by George Runyan | Sep 24, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 2:1 – I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
One who is determined has their mind made up. They have decided or resolved to do a certain thing. They are resolute and unwavering in their decision. Paul’s determination came from something beyond him. It came from the power of the cross of Christ through the Holy Spirit.
Watchman Nee wrote in his book, “The Latent Power of the Soul” that God put tremendous ability in man’s soul beyond what we normally use. The problem is that “soul power” belongs to the old nature and not the new. Determination for the believer must be associated with the cross of Christ and not some natural reasoning from our old nature.
A sign the Holy Spirit is at work in us is in the destroying our confidence in the flesh (Philippians 3:3). In Philippians 3:4, Paul goes on to say that more than anybody, he could put his confidence in his flesh. He chose not to because he recognized he died with Christ and now his source of life came from the resurrection power of the Lord. If we try to cling to natural virtues while God desires to bring forth the life of His Son in us, we find ourselves fighting against God. The virtue of Christ is in the “Fruit of the Spirit” alone.
Our determination should be rooted in the freedom of Christ which brings true liberty in our life experience. The biblical order that leads to a determination to follow the Lord is found in repentance, forgiveness, conversion, and a life of trust in God. CLICK TITLE ABOVE TO READ MORE.
by George Runyan | Sep 23, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Proverbs 28:13-14 – He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion. When we are faced with situations in life which keep getting worse, it is time to stop and evaluate the problem and then develop a plan of action to turn things around. This is exactly what the Father did for mankind through the Lord Jesus Christ. We must face our present condition head on. Many try to ignore the conditions that are creating havoc in their lives. Many of God’s people have issues of depression, condemnation, and feelings of being bound with no way out of their circumstances. What is needed is a new way of thinking. Here are some suggestions to help form a new way of thinking in developing a plan of action.
Accept “The New Man” God has made you to be in Christ. It is not just a theological position, but in reality we have been made new in Christ by the work of the Holy Spirit.
Apply biblical principles to your situation. Find out what the Bible has to say concerning your problem.
Set goals. Part of developing a plan is the setting of goals. Make sure that your goals are realistic. Pray over your goals and invite the Holy Spirit to empower you to attain what you have set.
Let others participate with you as you try to attain the goals. Your spouse or a close friend needs to know what you’re struggling with and what your goals are. It is a good idea to have a spiritual leader also involved.
Make a clear determination to what you are to give your mind. Establish disciplines and be accountable daily, weekly, and monthly.
The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage, but everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty (Proverbs 21:5). What a helpful thought Solomon gives to us. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Solomon tells us that a plan gives us a distinct advantage. The old adage of “haste makes waste” is certainly true in the lives of many. If we have been hasty in the past, we can stop, evaluate our situation, make a plan and turn things around. Father, I thank You for the plan You have for my life. I am sorry for any haste on my part in not waiting on You for clear direction. Help me to plan carefully, be accountable, and have a clear determination in my thoughts. CLICK ON BOOK TO PURCHASE YOUR OWN PERSONAL COPY!
by George Runyan | Sep 22, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Isaiah 11:1-2 – A shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
Jesse was King David’s father. God promised David that the Messiah would come from his generational line. The promise of the Father was that the Spirit of the Lord would rest on David’s promised son. Many of the common folks of Jesus’ day recognized Him as the “Son of David” (Matthew 21:9).
Isaiah identifies six manifestations of the Spirit that would be seen operating in the life of David’s greatest Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The spirit of wisdom is mentioned first, followed by understanding, counsel, might, knowledge, and the fear of the Lord.
The spirit of wisdom is the discerning of consequences of wrong actions from an eternal perspective. Jesus knew the hearts of all men, which is to say, He knew their motives. He was able to respond in wisdom to all their trick questions and wrong motivations.
The spirit of understanding is the ability to bring into light why and how people behave as they do. It is the ability to identify wrong behavioral patterns and to establish healthy ones.
The spirit of counsel is the knowing of God’s purpose and will in the life of an individual. It is to know how to reverse the effects of sin through understanding the counsel of God.
The spirit of might is the demonstration of God’s power over the addictions sin produces. It is the power to bring deliverance and healing from sin’s results.
The spirit of knowledge is having an eternal perspective that produces purpose and a fulfillment of divine destiny.
The spirit of the fear of the Lord is an awareness of God’s presence and brings the healing to a seared conscience. The spirit of the fear of the Lord calls out hypocrisy and identifies a “seared conscience” (1Timothy 4:1-2). The fear of the Lord keeps one away from evil (Proverbs 16:6).
Father, I ask for these manifestations of Your presence to be operating in my life as it was in the life of Your Son, whom You call “the Son of David.” CLICK ON BOOK TO PURCHASE FOR YOUR DAILY USE
by George Runyan | Sep 22, 2014 | Devotional, Dr. Stan Dekoven
Isaiah 11:1-2 – A shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit. The Spirit of the Lord will rest upon Him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and strength, the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the...
by George Runyan | Sep 22, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Please check out the entire Devotional Book above. The Lord is using “Developing Your Relationship with the Holy Spirit” to help many to grow in the Spirit and the Word of God.
