Sermon Tone Analysis

Word of God Speak

WDTNTK- God speaks specific words to specific people for specific situations

WDTNTKI - Communion with God involves his voice speaking to us personally.

There are two terms in the Greek New Testament that are used for the term “word”: logos and rhēma.

The first term, logos, was used primarily to denote the “written word” or “total message”; the second term, rhēma, was used to denote the “spoken word.”

However, these distinctions are not always maintained throughout the entire New Testament.

We have a unique

Logos

1 pet 1:23-

500 years before Christ, greek philosophers and academics like Heraclitus, Plato and Aristotle used the word Logos to varying degrees.

Greek philosophers wrestled with some big ideas.

1 the idea of the universe ( UNITY in diversity) “look at everything we can see ....”

2 the idea of “the one and the many” and they thought that “the many” necessitates “the ONE”

2 the idea that “the many” necessitates “the ONE”

3 the idea that in all of the many moving parts that make up our universe something had to have moved first ( initiating force) ( anything that moved had to have a “MOVER”)(SOMETHING MOVED) and the idea of the elements (earth, wind, water, fire) still didn’t satisfy them.

They needed the Quintessential (Fifth) ELEMENT (Essential force)

the idea of the elements (earth, wind, water, fire) still needed the Quintessential (Fifth) ELEMENT (Essential force)

4 the idea that this unifying force/ Essential element was very old (ARKHE) started everything/was older than everything/holds everything together

5 they called this unifying initiating force LOGOS

John sets to writing this biography some time around 80 AD just ten years before he would write “the revelation of Jesus” and with one powerful phrase he takes this long debated Greek concept and fills it with Hebrew context.

He takes a reference used in the culture to describe the highest principle of cosmic order and ties it back to “the beginning” and in doing he introduces the world to Jesus.

He does not just introduce Jesus the historical figure he unveils Jesus the Son of God, the very God himself!

23 since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for

“All flesh is like grass

and all its glory like the flower of grass.

In ARKHE (the beginning)

The grass withers,

and the flower falls,

25  but the word of the Lord remains forever.”

is LOGOS (WORD)

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version.

(2016).

().

Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Greeks thought Logos / Logic was a FORCE

For you have been born again … through the living and abiding word [logos] of God.

For, all flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flower of the grass.

The grass withers, and the flowers fall off, but the word of the Lord abides forever.

And this is the word [rhēma] which was preached to you (NASB).

The Christians believed Logos / Logic was a Person / The living expression / the Christ

Some scholars believe that the first 18 verses of John are the words of an ancient hymn or poem that was cherished by the first century church.

John 1:

(note jw and mormons dont believe Jesus is the Logos)

Rhema

In the pre-New Testament Greek world, the Old Testament, and the New Testament, rhema stands as a much less complex word than logos.

In no way does this lack of complexity amount to a lack of potency.

Particularly in the New Testament, rhema conveys a very precise, power-heavy concept.

The ancient Greeks used rhema to signify the spoken word.

In fact, the term “rhetor” used to mean an “orator” or “public speaker” sprang from rhema.

In time, “rhetor” gave birth to the English term “rhetoric.”

In his work on grammar, Aristotle notes that rhema serves as a verb and not a noun.

This reveals an insistence regarding rhema being used for “actively speaking” words.

Luke 5

nevertheless at your RHEMA

These two words remain inseparable and work best together.

Some people misunderstand and say that “A rhema word is a fresh word.”

This statement is true.

However, people sometimes use it to attribute a lack of freshness to logos.

Freshness implies life while staleness signifies death.

God’s logos will always remain “living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword” ().

The fire of a true rhema word must burn on the fuel of a logos word.

The speaking of a rhema word occurs first by the Holy Spirit.

He takes the already spoken (and written down) logos and speaks it to the believer.

This “event” provides a fresh revelation within the context of one’s current life situation.

So lets recap

LOGOS = Eternally unchanging, (immutability of God extended to scripture) set, stationary, written and spoken word of GOD for me, (potential promises for me)

RHEMA = Spoken word, Logos freshly applied, revelatory, specific word of God to me, (specific promises)

Have you ever had this happen?

Have you ever had this happen?

You are reading your bible and spending time with God and the passage you have read before just jumps off the page and you feel like you are seeing it for the first time?

thats Rhema!

What is the function of a Rhema word?

Luke 24:

Establishes Identity

My life verse has not ceased to frame my identity in Christ and in Ministry

Jer

who am I

how does Jesus see me?

2. Confirmes Trajectory

Story of Oasis City

who i am

direction

2. Confirmes Trajectory

instructions on how or when to proceed

Joshua 5:

Say = Dabar =Word (what word do you have for me ) instructions /directions for the seige of Jehrico

3. Shows us the path to Victory

Identity

Jesus used a Rhema word about a Rhema word to battle the Devil.

3. Shows us the Victory

Three times Satan tempts Jesus.

In one instance even tries to get Jesus to use a scripture (general promise/potential promise) to get Jesus to jump off the pinnacle of the temple.

Jesus responds with a confident rhema (It is written)

Rhema gives us wisdom and

Eph 6

Sword of the spirit, which is the RHEMA of God.

4. Reminds us of our Destiny

2003 Oasis received a RHEMA promise about reaching the nations in the midst of an attack on the method and style of the ministry.

consistently reading the peerless written Word (logos) provides fuel for the Spirit to ignite a burning word (rhema).

consistently reading the peerless written Word (logos) provides fuel for the Spirit to ignite a burning word (rhema).

The very personification of logos has a sword coming out of his mouth ().