Have you ever heard this or said it yourself, "If God wanted me to have [fill in the blank], He would just give it to me?"
Things like if He wanted me saved, healed, blessed, filled with the Holy Spirit, are all things that people fill in this blank with. This is a complete misunderstanding about the way God works. You must understand that EVERYTHING necessary to make you a victorious, overcoming, successful Christian has ALREADY been given to you. In 2nd Peter 1:3 we read, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:" Before we continue, I'm going to ask a very profound question right there. How much is ALL? Now, what does hath mean? We would say 'has', wouldn't we? Let me rephrase it. He has already given you all things! At this point you might be wondering why then don't I have ALL things. Let me paint you another picture. There is a beautiful present, it has a nice wrapping, an awesome bow, and above all it has your name on it. When does that it actually become yours? When you take it, right. When you lay hold of it and claim it, then it becomes yours. Everything God gives us is a present, or as the Word calls it, a gift. Salvation is a gift, as is healing, the baptism in the Holy Spirit, the gifts of the Spirit, etc. You can't work for it, get good enough to earn it, or deserve it. It is a gift. So, just as a birthday present or a Christmas present (gift) has to be taken, so are the gifts of God. Many Christians pray asking God for many things but they ever reach out and take them. He has given us everything we have need of before we need it, but, if you don't take it, it never becomes yours. Matthew 11:12 says, "And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force." Let's do a quick word study. The word violence is biazo which means to crowd oneself into or to be seized. The word violent means violent or mighty. Hopefully, you will begin to get the picture that you have to become aggressive with the things of God. The word take is harpazo which means to seize, catch away, pluck, pull or take by force. Are you beginning to see that the passive Christian isn't going to have anything. God will not lay i tin your lap, you must be aggressive enough to take whatever He has provided for us. He has provided everything we have need of, but it must be received (taken). The question now is HOW do I get aggressive and take the things of God? Roman's 10:8-9 says, "8) "But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9) That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10) For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." Now, before you say that's just about getting saved, I'll agree with you, but saved means saved, healed, delivered, blessed, whole, and prospered. Matter of fact, every promise and gift of God is wrapped up in that small four lettered Greek word, sozo. Sozo is the root word meaning all of the things previously listed. I explained this in a previous post about Salvation. Everything you need starts with believing and confessing, but there is one more ingredient - doing. James 1:22 says, "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves." When I first started in the Word 48 years ago, I took the Word as fact. If it said I could lay hands on the sick and they would recover, I'd say out loud Lord if you say I can do it then, I will do what you say. Actually, I asked the Lord for some sick ones to pray for. I said, Lord I have hands give me some sick ones to pray for." I actually activated that gift by believing and saying. Begin to search the word and find out what God says you can do and activate it in your life. A word of caution, don't be concerned about results as much as being obedient to God's word. I prayed for many people before I saw it really begin to function. Keep at it, don't give up, for it's much like a toddler learning to walk; it comes with practice. Now, go be doers of the Word! Doc
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11/4/2022 06:16:09 pm
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Dr. H. R. SharpJust a man armed with the Word of the LORD. Available now in the store
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