"The Written Word: The logos (the Bible) is a main way God speaks today, but it is not the only way. The logos is God's general Word for everyone. God speaks to us when we read the Bible on nearly every issue that applies to modern living. Jesus, the Bread of Life, taught us to pray, "Give us this day our daily bread" (Matt. 6:11). God has fresh spiritual manna to share with us every day if we'll take the time to read His Word." -- Ben Godwin
Number six on the list. You have got to be kidding me. Nothing sums up the problems of the apathy towards biblical illiteracy than this. Godwin is just telling the truth beloved. If you asked Bill Johnson to name the top ways God speaks to us he would list the bible after dreams, visions, signs, wonders, audible encounters and possibly even coincidences! What do the first five have in common? They are all subjective in nature. You have to interpret dreams, visions and signs. You draw the line of coincidence. You convince yourself there is an audible voice and ascribe it to God. The word is completely objective. It was God breathed, which means God wrote it. It is infallible and inerrant. The bible assures us that our heart it desperately sick, wicked, and deceitful. It lies to us like it lied to Kim Walker Smith that day. The primary way God speaks to us is through His Word. The more we read it, the more we can expect to hear from God. Do not go chasing gooseflesh and carnal emotional experiences you can assign to God. They come from the depths of your deceitful heart.
"The Living Word: Jesus said, "The words [Greek: rhema ] that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life" (John 6:63). The rhema word is a specific message the Holy Spirit inspires to you personally. It's a specific word for a specific time and for a specific need. It occurs when the written or spoken word comes alive with special meaning in your situation." -- Ben Godwin
Godwin is a little vague here but a rhema word is an utterance from the Lord for that time. Have you ever been reading a bible story you have read a million times before and suddenly the Holy Spirit illuminates it for you in a different manner this time that applies directly to a situation you are presently facing? That is a rhema word.
