The Life of Faith (Pt. 11) - The Rhema Word and Faith
We started our message for this week with a reminder that Faith isn’t for chasing our desires—it only works within God’s will. Since faith comes from God, it must align with His plan.
True faith starts with trust and submission. We can’t pick and choose where to obey. Selective faith isn’t faith—it’s convenience. Hence, to walk in real faith, we must fully surrender, even when God’s will challenges our own.
Rhema and Logos
There are two key Greek words for “word” in the Bible: Logos and Rhema—both from God but serving different roles in our faith journey.
Logos is the total, written Word of God—the inspired Scriptures given to all of humanity. For example, in John 1:1, “the Word” refers to Jesus as the Logos, the full expression of God’s message.
Rhema is the spoken, living word—a specific utterance the Holy Spirit highlights and applies to a present situation or need. In Romans 10:17, where it says “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God,” the word used is Rhema, not Logos.
This distinction matters: faith comes when the Holy Spirit breathes life (Rhema) into the word (Logos), not just when we read or quote Scripture. Rhema is caught, not merely studied like Logos.
So if we’ve been declaring Scripture without seeing results, it may be because we’ve stopped at Logos—but faith is born when Logos becomes Rhema.
Examples
Acts 10:44
Peter preaches the Logos to Cornelius’ household, but Acts 10:44 says the Holy Spirit fell on all who heard the word—Rhema. The Spirit moved when the message (Logos) became personal (Rhema). No one laid hands—they simply believed. Rhema releases faith and power. Many hear, but only those who receive Rhema are transformed.
Luke 5:4
Jesus teaches the crowd from Peter’s boat—Logos. Then He gives Peter a specific instruction: “Let down your nets.” That was Rhema. Peter obeys, and the empty nets overflow. The miracle came not from effort, but from acting on Rhema. Many prayers are answered this way—not by signs, but by heeding a Spirit-given instruction. Faith acts on Rhema, and results follow.
Matthew 4:4
When Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (Rhema) from the mouth of God”, He was teaching that we don’t live by written text alone (Logos), but by Spirit-inspired revelation. In temptation, hunger, or need—Rhema is what sustains and empowers. It’s not about random verses or repeated confessions, but a word quickened by God.
Matthew 14:29
When Jesus told Peter, “Come!” it was a Rhema word—specific and personal to Peter. If another disciple tried to follow Peter without that word, they would’ve drowned. Supernatural outcomes only follow a received Rhema. Once given, everything needed to fulfill it is released.
John 6:63
Jesus said, “The words (Rhema) I speak to you are spirit and life.” Logos isn’t spirit and life—Rhema is. It’s the whispered, Spirit-given word you can carry into battle and return victorious. This is why Israel thrived by divine direction, not strategy. Even deep knowledge of Scripture can’t replace a personal word from God. Rhema produces results—Logos alone does not.
Luke 1:37
This says, “No Rhema from God shall be without power or impossible of fulfillment”. Just as the angel’s word to Mary was Rhema—God’s specific word carries the power to fulfill itself. When facing challenges, wait on God until you receive Rhema.
Ephesians 6:17
This calls the sword of the Spirit the Rhema of God, not Logos. Therefore in spiritual battle, Rhema is your real weapon. Quoting scriptures without Rhema is like swinging a stick—power comes when the Spirit quickens the word into your heart.
John 15:7
Jesus says, “If you abide in me and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done.” He’s not referring to memorized scripture (Logos), but to Spirit-breathed words (Rhema) alive in you. Answered prayer begins with Rhema. Jesus got results because He acted on what the Father had revealed. We often fail when we try to use Logos where only Rhema can produce results.
How to get Rhema
Honor Logos
You can’t receive Rhema without first storing up Logos. Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word (Logos) dwell in you richly.” The Holy Spirit draws from what’s already in you—Rhema is breathed from stored truth.
Think of Logos as raw rice—you can’t cook what you don’t have. Worship can’t replace Scripture, and Rhema can’t be forced. But when Logos is honored, Rhema will come—specific, timely, and powerful.
Meditate on Logos
Studying Scripture gives understanding, but it’s meditation that births Rhema. When God told Joshua to meditate day and night (Joshua 1:8), He was revealing the key to success.
Meditation pushes the seed of the Word (Logos) deep into the heart until it touches living water—the Holy Spirit. That’s when Rhema emerges, often suddenly and powerfully. It involves deep thinking, repetition, and imagination. It also protects your mind—a focused mind leaves no room for intrusive thoughts.
If you want Rhema, meditate on Logos until it comes alive.
Worship
Worship creates space for God to speak. In Acts 13:2 and 2 Kings 3:15–17, Rhema came during worship. It unlocks what’s hidden (Revelation 5), brings clarity, and positions us for divine instruction. When strategy fails, Rhema doesn’t. One word from God can change everything.
Pray in the Spirit
1 Corinthians 14:2 says that when we pray in the Spirit, we speak mysteries. These are divine truths our minds may not grasp, but our spirits do.
Praying in tongues aligns our hearts with God and clears spiritual clutter, making it easier to receive Rhema—a clear word from God for our situation. It's like tuning the frequency to hear Him more precisely.