Practice, practice, pratice

[Jethro Bodine]

When we read the word and do as it calls us to do we are listening to God.....He does not need to have a conversation with each and everyone of us every day. He has told us all we need to know, believe and do in Scripture. Though I do not intend this as criticism of anyone I do tend to hold doubt of those who frequently say that God told them this, that or the other......especially if it is something that has direct impact on others..

That's how it works for me, too. I hear from God when I read the Bible. Though I certainly do not want to cast down hearing from God directly in quiet prayer and contemplation. It's just that my experience leans way on hearing God by reading the Bible in quiet contemplation a minimum of 10 minutes a day, which usually ends up to be 20 minutes as the words of scripture pull you in.

I would have poked the "like" is there had been one.


iakov the fool

Me too. I looked for the 'like' button after I read it.

 

[daninthelionsden]

That's how it works for me, too. I hear from God when I read the Bible. Though I certainly do not want to cast down hearing from God directly in quiet prayer and contemplation. It's just that my experience leans way on hearing God by reading the Bible in quiet contemplation a minimum of 10 minutes a day, which usually ends up to be 20 minutes as the words of scripture pull you in.


Me too. I looked for the 'like' button after I read it.

Amen

 

[daninthelionsden]

When I was in my early teens I sat in on the older teens Bible study/worship service. A young man was sitting in as well. He had a multitude of problems and wished he had a father to speak to as he had none. I felt empathy toward him and as the group broke up to take a refreshment break, I felt something pulling me to the big Bible up on the podium. I opened it up and there was the verse 'I will be his father and he shall be my son". So yeah. God can and does speak through His Word to whomever and whenever He chooses. Little miracles happen all the time and no one has a corner on anything of God.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

You are reading a book that God inspired, so I certainly agree that it is not just any book, but it is still a book. And you are absolutely correct to write that the Holy Spirit can guide you. You will note that He does that by speaking to you, and He speaks words, spiritual words, that you can pick up with your spiritual ears.

Jn 16:13 ... He will speak...
Jn 6:63 It is the Spirit who gives life... the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life.

So the Spirit speaks spiritual words to you personally. It is those words that give life. If the Scriptures have you life the Pharisee would have had life and Jesus could not have told them "you cannot hear My word" Jn 8:43

Now today we usually call the Scriptures (your Bible) because it was inspired by God, but it is does not give us life. And we should know that those very Scriptures call Jesus Christ, the Word of God, but He is not the Scriptures. We also can hear the Lord through the Holy Spirit which is the spirit of Christ. The Holy Spirit does not speak on His own initiative, He takes the Word of God which belong to the Son and gives them to you. It is those words that give us life. And Jesus owns those words.

Jn 16: 15 All this that the Father has are Mine, therefore I said He (the Holy Spirit) take of Mine and will disclose it to you.

Rev 19:13 He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood and His name is called "The Word of God."

So we don't really match up with the Scriptures when we call the Scriptures the Word of God, because they call Jesus Christ the Word of God. We should have seen that. Never-the-less that is semantics, and the important part is that you are indeed listening to the Spirit of God. You listen to Him when you study the Bible, and He speaks words that can be picked up with your spiritual ears. You can also talk to Him on every aspect of your life, and not just the Bible. He will of course tell you to "Read Your Bible", but He is not the Bible but the One who says to read your Bible.

So we are not preaching the Bible but rather we are preaching Jesus Christ whom we can hear from via the Holy Spirit.

And by the way, if you are not remembering the Spirit speaking to men only a few times in the NT you are not remembering well. Still the early Christians not hearing the Spirit was a huge problem even then.

To the Galatians Paul wrote, "did you receive the Spirit by the works of the Law, or by hearing with faith?... then told them. "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh? Paul called them foolish because they stopped hearing the Spirit by faith, but they had continued to read and try to follow the Scriptures.

And Paul again told them, "So then, does He who provided you with the Spirit and works miracles among you, do it by works of the Law or by hearing with faith?

Face it, the Galatians were not practicing hearing by faith.

