by George Runyan | May 31, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 John 4:1 – Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The gift of discerning of spirits gives a supernatural insight into the secret realm of the spiritual world. Through this gift, one receives information that could not be known apart from the gift. By discernment, we may know the true source and nature of any supernatural manifestation. One is able to know whether it is divine, satanic or just human. It should be noted, this is not discernment, but “discerning of spirits.” One might naturally discern a situation, but this gift is for the purpose of the discerning of the spirit world.
There are three kinds of spirits to be considered in our devotional. First is the Divine, God’s Holy Spirit promised to every believer by the Father. The divine also includes angels. Angels are known for manifesting and bringing messages from God to humans. Second is that the demonic, associated with the kingdom of darkness. Last is the human spirit. Both joy and pain can flow out of the human spirit. The gift of discernment is given to distinguish the source of activity. Is it coming from the divine, from the satanic or the human spirit? The use of the gift today is the same as seen in the Scriptures. Consider with me some applications of discernment found in God’s Word.
The gift is used in delivering the afflicted, oppressed, and tormented from the enemy’s clutches. Many infirmities, cruelties, and suicides are attributable to evil spirits. The natural world has difficulty conceiving of the spiritual world. Lives can still be driven and wrecked by cruel, tormenting spirits (Mark 5:1-15; Luke 9:38-43; Acts 5:16; Matthew 12:22; and Luke 13:11-16). Obviously, not all impediments are the work of evil spirits, but as Matthew 4:24 reveals, many that Jesus healed were tormented by evil spirits. Another application was to discover a servant of the devil. Paul, by the gift of discernment, discovered the true heart of the magician (Acts 13:6-10). This was not a case of deliverance, but judgment. Another time was to aid in discovering the plans of the adversary. After many days, Paul discerned the evil spirit and cast it out of the young woman. Thus, a wicked master was deprived of his gains and a woman was delivered (Acts 16:16). This gift is used to expose error (1Timothy 4:1-2; 2 Peter 2:1; 1 John 4:1).
The gift of discernment can help in knowing if an angel is interacting with you (Luke 1:12 & 22). “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for some have entertained angels without knowing it.” (Hebrews 13:2).
Let us earnestly seek this gift that we may recognize when we come against a spirit of the enemy, the spirit of error, or even a wrongly motivated human spirit. Let us also be discerning of true ministers of God, whether human or angelic. Pray that the Holy Spirit will activate this vital gift in you and use you mightily for His kingdom’s sake.
by George Runyan | May 30, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 14:31 – You can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted.
The subject of prophecy is at the heart of Paul’s teaching in 1 Corinthians 14. Earlier, Paul told these believers, “You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols” (1 Corinthians 12:2). Paul goes on to share about those who speak by the Spirit of God. God the Father always intended His people to be a voice for Him. Moses said, “I would that all God’s people were Prophets” (Numbers 11:29). Revelation 19:10 states that “The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.”
Let’s review what Paul teaches concerning prophecy. In 1 Corinthians 14:1, Paul commands us to “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” In verse 3 he writes, “But one who prophesies speaks to men for edification, and exhortation, and consolation.” He goes on in verse 4, “One who prophesies edifies the church.” In verse 5, Paul shares a deep desire, “Now I wish that you all speak in tongues, but even more that you would prophesy; and greater is the one who prophesies than the one who speaks in tongues, unless he interprets, so that the church may receive edifying.”
Remember, Paul is dealing with these gifts in the corporate gathering of the church. The instruction applies to the church as a whole being edified not just ministering to one person. Paul writes in verse 6, “What will it profit you unless I speak to you either by way of revelation or of knowledge or of prophecy or of teaching?” These are four clear spoken ways of building up the body of Christ! In verses 7 through 33, Paul illustrates his point using musical instruments, the natural way of speaking, and the call to war. Paul states, “I thank God, I speak in tongues more than you all; however, in the church I desire to speak five words with my mind so that I may instruct others also, rather than ten thousand words in tongues” (1 Corinthians 14:19). In verses 31-33 Paul teaches us that “you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all may be exhorted; and the spirits of the prophets are subject to the prophets; for God is not the God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints.”
Paul is not dealing with the private use of tongues in these passages. He is concerned for the church when she gathers together. There, the focus must be “edification of one another.” In the corporate gathering, there is no place for being self-focused or drawing attention to oneself. The concern is always to be toward building up others in Christ.
