by George Runyan | Aug 22, 2018 | Devotional, George Runyan
2 Peter 3:7 – By His word the present heavens and earth are being reserved for fire, kept for the Day of Judgment and destruction of ungodly men.
Judgment is a difficult subject to talk about because people want to think they will be ok in eternity. Notice that Peter says, “The present heaven and earth are being reserved for fire.” It is important for the believer to stay focused on the promises of God regarding our future. The new creation of God, created in Christ, is not reserved for judgment, because Christ Himself bore the wrath of God on our behalf. Judgment is reserved for “ungodly men.”
A day is coming for the believer when our salvation will be complete. We have considered, in the last couple of days, freedom from the penalty of sin and the power of sin. Today, we consider the final stage of deliverance, “sin’s very presence.” Peter encourages believers by reminding us that God is not slow concerning His promise in the way some think of slowness. Our God lives in eternity, not a time-space world. Using Peter’s reasoning recorded in 2 Peter 3:8-9, it has only been 3 days since the cross and the resurrection of our Lord. “But do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”
There is a New Heaven and Earth coming. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up” (2 Peter 3:10). This is a powerful exhortation not to trust in this world’s goods. Peter goes on to reason, “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells” (2 Peter 3:11-13).
Peter, in his explanation of our future hope, keeps it simple. Today, there are so many viewpoints about the end and what things will look like. Many people are confused and many are filled with questions about the end of the world. Why not lay aside all the reasoning’s of men and just believe the apostles and their revelation of the end? This is a vast subject so we will continue with Peter’s thoughts in tomorrow’s devotional.
Father, today help me to see the present world with a correct viewpoint. Focus my eyes on the world to come where sin’s presence has been completely removed.
by George Runyan | Aug 21, 2018 | Devotional, George Runyan
Acts 1:8 – You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses.
The power which the Lord is promising comes from heaven’s authority. That authority was given to proclaim the good news of the gospel of the kingdom. It is an authority to live a life above sin. It is an authority to set captives free from Satan’s control. In Acts 1:7, the KJV uses the word “power” from the Greek word, exousia, which means “authority”. In Acts 1:8, the Greek word for power is “dunamis,” where we get our English word “dynamite.” The Lord is giving His disciples delegated authority which comes from His Father.
Many have the idea that the benefits of receiving the Holy Spirit are limited to being born again and going to heaven. Jesus makes it clear that receiving the Spirit is so much more. The Spirit of God brings “authority” and “power” to live a life of victory over Satan’s control through sin and darkness. As we walk in the light, as Christ is in the light, we walk in delegated authority to live out His life presently and release that life to others. The Lord has delivered us from the “authority” of Satan, his kingdom of darkness, and the power of the enemy through sin.
As we have seen previously, we were set free from the “penalty” of sin. That freedom began in our spirit when it was regenerated by the renewing of the Holy Spirit. See Titus 3:4. Today we are learning that the Holy Spirit empowers us to be free from the “power of sin” in our daily walk. Sin takes root in the areas of our intellect or human reasoning, imagination, memory, affection, and conscience. It is a daily battle to bring our reasoning into alignment with God’s word. Paul instructs us to cast down imaginations that exalt against the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). Hurts and wounds of the past are stored in our memories. Unclean images can also be stored in the memory of our mind. Have we set our affections on earthly realms or things above, as Paul admonishes in Colossians 3:2? If we do not deal with sin daily, it is possible for our conscience to become seared and fail to work on behalf of godliness. See Hebrews 9:14; 10:22.
Today, receive the power of the Holy Spirit to live a life free from the power of sin. Let us choose to walk in the authority the Lord has given to every believer. In our daily walk, let us choose His kingdom rule over our soul, mind, emotions, and will.
Father, I choose to be an over-comer in my daily walk. I receive the authority and power that You have made available through Christ Jesus the Lord. Thank You for power to overcome the enemy, to allow the Holy Spirit to rule in my life, and to minister Your victory to others day by day.
by George Runyan | Aug 20, 2018 | Devotional, George Runyan
John 5:24 – Truly, truly, I say to you, he who hears My word, and believes Him who sent Me, has eternal life, and does not come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.
What a powerful promise Jesus gave to those listening to His teaching. The disciples came to realize that only Jesus had the words of eternal life. “Simon Peter answered Him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life. We have believed and have come to know that You are the Holy One of God.’ Jesus answered them, ‘Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?’” It is God’s will that all would come to repentance (John 6:68). Judas’ heart was set against receiving the “words of eternal life.” His will was fully committed to his self-interests. Jesus carried the words of eternal life even for someone like Judas, but Judas would not hear.
In Christ, as a result of the cross, the penalty of sin has been addressed. Paul taught the Roman church that, “the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). The biggest choice in this life is to choose between eternal “death” and eternal life.” Christ paid the penalty for sin, once and for all. We now must choose to trust and follow Him or continue on the path that leads to death and separation from God. “Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh” (Hebrews 10:19-21). It took the blood of Jesus to deliver us from the penalty of sin, which is death and separation from the Eternal One. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin” (1 John 1:7).
God the Father has provided deliverance from sin’s penalty. Jesus freely offered His blood as the redemption price. The Holy Spirit applies the blood of Jesus to a repentant soul, giving us a right standing before God in our spirit. No longer will the penalty of sin affect us. “I saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and the books were opened; and another book was opened, which is the book of life; and the dead were judged from the things which were written in the books, according to their deeds” (Revelation 20:11-12).
If you are a believer in the redemptive work of God through Christ, rejoice that your name is written in the Book of Life. The penalty of sin was paid on your behalf. There is no second death in your future. The penalty for sin was paid, which is the starting point for an overcoming life through the Lord Jesus Christ.
by George Runyan | Aug 19, 2018 | Devotional, George Runyan
Proverbs 24:10 – If you are slack in the day of distress, your strength is limited.
