by George Runyan | Jun 4, 2017 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 3:15 – When the sons of Israel cried to the Lord, the Lord raised up a deliverer for them, Ehud the son of Gera.
We must always be vigilant when it comes to sin. The enemy is always waiting to lure us away from our relationship with the Lord. Israel had known the peace of God for forty years and then they reverted to idolatry. The Lord strengthened Eglon the king of Moab against Israel, because they had done evil in the sight of the Lord.
The Lord will strengthen the enemy against us in order to bring us to repentance. Jesus covers this point in Matthew 18:31-35 when he tells the story of how a king dealt with an unforgiving servant who failed to forgive one that owed him a little compared to what he owed the king. The king throws him in jail until he paid his debt to the king. Jesus then says “My heavenly Father will also do the same to you, if each of you does not forgive his brother from your heart.”
In God’s great love, He will discipline His children to get their attention and draw them back to serving His kingdom of righteousness. Ehud went straight to the king of Moab. Ehud told him that he had a message from God. For the king it was a message of death as Ehud plunged a knife into Eglon’s abdominal area. We must be intentional and ruthless when dealing with the enemies of God’s people. In New Testament terms, disobedience to God’s word is an enemy. Carnality is an enemy. An unforgiving heart is an enemy to God’s purposes.
Regardless of the sin, it will separate us from God’s intended relationship with us. Ehud knew what it would take to restore the people of God and he accepted the responsibility to go after Moab and put an end to the tempter’s power. God accomplished this for us in Christ. Our deliverance has been purchased, but we must implement what Christ has done. It is our responsibility to rebuke the enemy of our souls. We are to remind him of his utter defeat by the Lord Jesus Christ. We can stop his aggressions against us by using the weapons the Lord has supplied. The sword of the Spirit is our weapon. “The weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses” (2 Corinthians 10:4). Today, be resolute in your determination to overcome sin and binding the enemy by putting to death the lusts of the flesh through the overcoming life of Christ that resides in you.
Father, in Jesus’ name, I put on the armor of God so I can stand against all the trickery of the enemy. Help me, in the power of the Holy Spirit, to be resolute in my resistance against sin, the world and the devil. Father, I ask You to empower me to restore others to You.
by George Runyan | Jun 3, 2017 | Devotional, George Runyan
Judges 3:10 – The Spirit of the Lord came upon him, and he judged Israel.
The first Judge in Israel was Othniel, the younger brother of Caleb. God raised up Othniel after Israel had cried out to the Lord for deliverance from their enemies. Israel had a habit of falling into idolatry and becoming the slaves of others. Idolatry always leads to “servitude”! God had mercy on His people and sent them a deliverer. Othniel prevailed over the enemies of God’s people and the land had rest for forty years.
Whenever we find ourselves in bondage to others or things, it is important to examine our heart to see if we have made people or things a god to us. A dear sister in the Lord received deliverance from the Lord as she recognized she had made her husband a god. She depended on him for everything and found herself with a bad attitude when he did not meet her expectations. She had stopped seeking the Lord for herself and hearing the Spirit of Lord speaking to her. As she repented and released him to his rightful place as her husband and not a god, she experienced God’s rest and peace filling her soul once again.
Idolatry can take on many forms. For Israel, it came in the form of sexual sins. The nations around Israel worshipped the creature more than the Creator (Romans 1:25). It takes a warfare attitude to defeat the enemy and overcome the sin of idolatry. Othniel led the people of God into war against their enemies and God gave him great victory. First we must identify the “sin of idolatry.” Then we must rout it out of our lives. We do this by confessing the sin of idolatry, repenting of any idolatrous activity, renouncing it as wrong and against God. Finally, ask that the blood of Jesus cleans you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:5-10). Once this is done, rest will return and a renewed fellowship with the Spirit of God.
Society around the world is filled with the sin of idolatry. It is almost impossible not to be touched by it in some form or fashion. Ask the Lord to show you any idolatry in your life. With a willing heart, repent and let go of every form of idolatry the Spirit of God reveals to you.
Father, I recognize that the sin of idolatry has always plagued Your people, please show to me any form of this sin in my life. I ask You for the overcoming victory of Jesus to reign in my life.
by George Runyan | Jun 2, 2017 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 12:10 – To another is given the interpretation of tongues.
