by George Runyan | Jun 21, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 18:35 – My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.
Forgiveness keeps one out of prison. In the spiritual realm, the tormentors are demonic entities that bind up lives from living freely, as God intended. Unforgiveness is one of the strongest “control mechanisms” the enemy has in his arsenal. The seeds of unforgiveness will produce roots that begin to go deep into one’s heart. These become known as roots of bitterness.
Acts 8:19-24 tells the story of a man, Simon, who had bitterness in his heart, yet he wanted the power of God, but with a wrong motive He offered them money, saying, READ MORE – CLICK TITLE
by George Runyan | Jun 20, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
Proverbs 4:23 – Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flows the springs of life.
The Scriptures teach us that “God is love” (1 John 4:16). Three words for us to consider that relate to the heart of God are covenant, relationship and forgiveness. God’s nature is rooted in covenant. Webster defines “covenant” as “a binding and solemn agreement to do or keep from doing a specified thing” (Webster’s New World Dictionary, Third College Edition.) “My covenant I will not violate, nor will I alter the utterance of My lips” (Psalm 89:34). When God forgives, He does so because of His covenant promise. His promises are certain. The Psalmist declares, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us” (Psalm 103:12). READ MORE – TITLE
by George Runyan | Jun 19, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Timothy 5:21 – I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus and of His chosen angels, to maintain these principles without bias, doing nothing in a spirit of partiality.
The subject of partiality is an important topic in God’s Word. Paul uses very strong language to encourage Timothy to not fall into the trap of bias as it relates to the principles in which he is to instruct God’s people. All the believers are to be treated equally in regard to instruction and discipline.
It is easy to have favorites and to give some individuals special treatment. We are to remember that the Lord is no respecter of persons. Whether a person is rich or poor, a leader, or simply a member of the fellowship, we must not show favoritism. Peter learned about bias the hard way when Paul called him out in a mixed room of Jewish and Gentile believers (Galatians 2:11-14). READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 18, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 2:1 – My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism.
Unfortunately, much of Christianity, as expressed in denominationalism and independence, moved from a particular understanding of a restored truth the Lord was communicating to an attitude of separatism and favoritism by God. Many in the Lord’s church view their expression of faith and doctrinal understanding to be closer to the truth than anyone else’s. This is at the root of denominations and is sectarian in nature, rather than godly. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 17, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 1:27 – Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Our great desire should be to have our minds changed from the world’s viewpoints to embracing God’s perspective. Paul exhorted the church, “Put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him” (Colossians 3:10). The “new self” is Christ in us. Again, Paul says to the Philippians, “Have this mind in you that was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:5). Christ’s mind was one of humility, to do only what the Father willed.
The Lord Jesus Christ was not moved by the religion which had been hijacked through Jewish religious leaders. READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
by George Runyan | Jun 16, 2014 | Devotional, George Runyan
James 1:26 – If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his own heart, this man’s religion is worthless.
I believe this to be one of the most powerful Scriptures in the Bible. It goes right to the heart of “religious” matters. Religion is filled with words, but the real evidence of true religion is how those words are used. Around the world, religious words are spoken to kill and destroy people or put them into bondage to systems. This is true of every religion of the world.
The problem actually began in the Garden at the “tree of the knowledge of good and evil.” It was there that the Serpent initiated the religions of the world when he asked Eve, “Hath God said.” READ MORE – CLICK ABOVE
