Feb 2007

 Word Definitions

Words are powerful. They shape the way we think and live. That is why it is vital that we pursue wisdom and understanding of Scripture as we journey through life. The Bible encourages us to "…get wisdom: and with thy getting, get understanding " (Proverbs 4:7, NKJV).

The following is a list of words, definitions and corresponding reference material to help you gain clearer understanding of God's Word.

Abundant Life                                                                                   Anointing                                                                                                  Christ                                                                                                Confessions                                                                                              Firstfruit                                                                                                 Logos                                                                                              Prosperity                                                                                           Rhema                                                                                                Righteous, Righteousness                                                                    Salvation                                                                                           Stewardship                                                                                             Tithe, Tithing                                                                                         Wisdom, Wise

Abundant Life 

Source Scripture:   John 10:10-117

"The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."

Definition:

Abundant: (perissos, Greek), "superabundant (in quantity) or superior (in quality); excessive; advantage; exceedingly; very highly; and beyond measure."

Life: (zoe, Greek), "that which makes God, God; the God-kind of life."

Additional scriptural references:

John 5:24-26; Acts 3:13-15, The Amplified Bible (AMP); 1 John 1:2

Anointing  

Source Scripture:   Isaiah 10:27

"And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing."

Definition:

Anointing: (shemen, Hebrew), "The burden-removing, yoke-destroying power of God."

To anoint: (mashach, Hebrew), "to rub or smear with oil; to consecrate; to paint."

Additional scriptural references:

Luke 4:18; Acts 10:37-38; Hebrews 1:9; 1 John 2:27

Christ

Source Scripture:   Colossians 1:27

To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:

Definition:

Christ: (Christos, Greek), "The Anointed One and His Anointing."

Additional scriptural references:

Psalm 2:2, AMP; Matthew 16:13-16; John 7:40-41, AMP; Hebrews 1:9

Confessions 

Source Scripture:   1 John 4:15, AMP

"Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God."

Definition:

To confess: (homologeo, Greek), "to speak the same thing; to assent, accord, agree with, declare and admit."

Additional comments:

To confess something means to speak or admit the same things as God based on His written and spoken Word.

Additional scriptural references:

1 Timothy 6:12, AMP; Hebrews 3:1; 10:23, AMP

Firstfruit 

Source Scripture:   Proverbs 3:9-10

"Honour the Lord with thy substance, and with the firstfruits of all thine increase; so shall thy barns be filled with plenty, and thy presses shall burst out with new."

Definition:

Firstfruits: (reshiyth, Hebrew; aparche, Greek), "the chief, principal part; the earliest ripe [portion] of the crop; the first in place, time, order or rank."

Additional comments:

Firstfruits is a distinct form of giving than tithes. The presentation of firstfruits must be done with a prayer of thanksgiving and action (Deuteronomy 26:1-11). Presenting firstfruits will cause your bank account to overflow and your business affairs to flourish (Proverbs 3:9-10).

Additional scriptural references:

Exodus 22:29; Numbers 18:8-12; Ezekiel 44:30, AMP; Romans 11:6; 2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 12:44

Logos 

Source Scripture:   1 Thessalonians 2:13

"For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in the truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."

Definition:

Logos: (Greek), "the expression of thought; word; account; communication; or doctrine." Also, "The Personal Word," a title of the Son of God; the personal manifestation of the whole deity of Christ."

Additional comments:

Logos is often referred to as the "written Word of God."

Additional scriptural references:

Mark 4:4; John 1:1-18; Romans 10:17; 1 Corinthians 12:7-8

Prosperity 

Source Scripture:   Psalm 35:27

"Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause: yea let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

Definition:

Prosperity: (shalev and sakal, Hebrew), "tranquility; security; ease; peace; wealth; to have good success."

Additional comments:

The words prosperity and prosper have evolved over time. For example, euodoo, the Greek word for prosper found in 3 John 2, is translated "to help on the road; to succeed in reaching; to succeed in business affairs; to have a prosperous journey." The word prosperity also stems from the same root word for shalom, which is translated, "peace; safe; welfare; health; favour." Based on these definitions, we see that prosperity involves success in every area of life-total life prosperity.

Additional scriptural references:

Genesis 24:21, 40-42; 39:3, 23; Joshua 1:8; Lamentations 3:17; Romans 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:2, AMP

Rhema 

Source Scripture:   Ephesians 6:17

"And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…."

Definition:

Rhema : (Greek), "that which is spoken, what is uttered in speech or writing; a word or saying."

Additional comments:

Rhema is distinct from logos in that it does not just refer to the Bible as a whole. Instead, it refers to a revelation, word or insight from God through the Holy Spirit concerning an individual scripture or series of scriptures. Ephesians 6:17 says that the Word of God is the "sword of the Spirit." Hence, rhema is the "revealed Word of God"-the insight revealed to one's born-again spirit.