And in Hebrews we are told three times, "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as when they provoked me."

So how often should you hear from someone who said He would never leave you? My wife sometimes leaves the house, but I hear from her everyday. Now the Hebrews were brought up on the Scriptures, and should have been the teachers, but it was written to them. "you have become dull of hearing" and also "who because of practice have their sense trained".

And also you might note that to all seven churches written to in Revelation got reproved for this thing, "He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches" So all seven churches were not letting those people who have and ear to hear, hear the Spirit.

And who has an ear?
Mat 13:14 ... while hearing they do not hear...

Jesus said His sheep hear His voice. But are Christians hearing like they should. It was clearly a huge problem in both the Old and New testament. And it is a problem now.

The problem is not that God does not speak to us through the word of scripture, but rather through quiet listening only. The problem is some people, like the Pharisees, have uncirucmcised ears and cannot hear God in anything.

"51“You men who are stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears are always resisting the Holy Spirit; you are doing just as your fathers did. " (Acts 7:51 NASB)

With circumcised hearts and ears we hear God speak to us by the Holy Spirit when we read the scriptures.
That is easily the biggest and most common way God speaks to me. Even through the day, God is speaking to me by bringing scriptures back to memory for my instruction and guidance in life's situations. And surely, there are those times, but not very often, when God speaks right into my heart and mind a word of direct exhortation, or guidance, or wisdom, or chastisement as when two people speak face to face. But easily, the biggest way he speaks to me is through the written word written on my heart:

"20My son, observe the commandment of your father
And do not forsake the teaching of your mother;

21Bind them continually on your heart;
Tie them around your neck.

22When you walk about, they will guide you;
When you sleep, they will watch over you;
And when you awake, they will talk to you."
(Proverbs 6:22 NASB bold mine)

 

[Jethro Bodine]

When I was in my early teens I sat in on the older teens Bible study/worship service. A young man was sitting in as well. He had a multitude of problems and wished he had a father to speak to as he had none. I felt empathy toward him and as the group broke up to take a refreshment break, I felt something pulling me to the big Bible up on the podium. I opened it up and there was the verse 'I will be his father and he shall be my son". So yeah. God can and does speak through His Word to whomever and whenever He chooses. Little miracles happen all the time and no one has a corner on anything of God.

Did you share that with him?

 

[daninthelionsden]

Did you share that with him?

Yes indeed and he seemed encouraged and remember feeling relieved for him and felt really good. I was super embarrassed though from all the attention from the older teens.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

Yes indeed and he seemed encouraged and remember feeling relieved for him and felt really good.

"he who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:25 NASB)

I was super embarrassed though from all the attention from the older teens.

You died to self and were blessed for doing so.
'Self' took a hit, but look at what treasure you have built up for yourself in heaven.

 

[GodsGrace]

I'm reading along and am wondering what the debate is about since everyone is right.

I believe what K2CHRIST is saying is that it's one thing to read about a person and another thing to know that person .

This is true. Jeremiah 31:30-34 confirms this.

This is why we call it a Personal Relationship. Because when a person is born from above as in John 3, he will personally know the Lord. I was born again before I ever had read the Bible or knew the salvation message.

On the other hand, the NT is a good guide and it is God's word telling us what He expects from us.

It's all good.

Wondering

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

The thing though Free is that the OP was talking about preparing for spiritual things. Just because a name was mentioned that is not popular with traditional religious beliefs does not make the OP's post invalid or false.

Your focus was finding something you don't agree with. This is a bad way to be. There is nothing wrong with praying and preparing before speaking or singing for God's people.

K2CHRIST seems to have no issue with Benny Hinn, so he was mentioned, ignorant of the fact there could be a negative response as K2CHRIST has no ought against him. K2CHRIST had no idea that mentioning Benny Hinn would distract from his message.

That is the issue I have, and you and I don't know everything either.

It's not about the Doctrine Free, it's about the heart of a person. A person can be totally off, but still be right with God. I have been totally off, because I did not have or know of other comparing scriptures that would have changed what I said. My intent was not to mislead anyone however, and I can get corrected.

