by George Runyan | Apr 24, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 1:9-10 – The brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away.
Here we read of the wisdom of God. The Lord always sees both sides of the coin. On the one hand, the person who does not possess a lot of this world’s goods should recognize in Christ that he has been highly exalted. He is the son of a King and everything his Father would choose for him to have is his for the asking. On the other hand, the one who has been blessed with this world’s goods should walk in humility. He only has what he has by God’s goodness. Life is a fleeting journey that will end in death for both the rich and the poor. Possessions and pursuits will all fade away like the grass. The Holy Spirit wants us to focus on those things that will remain, which principally have eternal substance attached to them. The question for each believer remains, “Is this God’s will?” The transforming power of Holy Spirit in a believer’s life is to help us live for God’s pleasure and not our own. This is good proof of a more complete restoration to God’s plan and purposes.
If I am poor, I am not to dwell on my poverty, but rather embrace my wealth which is found in Christ Jesus. If I am poor because of laziness or misuse of funds, I need to repent and ask for the Holy Spirit to help me. But if I am poor because of my plight in life, I am to rejoice, as James states, “in my high position” as a son of God, “blessed with all spiritual blessings in the heavenly places in Christ” (Ephesians 1:3). If I am rich, then I am to make the riches secondary. My rejoicing is to be in the saving grace of God. I am to rejoice that the riches did not stop me from humbling myself before almighty God and confessing my absolute poverty and my hopeless condition without God’s saving work. The Scriptures are so incredible when made alive by their author, the Holy Spirit. He helps us to apply their eternal truths in this temporal life.
Whatever your situation may be, take the appropriate position. By the power of the Holy Spirit, claim your portion in the Lord Jesus for your daily need. Remember your high state in Christ. Glory in your absolute poverty without Him and give thanks in the midst of plenty. Always remember, He saved you in spite of your temporal position.
by George Runyan | Apr 23, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 1:2 – Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, and let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
This scripture is hard for many to receive because it appears to be a negative statement. It is not our human desire to encounter different kinds of trials, but James says to “count it all joy”! We are to count “trials” as joy, because if we endure them, they will produce maturity in us. The word “perfect” here means “mature,” so James instructs us “to let endurance have its perfect result.” The translators put the word “its” in italics for emphasis. It takes endurance to go through problems. Many times, we want to just give up. The Holy Spirit is always with us as He supplies the grace and the vision for us to see and endure our trials until the end. Then, and only then, will we see the fruit of our enduring trials as we hang in there.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5). What a great promise to each believer. When we are in the midst of a trial, it is wisdom that we need the most. The Holy Spirit is God’s agent to give us the “wisdom of God.” His promise is that we will receive a generous portion from Him, and we do not have to be ashamed to ask for it. Verse 6 says that the asking must be in faith without any doubting. Of course, when one is in the midst of a trial, doubt is lurking and ready to defeat us. It is a battle to continue in faith. That is why James uses the word “endure.” Asking God is the beginning of faith, but not the end. Jesus said to “ask” in Matthew 6. The literal translation is to “ask and keep on asking.” Thus, we need to endure, to keep on asking and expecting God’s help. He will give you wisdom to know what to do. The result will be growth.
Identify whatever trial you may be presently having and ask God to give you wisdom through His Holy Spirit to endure those trials. Keep asking until the victory appears and you will rejoice in the growth you will experience in your life.
by George Runyan | Apr 22, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 7:28 – When Jesus finished these words, the crowds were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority and not as their scribes.
One of the most amazing aspects of Jesus’ ministry was the authority from which He taught. People’s amazement is recorded a number of times in the gospels. What good is teaching if it does not have weight behind it? The Holy Spirit is the one who gives weight to the teachings and words of the Lord Jesus Christ.
There are many in the body of Christ who can teach the Bible, but lack the anointing of the Holy Spirit to teach with authority. Consequently, those teachings are delivered as words and opinions. This is what the people in Jesus’ time were accustomed, words that did not carry Heaven’s authority. It helps us to understand what Paul meant when he said, “My message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4). Authority is associated with power. The words of Jesus and the words of Paul were both filled with power because the Holy Spirit anointed their words.
The same Holy Spirit is at work in the Lord’s church today. He is speaking too many outside the body of Christ, inviting them to become a part of God’s family. Many ministers of the gospel do not see converts to the faith because they are not speaking by the power of God found in the Holy Spirit. Many depend on their intellect rather than waiting on the Lord for His guidance. Many simply preach other men’s messages rather than waiting on the Lord for His Word to be revealed to them. When the Word is preached with power, some are converted. Through the power of God, many find salvation and some receive healing. Others experience judgment because of their rejection of God’s provisions. All of this is the power of God manifested by His Holy Spirit. There are times when God’s power is manifested in “signs and wonders” – things happening outside of the rational which can only be explained by the power of God. He delights to act in power on behalf of an individual or group of people hearing His Word.
