I have been meditating for quite some time on the verse in (Matthew 4:4 NIV) Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ ” I was thinking if we need to feed ourselves with every word of God in the Bible daily, that’s a lot of readings. But how many hours should I read each day? Then I was led by the Spirit to look at the Greek word meaning, it is “rhema” — the spoken word of God. Then my eye was able to see more truth from the scriptures I couldn’t understand before.
Daily Bread is Spiritual Manna
“Every word that comes from the mouth of God” that means the spoken word of God at the time of hearing, not thousands of words (logos) written in the Bible. Although it can be some verses from the scripture with instructions to go somewhere or do something. It is a detailed action plan for his people each day, everyone has his or her unique plan according to God’s will. This is the real spiritual food man’s life is depended on everyday. In this way, God’s will can be done on earth as it is in heaven. Some have been taking selected logos (written word) in the Bible at their own choice as if they were God’s will for today, and that often doesn’t work.
The scripture teach us what is rhema and how to receive it in (Acts 9:6 AFV) Then, trembling and astonished, he said, “Lord, what will You have me to do?” And the Lord said to him, “Get up and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do.” Paul got the rhema (spoken word) by asking “Lord, what will You have me to do?” Then he received instruction, “Get up and go into the city, and you shall be told what you must do.” This is the way how the true believer doing God’s will.
This plan (will) of God was completed by another disciple Ananias, he received his rhema by a vision in (Acts 9:11-12) And the Lord said to him, “Arise and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one named Saul from Tarsus; for behold, he is praying, And he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming and putting his hands on him, so that he may receive sight.” This passage demonstrated how to carry out the will of God through rhema as instruction by multiple people.
The second appearance of rhema of God in the Bible is in (Luke 3:2-3) In the time of the priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came unto John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness; And he went into all the country around the Jordan, proclaiming the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. We know John lived in the deserts, (Luke 1:80) And the child continued to grow and to become strong in spirit, and he lived in the deserts until the day of his public appearance to Israel. So this rhema word of God was telling him to leave the desert, go into all the country around the Jordan to preach. In this instance, rhema of God is the instruction of where to go and what to do, thus John can fulfill the will of God.
Rhema is also given as instruction of what to say, (Luke 3:10-11) The crowds kept asking him, “What, then, should we do?” He answered them, “The person who has two coats must share with the one who doesn’t have any, and the person who has food must do the same.” John heard this rhema either from an audible voice or by the heart, for he is a prophet. These words were received as rhema for John, but because they were written down, they became logos — written word of God.
This fundamental principle of sharing from God are not welcomed by many believers, earthly stuff easily become idle in the heart, and we need to remember to confess and repent. Lots of people do not agree with this word of God, that’s why man-modified false gospels are preached everywhere, and you can hardly find teachings about the fear of God, holiness and obedience to the will of God or imitation of Christ.
The third appearance is (John 8:47 NIV) Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God.” NKJV translated as “He who is of God hears God’s words“. Obviously “what God says” can be some of the written words that specifically stand out with power and conviction to the individual at that time. It can also include people prophesy according to what was received. Therefore, beyond a shadow of doubt that God’s people will hears God speaking. They will carry out God’s will by obeying the rhema word of God, which is their daily bread.
Today we can hear Jesus through the holy Spirit as He said, (John 16:13-14 NIV) But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you. Now I can see more clearly the daily bread is the daily spoken word of God by means of prayer. We seek Him for instruction on how to do His will each day, such as where to go and what to do or what to say, that is actually the spiritual manna for us.
More in number than the sand
The rhema word of God was also described in (Psalms 139:16-18 ASV) Thine eyes did see mine unformed substance; And in thy book they were all written, Even the days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: When I awake, I am still with thee.
As we can see already from the above examples, the rhema (spoken word) of God include vast amount of instructions of what to do or say everyday, all for the purpose of doing the will of God correctly. For example, our Savior heard and received huge amount of rhema through prayer when he walked on earth, he obeyed every one of them, thus he never goes beyond the will of the Father. For it is written, (John 21:24-25) This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them down. We know that his testimony is true. Of course, Jesus also did many other things, and I suppose that if every one of them were written down the world couldn’t contain the books that would be written.