Character is another thing though. If a Persons character is bad, then bad doctrine follows. One reason I don't listen to Benny Hinn.

As for K2CHRIST, look for good, not look for bad.

Mike.

This is very thought provoking.

 

[Rollo Tamasi]

I find that I hear God speak to me when I am in prayer.
I make decisions in life that are between me and God and they always work out fine.
But more so, in prayer with a group of people, an appropriate Bible verse would pop up in my mind, and when I'd read it, it spoke to someone personally or the group.
It was edifying in some way and I knew it came from God.
I would then praise God for allowing me to share in edifying his children and myself.

 

[smaller]

There are very specific constructs given in the N.T. by Paul, John and Peter to "judge" truth from fiction when believers claim to speak Gods Words or have "heard directly from God." I do not think it a strange thing to HEAR directly from God. But there is the accountability factor to engage.

1 Cor. 14:
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

2 Peter 3:2
That ye may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us the apostles of the Lord and Saviour:

Anyone who speaks CONTRARY to the above, are NOT speaking TRUTHFULLY.

With regards to prophesy:

29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.

There is an "accountability" factor in play here. Running the gauntlet of Gods Words, particularly when claiming them "active" and "truthful" discourse, IS under subjection and moreso under scrutiny of judgment of what is IN WRITING.

If I had a nickel for every time I've heard a "spirit of Mariology" spout off in a charismatic assembly, and go unchecked...

OR a "thus saith the Lord" followed by vile condemnations, blame and accusations of believers with threats of eternal hell...

OR some liar in the pulpit proclaiming all kinds of utter nonsense that couldn't hold up to a penny's worth of legitimate scriptural critique...

1 John 4:1
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

One of the measures John gives us is such spirits that are NOT of God are very fond of denying Jesus came in the flesh. 1 John 4:3. It's called "denial of the Son." That's why it's handy to keep an understanding of the Trinity. We are to honor the Son "even as" we honor the Father.

John 5:23
That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

There are many "red alert signals" that are employed in writing, from the Apostles, to JUDGE whether any "spirit" is speaking according to Truth and the Word.

A nearly instant giveaway is any spirit that discourses about "the world." Godly Words and Godly Discourses, IF they are legitimate, will follow the patterns of Spiritual Understandings, not WORLDLY understandings. So, here, John gives us another RED ALERT signal about "false spirits." Those "false spirits" being the "they" below:

1 John 4:
5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.

Understanding this, now ask me how many false prophets there are who speak of lining your pockets with WORLDLY MONEY in the Name of God. I'll tell you in the Name of God in Christ that every one of those spirits are LYING spirits. And yeah, I think I've heard them all. But stay tuned for the next twist because they come fast and furious.

1 Tim. 6:
5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.

Again, if I had a nickel for every preacher that PROMISED, in the Name of God, that for putting ONE DOLLAR in the offering I would get 100 DOLLARS in return...

I was just dumb enough to fall for a common PONZI SCHEME masquerading as Word of God.

And of course, when that doesn't happen, THEN what happens? Yeah, these same BLAME and ACCUSE the flock for "not having enough faith." That alone should clue anyone in to what is going on with those wicked spirits:

Revelation 12:10
And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.

The "accuser of the brethren" spirit is the most active wicked spirit on/in the earth.

In understanding some of these very simple things, we learn to "take heed" to ourselves, first, lest we fall into that latter TRAP ourselves. It is entirely possible to deploy solid scriptural discernment and judgment WHEN we look to judgment of the "adverse and wicked spirits" rather than the PERSON.

This is a hard thing to learn.

Practice, Practice, Practice: DISCERNMENT. It will serve every believer WELL.

Malachi 3:18
Then shall ye return, and discern between the righteous and the wicked, between him that serveth God and him that serveth him not.

1 Corinthians 12:10
To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:

Hebrews 5:14
But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.

 

[civilwarbuff]

Well said, smaller.....

 

[K2CHRIST]

I'm reading along and am wondering what the debate is about since everyone is right.