Today, I want to tie together the area of strength and the will of man. Solomon is saying that when adversity comes, if you give up, you do not have much strength. I find in working with many people over the years that the “will” of an individual is in direct proportion to their strength. A good example is in the counseling arena. Many times, I find people come for counseling hoping that the counselor will provide the answer to their problems. They misunderstand the purpose of the counselor which is to help the counselee to understand the root of the problem and the principles that could help them change their circumstances.
When the counselee can hear the counselor and make the necessary application of principles to their situation, there is hope for change and healing. For many, “their strength is limited.” In other words, they do not have the strength to apply the counsel given. Their will is not strong toward resolving their issues. They want others to take responsibility or they want the counselor to side with their emotions and views. Many are weak in terms of their “will” to change and do their part in resolving their problems. Doing the will of God takes an inward strength and determination. Many times, the will of an individual is so set it overrides God’s will and purpose for their life. At times, individuals simply choose against common sense.
Our intellect and our emotions are driven by our will. As we strengthen ourselves in God’s word and develop intimacy with Father God through His Son by the power of the Holy Spirit, our will to do His Will is strengthened. In order to be a kingdom man or woman, a relationship with the Holy Spirit is critical in the formation of a strong and healthy will.
Consider what Paul testified concerning his own afflictions, “For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us, you also joining in helping us through your prayers, so that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the favor bestowed on us through the prayers of many” (2 Corinthians 1:8-11). Paul was first and foremost committed to the will of God. He surrendered his will to God’s will. He found strength in the difficulties he faced because his will was given over to God. Our will and our strength are tied together. If you feel weak in the midst of affliction and difficulty, examine your will. Is it self-will, focused on what you want? If so, change your mind and commit your will to God’s will and pleasure?
Father, give me Your insight to my will. I ask for the strength of Your Holy Spirit to help me surrender fully to Your purpose in and through my life.
by George Runyan | Aug 18, 2018 | Devotional, George Runyan
Matthew 26:39 – My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me, yet not as I will, but as You will.
This passage is the clearest picture mankind has of absolute surrender to the will of God. This is the turning point leading away from Adam’s rebellion, insisting on his will and not God’s.
Christ, whom Paul calls “the Last Adam,” fully fulfills God’s redemptive purpose for humanity. Jesus, chose to lay aside His will for the will of God. Once and for all He made it possible for the one who puts their faith in His redemptive work, to be able to do the same as He did. Our minds, emotions, and will have been liberated to fully surrender to God the Father.
Peter stood strong before the religious leaders that wanted to kill the disciples. Peter chose the will of God even in the face of death. One of the Pharisees named Gamaliel gave sound counsel to the group of religious leaders saying, “Men of Israel, take care what you propose to do with these men. I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown; but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God” (Acts 5:33-39).
Because of what Jesus accomplished for mankind, setting our will against God’s will becomes a much more serious matter. Gamaliel’s counsel is good counsel for us as well. We never want to find ourselves setting our will against the Lord’s. When we do, we are fighting against God. Later, the disciples found themselves in need of help in caring for the needs of the people. They made a determination to appoint seven men full of the Holy Spirit to serve the people and their needs. They willed to do the will of God and to devote themselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word (Acts 6:4-6).
Paul declared, “I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.” And since he would not be persuaded, we fell silent, remarking, “The will of the Lord be done!” (Acts 21:13-14). Here is another example of choosing God’s will over one’s own will and the will of friends. The elders of Ephesus tried to persuade Paul not to go to Jerusalem, but Paul felt that He had heard from God. They came to the conclusion that they should become silent concerning the matter, and acknowledged that God’s will be accomplished.
“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, and spend a year there and engage in business and make a profit.’ Yet you do not know what your life will be like tomorrow. You are just a vapor that appears for a little while and then vanishes away. Instead, you ought to say, ‘If the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that’” (James 4:13-16).
Father, teach me and empower me each day to say, “If the Lord wills.” Help me to learn how to listen to the Holy Spirit.
by George Runyan | Aug 17, 2018 | Devotional, George Runyan
Galatians 6:9-10 – Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.
One of the most often encountered problems in the lives of God’s people is the loss of hope. Many times, I hear people say, “I have tried, but it does not seem to help.” Discouragement tries to find its way into the heart. When it does, it opens the door for unbelief. Unbelief is not just an attitude of the mind, but is a stronghold of the heart.
The writer of Hebrews establishes principles that will help to keep the believer strong in their heart when he says, “Let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:22-25).
To keep our hearts from discouragement, we must be in regular fellowship with the Lord. “Draw near with a sincere heart.” Next, as we draw near to the Lord, come with a “full assurance of faith.” Come to the Lord with His word fresh in your heart and mind. Allow the blood of Jesus to cleanse you constantly, making sure your “conscious is clean.” Remind yourself of your baptism when you died with Christ. We must “hold fast” our confession that originally brought us to hope. The challenges of the Christian walk can cause some to “waver.” If one does waver in their faith, the enemy gets an upper hand.
“For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12:3). The key to strong faith and not losing heart is staying focused on the Lord Jesus Christ. When we remind ourselves of what Christ endured in His human life, we are strengthened and able to press forward in our own walk. I find that when I reach the point of giving up, I am about to encounter a breakthrough. When my back is up against the wall, I know that the Lord is ready to help.
Father, I ask You to help keep my heart from discouragement by drawing close to me as I regularly fellowship with You. I come to You with a sincere heart. I come with full assurance of faith. Help me to be disciplined in Your Word that it will be fresh in my heart and mind. Thank You for the blood of Jesus that cleanses me constantly and gives me a clean conscious. My confession is Your victory in Christ.