Led by the Spirit
Now I finally understand what the scripture is saying, (Romans 8:12-14 ISV) Consequently, brothers, we have an obligation—but it is not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die, but if by the Spirit you continually put to death the activities of the body, you will live. For all who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s children. The difference can be easily seen from a person’s prayer request. The one live by the flesh will pray for what his flesh need, that will be finance, health and safety. The one led by the Spirit will pray for the spiritual need by following psalms 25:4 Show me Your ways, O LORD; teach me Your paths. So he can pray; “tell me what is your plane for me to do today, teach me how to do it and give me strength to overcome temptation.”
But the disobedient will not follow psalms 4:4 commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. They can’t see this way of commune with the heart can also commune with the Spirit. Those don’t hear the rhema of God may not be his children, they are the modern day pharisees as Jesus said in (John 5:37,39 NIV) And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, … You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me. There plenty of professing Christians who know the scripture, but can’t hear God’s voice.
Led by God’s Spirit is to listen to the rhema (spoken word) of God by seeking the Lord and live according to it. Jesus said, (John 10:27) My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me; To follow him means to imitate him. It is written, (1 John 2:6 NIV) Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did. This is the obligation we have, to imitate Christ doing our Father’s will. It is written, (1 Corinthians 4:16) Therefore, I am exhorting you to be imitators of me. And (1 Corinthians 11:1) Be imitators of me, exactly as I also am of Christ. And again, (Ephesians 5:1) Therefore, be imitators of God, as beloved children;
Be filled with the Spirit
Since John 16:14 told us, we can hear him through the holy Spirit, we need to be filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:17-19 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; The word of God is self-explained enough here, the will of God is to be filled with the Spirit, and the way to be filled with the Spirit is to speak to our self in psalms.
The keys to be filled
The first key is written in the first prayer lesson in the book of, (Psalms 1:1-2) Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law does he meditate day and night. Those who refuse to meditate day and night may not realize he is going to walk in the counsel of the wicked. He or she may not be able to be filled with the Spirit. Then he will have difficulty in hearing the Spirit clearly, without the daily bread he may face the danger of dying spiritually.
Way of the Cross
Since Jesus died for our sins, we have to obey the scripture (1 Peter 4:2 ) As a result, he does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. To hear the Spirit is difficult for those who do not obey Jesus’ command picking up the cross, denying the old self and being his disciple. In (John 14:15-17 NIV) Jesus Promises the Holy Spirit, “If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever — the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. The Spirit of truth is only promised to his disciples who take up their own cross everyday. When we obey his words and focus our time and energy on Him, then we may have the desire and motivation to meditate day and night.
The lukewarm may not have the Spirit, for Jesus said, (Revelation 3:17-19) Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked, I advise you to buy from Me gold refined by fire so that you may become rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself, and that the shame of your nakedness will not be revealed; and eye salve to anoint your eyes so that you may see. Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Now, let’s heed the warning and pray psalm 25, pay attention, only those who fear the Lord will be able to receive instruction by rhema. “He will instruct him in the way chosen for him” the chosen way refer to psalms 139:16 … And in Your book were all written The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was not one of them. God’s plan/will for each his child was written in the book before they were born. I ought to tremble at the thought of even ignoring His plan ordained for me.
To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul; in you I trust, O my God. Do not let me be put to shame, nor let my enemies triumph over me.
No one whose hope is in you will ever be put to shame, but they will be put to shame who are treacherous without excuse.
Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths;
guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.
Remember, O Lord, your great mercy and love, for they are from of old.
Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to your love remember me, for you are good, O Lord.
Good and upright is the Lord; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.
All the ways of the Lord are loving and faithful for those who keep the demands of his covenant.
For the sake of your name, O Lord, forgive my iniquity, though it is great.
Who, then, is the man that fears the Lord? He will instruct him in the way chosen for him.
He will spend his days in prosperity, and his descendants will inherit the land.
The Lord confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them.
My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.
Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted.
The troubles of my heart have multiplied; free me from my anguish.
Look upon my affliction and my distress and take away all my sins.
See how my enemies have increased and how fiercely they hate me!
Guard my life and rescue me; let me not be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
May integrity and uprightness protect me, because my hope is in you.
Redeem Israel, O God, from all their troubles!
Amen.