I believe what K2CHRIST is saying is that it's one thing to read about a person and another thing to know that person .

This is true. Jeremiah 31:30-34 confirms this.

This is why we call it a Personal Relationship. Because when a person is born from above as in John 3, he will personally know the Lord. I was born again before I ever had read the Bible or knew the salvation message.

On the other hand, the NT is a good guide and it is God's word telling us what He expects from us.

It's all good.

Wondering

 

[K2CHRIST]

There are very specific constructs given in the N.T. by Paul, John and Peter to "judge" truth from fiction when believers claim to speak Gods Words or have "heard directly from God." I do not think it a strange thing to HEAR directly from God. But there is the accountability factor to engage.

1 Cor. 14:
36 What? came the word of God out from you? or came it unto you only?
37 If any man think himself to be a prophet, or spiritual, let him acknowledge that the things that I write unto you are the commandments of the Lord.

The problem when we write that "I do not think it a strange thing" is that we imply that hearing from God could and might happen, and not that it is something we are supposed to be practicing. It shows where our relationship with the Lord is at.

And I am in full agreement that the writings have commandments from God. Still, they are writing which we read. So they are not God speaking directly to us, but rather they are commands that God passed on when He spoke directly to others. But they are commands.

So how do you like this command:
Mat 17:5 "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

That command was not said directly to us, but to those on the mountain of transfiguration. But it is a command that came down from the Father. So we know that the Father commands us to listen to Jesus Christ, which we can do via the Holy Spirit. Are we doing that? Are we practicing listening to the Son when we think it is not strange that someone might hear from Him. Indeed, if we truly think that someone might hear from Him, shouldn't we practice seeking His voice?

Here is the same command from Isaiah 1:2 "Listen, of heavens, and hear, O earth, For the Lord speaks"

So that was the commandment then also, but the next thing Isaiah wrote was: "But Israel does not know", and "They have abandoned the Lord, They have despised the Holy One of Israel." That couldn't be the reason we are not hearing the Lord speak, is it?

So it was the only command the Father gave from the mountain, and it was the command from the Lord that Isaiah lead off with. And what did Jesus answer when asked what the greatest command was?

Mark 12:28,29 ... What commandment is the foremost of all? Jesus answered, "The foremost is, HEAR, O ISREAL!.......

(This is not commandment on the stones Moses brought down from the mountain but it is the command that if followed that makes it possible to fulfill all those, because if we do indeed listen to Him we shall come to love Him.)

...... AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD...

So now, is it me who is telling you to practice listening to the Lord who is not acknowledging the commandments in the writings or is it the person that believes it might be possible to hear from Him that is not acknowledging the commandments in the writings? It's a command so I would suggest making it a habit of opening up your spiritual ears to hear what the Son of God, who said He would never leave you, has to say! And that is not only possible; I testify that He can indeed be hear from regularly, just like someone who is always with could be heard from regularly.

 

[Jethro Bodine]

And I am in full agreement that the writings have commandments from God. Still, they are writing which we read. So they are not God speaking directly to us, but rather they are commands that God passed on when He spoke directly to others.

Only if the written words are that to you--just written words.
God inhabits his written word. That means he speaks the words of written scripture into your heart through the voice of the Holy Spirit. It isn't just reading words off a page. Charismatics call that the 'Rhema' word of God. Which is in contrast to the mere written words of God.
But, like I say, if the written word is not 'Rhema' to a person, well, then it just isn't. But there's no reason it can't be.
"17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17 NASB)
"“I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it" (Jeremiah 31:33 NASB)

 

[smaller]

The problem when we write that "I do not think it a strange thing" is that we imply that hearing from God could and might happen, and not that it is something we are supposed to be practicing. It shows where our relationship with the Lord is at.

I'd suggest any believer has their hands quite entirely full trying to understand what has already been given by God in writing. Laboring in Word and in doctrine still went on "in the churches" and for very good reasons.

1 Timothy 5:17
Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honour, especially they who labour in the word and doctrine.

