I think about Him much more that I listen to Him. I have found that I can be thinking about Him and still wonder away from Him.

And third- in response to your comment "You obviously don't believe that most charismatic Christians are not hard core followers of the Lord." The opposite is true. I like charismatic Christain churches because that is where I tend to find people walking and talking with the Lord. Just because someone is charismatic it doesn't mean they know the Lord though. Many will tell Him that the healed the sick, cast out demons, and prophesied in His name, but He will tell them "I never knew you". Also being charismatic does mean that a person will not get blown around in the wind. John the Baptist was the greatest of men born by woman and was blown around in the wind like a reed.

I have seen charismatic preacher tell wonderful testimonies of how then heard from the Lord and how what they heard Him speak to them changed their life, then lift a Bible up over their heads and say, "You have to read the Word", though it is recorded in the Bible that Jesus said truly only one thing was necessary, and that was listen to Him like Mary did. And it is also written that we are to life Him up over our heads. So they were obvously blowing in the wind!

Truly the one thing necessary is listening to Him. The first words He told me were, "Read Your Bible", so I'd be surprised to find out that He didn't tell all those capable of reading and having access to a Bible to read it. Still we are not preaching the Bible, we are preaching Him. So the Word of God we are preaching is Him, as in listen to Him.

As far as being charismatic, which gift of the spirit has He not given me? I asked for them all like is explained (1 Cor 14:1), and from what I can tell He gave them all to me. I have seen Him use me to cast out demons, heal the sick, and prophecy in His name, but that is not what's important. It's the relationship with Him, the walking and talking with Him, that is important. So, I don't preach the gifts but Him Jesus Christ who gave them to me. His name is called the Word of God, so listen to Him, like Mary did.

So think (meditate) about Him, operate in the gifts, read and study your Bible, but understand clearly that only one thing is truly needed and that is listening to Him like Mary was doing.

Note: you can do that while walking. Enoch walked with the Lord and was no more. There was no indication that Enoch spoke in tongues, healed the sick, read his Bible or just sat around meditating. Enoch walked with the Lord and was no more.

 

[Alive_Again]

Acts 21:7-9 and I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And I answered, 'Who are You, Lord?' And He said to me, 'I am Jesus the Nazarene, whom you are persecuting.' And those who were with me saw the light, to be sure, but did not understand the voice of the One who was speaking to me, And I said, 'What shall I so, Lord? And the the Lord said to me...

This is Acts 21:7-9

And when we had finished our course from Tyre, we came to Ptolemais, and saluted the brethren, and abode with them one day. 8 And the next day we that were of Paul's company departed, and came unto Caesarea: and we entered into the house of Philip the evangelist, which was one of the seven; and abode with him. 9 And the same man had four daughters, virgins, which did prophesy.
Acts 21:7-9

And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? 5 And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.
Acts 9:4-5 (KJV)

Innocent mistake.

Where are you getting the "Nazarene"? I understand that He is, but that is not how the passage reads. Are you a Church of the Nazarene? Do they give scripture in this manner?

 

[Alive_Again]

And I fell unto the ground, and heard a voice saying unto me, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And I answered, Who art thou, Lord? And he said unto me, I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom thou persecutest. Acts 22:7-8 (KJV)

Ok, I found this!

 

[dkbwarrior]

I have seen charismatic preacher tell wonderful testimonies of how then heard from the Lord and how what they heard Him speak to them changed their life, then lift a Bible up over their heads and say, "You have to read the Word", though it is recorded in the Bible that Jesus said truly only one thing was necessary, and that was listen to Him like Mary did. And it is also written that we are to life Him up over our heads. So they were obvously blowing in the wind!

Truly the one thing necessary is listening to Him. The first words He told me were, "Read Your Bible"

I am confused, the charismatic preacher and his congregation were "blowing in the wind" because he told them to read their Bible, but when the Lord told you to read your Bible, you weren't "blowing in the wind"?

