SOVEREIGNTY OF GOD

Reader’s Questions

“Great article, such a deep subject. I am still unsure about the distinction being made between logos and rhema. I understand the explanation but I can’t fit it into the following arguments:

If the healing promises are only general then why confess them? And are we saying that there is no power in the written word? What about Proverbs 4 where it says to incline your ears speak it etc.

Also how does this fit in with covenant theology that says we have a covenant making God who cannot break a promise or violate His word? If you are saying it is something He COULD DO then aren’t we making the covenant more like a contract?

Please help with these thoughts.” -     M.M.

 

My Response

 

Thank you for responding to my article on logos & rhema. 

 

Maybe I’m wrong, but I think all your questions relate to our individual understanding of the sovereignty of God.  I see no conflict from my perspective.

 

First of all I see a problem when you say that “If the healing promises are ‘only’ general…”.  Logos, the general revelation of God is huge!…because it reveals the heart of God in all of His Grace & Mercy.  As sinners we don’t deserve anything from the hands of a Holy God.  Yet the Logos reveals how much He loves us & all He has provided for us “while we were yet sinners”.  Don’t diminish its value by saying it’s ‘only’.

 

Both logos & rhema are equally important.  Logos reveals all that’s available to us generally…in other words, the broad scope of ALL He has provided for all His children/sons.  Rhema reveals the intricate detail of His Design of how He plans to meet our own personal, specific needs.

 

What I try to explain is that you can confess & declare all the provisions/promises (logos) of God at any and all times to give Him Glory, to educate ourselves on His provisions, and to bring a foundation & encouragement to us as believers.  However, many believers erroneously think that just because God has declared that He has provided for certain needs, all they have to do is start confessing that it’s a reality before it actually is; and that by their confessing it over & over again it will come to fruition.  When you have a specific need, you don’t just automatically go around telling everyone (confessing) that He already has or is taking care of it when, in fact, He hasn’t; and maybe isn’t going to…and you haven’t even bothered to stop & ask God for what He has in mind for that specific situation. 

 

Yes, provisionally, it’s as good as done.  But He’s sovereign!  And in His Justice & Wisdom He may have a plan, & a reason for that plan, that we aren’t aware of.  We need to check in with God to determine what His specific (rhema) game plan is for meeting that need.  Then we can proceed in Faith (a typical result of rhema revelation) & confidence (”They that ‘wait’ upon the Lord shall renew their strength…”), rather than presumption.  Otherwise, we could actually be taking God’s sovereignty away from Him & make ourselves sovereign, imposing our will over His.

 

Besides, Jesus said in explaining His model prayer that the heathen go around repeating things over & over again, thinking that with their oft repetition they could somehow make things happen…like a magical incantation.  Unfortunately, for many believers it becomes that.  They’re afraid to not repeat it often or correctly enough, or that they may make a negative confession & negate the whole process.  The source of that is fear, not faith.  

 

If we properly understand the Sovereignty of God and how it is balanced out by His Love,  Mercy, Grace, Justice & Wisdom, I can see no conflict with covenant theology.  I realize that this entire concept is very difficult for many believers to wrap their brains around & fully understand.  And yes, sometimes we may have to set aside some of our need to fully grasp things intellectually to really understand it.  

 

This concept comes from deep within my spirit, and is simple & easy for me; and I apologize if I’m inadequately giving expression to it in an understandable way.  It’s something I have believed in most of my life; and something my wife & I have often dialogued about over 45 years of marriage, trying to make sense of certain things in our lives.  Some times we received specific answers (rhema); most of the time we did not.  But the sovereignty of God was always the trump card that caused us to relinquish the situation to Him in full trust confidence & assurance in His character & Divine Wisdom…knowing He knew, and would do the right thing, whether we fully understood it or not.  After all, this is a walk of faith; and it is a trust issue.

 

Hope this helps.

 

Mike Bernadsky