The Words I Speak to You Are Spirit and Are Life (John 6:63)
The word Rhema comes from the ancient Greek word meaning living, breathing word.
It is distinguished from the written Word of God which is logos. The spoken Word of God is considered Rhema. Jesus said, The Words I speak to you are spirit and are life (John 6:63)
Most of you are probably asking yourself, “What on earth is Rhema Therapy?”
Basically, it is a therapy based on words (no kidding).
You see, Words produce thoughts, and thoughts affect our actions and emotions, even our health.
Words are more powerful than you might imagine. Words can make us laugh, or words make us cry. There are even words that can bring on aggression. Have you ever heard the term, “those are fighting words”?
Yes, words are very powerful things. They are much more than just letters bunched together to help us communicate,
Words can affect your very life!!!!
Think of the word Circus for example. When you think the word, a picture automatically forms in your mind. Now think of the words below. What pictures are you creating in your mind? How do you feel? Put yourself in the picture and visualize yourself as confident etc.
Abundance
Achievement
Confidence
Creativity
Freedom
Grace
Guidance
Happiness
Harmony
Health
Honesty
Inspiration
Intelligence
Kindness
Life
Love
Memory
Peace
Persistence
Power
Purpose
Resourcefulness
Serenity
Strength
Success
Wisdom
Similarly, if you were to think of words that may make you think negatively you will get negative pictures in your mind. For example think of these words.
Anger
Deception
Pain
Adultery
Do you see how these negative words affect you? How do you feel right now? Go back now and go through the previous list so you can get your good feelings back again.
This little example illustrates that words do invoke thoughts and feelings. The three are so inter-related it is hard to differentiate which comes first, the word, the thought or the feeling. When we are feeling negative we must look to our subconscious mind and find out what happened just prior to our feeling negative. Were you thinking of words, someone may have said or that you read, or were there thoughts which caused the negative feeling. To remedy this simply change the thought and you will change your feelings.
Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I tell you, everyone who looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Matthew 5:27-28
So we see that just thinking is as if we are actually doing it in our mind. The mind cannot discriminate between imagination and reality. This is why it is so important to think positive thoughts. This is why Paul admonishes us to think right thoughts.
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
Philippians 4:8
The New Living Translation of the Bible says: A cheerful look brings joy to the heart; good news makes for good health Proverbs 15:30
Be careful what you think about and what you hear, read and say. Words are not just a bunch of letters joined together to form a language. Words convey thoughts, images and feelings.
Matthew 12:
34 How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good words from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil words from an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, that you must give an account on judgment day of every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say now reflect your fate then; either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned.”
1 Peter 3:10,11
For the one who wants to love life and to see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and he must turn away from evil and do good. He must seek peace and pursue it,
Matthew 15:10-11
10 Then Jesus called to the crowds and said, “Listen to what I say and try to understand. 11 You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do.
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.”
–Frank Outlaw