Your whole affect here in this thread has been one big confusion. The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus called it the Word of God, and Paul called it the Word of God when writing to Timothy.

Nobody in this thread believes that the ink and paper is the Word of God, rather, the knowledge that it contains, the information that the words convey, the data contained therein, is the Word of God. Gods Words don't die when they leave His lips. They are just as alive today as the day that He spoke them. That is why we can read them and receive revelation. Because they are alive. I like what Kenneth Hagin said, "Some poeple say that the scriptures have to be quickened; but I say, they are already alive."

I have a question for you, if the written Word of God is not alive, when did it die? How much time must elapse after God speaks before His Words die? Once someone writes them down? Is that when they die? And if they don't die, then how can you say that the scripture is not alive?

The scriptures and the person of Jesus are not the same thing, yet they are. Just as a seed is not a full grown tree, yet it contains all the information of the full grown tree. Both the seed and the tree have life. The life in the seed however is dormant until released; while the life in the tree is active. Jesus said the Word is a seed, and it is. The sower soweth the seed of the Word of God. That seed was planted in the womb of Mary and grew into the person that we call Jesus. The seed of the spoken Word/written Word became the person. Jesus grew in wisdom through revelation of the written Word of God by the Father, just as we are to do. He found Himself in the written Word of God, the scriptures.

The Bible, the scriptures, the written Word of God, are absolutely neccesary to Gods work on this planet, because that is how He chose to work. They are not just a nice addition if you happen to want to read them.

Peace...

 

[Alive_Again]

'Our revelation sometimes comes in different ways' but we preach the the word of God (hearing words from God) because it is by conversations (commnication) back and forth that we get to know Him.

We preach what He lays on our heart. A man of understanding draws out wisdom like deep waters. He places inspired preaching within us. They are susceptible to being inaccurate because of our understanding is incomplete. That's why He says to include the written Word of God in our preaching. That He agrees with completely. The power is in agreement. We know Him more than by conversations.

It may surprise you to realize that communicating by words actually limits God. Think about that!

Reading a book doesn' mean you know the author. Nor does seeing a movie mean you know the director. So we tell people that they have to get to know Him, which means having conversions with Him.

We all do. As far as charismatics go, it is the rare person who really doesn't because He draws us to Him. It's true that we don't always make time in the day as we ought, but most of us are acquainted intimately with Him (or else we'd be in gross darkness).

Second - God does not give us revelation all the time! There is something written about keeping Him close, also about turning back to Him, and Him going after His sheep.

I think that we can. Sure we slip into the natural and our thoughts are really only our thoughts. Without the vision, we perish. I make no boasts in my own life. I consider the vision "hearing" as well as it imparts faith.

I think about Him much more that I listen to Him. I have found that I can be thinking about Him and still wonder away from Him.

He's doing a work in us that is of Him, not our wills. I think that if our heart is inclined toward Him that He gives us what we need. It's the quiet waiting time most of the church probably lacks.

Just because someone is charismatic it doesn't mean they know the Lord though. Many will tell Him that the healed the sick, cast out demons, and prophesied in His name, but He will tell them "I never knew you".

It's up to us to keep the single eye on the Lord. People may have more nominal walks, but He knows them intimately.

You can prophesy and move in the anointing and be completely backslid. (I stumbled into this myself.)

Their are probably many believers who have unforgiveness in their heart and render evil judgments against people, etc. They go to church and stay in the world. Many of these will go to Hell if they do not repent.

So, I don't preach the gifts but Him Jesus Christ who gave them to me. His name is called the Word of God, so listen to Him, like Mary did.

Preach whatever He lays on your heart. If we're supposed to preach the gifts to as part of the whole counsel of God, then we do. That's why we have the written Word. It keeps us on track and provides sure footing for those with ears. (As I've said, by the Spirit.)

...but understand clearly that only one thing is truly needed and that is listening to Him like Mary was doing.

Part of that one thing included a charge to stay in the written Word day and night. Keep it going, listen to teachings, keep the worship going, keep it in front of you. Although He's reminded me of this a number of times, and I'm not the only one. We can honestly say that this is covered in your above request.

