by George Runyan | Mar 23, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:8 – Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
When the Scripture speaks of purity of heart, it is addressing motivations. The subject of the heart is a large topic in God’s Word. Here are some samplings. God searches the heart (Jeremiah 17:10). Unbelief comes from a hardened heart (Mark 8:17). Jesus knew what they were thinking in their hearts (Luke 9:47). The heart is where one’s treasure is (Luke 12:34). The heart is where secrets are kept (1 Corinthians 14:25). Paul prayed for the eyes of the heart to be enlightened, so that we may know what is the hope of His calling (Ephesians 1:18). Consider Paul’s admonition in Colossians 3:12-13. “So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also you forgive.” The pure in heart have received forgiveness and forgiven all those who have sinned against them.
The heart is what I call “the seedbed of our emotions.” It is the deepest area in a person’s being. Some connect the heart to our human spirit. The pure in heart are those who have opened to God every secret they hold. The pure in heart have repented of unbelief. Although they do not understand everything yet, they trust completely in God. The pure in heart are becoming a treasure house of godliness. This new heart of purity must be received. Paul said to “put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” (Colossians 3:12). These qualities are not the fruits of a good idea, but of a pure heart!
Today, why not join in Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus “that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened to know the hope of His calling”. It is in that seeking of God’s will and purpose that our hearts are changed and purity begins to form. Ask the Holy Spirit for a pure heart. Allow Him to identify areas in your life in need of His cleansing power.
by George Runyan | Mar 22, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
Sir Isaac Newton first presented his three laws of motion in 1686. His third law states “that for every action (force) in nature there is an equal and opposite reaction.” In other words, if object A exerts a force on object B, then object B also exerts an equal and opposite force on object A.
Newton was given revelation by God relating to a law of physics, but we have been given revelation by God in the spiritual realm. When you are merciful, it sets up a spiritual law of receiving mercy. This is true about all the Beatitudes. God’s life exerts a spiritual force of mercy upon us. We in turn exert a spiritual force upon others by showing mercy. They in turn become open to receiving mercy from God and give mercy back. In the law of the Spirit, the Scripture says, “Give, and it shall be given to you” (Luke 6:38). One of the evidences of the new birth in an individual is their desire to give to others.
Let us consider a few biblical statements that bear witness to this truth. Consider what the Psalmist said, “Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting” (Ps 126:5). Brokenness over others and their condition carries the promise that God will honor your brokenness with a day when the watering from your tears will give a crop of salvation that will produce in you a joy that cannot be contained.
Again consider what Paul said, “If we sowed spiritual things in you, is it too much if we should reap material things from you? (1 Corinthians 9:11). This is a Principle or Law in the New Testament. When God sends those who carry spiritual things that are imparted to our lives, we in turn should respond
by George Runyan | Mar 21, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
As humans, we find ourselves in an impossible situation from a natural perspective. We are slaves to sin. The righteousness of the Law of God continually declares us to be guilty. The Scribes and Pharisees perverted the Law and brought the people under religious bondage by human means. Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness surpasses theirs, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20). Even the keeping of their strict application of the Law fell short of the requirements of God.
There is a void in every human, a void of the righteousness of God. This void can only be filled by the righteousness of Christ Jesus. “There is none righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10). People deal with this condition in different ways. Some pervert the need to fill the void by feeding the unrighteousness with increasingly unrighteous acts. Others try to satisfy their need through religion, trying to get to God on their terms. The Scripture says, “We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Throughout the ministry of Jesus, He taught how to satisfy this hunger and thirst. We learn that Jesus is the Way in John 14:6. Each person who has received the Lord, by giving their life to Him, knows firsthand that He alone satisfies the longing for the void to be filled. We must continually draw on the righteousness of Jesus Christ to know and experience the true satisfaction He alone can bring.
It is not by our performance that we find satisfaction, but through relationship alone. A relationship rooted in Christ Jesus fulfilling the entire requirement of the Father. A relationship filled with the acceptance of our heavenly Father. The true satisfaction comes from knowing that God loves me and in His love I am fully accepted.
Father, I ask for a deepening hunger and thirst for Your righteousness. Release the Holy Spirit to draw me closer to Jesus. I join in the writer of Hebrews’ prayer that we may fix “our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2).
by George Runyan | Mar 19, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 5:4 – Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
Multitudes throughout the ages have known what it is to mourn. We may mourn the passing of a loved one, the loss of a child, a war casualty, calamities, or the loss of property such as a house or finances. Consider the oppression people suffer throughout the world. Modern day news coverage allows us to observe people weeping and lamenting their present day circumstances. Because of these first-hand observations, many become moved with compassion to share their resources with those who are suffering. Many times believers have experienced the prompting of the Holy Spirit to reach out in practical ways to those in need. There is a good reason why Jesus called the Holy Spirit “the Comforter.” Only the Spirit of God can completely comfort those who are mourning. True comfort can only be brought by what Jesus promised in Matthew 5:4.
