Do you know words have power: power to give or take life? Like a sunflower that follows the movement of the sun, so some words have the power to attract and transform its hearer or reader in such a way that they search to discover its author and origin. Such words are powerful, such words are rhema! Have you asked yourself why the “greeting” from Mary caused a divine transformation in Elizabeth (Lk 1:41)? Have you also asked yourself why the word “come follow me” said by Jesus to men working hard to make a living as fishermen would be a life transforming encounter as they abandoned everything and became ministers of the gospel? We converse everyday, but some conversations are extraordinary and life-changing, if you wish to know read slowly…
Matthew 4:18-22
As Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who was called Peter, and his brother Andrew; they were making a cast in the lake with their net, for they were fishermen. And he said to them, ‘Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.’ And they left their nets at once and followed him.
POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. Encounter transforms conversation
The prompt response of Peter and Andrew to Jesus in this gospel narrative appears to be like some acts of magic, but it is not. To get the fuller picture, in the gospel according to John, it was Andrew who took Simon to Jesus after his encounter with Jesus with the words: “We have found the Messiah” and that day Simon’s life was transformed and his destiny changed as he received a new mandate that came with a new name “Cephas” (Peter) which means rock (Jn. 1:40-42). From this we see how Andrew’s encounter with Jesus transforms his conversation to rhema!
2. For you to initiate or engage a life changing conversation with anyone, you must have an encounter! You must have an encounter with the Omnipotent One who transforms all things: who turns rock into a pool and flint into spring of water (Ps.114:8). After encounter, your words are no longer coming from mere “thoughts” but from the depths of your soul and spirit. This explains why when you hear some persons speak or read their works, you experience some extraordinary strength; you sense a boost that you can’t describe.This is rhema of God at work!
3. It is this type of conversation that St. Paul describes when he writes: in [all] my speeches and the sermons that I gave, there were none of the arguments that belong to philosophy; only a demonstration of the power of the Spirit. Some time ago, I wrote on “Summoning with effective prayer” and published it on Facebook, the reactions from that post demonstrates what I am describing here. Look closely at the reactions in the pictures below. It is nothing but a demonstration of power of the Spirit! A demonstration of “conversation that springs from encounter”- rhema! Some persons when they hear it or read it, and they sense goose pimples all over; while for some others, it is the beginning of liberation.
TASK: To have this encounter you must surrender yourself to Jesus like St. Andrew, the apostle who surrendered promptly at the voice of Jesus. There are “nets” you must drop to have that encounter: those nets are limiters! Ask yourself: what is that net I must drop? Pray now 7 times: Jesus I want to drop this “net” (call it by its name) in order to have a life-changing rapport with you. Give me the strength now.
©Fr. SimOne Madu, OSJ
SUPPORT THE WORK OF THIS MINISTRY
Follow us on Youtube: Your Subscription matters a lot to us as way of support to keep this ministry going. CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE. God bless you as you do so.
Amen. Thanks padre SimOne. God bless you.
Visiting for the first time but I must confess it touches my spirit.lord Jesus,give me the enablement of your Grace to carry your purpose in my life amen.
Good bless you James Odey. May the Holy spirit you encountered on the lines of this write-up grant that you increase in wisdom and grace. Amen. Share your experience with others.
Amen. God bless you dear. Thanks for reading through.