Pray with me for the Holy Spirit to make us an instrument for Him to speak through Him to others. Lord, cause me to both hear You clearly and to speak clearly Your word to others that they may be edified. Release the “gift of prophecy” in my life as You please. I am listening Lord, use me.
by George Runyan | May 29, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Mark 16:17 – These signs will accompany those who have believed.
What a wonderful promise our Lord has given us. The word miracle denotes a non-natural, beyond natural, supernatural order of things. A miracle is a work contrary to nature, the accomplishments of which we are unaccustomed to experiencing. The gift of the working of miracles operates by the energy or dynamic force of the Spirit of God. It is a sovereign act of the Spirit of God, irrespective of laws or systems that we understand.
Some of the operations of this gift are found both in the Old and New Testament. They are seen when God delivered His people from bondage, Exodus 14:16. God provided for those in need while in the wilderness, Exodus 17:5-6. In the New Testament, miracles confirm the preached Word, Acts 8:6. Miracles deliver people at times of unavoidable situations of danger, Acts 19:11-12. Miracles display God’s power and magnificence, Psalm 150:2. Miracles show forth His excellent greatness!
Miracles are explosions of God’s almighty signs and wonders. Miracles are an expression of the divine, walking among men. Miracles are tokens of His invisible power. Miracles fall into the realm of recreation, not just mere healing. There are miraculous occasions we find mentioned in the Scriptures and recorded in history. Some examples are the deliverance ministry, when evil spirits come out of people. There are occasions when new limbs are given, blind eyes are opened, deaf ears are unstopped, a new organ given, and unexplainable events taking place. The most powerful miracle is the resurrection of the dead.
God’s people, who have been saved by the power of God, need to give time to meditating on the “miraculous.” The miraculous should be a part of our walk with Christ, in the Power of the Holy Spirit. A lifestyle of the miraculous should not be foreign or strange. As a believer in the Lord, we should come to expect the Holy Spirit to break into our natural world and perform “signs and wonders.” Those that want to argue against the miraculous will be those that seldom see God’s miraculous hand. I choose to live a life of expectation resulting in many experiences of God’s intervention into my natural world with supernatural occurrences.
Won’t you join me in expectation of God’s promises to those who believe? Ask the Holy Spirit to perform mighty signs and wonders through you on behalf of those in need of the power of God. Father, raise my expectation of Your mighty power working with me and through me on a daily basis for Your glory.
by George Runyan | May 28, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Mark 16:18 – . . . they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover
In the early church, the gifts of healing were displayed many years after the resurrection of Christ. Paul had power to heal through special miracles. “God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were carried from his body to the sick, and diseases left them and the evil spirits went out” (Acts 19:11-12). It is recorded that Paul prayed for Publius’ father and then “laid his hands on him and healed him” (Acts 28:8).
Twenty-six years after the resurrection of Jesus, ordinary believers were still operating in the gifts of healing. Paul speaks of healing gifts in the plural in I Corinthians 12:9. In Galatians, Paul asked a question concerning the Spirit and miracles. “So then, does he who provides you with the Spirit, and work miracles among you, do it by the works of the Law or by hearing with faith” (Galatians 3:5)? James, many years after the earthly ministry of Jesus, gave direction for the Elders to pray for the sick, with a promise of healing and forgiveness (James 5:l4-16).
The Scriptures are filled with many divers operations of the gift of healing. I have listed a number of references which speak about this wonderful gift. Take time to study the Scriptures for yourself. Ask the Father to reveal His will to you concerning healing. Trust Him in faith that the Holy Spirit would give gifts of healing to you. Ask Him to use you to bring healing to those in need. Father, supply my life with Your gifts of healing as You would direct. There are many in need of God’s healing power. There is a great need for God’s people to allow the Holy Spirit to minister His gifts through their life.
Here are a few examples of the diversity of the healing gifts:Touch of a hand – Matthew 9:21; Sending the Word – Psalm 107:20; Peter’s shadow – Acts 5:15; Aprons and garments – Acts 19:12; Anointing with oil. – James 5:14; Laying on of hands – Mark 16:18; Prayer in Jesus’ Name – Acts 3:6; The Word of Knowledge – Acts 9:11.18 and 14:8.10; Through the means of special directions to the sick one: Mark 7:31-37 – Fingers in his ears and touching the tongue; Mark 8:22-26 – Saliva placed on the blind man’s eyes; Acts 20:9-10 – Paul embracing a dead man who revived; Action taken by the sick one to show faith. In John 5:1-9 is the example of the man at the pool of Bethesda picking up his bed and walking. Another time in Matthew 9:1-7, Jesus told the man to “pick up his bed and go home.” And he got up and went home. It was in Jesus’ healing ministry that, “the crowds were awestruck, and glorified God, who had given such authority to men” (Matthew 9:8).