Seven of the Gifts of the Spirit are common to both Testaments, but two gifts, the gift of tongues and the gift of interpretation of tongues have come into operation since the Day of Pentecost. The gift of interpretation of tongues is the only gift dependent upon another. It could have no meaning without the gift of tongues.
Interpretation of Tongues is the supernatural showing forth by the Spirit of God the meaning of an utterance in tongues. It is not an operation of the mind of an individual, but of the Mind of the Spirit of God. The interpreter never understands the tongue being interpreted. The interpretation is just as much a miracle as the original utterance in tongues. The purpose of the gift is to render the gift of tongues intelligible to others, so that the church may be edified (I Corinthians 14:5, 27).
Note, it is “the gift is interpretation of tongues,” not the translation of tongues. A “translation” is a rendering from one language to another in equivalent words. An interpretation is a declaration of the meaning (1 Corinthians 14:11). The Greek word means to explain thoroughly. Many varieties of expression might be used and many details added without altering the sense of the words. This explains why sometimes the message in tongues is much briefer than the interpretation. The speaker is not translating, but interpreting. The Holy Spirit is explaining the meaning in a miracle of utterance called the “gift of interpretation.”
There are two reasons, I suggest, why this gift is not experienced as much as other gifts. First, as Paul explains in the fourteenth chapter of First Corinthians, the gift is given to bring understanding to the church when the gift of tongues is exercised to declare the gospel in the known language of an unbeliever coming into the assembly. Paul encourages in the church gathering the use of the gift of prophecy where no interpretation is needed. In the early days of the Pentecostal movement in the twentieth century, tongues and interpretation were common. Today, the gift of prophecy is emphasized for the corporate gathering. Tongues are encouraged for one’s prayer life, bringing balance to these gifts and a great alignment to Paul’s teachings.
You may or may not ever operate in this gift of the Spirit. Yet today, ask the Lord for a great sensitivity to the Spirit’s presence and His desire to use you to help another understand more perfectly God’s mind and His will for them.
by George Runyan | Jun 1, 2017 | Devotional, George Runyan
1 Corinthians 14:14-15 – If I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also.
An unknown tongue is a supernatural utterance initiated by the Holy Spirit. It is a language that has not been learned by the speaker nor understood by the mind of the speaker. It has nothing whatsoever to do with linguistic ability, but is a manifestation of the Spirit of God employing human speech organs. Some may ask, what is the use or purpose of speaking with tongues?
In the Acts of the Apostles, the gift of tongues is seen as a “sign gift.” It was a sign to the Jews that the kingdom of God had come as revealed by the Prophets (Acts 2). It was also a sign to the Jews that the Gentiles were accepted and made part of the kingdom (Acts 10). Tongues were also a sign to the twelve disciples Paul found at Ephesus. When Paul prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit, they spoke in tongues and prophesied.
In 1 Corinthians 14 Paul makes a distinction between the gift of tongues in bringing a message in the assembly and tongues as a devotional help in prayer and worship. Paul speaks of tongues as a sign to the unbeliever or the ungifted person (1 Cor. 14:22). Earlier in the chapter, he spoke of tongues as a help in prayer and worship (1 Cor. 14:14-15).
Paul says that the one who speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but to God. In his spirit he speaks mysteries, in other words, things unknown to the speaker or listener (1 Corinthians 14:2). As in the apostolic days, so it is today. Many of God’s people have received this gift. Tongues are most useful in assisting our prayer life and worship of the Lord. Sometimes they may be used to bring a message with the gift of interpretation, but more often, the gift is personal and useful in prayer and worship.
Paul teaches that “One who speaks in tongues does not speak to men, but God (1 Corinthians 14:2). While Peter preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, they received the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues. “All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. “For they were hearing them speaking in tongues and exalting God” (Acts 10:45-46). There are no terms in natural speech appropriate to express the Greatness and Excellence of God. Those who have had the joy of seeing others filled with the Holy Spirit and speaking in tongues can recall how most, lovingly adored Jesus.
Paul asks the rhetorical question, “All do not speak with tongues, do they?” He also indicates throughout 1Corinthians 14 that all could. Ask the Holy Spirit to empower you to speak with His help in your prayer and worship of our great king. Pray, Lord, I yield my voice to You. Use me to speak of Your greatness and Your glory.
by George Runyan | May 31, 2017 | 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, 2017 | 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.
