Guidance – How Do You Make Decisions? (part 2)

The Logos and the Rhema

9.15.2024

 

Introduction

One great desire that I have had since I’ve known Jesus is to know how to correctly hear the voice of God.

It is more important than ever today to know the voice of God.

There are challenges now and in our future that we have never navigated in this way. The world is changing.

God does not lead us from the outside. He leads us from within, first of all by the guidance of His Word, then by the Holy Spirit’s influence.

Or – by the Logos and the Rhema.

Romans 8:14-16 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

There are two ways we receive direction from God – General Guidance and Specific Guidance.

Or – by the Logos Word of God and the Rhema Word from the Holy Spirit.

Logos:

The sum total of all that God has said.

(Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds. – A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John’s purpose in John 1.

Rhema:

The Word of God spoken to the heart by the Holy Spirit.

Through the Logos and Rhema, God wants to direct your life!

If you will obey the word in daily life, the Logos, then when you need it, God will give you a specific word, a Rhema…

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (AMP)

And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].

The Word of God here is Logos – the sum total of all of the expressions of God.

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Let the word (logos) of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

James 1:22-25 – NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word (logos). You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (23) For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. (24) You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (25) But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

John 14:26 (NKJV)

But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.

John 16:13 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

2 Timothy 3:16 (NKJV)

All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,

Inspiration

theopneustos; divinely breathed in: — given by inspiration of God

2 Peter 1:20-21 (NKJV)

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation, 21 for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

General guidance with the Word (logos) would be:

Treating others the way you want to be treated. The golden rule.

Luke 6:31 (NKJV)

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Being kind to others:

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Forgiving:

Mark 11:25-26 (NKJV)

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Tithing, giving:

Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

So, if for instance, I know to tithe and give, but I don’t do it, and I run into a financial hard place, and then ask God to meet my needs, is He going to give me specific guidance? Not until I repent and obey the logos! You don’t have the Holy Spirit speak the Rhema specifically very much at all until you get committed!

Working hard:

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV)

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

If I choose to not apply myself in my work by being late or wasting my time, will God speak a specific thing if I am not giving my best efforts?

Being Unselfish:

Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Putting God first:

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

If you constantly neglect your relationship with the Lord by ignoring the Bible, by by reading and putting it into practice, and by praying, and also by attending and being involved in a local church – you will have trouble and may not hear what you need when challenges come your way.

Disciplining your children:

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Loving your spouse:

Ephesians 5:33 (NKJV)

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Seeking to live a sexually pure life:

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NKJV)

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Refusing to worry:

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Specific Guidance: Rhema

When the Holy Spirit quickens a thought to your spirit, and gives you specific direction about a situation or issue in life.

Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (Rhema) of God;

The sword of the Spirit or Word of God here in Ephesians 6:17 is Rhema – the Word of God quickened to you personally by the Holy Spirit. It is made real to your situation by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord, and He delights in his way.

 

Psalm 32:8 -9 (NKJV)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. (9) Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Proverbs 16:9 (Passion Translation)

Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (15) All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

1983 “jog.” Exercise regularly for the rest of your life…

I still obey this to this day – 41 years later!

1984 “what’s first in your life make first in Your day!”

I still obey this 40 years later!

1977 – I had been working on getting the word into my life for 5 months…

Example : My call to ministry. February 8, 1977. 2:00 pm

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, says the preacher!

I enrolled in Bible School…

When I was 21, I had been married 5 months – I heard deep within – go to Rhema…2nd Bible school

Associate pastor of a church I attended said I should stay there and be trained…

2. You cannot hear the voice of God if you neglect the Word of God!

If you’re not walking in the general guidance of the Word, in the areas that you KNOW about, then you’ll not be in position to receive more specific guidance from the Lord.

Proverbs 4: 20-22 – NLT

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. (21) Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, (22) for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.(23) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

James 1:22-25 – NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (23) For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. (24) You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (25) But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

E.W. Kenyon

Our attitude towards the Word determines the place that God holds in our daily life!

If I know that God tells me to love my enemy and I refuse to do it, then I am not walking in general guidance.

I know that I am not to gossip and I do it anyway, then I am not walking in general guidance.

If I choose to defy feelings and do something kind for a person who injures me, then I am walking in general guidance, the logos of God.