Additional scriptural references:

Matthew 4:4; 16:16-18; Luke 1:38; Romans 10:17; 2 Corinthians 12:1-4, AMP; Hebrews 1:1-3; 11:3; 1 Peter 1:25, AMP

Righteous, Righteousness 

Source Scripture:   2 Corinthians 5:21

"For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him."

Definition:

Righteous: (tsaddiyq or tsadaq, Hebrew), "just or justified; lawful; to be right; cleansed; clear." Righteousness: (tsedaqah, Hebrew), "rightness; justice; virtue; prosperity."

Additional comments:

Righteousness is "being in right-standing" with God. It is based on a covenant relationship with Him. Righteous is "the ability to stand before God without the sense of guilt or inferiority; standing before God as if sin never existed." It is freedom from "sin-consciousness" (Romans 3:20, AMP).

Additional scriptural references:

Genesis 15:1, 6; Acts 13:39, AMP; Romans 1:17; 3:21-28; 4:3, 11-13; 6:1-2; Ephesians 2:8; James 5:16, AMP; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 1 John 2:27-29

Salvation

Source Scripture:   Hebrews 2:3

"How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation; which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him..."

Definition:

Salvation (soteria, Greek; Yshuwah, Hebrew), "deliverance, protection, preservation, prosperity, safety, soundness, welfare and health."

Additional scriptural references:

Genesis 15:1, 6; Acts 13:39, AMP; Romans 1:17; 3:21-28; 4:3, 11-13; 6:1-2; Ephesians 2:8; James 5:16, AMP; 1 Peter 2:21-24; 1 John 2:27-29

Steward, Stewardship 

Source Scripture:   1 Corinthians 4:2

"Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful."

Definition:

Steward: (oikonomos, Greek), "manager or overseer." Stewardship (oikonomia, Greek), "administration."

Additional scriptural references:

Proverbs 28:20; Luke 12:42; 16:1-2; 1 Peter 4:10

Tithe, Tithing 

Source Scripture:   Malachi 3:10

"Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the Lord of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it."

Definition:

Tithe: (maasrah, Hebrew; dekatoo, Greek), "tenth or tenth part; to take tithes of."

Additional comments:

Tithes are distinct from firstfruits. "Tithing the tithe," or confessing God's Word of prosperity over your tithe, is done with words or prayer; it not merely the act of giving. (Deuteronomy 26:12-15). Tithing the tithe positions you to receive the benefits of being in covenant with God.

Additional scriptural references:

2 Chronicles 31:5; Nehemiah 12:44; Genesis 14:17-20; Leviticus 27:20; Matthew 23:23

Wisdom, Wise 

Source Scripture:   Proverbs 4:7

"Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding."

Definition:

Wisdom: (chokmah, Hebrew; sophia, Greek), "skill; insight; understanding." Wise (hakam, Hebrew, sophos; Greek), "skillful; insightful."

Additional comments:

Wisdom can be both natural (education and experience) and spiritual (i.e., the wisdom of men vs. the wisdom of God). In the spiritual sense, it is divine insight. It shows you how to use any knowledge you have attained. In addition, wisdom is the spoken and written Word of God (Proverbs 3:5).

Additional scriptural references:

Exodus 28:3; 2 Chronicles 1:7-12; Proverbs 2:6; Isaiah 11:2; 1 Corinthians 2:6-16; James 1:5

7. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

If you need help from God word, if you are experincing one of the following, Please read and be encouraged

2 Timothy 3:16-17:
"All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Hope

1. "Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed." (1 Peter 1:13)
2. "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful." (Hebr 10:23)
3. "Against all hope, Abraham in hope believed and so became the father of many nations, just as it had been said to him: 'So shall your offspring be." (Rom 4:18).
4. "(And for this we labour and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, and especially of those who believe." (1 Tim 4:18).

Strength

1. "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us." (2 Cor 4:7).
2. "And now the Lord says- he who formed me in the womb to be his servant to bring Jacob back to him and gather Israel to himself, for I am honoured in the eyes of the Lord and my God has been my strength" (Is 49:5).
3. "But he said to me 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me." (2 Cor 12:9).
4. "I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint." (Jer 31:25)
5. "But as for you, be strong and do not give up, for your work will be rewarded." (2 Chron 15:7).

Love

1. "Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father and I too will love him and show myself to him." (John 14:21)
2. "...and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave homself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God." (Eph 5:2)
3. "And this is ask that we love: that we walk in obedience to his commands. As you heard from the beginning, his command is that you walk in love." (2 John 6)