God has always been the healer of His people. He heals today as well. Won’t you receive His healing grace in your life and allow Him to use you to bring His healing power to others? Remember what Jesus said about those who believe on Him, “They will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:18).
by George Runyan | May 27, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Exodus 15:26 – If you will give earnest heed to the voice of the Lord your God, and do what is right in His sight, and give ear to His commandments, and keep all His statutes, I will put none of the diseases on you which I have brought on the Egyptians; for I, the Lord, am your healer.
Jehovah God established His Healing Covenant with His Covenant people after turning the bitter waters sweet. He said, “For I, the Lord, am your healer.” Throughout the Old and New Testament, healing was part of the covenant which the Lord provided for His people. In the New Testament, we see healing extended to unbelievers as a gift to draw them to God’s mercy and grace.
Many Scriptures speak to this tremendous truth of God’s grace of healing. Consider some of those healed in the Old Testament. Abimelech was healed when Abraham prayed (Genesis 20). God healed Israel while in the wilderness (Psalm 107:20). Naaman was healed when he followed Elisha’s instructions (2 Kings 5). Jeroboam, Hezekiah, and David experienced God’s healing power (Psalm 103:1-5).
In the Gospel of Luke, we find twenty-four cases of healing recorded. We read of Jesus healing the sick and sending His disciples to do the same (Luke 10:8-9). In verse 9, Jesus directly connects healing to the message of the kingdom of God. He healed some and the result was apparent later (Luke 17:14). He healed others and they recovered instantly (Matthew 8:13). He healed all manner of sickness and disease: lunacy, palsy, epilepsy, fever, paralysis, blindness, lameness, deafness, withered limbs and, He raised the dead as with Lazarus (John 11:38-44). He healed those that were far away (John 4:46-54). He healed chronic cases, such as the woman with the issue of blood for 12 years (Luke 8:43); the man lame for 38 years (Luke 5:5-9) and, the woman bent over for 18 years (Luke13:18).
God still heals today. He uses willing people who will just simply believe God’s Word and obey as the Holy Spirit prompts them to pray for those in need. Today, rooms of healing are being raised up all over the world. God’s people come together in a building or house to take time to pray for the sick. Not only are many healed, but many are coming to know Christ as a result of God’s divine touch.
Ask the Father in Jesus’ name for the “gifts of healing” to operate in your life. There are so many people that need to be healed. There are many that need to be touched by the power of God. It has been said that “healing is the dinner bell to salvation.”
by George Runyan | May 26, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:9 To another is given gifts of healing.
Healing is the only gift spoken of in the plural. The term “gifts” is used because there are many manifestations of the Spirit regarding healing. It is undoubtedly a gift that contains gifts. “There are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit” (I Corinthians 12:5). There are differences of manifestations and operations of the gifts of God. Separate from the working of miracles is the miracle of healing. My definition of the “gifts of healing” is “the supernatural healing of diseases and infirmities without the aid ofnatural means.”
Healing is a command of Jesus to His disciples. “As you go, preach, saying, the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, and cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give” (Matthew 10:7-8). Jesus Bore Our Sins and Sickness according to Isaiah 53:3-5. Matthew 8:16-17 and 1 Peter 2:24 both reveal this to be the correct interpretation of the Isaiah passages. Jesus associated sin and sickness in Mark 2:1-12 when He told the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (Mark 2:5). It has been said that 90% of Jesus’ ministry was involved in the healing of the sick.
There are so many more Scriptures which give evidence of God’s desire and will to heal. He has made us participants in this great part of His Son’s ministry by providing these “gifts of healing.” The gifts are distributed in His body by the Holy Spirit. What an important topic and ministry from our Lord. He wants to anoint His sons and daughters with an increased expectation and release of His presence through His gifts. We will take a couple more days in our devotions to consider further Scriptures instructing us about the subject of healing.
I have had the privilege of praying for multitudes of people around the world to receive healing. It has been one of my greatest delights to have watched the Holy Spirit release His gifts with mighty power over all kinds of sickness and disease. I praise His Holy Name for what He has accomplished in the lives of so many through this wonderful gift!
Ask the Holy Spirit for deepening insights in the Scriptures relating to healing. Ask Him to prepare your heart and to give you divine appointments for ministering to those who He would touch with His healing power.