If I will walk in the Logos, the general guidance, God will give me specific guidance when I need it. He will give me a Rhema.

Example – 1983 – I was an associate pastor…and God allowed me to pastor the church for one year while the pastor went on a one year missions endeavor to start a church in Latvia.

In fact, before the pastor went, God began to give me specific guidance…I would see myself pastoring his church – I would see myself in his pulpit preaching.

Then, the pastor took me to lunch, and told me he was leaving…

During that time of beginning to pastor his church, God quickened this verse to me:

Luke 16:10-12 (NKJV)

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Since I obeyed that, then towards the close of that year, when the pastor was about to come back to his church, God gave me 3 words. They were for me a Rhema – the Word spoken to my heart – about my next assignment. The words were already existing church.

It took 11 months for those words to come to pass.

And, here I am, 30 years later.

You could never convince me that I was not in the will of God!

So, if you will obey the word in daily life, the Logos, then when you need it, God will give you a specific word, a Rhema…

Action Points:

1. Are you obeying the general Word of God as you go about your daily life?

2. By obeying the Word that you know, are you a candidate to receive the specific Rhema Word of God spoken by Him to you about your personal situation?

3. Are you willing to to begin today to allow the Logos, the general Word to be your guide?

Guidance – How Do You Make Decisions? (part 2)

The Logos and the Rhema

9.15.2024

 

Introduction

One great desire that I have had since I’ve known Jesus is to know how to correctly hear the voice of God.

It is more important than ever today to know the voice of God.

There are challenges now and in our future that we have never navigated in this way. The world is changing.

God does not lead us from the outside. He leads us from within, first of all by the guidance of His Word, then by the Holy Spirit’s influence.

Or – by the Logos and the Rhema.

Romans 8:14-16 (NKJV)

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. (15) For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” (16) The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

Proverbs 20:27 (NKJV)

The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.

There are two ways we receive direction from God – General Guidance and Specific Guidance.

Or – by the Logos Word of God and the Rhema Word from the Holy Spirit.

Logos:

The sum total of all that God has said.

(Olive Tree Enhanced Strong’s Dictionary) In John, denotes the essential Word of God, Jesus Christ, the personal wisdom and power in union with God, his minister in creation and government of the universe, the cause of all the world’s life both physical and ethical, which for the procurement of man’s salvation put on human nature in the person of Jesus the Messiah, the second person in the Godhead, and shone forth conspicuously from His words and deeds. – A Greek philosopher named Heraclitus first used the term Logos around 600 B.C. to designate the divine reason or plan which coordinates a changing universe. This word was well suited to John’s purpose in John 1.

Rhema:

The Word of God spoken to the heart by the Holy Spirit.

Through the Logos and Rhema, God wants to direct your life!

If you will obey the word in daily life, the Logos, then when you need it, God will give you a specific word, a Rhema…

Hebrews 4:12 (NKJV)

For the Word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (AMP)

And we also [especially] thank God continually for this, that when you received the message of God [which you heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to and trust in and rely on it].

The Word of God here is Logos – the sum total of all of the expressions of God.

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV)

Let the word (logos) of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. (17) And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

James 1:22-25 – NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word (logos). You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (23) For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. (24) You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (25) But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

General guidance with the Word (logos) would be:

Treating others the way you want to be treated. The golden rule.

Luke 6:31 (NKJV)

And just as you want men to do to you, you also do to them likewise.

Being kind to others:

Ephesians 4:32 (NKJV)

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Forgiving:

Mark 11:25-26 (NKJV)

And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

Tithing, giving:

Malachi 3:10 (NKJV)
Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,” says the LORD of hosts, “If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it.

Luke 6:38 (NLT)

Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.”

So, if for instance, I know to tithe and give, but I don’t do it, and I run into a financial hard place, and then ask God to meet my needs, is He going to give me specific guidance? Not until I repent and obey the logos! You don’t have the Holy Spirit speak the Rhema specifically very much at all until you get committed!

Working hard:

Ecclesiastes 9:10 (NKJV)

Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.

If I choose to not apply myself in my work by being late or wasting my time, will God speak a specific thing if I am not giving my best efforts?