And I am in full agreement that the writings have commandments from God. Still, they are writing which we read. So they are not God speaking directly to us,

But you see you are double dealing the subject matter. On one hand agreeing, and on the other, outright denying personal applicability. And this has been pointed out to you repeatedly.

but rather they are commands that God passed on when He spoke directly to others. But they are commands.

I think we can be quite assured of "personal applicability" of every Word of God unto believers. Matt. 4:4, Luke 4:4.

So how do you like this command:
Mat 17:5 "This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!"

And somehow you have magically leaped into thinking that means a conversation in your head with Jesus RATHER than Jesus' Own Words, already given.

That command was not said directly to us, but to those on the mountain of transfiguration. But it is a command that came down from the Father. So we know that the Father commands us to listen to Jesus Christ, which we can do via the Holy Spirit. Are we doing that?

I have no doubt the Holy Spirit quickens our understanding of what is WRITTEN. You seem to think they are not the same or even worse are irrelevant or in contention/odds.

John 6:63
It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

And the above is NOT referring to "the words in our heads."

Are we practicing listening to the Son when we think it is not strange that someone might hear from Him. Indeed, if we truly think that someone might hear from Him, shouldn't we practice seeking His voice?

Undoubtedly, and in that there will be no double crossing what is written over and in favor of voices in our heads. IF the supposed Jesus in our heads can't line up with His Own Written Words, or that of the Apostles, at a minimum, there is a problem. We do have to hold such voices in our heads claiming to be Jesus to the account of what Jesus and the Apostles already said.

Here is the same command from Isaiah 1:2 "Listen, of heavens, and hear, O earth, For the Lord speaks"

So that was the commandment then also, but the next thing Isaiah wrote was: "But Israel does not know", and "They have abandoned the Lord, They have despised the Holy One of Israel." That couldn't be the reason we are not hearing the Lord speak, is it?

And you continue to try to make that mean the "listening" is NOT listening to what was already written. Jesus Himself bowed to 'AS IT IS WRITTEN.' We do likewise HEAR "as it is written."

What you are engaged with in this little circle dance you run is a basic denial of "as it is written" in favor of "supposed dialog in your head." The fact that you point away from "as it is written" is the very first sign that the voice in your head is not all that interested in HIS OWN WORDS.

There's yer sign.

 

[smaller]

Paul gives us some very basic principle understandings for US today to "test" the fact that THE WORD is "alive and active" as it is written.

Any believer can test this fact in the comfort of their own home, either by taking a look at themselves, INSIDE, from past experiences, or by picking up THE LAW.

Here is what happens. Paul employs and invokes a Divine Principle of Jesus, here, deployed in Mark 4:15. That being "where the Word is sown" Satan comes to steal same from the heart (this internal activity also includes lusts, temptations, deceptions, killing, destroying.) All of these would fall under the general category of "evil thoughts" which "defile us" which "thoughts" Jesus said are A FACT, not an option, in Matt. 15:19-20, Mark 7:21-23 and Matt. 5:28.

For exampling purposes Paul takes the LAW against "coveting" and proves to himself that Gods Laws are, within himself, ACTIVELY ENGAGED:

Romans 7:
7 What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet.
8 But sin, taking occasion by the commandment, wrought in me all manner of concupiscence. For without the law sin was dead.

Paul in this is submitting to the FACTS of JESUS' DIRECT WRITTEN DISCLOSURES, "as it is written" in:

Matt. 15:19-20, Mark 7:21-23 and Matt. 5:28

What 'discoveries" did Paul make in this exercise? He determined that SIN indwelling the flesh, when it meets LAW, results in LAWLESS or EVIL thoughts. Thoughts that are AGAINST THE LAW.

This is a small example of "as it is written" and how this exercise is "testable" to any believer to this day, to see the 'activity of indwelling sin' IN adverse reactions to AS IT IS WRITTEN in the LAW(s.)

Simple exercise. Now, ask me if the dynamic of WORD meeting "indwelling sin" is going to result in being truthful about it? Nope! Indwelling sin is NOT going to be truthful. It is AGAINST the Word.