Note: you can do that while walking. Enoch walked with the Lord and was no more. There was no indication that Enoch spoke in tongues, healed the sick, read his Bible or just sat around meditating. Enoch walked with the Lord and was no more.

I'll enjoy talking to him. Even with that though, he was lessor than John the Baptist and we are greater than both of them. I like to think that in spite of being able to discern between good and evil many times, that we're all still very young children with a long way to go to being like Jesus.

Because of that Word that Jesus gave me regarding His written Word, I hold it in the highest regard. We don't worship the Bible, but His truths are as He is. The revelation received from meditation here never ceases. There's a place in Heaven called "Word University" and I hope to spend a LOT of time there.

 

[K2K]

I am confused, the charismatic preacher and his congregation were "blowing in the wind" because he told them to read their Bible, but when the Lord told you to read your Bible, you weren't "blowing in the wind"?

You are right by writing you are confused. It is confusing calling both the Lord and the Scriptures the Word of God. And that confusion causes misinterpretations and causes people to preach salvation through the Scriptures instead of salvation through Jesus Christ - and it also blinds them to the confusion.

We study and teach the Scriptures. We also use the Scriptures to preach Jesus Christ, but we don't preach the Scriptures. Teaching and preaching are not the same thing. Do you not know that what you lift up over your head (spiritually speaking) is your god?

Jesus Christ must be lifted up! We are trying to tell people; to get to know and have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Knowing Jesus Christ and knowing the Scriptures are not the same thing! Just like studying and knowing a book someone wrote, and knowing the author of that book is not the same thing.

Isaiah explained that an Ox knows its owner but His people did not know.

So we are not preaching 'know the Scriptures', but rather 'know the Lord' according to what is written in the Scriptures. We may tell someone to read and study the Scriptures but we preach 'know Jesus Christ.'

Preaching the Scriptures is telling people the Scriptures are god. People begin to think the Scriptures have attributes of god. I have seen people on this forum write: 'The Scriptures heal', The Scriptures save', ' The Scriptures are alive', T'he Scriptures are the objective', 'The Scriptures are quickened (made to move faster or enlightened)', and other attributes that only living beings or God have. The Scriptures are an 'it', the Graphe. The Lord is a who, a person.

A person that considers the Scriptures to be alive, to be able to heal, to save, etc, has made an idol out of them. Knowing the Scriptures is not our objective, knowing the Lord is our objective. Studying the Scriptures should help us understand this, but because we call both the Lord and the Scriptures "The Word", people become confused as to the object.

The preacher, even one that knows the Lord, who raises the Scriptures up over their head stating "I am going to preach the Word of God" meaning the Scriptures is confussed. He is being blown around (being disturbed) by spirits (demons) trying to distort the gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Scriptures are not another gospel, but preaching the Scriptures instead of using the Scriptures to preach Jesus Christ is preaching another gospel!!

This is the main reason the Paul wrote to the Galatians.

Gal 1:6,7 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

Jesus Christ is a 'who' and we preach 'Him', Who is on first base!

The Scriptures are not a who. We don't preach the Scriptures!! We use the Scriptures to preach the Lord!!

So we don't lift the Scriptures up over our heads proclaiming 'I am going to preach the Word', because the Scriptures are not the Word that we are preaching. The Word we are preaching is Jesus Christ!!

While there is nothing in the law that says that both the Scriptures and Jesus Christ can not be called The Word of God, calling them both the Word of God has cause alot of confusion.

It is that confusion that I have been trying to point out on this thread.

That is why I used Abbott and Costello's skit 'Who's on First'. That skit intentionally plays on the same type of confussiong that we Christian have been causing unintentionally. Abbott and Costello used the word "Who" to mean both a player and article to start a question. The key to understanding the confusion in their skit was understanding that 'Who' was the name of the first baseman.

