by George Runyan | Feb 22, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:10 – To another the gift of prophecy is given.
Prophecy is one of the greatest gifts the Holy Spirit gives to God’s people. Paul encouraged the Corinthians with the words “all may prophesy” (1 Corinthians 14:31). I believe what makes this a great gift is the fact that all can prophesy. Individuals learn and are exhorted through this gift. God’s people are encouraged to go forward and enter into all the Lord has appointed for them. Many times, the words are very specific and help in guiding a person in a particular direction. Prophecy is supernatural in its nature because it comes by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Prophecy is not the natural words of encouragement or teaching, which can be beneficial. The prophetic gift operates as the Holy Spirit stirs up a believer to speak. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will speak one word to a person in order to “prime the pump” for speaking more. Other times it might be a vision that one sees. Most of the time, it is by inspiration and one does not know what will follow the initial word or words the Spirit has given. The Bible connects “faith” to the gift of prophecy. “Prophesy, according to the proportion of faith you have” (Romans 12:6).
The gift of prophecy is a great way to become familiar with the Holy Spirit’s leading and directing. The gift can operate while praying for another, while sharing the gospel, or just encouraging someone in the natural. All of a sudden, the Holy Spirit releases a supernatural word of learning and encouragement. The gift of prophecy can be helpful in leading to the operation of other gifts as the Spirit leads.
I have had prophetic words spoken over my life for the last forty-seven years. Many of these words were very accurate in the detail they contained. This has been helpful for me to continue in the Lord’s direction for my life. At times, these words called me to specific areas of ministry. The Lord had already placed the call in my heart, but others were used to confirm His leading. I have been honored to be used by the Holy Spirit to provide the same ministry to others.
Ask the Holy Spirit to heighten your sensitivity to His presence and to begin to use you in an ever-increasing way in the “gift of prophecy.” You will be astonished how often you begin to share under the anointing of the Spirit of God. How blessed people will be as the Lord uses you to be an instrument of encouragement and learning!
by George Runyan | Feb 21, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:10 – To another the working of miracles.
Many believe that the days of miracles are over. It has always seemed strange to me that anyone could come to this conclusion. God is the author of miracles. He is supernatural and we are natural. God is unlimited and we are limited. Paul gave us an order for church life recorded in 1 Corinthians 12:28. He lists a number of ministries we should expect in the Lord’s church. He begins with apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then “miracles,” and then healing. The list goes on. It seems Paul understood miracles were to be a regular part of God’s order in His church. Just like the other gifts, not everyone operates in the gift of miracles, but all believers have the gift available by virtue of the Holy Spirit living inside them.
Some believe miracles stopped after the original apostles died. Those who hold to this view believe we have the finished Canon of God’s Word and have no need of any of the gifts. Nothing could be farther from the truth! It is true, the revelation of God’s Word to mankind is absolutely complete. No further revelation is needed. The gift of miracles confirms the Word of God by the Lord’s Holy Presence existing in the believer.
Jesus, Paul, and the disciples were used by the Spirit in the miraculous, confirming the Word of God that they preached. In fact, in Mark 16:18, Jesus told us that miracles would be part of the ministry of the Great Commission. The writer of Hebrews makes this statement: “How will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will” (Hebrews 2:3-4).
“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever” (Hebrews 13:8). Do you believe that? Then He is still the miracle worker and He has not removed this vital gift from His church. Rejoice! Be courageous and ask the Holy Spirit to use you in this realm of the Spirit’s work. Yield to the Holy Spirit and expect the gift of miracles to become a part of your life and ministry to others.
Father, I yield to Your miracle power. Use me according to Your will to help others come to know Your miraculous power manifested in the resurrection life of Your Son through Your indwelling Holy Spirit.
by George Runyan | Feb 19, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:9 – To another faith is given by the same Spirit.
Faith is always being exercised in the public gathering of the saints. Each believer exercises their faith simply by assembling with other believers. At times, special faith is required. There are times when the Holy Spirit will impart to an individual believer a special gift of faith. In the public meeting, the Spirit may choose to use one or two individuals in the “gift of faith” to meet a particular need. The Scriptures declare, “We walk by faith” (2 Corinthians 5:7). Our daily walk is an exercise of our personal faith in our Lord. There are also times when we must operate in faith through the application of particular Scriptures in various circumstances we face. Perhaps you are trusting for healing, believing for a certain financial need, or facing some impossible situation. We all face these times.
In every believer’s life there are times when a special gift of faith is required. These are times when the Holy Spirit will impart a special gift of faith to meet a need or answer the cry for help as we come to the end of our own operation of faith. Paul operated in special times of exceptional faith. “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out” (Acts 19:11-12).
I have personally had times when the Holy Spirit imparted special faith for a job to be done. I found this to be most often true when traveling into a foreign country and facing certain dangers. I knew, in these times, I was not operating in my normal walk of faith, but in special grace the Holy Spirit was supplying for a specific task. I do not experience the “gift of faith” daily, but over the years I have found the Lord to be so faithful to give me the grace of faith so I could accomplish what He had purposed for me to do.
Father, I pray that You will grace my life with special, even extraordinary measures of faith as needed. I pray to be reminded of Your ever-present help in time of need. I open up my spirit to the Holy Spirit, who is full of grace and gifts. Father, I thank you for the faith You have given me. I also thank You for the gift of faith available to me in those special times of need.
by George Runyan | Feb 18, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:8 – To another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit.
