There are two Greek words that are translated “WORD”: G4487 rhēma and G3056 logos.
This rhēma Word is the whole counsel of GOD, eternal, unchanged, complete. We cannot apprehend the whole counsel of GOD for we have finite minds. FATHER will speak a rhēma Word for us to receive personally and within our ability to comprehend HIS counsel specific to our lives.
Our faith increases as we hear and respond to the (rhēma) Word of Christ. The more we hear the (rhēma) Word, the stronger we become, and the greater our fruitfulness.
Paul wrote by The Holy Spirit in Romans chapter 10:
17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the (rhēma) Word of God.
Faith does not come by simply reading the Logos but it comes by hearing the (rhēma) Word of God. Jesus did not have the New Testament to refer to in His Ministry, neither did Stephen or Philip. They rely on the (rhēma) Word of God. Those who Jesus healed relied on the (rhēma) Word of God spoken to them by Jesus.
Sometimes, you can read your Bible and get nothing spiritually. Other times, The Holy Spirit will speak (rhēma) to you as you read a particular passage and it ministers to you. Words written on a page do not guarantee faith will grow. You must hear The Holy Spirit for faith to come. I don’t belittle reading The Word but don’t think reading without hearing is sufficient in increasing your faith.
I have known people who diligently read the Bible, yet they do not comprehend how I can hear (rhēma) FATHER instruct me to take action. Hearing in the Spiritual realm is difficult for me to explain or describe. Praying in The Holy Spirit decidedly helps me hear better since I spend time in THE SPIRIT realm.
None of the disciples had the benefit of a New Testament as they were led by The Holy Spirit to evangelize the world. They had to rely on hearing The Word (rhēma). Paul himself, stated that he prayed in Tongues more than you all! As he heard The Word (rhēma), he was empowered to write (the Logos) what he heard The Holy Spirit speak (rhēma). I do the same thing when I write these blogs to you. Moses recorded what he heard as he wrote the first five books of the Bible. As a matter of fact, the entire Bible comes from the (rhēma) Words given to each author (aka transcriber).
Walking in Holiness centers around hearing and obeying GOD’s Voice (rhēma).
There are three stages:
GOD speaks HIS (Rhēma) Word.
We hear HIS (Rhēma) Word.
Out of hearing, faith comes.
We must come into a certain frame of mind to receive HIS (Rhēma) Word. We must settle down to an inner stillness for our mind to come to rest. It is vital that we eliminate worldly distractions so that our mind will no longer be focused on the cares of the world.
Jesus pointed this out when He explained the Parable of the Sower in Mark chapter 4:
13 And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable? How then will you understand all the parables?
14 The Sower sows the Word (logos).
15 And these are the ones by the wayside where the Word is sown. When they hear, Satan comes immediately and takes away the Word that was sown in their hearts.
16 These likewise are the ones sown on stony ground who, when they hear the Word, immediately receive it with gladness;
17 and they have no root in themselves, and so endure only for a time. Afterward, when tribulation or persecution arises for the Word’s sake, immediately they stumble.
18 Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the Word,
19 and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the Word, and it becomes unfruitful.
20 But these are the ones sown on good ground, those who hear the Word, accept it, and bear fruit: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”
When you hear and accept The Word, you will bear fruit. You will not allow distractions, cares, deceits, lies, or selfish desires to impede your hearing. Each of us needs to cultivate the process of hearing the (rhēma) Word of God as this is vital to walking in great faith.
The (rhēma) Word of God will always align with the Logos Word. That is why we must read and study Scripture as a second witness to what we are hearing. The Logos and the (rhēma) Word of God are always in agreement.