In the same way, the key to understanding the confusion being caused in Christianity today is understanding the "The Word of God" is the name of Jesus Christ. That is why the Lord had John specifically write down "His name is called The Word of God. Since the Scriptures call Jesus Christ the Word of God, who are you to do different?

Try to remember that Jesus is the Word of God whenever you read the Scriptures and the verses will give you a greater understanding. When you read the Word is alive and active, you will understand that Jesus is alive!! And the Jesus is still active in our life today!!

Where it is written that the Word is near you, in your heart and in your mouth, you will understand that Jesus Christ is that word who is Lord. So you have to confess that He is Lord. And you will understand where Jesus Christ said "if anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him."

If you understand that "Word of God" is His name, then you'll understand that He is alive. The person that thinks the Scriptures are the Word of God might will think that the Scriptures alive and try to live by the Scriptures instead of by their relationship with Christ. And there are demons that will promote that idea in you. They want to distort the gospel of Christ.

The Scriptures are not another gospel, but preaching the Scriptures instead of preaching Jesus Christ is another gospel. Paul put it like this:

Did you receive the spirit by works of the Law or by hearing with faith?

So it is hearing what the Lord has to say to us that we are preaching, not trying to do works according to what is written in the Scriptures.

And just like Abbott and Costello went round and round in their confussing skit, so to do we go round and round in this confusion caused by calling both the Lord and the Scriptures "The Word of God"

It would be funny except that preaching another gospel is not funny.

Gal 1:8 But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed.

Have you ever seen a service when the praise was wonderful and the presence of the Lord could be felt strong, then the preacher got up front and lifts up the Scriptures (either actually or spiritually) and the Spirit leaves!! Then the rest of the service is a dry boring mess.

Sure you have, it happens all too often. Still I have seen services when it doesn't. Sometimes a preacher is intent on listening to the Lord while bringing their message and then Spirit just keeps working. That is when you see people healed, prophecy flow, and miracles of all types occur.

The Spirit won't leave just because you call the Scriptures 'The Word', that is just symantics, but the Spirit will leave if you lift them up instead of Jesus Christ. Again, preaching and teaching are different. Telling people to study the Scriptures are different than telling people to live by them! We live by every word that comes from His mouth, and He is with us so we live by listening to Him!

I have seen 'spirit filled' churches go dry because the lifted up the Scritpures instead of using the Scriptures to lift us Jesus Christ, and I have seen 'conservative' churches become spirit filled when they lifted up Jesus Christ instead of the Scriptures. If you want the Spirit of God to bless you instead of being cursed, preach hearing Him the Word of God by faith and not works according to what is written in the Scriptures.

STOP THE CONFUSION!!

Now I have explained this every which way; up, down, and side ways. If someone still doesn't understand that we live our life by listening to the words spoken to us by the One (Jesus Christ) whose name is called the Word of God, then I tried. If a person wrote "I will listen to my Lord", then that is what they must do! If their lord is telling them to lean on their own understanding of the Scriptures and do works accorinding to that, then that is what their lord is telling them. If they want Jesus Christ to be their Lord and thus listen to His instructions to them, then let them to that. He told me to read the Scriptures but I preach Him!!

 

[K2K]

We preach what He lays on our heart.

1 Cor 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified...

What is on your heart?

Gifts?

Meditation?

The Scriptures?

or the Lord Jesus Christ?

Rm 10: 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART" - that is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.

I preach Him, because He is on my heart!!

 

[Faulty]

STOP THE CONFUSION!!

Now I have explained this every which way; up, down, and side ways. If someone still doesn't understand that we live our life by listening to the words spoken to us by the One (Jesus Christ) whose name is called the Word of God, then I tried. If a person wrote "I will listen to my Lord", then that is what they must do! If their lord is telling them to lean on their own understanding of the Scriptures and do works accorinding to that, then that is what their lord is telling them. If they want Jesus Christ to be their Lord and thus listen to His instructions to them, then let them to that. He told me to read the Scriptures but I preach Him!!

