Written Word, Living Word
By Sylvia Agboh
God created everything with the word of His mouth, and His word is truth. How can we be true to the word and therefore alive in the spirit? Is it possible to be one without the other? Would we want to be one without the other?
Being alive in the spirit is a function of being true to the word. The word of God is the gateway into the supernatural life of the kingdom of God and it has two dimensions: The Written Word (the Bible) and the Living Word (Jesus). When we embrace the written word and consistently go to it on a daily basis, we will definitely meet the Living Word, who is Jesus Himself. Wherever Jesus is, there is abundant Life.
First of all, God has given us the word through which He created everything, in order to impart life unto us. “The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life,” John 6:63. If we remain true to the word by going to it regularly, we will find the release of the quickening power of the Holy Spirit at work in our life. We will become tabernacles that radiate life and joy to our home, our community, and our world every single day.
As children of God, we are to remain true to the written word which is called the logos. When we read the word and take it to heart, we are impacted and transformed by it and it begins to reflect in our behavior. Also, as we diligently embrace and take delight in the written word with prayer and supplication, we will inevitably meet the Living word who is Jesus himself. Then we can carry His presence and glory wherever we go.
The second dimension of being true to the word and alive in the spirit is when we receive the “now” word, which is the rhema word, from the Lord and obey it. The rhema word is His still, small voice that we hear during the time of communion and intimacy as we wait on Him. Jesus said that, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). The proceeding word is powerful and instructive when we obey it. We remain energized and alive in Him.
Some years ago, the Lord asked me to make time to seek Him one hour every day. It was hard for me because of my way of life at the time. But I desired to do what He asked of me and I prayed fervently for Him to help me to obey Him. He did. The more I waited on Him and basked in His presence daily, the more alive I became in the spirit. My life started radiating life and joy to people around me regardless of my own hard circumstances.
As we remain true to the written word, we will surely become alive in the spirit. In fact, what is happening is that in God’s presence the flesh and the soulish realm lose control. Our spirit man takes control and reflects the life and the glory of God to the world.