“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63, NKJV)
Have you ever, in your Bible reading, come to a verse that you had seen a hundred times before, and suddenly, it has brand new meaning for you? What is happening there?
That is the breath of God. The word “Spirit” in both Hebrew and Greek means wind, or breath. The Holy Spirit is breathing into your spirit the meaning of what you are reading in the Scriptures. He is taking the written Word and feeding it to you as truth transferred right from the heart of God to yours.
There are two words in the New Testament rendered as “word” in English translations. One is logos, which refers to the whole of God’s written word. The other is rhema, which means “utterance.” It is God’s personally spoken word to our hearts.
Ever look at a passage and scratch your head, at a loss as to what it might mean? We actually are completely unable to properly understand God’s written Word without the empowering of the Holy Spirit. “And we speak about these things, not with words taught us by human wisdom, but with those taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual things to spiritual people… they are spiritually discerned” (1 Cor. 2:13, 14b; NET).
I love asking Him to explain a particular verse to me, when the meaning is hidden. Without fail, whether it’s in that moment or soon afterwards, He responds to me. Those are some of the most exciting discovery moments in my adventures with Him.
I have learned that He is eager for these interactions with us. He is genuinely delighted when we inquire of Him. He has given His Spirit to us “without measure,” that we might go deeper and deeper into the revelation and understanding of His truth. This is what He had in mind when He said, “The words (rhema) that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”
Jesus has a personal, Spirit-breathed, life giving rhema word ready to deposit into your heart today. How transformational is His Spirit-to-spirit communication with us!
So open up the Logos, ready to linger and listen for His utterance as you read what He has written there, just for you. Pull out your trowel and your shovel and dig a little deeper for the nuances He has buried in His masterful writings. Ask Him questions. Explore with Him. Uncover mysteries. Engage with the clues that He allows you to encounter. Then show Him how much you treasure His words by writing down His rhema when it begins to stir inside of you!
What Bible verse has recently come alive for you in a new way?
Excellent advice Jennifer! We must take the word into our heart and mind before Holy Spirit will teach us its truth.
Recently Psalm 19:14 is a verse He is doing this with me: May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (NIV)
This teaches me that everything I say should be done with the intention of edifying the Lord (an important reminder to me as one who can often speak then think!)
What Holy Spirit has shown recently is this: thoough my words may be many, the meditation (singular) of my heart ought to be on only one thing: our Lord! This has blessed me and I hope who does all who read this.
Blessings,
Chuck
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That’s so cool! I love how the Holy Spirit repeatedly does this. Psalm 19 is one He has been emphasizing to me too, since the New Year began. I have notes about it in my journal! Thank you so much for sharing, Chuck, I am edified and blessed!
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Jennifer, thanks for sharing more from the Gospel of John. My morning time has taken me to a few places in the Bible, and Psalm 16 resonates with me.
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I cherish that Psalm! It’s been a real important one in my life. Thank you my brother!
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“But the anointing which ye have received of him abideth in you, and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it hath taught you, ye shall abide in him.”
1 John 2:27 KJV
Study Bibles are good. Concordances are useful, but He is all we need!
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That put a joyful smile on my face! Yes and amen!! He truly is!! Thank you 😊 😊
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Psalm 40:1 ” I waited patiently and expectantly for the Lord; and He inclined to me and heard my cry. ” This not only increases my faith but multiplies my Joy when He moves on my request. Amen Len W.
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Such a beautiful verse! AMEN!!
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The first verse that popped into my head was I Peter 4:11, which says in part: “Whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies.” It reinforced the truth that I will never face a ministry situation that I have to tackle on my own. Divine help is always at the ready! — Mike
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Holy Spirit has been using that same verse to speak to my heart too over the last several months! Thank you, Mike 😊
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Yes I have and then I ask God, “When did you sneak that verse in there?” The Bible is so powerful and ever present in what the Holy Spirit can use to teach us.
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Haha I love that! And I know you make Him smile so much!! 😊❤️
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You gave a Word that just touched my spiritual heart. The directness of our God thru the Holy Spirit is like every breath I take is His. Wow. Ty
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You are most welcome, Bonnie! Thank You Jesus!! ❤️🤗
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\o/:))
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Wish I got to my blog time earlier this week. Psalm 139, vv 7-12 has been jumping off the page at me all week.
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Roo, that is an incredibly precious passage of Scripture. Life changing. Thank you so much for sharing! ❤
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Can’t stop the praise if I wanted to. 💙
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