You have an inherent problem. You expect people to believe that you follow what you say the Lord is speaking to you today, but you repeatedly despise what we know for sure the Lord already said, and when asked, you use the scriptures you denigrate to bolster your claims for following that voice.

There is no reason for anyone to believe that you respect a 'today' word, when you do not respect a word which is written. They don't go together. At best, one could say you appear to think the words of God have a shelf-life, that they tend to go stale over time, and "fresh" words are needed to sustain the believer, and if that's so, you can't rightly quote any scripture as authoritative with any credibility whatsoever.

 

[Alive_Again]

Man, I like some of what you say, but then you prove a unbalanced perspective by coming right behind it with an absolute pointing to some kind of idolatry. Very unseemly! The reason Spirit filled people love the written Word so much is that the Holy Spirit ministers through it. It's a favorite and a delight. His testimonies are for ALL generations. We like them more than our natural food, and we are warned by giving heed to them. We are supposed to teach our children these things, and we willingly embrace the intent of what they say and want to integrate them (actually graft or engraft) them into our very being.

It is confusing calling both the Lord and the Scriptures the Word of God.

The scriptures contain the written Word of God. They are His everlasting testimonies, examples, precepts, prophesies, owners manual for life itself, instructions for righteous living, etc. No one is picking up the Bible and calling it Jesus. After all, we have different versions and their is no "King James Version of Jesus".

They are a mirror for our true self (in Christ). When the promise of God is made real to you, it is for always no matter what we go through. When someone picks up the Bible and holds it above their head, they are acknowledging the higher truth of our creator (over our own thinking). There is nothing wrong or confusing. Don't be confused by termonilogy.

And that confusion causes misinterpretations and causes people to preach salvation through the Scriptures instead of salvation through Jesus Christ - and it also blinds them to the confusion.

The Holy Spirit confirms the preaching of the prophetic scriptures. After receiving the baptism of the Holy Spirit and walking in the light of that Spirit, we preach it more perfectly and accurately. If you do not have an absolute standard of truth, you are preaching opinion and everyone has a different one. If you preach the authority of the written Word of God in a believer's life, you can invite others to rely on it and as they embrace the precepts of them (in your walk with God), they will have success and their way will prosper. Sound confusing?

We study and teach the Scriptures. We also use the Scriptures to preach Jesus Christ, but we don't preach the Scriptures.

We proclaim them as absolute truth within the context they are given.

Someone preaching the authority of the scriptures...

Now if someone tells me that God does not reject those who come to Him, I know I have solid footing and the Holy Spirit confirms the Word on the inside as truth, bearing witness...I have something that my understanding can now lay hold of and approach God on that basis. It's all leading to God because the scriptures testify of Jesus and Jesus leads people to God.

Teaching and preaching are not the same thing. Do you not know that what you lift up over your head (spiritually speaking) is your god?

The attributes of our God and the testimony of God which we hold dear and embrace. A book is not our God. It is foolish to imply this.

So we are not preaching 'know the Scriptures', but rather 'know the Lord' according to what is written in the Scriptures. We may tell someone to read and study the Scriptures but we preach 'know Jesus Christ.'

If we proclaim "know the scriptures" or "study your Bible", then we are saying to lay hold on the truths in it and continue in them (by the Spirit) and let Jesus set you free. We are only acknowledging that what He says is worth banking your life on in a world of varying opinions. People preach different Jesus' (ask the Mormons or JWs). If you don't have the written Word of God to offer, then its your opinion against theirs. They use the scriptures, howbeit skillfully by the enemy to twist and deceive. We use them to preach others to receive Jesus, and the Spirit of truth and walk in freedom based on doing His sayings. Magnifying His sayings gives Him glory.

Preaching the Scriptures is telling people the Scriptures are god.

We've already covered this and that repeatedly. Preaching the scriptures, as a New Covenant, blood washed, Spirit led believer, is to magnify what God said and its relevance in your life. It also magnifies the importance of repentance and the penalties or rewards for doing so.

