“Rhema” is a Greek word that describes Scripture. It is the secondary term that describes the scriptures the primary being “Logos”. The difference is that ‘Logos’ refers to The Scriptures in general whereas ‘Rhema’ refers to a word that is spoken. The Institute of Basic Life Principles refers to it as, “a verse or a portion of scripture that the Holy Spirit brings to our attention with application to a current situation or a need for direction.” We will get to this in detail someday. The excitement to introduce this as such was because of how specific the Lord can be over the situations in our lives.
We have been doing this devotion with a group of friends, “Read through the Bible in 6 months” from the Bible App and I am behind by 61 days at the time of writing this article. Super weird and crazy thinking about it. But here is something interesting; in my being behind (It is actually bad – bad because most of the members have already finished this plan) I realize that the Lord is speaking to me even at this particular level and stage in my devotion and season. Especially after bashing myself over the past few, since I feel like I have fallen behind so much and I cannot be redeemed. I am currently reading the Book of Jeremiah. It is a sad book to read because the Lord has tried everything and the chosen ones have decided to live life on their own terms and want nothing to do with obeying the Lord.
‘ “I did not send the prophets, yet they ran; I did not speak to them, yet they prophesied. But if they had stood in my council, then they would have proclaimed my words to my people, and they would have turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their deeds. ‘
Jeremiah 23:21-22 (ESV)
As I was praying, the Holy Spirit brought to my attention the verse above – several verses actually, that I took time to ponder over from Jeremiah Chapter 23. You know those times when the Lord has been so clear that it is even scary? That was me that morning. The context of this verse was the Lord telling Jeremiah what He would do with the lying Prophets. I started by asking myself “Had I gotten all this ministry thing wrong?” I learnt that I need to stand in the Lord’s counsel and under the Lord’s Counsel so that I may proclaim God’s word to His people. A reminder that the people He will send me to serve are not “My” people. To strive to always stay in His word so that I don’t say my own things but what the Lord wants to be said to His people. The Word that comes from the Lord has its main intention to ‘turn people away’ from their evil ways. Repentance is the key. If these (Jeremiah 23: Those at the time during the period right before the exile) were true prophets and sent prophets they would have called people to repent. That was my Rhema word. Specific to that day, to that season, and in line with my prayer item for that day. Isn’t the Lord Faithful!!!
This is my word. Align myself to God so that I can properly do His work – His Way. Honestly, it felt scary. I shudder to think what Jeremiah was going through, being the intermediary of such stern words and on the other hand people wanting to finish him for delivering the Lord’s message. May the Lord help us as we do His work.
Grace & Peace.