The Right Word At The Right Time- Part 1
But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God. Matthew 4:4 (KJV)
If we were to read this verse in its context, we would see that He is referring to Jesus. Jesus is the person speaking in this verse. In this verse, we see something unique: we see the Living Word speaking the Written Word. Let’s take a closer look.
First of all, let’s establish that Jesus is the Living Word, or logos in the Greek. John 1:1 tells us that Jesus was and is the Word made flesh. The Living Word, Jesus, is the personal Word of God, or God in the flesh. He reveals God and His will.
Next, we see the spoken Word, which is rhema in the Greek. It means an utternace or saying. It is God speaking His Word to us. In Ephesians 6:17, we see it refered to as the Sword of the Spirit. A rhema is a specific Scripture that God shows you and you speak it forth like a weapon. It is not the whole Bible, but a specific Word God gives you in time of need. We store Scripture in our spirits and minds, and Holy Spirit reminds us of it so we can speak it out as Rhema when it is needed.
Finally, we see the written Word, which is where Jesus originally got the words that He spoke. The written Word is graphe. “It is written” refers to the written Word of God- ink on paper. In the Greek the phrase is gegraptai, which can be translated it has been written and it still stands written. God’s written Word is true and never changes. You can rely on the written Word everytime and all the time.
As we spend time in God’s written Word, we see Jesus, the Living Word in it. Then, as we read and spend time with jesus in this way, God will speak His specific Word to us for us to fellowship with Him and become more Christlike. It enables us to live out God’s Word, giving flesh to the Word, and revealing Jesus to others.
Take time to be in the written Word, and you’ll know Jesus the Living Word. You’ll hear God’s voice speaking His rhema Word to your heart so you can be transformed more and more into His image.