'The Scriptures are quickened (made to move faster or enlightened)', and other attributes that only living beings or God have.

God quickens His Word. The entrance of His Words brings light. It's a lamp to our feet. He doesn't often speak them to us as a "voice". He quickens them and breaths life into our spirits as His Spirit Words are life. He may recite them to you, but that is NOT the norm. It's not the norm for you either, wouldn't you agree?

When they minister faith to you, it is obvious the "voice" of the Spirit, Good Shepherd, etc. is ministering to you by the hearing of faith. Their is no disconnect for the seeker. If the fruit is faith, then their is hearing, right?

It is very possible to forget about Jesus like many do and judge others calling them "of the devil", etc. (God's own servants) and then start ranting the scriptures, of which they are of little benefit to them (although it might benefit the hearer, because God agrees with the preaching of the Word as it is written, within the context given.

There's an anointing on the truths of God and for the seeker, they are life. For the unrepentant, they can bring conviction, because the Holy Spirit convicts people of sin also.

Knowing the Scriptures is not our objective, knowing the Lord is our objective.

The scriptures are the written Word of God of which the Holy Spirit agrees with and so we want to know them. If by the scripture the man of God is thoroughly furnished as it says so we can do the works that please God in righteousness, then our objective in knowing the Lord is very well served by knowing the scriptures.

If the Lord says to study the scriptures, proclaim them, continue in them, meditate on them constantly, then we want to know them too. If we don't know the Lord, we wont truly know the scriptures because they are spiritually discerned.

It is possible to be able to recite ALL the Bible and still go to Hell. That's not what we're doing here and that is not what is generally preached.

The preacher, even one that knows the Lord, who raises the Scriptures up over their head stating "I am going to preach the Word of God" meaning the Scriptures is confussed. He is being blown around (being disturbed) by spirits (demons) trying to distort the gospel of Jesus Christ.

As a man of such hearing as you say, I am truly surprised your "vision" is such as it is. The preaching, assuming it is truly a preacher (assuming we're talking about a pulpit preacher), preaches with an anointing. There is no confusion in this, unless he mixes his opinion in it and it is wrong. The Holy Spirit confirms and blesses what He can work with (truth). He does not confirm error. If you stick with what the scripture says, and what God tells you (assuming it was truly God) and He leads you to share it, you cannot go wrong.

The Scriptures are not another gospel, but preaching the Scriptures instead of using the Scriptures to preach Jesus Christ is preaching another gospel!!

The next time you're all edified and the anointing is flowing, bind the devil and the spirit of confusion and ask the Lord for His perspective on preaching the scriptures. Take it right into the light. Ask Him the proper way to do this and if it is intrinsically wrong. Ask Him about others that are doing this very thing. Be willing to lay all knowledge on the altar and get His perspective.

It's one thing for the Lord to say, "Tell people to get to know Me!" and yet another to tack on the things you have been saying about people who preach the written Word (by the Spirit ...hello!).

Gal 1:6,7 I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ.

You're assuming a different gospel is being preached. We're preaching the death and resurrection of Jesus, His righteousness, the cross, the liberty of the Spirit, walking in love, honoring His Word, being sensitive to the leadings of the Spirit of God, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, the place of the written Word in the believer's life, what happens to people who reject the gospel, etc. If we're preaching truth under the anointing, then the fruits are people getting set free, walking closer to the Lord, rejecting works as a means to righteousness, knowing God, etc. Where's the harm in that brother? Judge it by the fruits.

Jesus Christ is a 'who' and we preach 'Him', Who is on first base!

I would really admonish you to drop that one. The Abbot and Costello thing was really only funny the first time (when they did it), and to impose a love for the written Word and the proclamation of that truth, is quite unseemly a comparison.

...calling them both the Word of God has cause alot of confusion.

I see that, but we're trying to work with you on this in a spirit of meekness. We're agreeing with the better part of what you're saying in seeking a relationship that is alive with God by hearkening to His voice. Beyond that is the confusion...

It is that confusion that I have been trying to point out on this thread.