Have you ever been hindered by your lack of words or ability to comfort another? Have you ever felt helpless during times when a person has experienced the death of a loved one, a calamity of some kind, or when their life is being oppressed by some difficult circumstance? At these times, it can be humanly impossible to bring comfort. As a believer, we have received the necessary grace from the Holy Spirit, to come alongside an individual and speak a word of comfort through the inspiration He gives. There will be a day in which we will know the totality of the Spirit’s comfort. The Scriptures speak of the day in which all our tears will be wiped away. “He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death, there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4).
The only answer for the conditions found in a fallen world, is found in Christ. The believer has the answers dwelling within through the person of the Holy Spirit. All His fruit, His gifts, and His power is available to those who have put their faith in Christ. Allow the Holy Spirit freedom and total access to use you for the glory of God.
As the old gospel song declares, “The Comforter has come, the Holy Ghost from heaven, the Father’s promise given.” Today, allow His comfort to be your portion. He will give you peace and assurance in every situation. He will use you to minister comfort to another.
by George Runyan | Mar 18, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 6:13 – For Yours is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever.
What a powerful declaration of truth! Jesus directs everything back to the Father. The Holy Spirit was poured out on believers to work the works of the Father in the earth. The first thing the Holy Spirit established was God’s reign in the earth. On the Day of Pentecost, the Holy Spirit came on those waiting for Him in the upper room. He began to rule in the lives of individuals. From this place of His ruling flowed power, power to transform and govern in the lives of those who have trusted in Christ. “The kingdom of God is not coming with signs to be observed; nor will they say,’ Look, here it is!’ or, ‘There it is!’ For behold, the kingdom of God is in your midst” (Luke 17:20-21).
The Lord revealed how He was working in the earth through the apostles and the early church. The same Holy Spirit power continues today. The productivity of His rule and power is a manifestation of His glory. Ultimately, we will share in the fullness of His glory when Christ returns, but for now, the glory is revealed through committed, Spirit-filled lives. Jesus said, “It is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom” (Luke 12:32). Paul instructed the church to “Walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory” (1 Thessalonians 2:12). This is the work of the Spirit, releasing the kingdom of God to those who believe and using each believer for the glory of God.
The kingdom of God is now and is yet to be some day. I say now, because the Holy Spirit lives in the believer and helps us do the will of God. It is in the future, because there is yet a day when Christ Jesus will gather to Himself all that are His. Together with Christ, we will judge this world and the angels. The Scriptures declare that we will rule with Him in eternity. The writers of the New Testament continually establish a balance between then and now. Our responsibility is to examine our lives and determine if the Lord is indeed ruling. This is a daily process in our thoughts and actions toward others. Our calling is to present to the world a lifestyle that is led by the Lord. Corporately, we are to be a people that demonstrate the goodness of God. We are to bring to bear an influence, first by prayer and then by our actions. The direct influence of God’s kingdom in the earth is because of the Holy Spirit’s presence. Consider the testimony of the apostles and the early believers in Acts 15:3-4.
Father, help me examine my life and honestly determine where Jesus is reigning as Lord. Help me see those areas I have yet to surrender to Your rule. I pray for Your kingdom rule in every part of my life, for Your glory.
by George Runyan | Mar 16, 2015 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 6:13 – Deliver us from evil.
Evil surrounds us in the world system. Paul teaches in Ephesians 2:2 that the devil is the prince of the power of the air. He is the prince of this world and the world’s systems. The phrase “the prince of this world” speaks about the world’s systems and governments. Evil forces are behind the world’s systems. The good news is that this prince has been judged (John 16:11). The prince of the world killed the Prince of Life, whom God has raised from the dead (Acts 3:15). This was the beginning of deliverance and freedom for the inhabitants of the earth. Today, a man reigns from heaven, the man Christ Jesus.
We too, have power over the evil one because of Jesus. Jesus told His disciples, “I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you (Luke 10:19). Through faith and obedience we are more than conquerors in Christ Jesus. Our deliverance from evil began with Jesus’ sacrifice, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of the Majesty on High. The Father and Jesus poured out their Holy Spirit to bring refreshing from their presence. Jesus instructed the disciples to “wait in Jerusalem, until they were given power from on high” (Acts 1:8). The word “power” in the original language meant authority. Jesus gave His disciples authority to proclaim to the nations the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus is now reigning as King! Speaking to the philosophers on Mars Hill, Paul proclaimed, “God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness (Acts 17:30).
The power or authority which the Lord released on the Day of Pentecost is still being released today. We cannot overcome the evil one without the power of God. It is the Holy Spirit who gives believers power and authority against the kingdom of darkness. Prayer was the beginning of the early believer’s preparation. The work of God continues today through the prayers of God’s people. God’s grace of power is released through faithful, obedient sons and daughters. Our deliverance is not automatic, but effectual through righteous prayer. See James 5:16.
Father, I ask to be delivered from evil. Strengthen me with the spirit of obedience. Thank You for giving me Your faith and authority to obey and live Your life of righteousness. Thank you for giving me the overcoming life of Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit.