Paul reminds us that the same Spirit, who gives the word of wisdom to one, gives the word of knowledge to another. Paul is addressing the public gathering of believers and the need for godly order in the meeting. The Holy Spirit, who is charged with distributing the gifts, is also residing in each believer. He can release a gift through any believer at His will. The “word of knowledge” is not the knowledge one receives by diligent study or from a teacher in the classroom, but rather a supernatural word the Holy Spirit imparts. It is information the Spirit is privy to know, He chooses to share this information to accomplish His particular purpose. The word of knowledge can be very helpful in assisting when ministering to another. At times, the Spirit of the Lord will give a needed word of knowledge to assist a believer in problem solving.
I have experienced this gift operating when I had come to the end of my natural reasoning in a matter. I had exhausted my own resources of information and needed a word which the Holy Spirit held. Other times, while an individual is sharing with me their perspective, I will be praying, “Lord, give me Your supernatural knowledge of what this one needs.” Shortly, a word would come into my mind, or a picture that usually does not make sense to me, but communicated exactly what the other person needed. Our God is great! He is close to us by His Holy Spirit, and so willing to share His gifts with all His children. Develop a discipline of asking the Holy Spirit for a “word of knowledge” and see if He begins to share with you what you need to know. On a personal note, when I have lost something, I have asked the Holy Spirit to give me a word of direction to find the lost item. Many times, He has. It is not magic, but His word of knowledge freely given.
Go ahead. Begin to ask the Holy Spirit for the word of knowledge to operate in your life. Thank Him for the times this gift has operated, even though you did not recognize the knowledge you had received actually came from Him. He is closer than most of us realize. Nurture the relationship we have been so blessed to have with the Living God!
by George Runyan | Feb 17, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:8 – To one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit.
It is important to understand from this verse of Scripture that Paul is addressing order in the public gathering. As the Spirit directs the meeting, a number of individuals may be chosen to be used in a variety of the gifts. This is the reason, Paul specified, “to one is given.” Believers should have an expectation for the manifestation of these gifts in their gatherings. A few people may be used to speak a “word of wisdom” while others may be used in another gift. Please take note; as we learn to be led by the Spirit, it is important for leadership to be listening carefully for the Spirit’s promptings in the gathering.
Any and all of the gifts are readily available to believers, relating to their individual walk with the Lord. Many times, I have experienced the gift of wisdom in counseling. I may receive a thought that did not come from my natural reasoning, but rather the prompting of the Holy Spirit as He guides me in the counseling session. In past years, I experienced the Holy Spirit guiding me through a word of wisdom to solve problems while working a secular job. How honored the believer is to have a close relationship with the Holy Spirit! We can ask Him to release the word of wisdom as needed in any given situation.
The Scriptures place a great deal of emphasis on the importance of wisdom in one’s life. We find this especially true in the book of Proverbs. By studying and applying God’s Word, one will move in wisdom on a regular basis. Please understand, there is a difference between gaining wisdom from studying God’s Word and the gift of the “word of wisdom” which is an immediate word from heaven given by the Spirit of God. Paul encourages each of us to seek after the best gifts. Truly, the word of wisdom is to be highly sought after.
Begin to ask the Holy Spirit for the gift of the word of wisdom every day. Ask Him to give you a great desire for the word of wisdom and to cause you to be sensitive to His promptings when He wants to speak to you and release this awesome gift.
by George Runyan | Feb 16, 2016 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:7 – Each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.
It is important to realize that Paul wrote to all the believers at Corinth and not just to a select few. As it relates to the gifts of the Spirit, many think a special few are able to operate in this realm. This could not be farther from the truth. God has no favorites! The Apostle Peter understood this when he said, “I most certainly understand now that God is not One to show partiality, but in every nation the man who fears Him and does what is right is welcome to Him” (Acts 10:34-35). We should rejoice over the fact that any believer can be used of God in regard to these supernatural gifts. The problem is never with God, but with us. The problem is rooted in our thinking and expectation. How do you expect God to use you? Do you trust in the Lord for His gifts to operate through your life? Some think that they are not worthy to be used, while others believe that the Lord does not manifest Himself through the gifts any longer. Whatever the blockage, let it go today. Allow the Holy Spirit to use you in releasing God’s kingdom through your life to another in need today.
Notice, Paul says, “The manifestation of the Spirit is for the common good.” The Lord intends for the gifts to be manifested regularly, not every once in a while. We should expect “Divine” appointments daily, where a gift of the Spirit freely operates through our lives. As we fellowship with other saints who have similar expectations, faith is increased to trust the Lord for His gifts. We do not want to breed familiarity with the work of the Spirit, but we should expect His manifestations regularly and always for the good of those in need. Be ready to be used of God by letting the Holy Spirit work though you. The needs are great and the Lord is calling His people to be workers with Him. Choose today to be an instrument of blessing to others wherever you may be, in the church assembly, at work, or even seated on an airplane. The Spirit of God is ready to use us. Are we ready to be used?
Father, I make myself available to be used by the Holy Spirit for the common good of others. I open my heart to You and yield all of me to the Holy Spirit’s control. I pray to be an instrument of righteousness for the common good of all those I meet today.