I'm convinced. I'm really praying that you can see this as the Lord has literally cultivated this relationship with Him in His Word as a pure thing and not the bad thing you see it as.

Have you ever seen a service when the praise was wonderful and the presence of the Lord could be felt strong, then the preacher got up front and lifts up the Scriptures (either actually or spiritually) and the Spirit leaves!!

No, I really haven't. We exalt His truth. God doesn't have a problem with that. He knows our heart. If it did, we would have stopped long ago. It is He that puts the hunger for "the Word" in us. It is He that uses the term "My Word". It's a beautiful thing.

If you want the Spirit of God to bless you instead of being cursed, preach hearing Him the Word of God by faith...

I know this is not very spiritual, and I've truly suffered long, but the first thing that comes to mind is... Duh!

...and not works according to what is written in the Scriptures.

You assume they are dead works. That is why you hate them. Who told you they are dead works? That is the exception.

 

[K2K]

You have an inherent problem. You expect people to believe that you follow what you say the Lord is speaking to you today, but you repeatedly despise what we know for sure the Lord already said, and when asked, you use the scriptures you denigrate to bolster your claims for following that voice.

There is no reason for anyone to believe that you respect a 'today' word, when you do not respect a word which is written. They don't go together. At best, one could say you appear to think the words of God have a shelf-life, that they tend to go stale over time, and "fresh" words are needed to sustain the believer, and if that's so, you can't rightly quote any scripture as authoritative with any credibility whatsoever.

What He said is right. He said My sheep hear My voice. So ""fresh" words are needed to sustain the believer" according to the Scriptures. How is it you don't understand that?

Do you hear His voice as is written?

If not, there is good news. He also said that He stands at the door and knocks, and if anyone will hear His voice, He will come into them and eat with them and them with Him.

That is the good news!! You can hear from the Lord Jesus Christ and walk with Him, just as is explained in the Scriptures!!

 

[Faulty]

What He said is right. He said My sheep hear My voice. So ""fresh" words are needed to sustain the believer" according to the Scriptures. How is it you don't understand that?

I understand that God said long ago that the sacred writings, the scriptures, have all I will need...

"But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."
2 Tim 3:14-17
​

Do you hear His voice as is written?

Yes! Loud and clear, in fact. How is it you don't? Why are you deaf to it?

If not, there is good news. He also said that He stands at the door and knocks, and if anyone will hear His voice, He will come into them and eat with them and them with Him.

That is the good news!! You can hear from the Lord Jesus Christ and walk with Him, just as is explained in the Scriptures!!

Yes, He will indeed, and I know this because He tells us this through the written scriptures that this faith was delivered once for all delivered to the saints. There isn't any more necessary. We have what we need.

 

[dkbwarrior]

I am confused, the charismatic preacher and his congregation were "blowing in the wind" because he told them to read their Bible, but when the Lord told you to read your Bible, you weren't "blowing in the wind"?

Your whole affect here in this thread has been one big confusion. The Bible is the Word of God. Jesus called it the Word of God, and Paul called it the Word of God when writing to Timothy.

Nobody in this thread believes that the ink and paper is the Word of God, rather, the knowledge that it contains, the information that the words convey, the data contained therein, is the Word of God. Gods Words don't die when they leave His lips. They are just as alive today as the day that He spoke them. That is why we can read them and receive revelation. Because they are alive. I like what Kenneth Hagin said, "Some poeple say that the scriptures have to be quickened; but I say, they are already alive."

I have a question for you, if the written Word of God is not alive, when did it die? How much time must elapse after God speaks before His Words die? Once someone writes them down? Is that when they die? And if they don't die, then how can you say that the scripture is not alive?

The scriptures and the person of Jesus are not the same thing, yet they are. Just as a seed is not a full grown tree, yet it contains all the information of the full grown tree. Both the seed and the tree have life. The life in the seed however is dormant until released; while the life in the tree is active. Jesus said the Word is a seed, and it is. The sower soweth the seed of the Word of God. That seed was planted in the womb of Mary and grew into the person that we call Jesus. The seed of the spoken Word/written Word became the person. Jesus grew in wisdom through revelation of the written Word of God by the Father, just as we are to do. He found Himself in the written Word of God, the scriptures.

