We know a lot of things about the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that is like a two edged sword dividing soul and spirit. Paul says to 2 Timothy 3:16 that the word “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. Yet there is much more to the Word of God than that. We know a lot of things about the word of God. Hebrews 4:12 tells us that is like a two edged sword dividing soul and spirit. Paul says to 2 Timothy 3:16 that the word “is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”.

Yet there is much more to the Word of God than that. I remember just after I came back to the Lord and was getting into daily prayer and bible study again. We where reading the Selwyn Hughes Every day with Jesus books to guide us. One morning we read the piece from Ps 119 :105

Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path.

Selwyn Hughes explained that if you are walking in the dark with a lamp all you can see is the next few steps. You cannot see further than that. That day at work I was retrenched. God had prepared me for that. Within a few days I had a new job and all was well. At another company called Greenwich Mean Time where I was working God gave me a word in the morning that escapes me now. But that day we where told that our pay would be late. During the day I got a bit grumpy because of this. Till the Holy Spirit reminded me of the work that He had given me. Well everyone’s pay was late except for me as I was new they had not got my banking organized and gave me a cheque which at that stage cleared immediately.

Confidence means a firm trust or a feeling of reliance and certainty. Do we waiver at the Word or do we have a firm trust in His word.

You see when I was retrenched from Greenwich Mean Time I rejoiced and made a declaration that I would have a job in 3 weeks and it was so. I had a firm trust in the scripture Rm 8:28 and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

Holding onto the word is critical at all times. Through the Apostolic doctrine we are taught that the word is your life Duet 32:47 For it is not a vain thing for you; because it is your life.

On the plane back from Glasgow on Saturday I saw the Last Samurai. A very interesting film about an American hero who goes off to help the Japanese fight against a rebellion by the Samurai. He lands up getting captured and spends a couple of years with the Samurai group and is taught in the way of the Samurai. During one of the sparing contest another trainee says to him. “You must have one mind, not mind on past, not mind on future one mind” in other words you must be single minded. Even the Japanese fighters found the biblical truth of being single minded. Such a powerful force being single minded is. You at some point in your life you have to chose if you are going to believe the word or not.

The word has two aspects to it. The written word often referred to as logos word and then the rhema word that is directed at you and has a specific meaning for you in your situation. In other words two people can read the same logos word and receive a different rhema word.

Lets have a look at the Logos word first. This is basically having confidence in what is written. The written word is very powerful. When you read something in the bible do you have a firm trust that it applies to you. Do you read the story of Joshua holding the sun still while he fought and think no way? Or the story of Hezekiah where the shadow on the sun dial goes back 15 degrees. Do you think, that is just a story.

When you read the doctrine of Paul, that we are a new creation no more in condemnation do you have confidence in that word. So I could go on and on about various important scriptures.

I believe that unless you take the logos word seriously you will not take the Rhema word seriously. Unless you act on the written word, you will not act on the spoken word. The truth is you find the rhema word hidden inside the logos word.

The stories I told in the beginning show how the rhema word is “hidden” inside the logos word. I was reading a simple and very well know scripture, only through the events of the day did I realize that it was God warning me.

There is a point when the logos word changes into a rhema word. We need to be able to discern the difference.

How confident are you that when you are in a pickle and the Lord gives you a word. That that word will see you through.

During my time at LOCBI I ran my own company doing software development. I was not easy studying and running a business. The money was not easy, depending on others for you money was not easy either. Going without was not easy. All in all it was a very trying time. Yet what made it possible, what gave us the strength to go through and see it to completion. Two things really firstly a word God gave me that Esther would go first and I would follow. God told Est to quite at work and go while we where at Volmoed. Then I knew my time was coming.

After a lot of though and other stuff I decided not to go. I figured that being a local preacher in the Methodist Church was ok. God had other ideas and he told me in no uncertain terms that must go to LOCBI. So I had a very strong word that I acted on. If I was in any doubt about being at LOCBI I only had to think of that word

Unless you are confident that what you are doing is the will of God you will always have doubt. You will always think what if.

Being in the UK during the Olympics was very interesting because I got their point of view. One of the big stories was there ladies marathon runner. Paula Radcliff, she collapsed during the head of the marathon and gave up. Then there was much speculation about her doing the 10 000 meters. She run it and failed to finish again. During the interview later she said that she had to run otherwise she would have always wondered if she could have made it or not. By running she answered that question for her self and the world.

The way you make sure is holding onto the instruction that God gave you. Now you might say, but I never had an instruction. My answer to that is then you need to ask God.

As I said I ran my own company then at the end of LOCBI the work dried up and I was left with the chose of closing the company down or carrying on. The more I sought God’s help to make the company work the more he told me to close it. After much searching I closed the business. I only did it when I was confident that God wanted it closed. The same at my current place of work there are times when I would love to just walk out. Unfortunately I cannot do that unless I have a command from God.

The last aspect I want to look at is confidence in our own words. Do you really have confidence in what you speak, in what you pray.

Do we want to be like Samuel in 1 Sam 3:19 where it says that God let none of his words fall to the ground.

Going back again to my time at LOCBI I refused to beg from God, because I believe that God is willing to provide for us, but I believe that you need to ask. When I we where short on money I would go into my study and pray in tongues till I had faith then I would make a decree and release the finances.

Time and time I saw this work. When you do that you have to have a firm trust or a confidence in what you have just spoken for it to come to pass. If you make a decree and you have no confidence in it yourself, why should the heavenlies take any notice of it?

Yes you need to pray with faith. The way I see a decree is l