Being Unselfish:

Philippians 2:3-4 (NLT)

Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. 4 Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

Putting God first:

Matthew 6:33 (NKJV)

But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

If you constantly neglect your relationship with the Lord by ignoring the Bible, by by reading and putting it into practice, and by praying, and also by attending and being involved in a local church – you will have trouble and may not hear what you need when challenges come your way.

Disciplining your children:

Proverbs 22:6 (NKJV)

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.

Loving your spouse:

Ephesians 5:33 (NKJV)

Nevertheless let each one of you in particular so love his own wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband.

Seeking to live a sexually pure life:

1 Corinthians 6:18-20 (NKJV)

Flee sexual immorality. Every sin that a man does is outside the body, but he who commits sexual immorality sins against his own body. 19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? 20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.

Refusing to worry:

Philippians 4:6 (NLT)

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done.

Specific Guidance: Rhema

When the Holy Spirit quickens a thought to your spirit, and gives you specific direction about a situation or issue in life.

Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV)

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word (Rhema) of God;

The sword of the Spirit or Word of God here in Ephesians 6:17 is Rhema – the Word of God quickened to you personally by the Holy Spirit. It is made real to your situation by the Holy Spirit.

Psalm 37:23 (NKJV)

The steps of a good man are ordered of the Lord, and He delights in his way.

 

Psalm 32:8 -9 (NKJV)

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with my eye. (9) Do not be like the horse or mule, which have no understanding, which must be harnessed with bit and bridle, else they will not come near you.

Proverbs 16:9 (Passion Translation)

Within your heart you can make plans for your future, but the Lord chooses the steps you take to get there.

John 16:13-15 (NKJV)

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. (14) He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. (15) All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

1983 “jog.” Exercise regularly for the rest of your life…

I still obey this to this day – 41 years later!

1984 “what’s first in your life make first in Your day!”

I still obey this 40 years later!

1977 – I had been working on getting the word into my life for 5 months…

Example : My call to ministry. February 8, 1977. 2:00 pm

Vanity of vanities, all is vanity, says the preacher!

I enrolled in Bible School…

When I was 21, I had been married 5 months – I heard deep within – go to Rhema…2nd Bible school

Associate pastor of a church I attended said I should stay there and be trained…

2. You cannot hear the voice of God if you neglect the Word of God!

If you’re not walking in the general guidance of the Word, in the areas that you KNOW about, then you’ll not be in position to receive more specific guidance from the Lord.

Proverbs 4: 20-22 – NLT

My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words. (21) Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, (22) for they bring life to those who find them, and healing to their whole body.(23) Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.

James 1:22-25 – NLT

But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. (23) For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. (24) You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. (25) But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

E.W. Kenyon

Our attitude towards the Word determines the place that God holds in our daily life!

If I know that God tells me to love my enemy and I refuse to do it, then I am not walking in general guidance.

I know that I am not to gossip and I do it anyway, then I am not walking in general guidance.

If I choose to defy feelings and do something kind for a person who injures me, then I am walking in general guidance, the logos of God.

If I will walk in the Logos, the general guidance, God will give me specific guidance when I need it. He will give me a Rhema.

Example – 1983 – I was an associate pastor…and God allowed me to pastor the church for one year while the pastor went on a one year missions endeavor to start a church in Latvia.

In fact, before the pastor went, God began to give me specific guidance…I would see myself pastoring his church – I would see myself in his pulpit preaching.

Then, the pastor took me to lunch, and told me he was leaving…

During that time of beginning to pastor his church, God quickened this verse to me:

Luke 16:10-12 (NKJV)

He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? 12 And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

Since I obeyed that, then towards the close of that year, when the pastor was about to come back to his church, God gave me 3 words. They were for me a Rhema – the Word spoken to my heart – about my next assignment. The words were already existing church.

It took 11 months for those words to come to pass.

And, here I am, 30 years later.

You could never convince me that I was not in the will of God!

So, if you will obey the word in daily life, the Logos, then when you need it, God will give you a specific word, a Rhema…

Action Points:

1. Are you obeying the general Word of God as you go about your daily life?

2. By obeying the Word that you know, are you a candidate to receive the specific Rhema Word of God spoken by Him to you about your personal situation?

3. Are you willing to to begin today to allow the Logos, the general Word to be your guide?