The Holy Spirit wants to cause your words to be those of authority as you represent the Lord and His purposes. Ask the Holy Spirit for revelation and understanding given by Him, and see if your words do not have a divine effect on others.
by George Runyan | Apr 20, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 7:24 – Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock.
A rock represents a solid foundation, which does not move easily. Jesus teaches truths that are the foundation of the kingdom He came to establish in the earth. Note, Jesus says that the one who “hears and acts” upon His words is wise. There are many of God’s people who hear the Word of God regularly, but do not act on the Word consistently. What good is a solid foundation if we do not build upon it? The truths contained in the Sermon on the Mount are the Foundation on which the Holy Spirit builds us into Christ and His kingdom. The Holy Spirit soon was to be given to all those putting their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. He brings to the believer power to transform his natural life into a Christ-like life. The foundation laid by Jesus on the Mount becomes the expected foundation of practice for each one trusting in the Lord. Power to live out the life which Jesus is teaching in this magnificent sermon is realized through a daily fellowship with the Holy Spirit and the word of God He reveals to us.
“So faith comes from hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17). Hearing God’s Word produces one level of faith which includes an expectation. Another type of hearing is when the Lord makes a scripture alive to us personally. Both types of hearing God’s Word require the Holy Spirit’s leading. He creates an expectation in our spirit and soul. Faith begins to develop, first in our spirit man, and then in our thinking. As one hears a personal word from the Lord, faith demands an action, not just a mental assent. In order to obey the Sermon on the Mount, it requires faith, which produces power to live a kingdom life and testify to others what it is like to live under the government of King Jesus.
In summary, hear and act on the Words of our Lord. Ask the Holy Spirit, in Jesus’ name, to help you walk in the faith of expectation and the faith of acting on the words of Christ.
by George Runyan | Apr 17, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 7:13—Enter through the narrow gate: for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many thatenter through it.
Jesus is teaching an eternal truth that is important for us to grasp. The serpent gave Eve a broad choice in tempting her to eat of the tree. “God knows that in the day you eat from it, your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil” (Genesis 3:5). It is clear from Scripture that God always had it in His heart to elevate man, and open his understanding. God’s ways are narrow and time-tested. He proves us, before giving to us greater responsibility. He wants to protect His sons and daughters from the pitfalls which will stop us from experiencing His very best. This is what Paul meant when he said, “No temptation has overtaken you, but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape” (1 Corinthians 10:13). The way of escape for Eve was Adam who had received the Word of God. Instead of turning to her husband, she ate the fruit. Adam’s way of escape was to turn to God, but instead he followed his wife’s choice. They opened the broad way which humans follow. Jesus teaches we must “enter through the narrow gate.” He is that gate! He chooses the cross, rather than an easy way out. He established the narrow gate for all of mankind from that point on.
America has become a “pluralistic” society. This means we have swung open the gate to all of the false religions of the world. The original intent of America’s founding fathers was a “Christian Society,” made up of all the different Christian denominations. Everyone could express their Christian faith as their conscience dictated. The founding fathers knew that only the Christian faith would provide an atmosphere for other religions to survive. America, for many years, honored the narrow gate of the gospel of Christ. In more recent times, the narrow has been rejected and replaced with the broad, leading us down a road of destruction. Only by allowing the Holy Spirit to lead us back to the narrow gate, which is Christ, will our nation and its institutions survive.
Will it be relativism, whatever feels good and right to you, or will it be God’s Laws, which are narrow by worldly standards, but lead to life and that abundantly? The Holy Spirit is present to empower us to choose life.
Father, today I choose life. Life in Christ by obeying Your word through the power of the Holy Spirit.
by George Runyan | Apr 16, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 7:12 – In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets.
In the classic sense, this verse is known as the “Golden Rule.” For many people, Christian and non-Christian, the Golden Rule sums up Jesus’ ministry. Jesus took from the Law and the Prophets and expressed all the Law and all the Prophets in this simple statement found in Matthew 7:12. If we are not treating someone the way we would like to be treated, the Holy Spirit is not empowering us. The Holy Spirit will never violate this word of Christ. The verse gives us cause for regular repentance. For married folks, the application of this verse would heal many a marriage. For church leaders, the application would bring peace to many a “Deacon Meeting.” For pastors, the application would bring peace between church bodies. For those in secular work the application of this verse would bring peace at the office.
What a brilliant Savior and Lord we serve! O, the wisdom of heaven. “By His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption” (1 Corinthians 1:30). You and I have the potential to live by this Golden Rule. The wisdom of heaven is dwelling in each believer through the Holy Spirit. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me” (Philippians 4:13). Many apply the Philippians passage to difficult situations in their life, but it is a great passage to be applied for the changing of our attitudes and allowing for the development of the character of Christ within us.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you consider how to view other people. Invite Him to give to you the right attitude about others. Commit yourself daily to trust the Holy Spirit in helping you treat others as you want to be treated.