Anyone who hasn't and can't submit to this basic exercise is not paying much attention to what Paul wrote.

Paul concludes from this exercise that 'evil' is in fact 'present with him.' Romans 7:21. Paul concludes that there is warring going on in his members and in his MIND. Romans 7:23.

Paul also concludes that the LAW is meant to make this working of sin "utterly sinful" in order for US to recognize these things, indwelling sin and evil present with us are A FACT:

Romans 7:
13 Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful.

Paul makes the identical claims of fact here:

Romans 3:20
Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

And Paul reiterates that the LAW is meant to "power sin" to the utterly sinful state, again here:

1 Corinthians 15:56
The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

I have found that to the person, those who DENY "as it is written" can NOT submit to the above conclusions of FACT. And they can not because indwelling sin and evil present can not arrive at the facts. And will, instead, DENY "as it is written" when it comes to engaging one of the reasons we learn to "critique" our own THOUGHTS via the disciplines Jesus and Paul deploy in the above examples.

The LYING VOICES in "believers" heads will always and invariably only speak the SMOOTH SOFT WORDS, but never will such lying voices confront the facts of indwelling sin, evil present with us and EVIL THOUGHTS, and DENOUNCE them. Yet alone TRUTHFULLY speak about the facts of actually having same.

Which is a sound basis to deny WORDS in our heads when they LIE or only tell us "the nice stuff." The Gospel is not only about NICE. It also confronts the evil present and indwelling sin that we all have in ADVERSARIAL manners.

Gal. 5:
17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.

IF the VOICES, the SPIRIT in your head claiming to be Jesus hasn't informed you that THE SPIRIT is against our flesh, and WHY, I'd suggest such voices are deceiving liars and not the Spirit of God in Christ whatsoever.

Practice, Practice, Practice hearing what your FLESH might not LIKE to hear. You may find it more profitable in the end.

 

[Jim Parker]

I think I can honestly say in 18 years, a full hour without distraction. I think there is a difference in speaking in tongues while at the store, doing dishes, working, whatever, than what some call "Getting into the spirit" That means no distractions and I believe more time in tongues "Praying" the less work and hassle there seems to be in daily lives. So, More time with God, equals less time doing things without the wisdom of God and wasting time.

Whole lot more to learn, that is for sure.

Mike.

If you are praying, the devils are trying to distract you with every random thought they can come up with.
I tell them to shut up.
It works for a little while. Then they have to be told again. and again .....

 

[Brother Mike]

If you are praying, the devils are trying to distract you with every random thought they can come up with.
I tell them to shut up.
It works for a little while. Then they have to be told again. and again .....

I know they do, so annoying. They even make it sound good. "you know, instead of praying there is that left over subway sandwich in the fridge. Now you know you want to think about that."

Jesus was not kidding. The spirit is willing, our spirit man wants to pray and feed on God's Word. The Holy Spirit is willing, the flesh He said wants that sandwich.

God bless.
Mike.

 

[Brother Mike]

Only if the written words are that to you--just written words.
God inhabits his written word. That means he speaks the words of written scripture into your heart through the voice of the Holy Spirit. It isn't just reading words off a page. Charismatics call that the 'Rhema' word of God. Which is in contrast to the mere written words of God.
But, like I say, if the written word is not 'Rhema' to a person, well, then it just isn't. But there's no reason it can't be.
"17So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ." (Romans 10:17 NASB)
"“I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it" (Jeremiah 31:33 NASB)

Word is always seed, the mustard seed. Small, tiny, just a grain. However, Jesus said take heed to what you hear and with what measure you met, it shall be measured back to you again. Suddenly, that seed grows into a big honking mustard tree that provides protection for the birds.

It can be revelation, and Peter said when that day star rises in your heart. I have meditated on the same passages of scriptures over and over and suddenly, one day, it could be weeks, months go by, the word becomes absolute fact and real. You know the moment it comes, and that situation you were standing on the Word for is fixed completly.

Mike.