The Bible, the scriptures, the written Word of God, are absolutely neccesary to Gods work on this planet, because that is how He chose to work. They are not just a nice addition if you happen to want to read them.

Peace...

You are right by writing you are confused. It is confusing calling both the Lord and the Scriptures the Word of God. And that confusion causes misinterpretations and causes people to preach salvation through the Scriptures instead of salvation through Jesus Christ - and it also blinds them to the confusion.

STOP THE CONFUSION!!

This is a disengenous answer. I am not at all confused about what the Word of God is. I am confused by your accusing a preachers congregation of blowing in the wind because he told them to read their bibles, then turning around and saying that Jesus told you to read your bible. (I am assuming here that you feel it is only 'them' that are blowing in the wind, and that 'you' are not.) Without some more context, this comes across as arrogant, prideful, and nonsensical.

Secondly, as I have stated before, Jesus called the writings of Moses the Word of God, (a point you have yet to answer I might add), and Paul called the Old Testament scriptures the Word of God. You may need to talk to them about this confusion that you feel.

Peace...

 

[AudioArtist]

In the OP, K2K was actually saying something quite beautiful and something that will deepen a relationship with the Lord. It's a shame we leap to argue over points rather than try to receive the overall truth that is being said. We could explore avenues together rather than walk in constant suspicion. Nobody has said the Bible isn't inspired or said anything disparaging about it; but we're so brainwashed in the West by centuries of a strange emphasis being put on a certain approaches to the Bible and God that we don't even notice that that emphasis isn't advocated by the Bible itself! We jump to attack if we so much as sense that these traditions are being threatened. So off-track did our emphasis become that we thought 1 Corinthians 13:12 ["Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known"] was speaking of the Cannon of Scripture! Talk about doctrines of demons; the hope of glory, Jesus Christ Himself, the Rose of Sharon, is replaced with the book He inspired! And the ability to walk in the spirit of the pharisees is alive and well today, so beware. I have found myself acting like a pharisee and have had to repent in the recent past.

I think it would help to remind ourselves about what defines the New Covenant at its core:

Jeremiah 31:31-34
31 “The days are coming,” declares the LORD,
“when I will make a new covenant
with the people of Israel
and with the people of Judah.
32 It will not be like the covenant
I made with their ancestors
when I took them by the hand
to lead them out of Egypt,
because they broke my covenant,
though I was a husband to[a] them,”
declares the LORD.
33 “This is the covenant I will make with the people of Israel
after that time,” declares the LORD.
“I will put my law in their minds
and write it on their hearts.
I will be their God,
and they will be my people.
34 No longer will they teach their neighbor,
or say to one another, ‘Know the LORD,’
because they will all know me,
from the least of them to the greatest,”
declares the LORD.
“For I will forgive their wickedness
and will remember their sins no more.

How exciting!

What else will characterise our generation?

Joel 2:28-29
28 “And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
29 Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days.

It is worth re-reading Acts to see the Holy Spirit in action in the lives of New Covenant believers, too.

Then there is Ezekiel 11:19-20:

19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

Clearly, Scripture is "sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" - and I love it. It is powerful, and God speaks to us through it as the Spirit explains it to us (because the carnal mind can't understand it). And the ultimate reality we have been called into is to be a transformed being that is one with God, so close to Him in our transformation and our relationship with Him that we hear His voice and obey His commands at all times - whether reading Scripture or not. To see His visions, dream His dreams and to intimately know Him (as the Hebrew of "know me" in Jeremiah's prophecy suggests.) The end goal of the New Covenant is not Bible study, it is the forgiveness of sins, the Spirit being poured out on flesh, the availability of intimacy with God - from the greatest to the least - and access to an Eternity with Him.