RECEIVING FROM GOD AND WHY SOME DON'T

The Spiritual Law of Seed-time and Harvest and Why Some Don’t Receive

WE HAVE RECEIVED OF HIS FULLNESS

John 1:12-17¹² But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: ¹³ who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.....¹⁶ And^[a] of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

Many have no problem believing Jesus died, was buried, and was resurrected but their pursuit of the knowledge of God and the riches found in his word stops there. All Christians receive Christ’s sacrifice and RECEIVE him into their hearts, receiving the sacrifice he offered and the promise of eternal life as reward.  Does the Kingdom of God stop at salvation?  No! There is love, joy, peace, blessing, finances, healing, success, answered prayer and so many promises.  There is the promise of a future, a plan, gifting, spiritual growth and more! There is wisdom beyond measure for the one who is willing to seek.

REASONS FOR NOT RECEIVING

• Many don’t know how to receive.  The good news is the bible teaches there is a way
• Lack of knowledge- The bible says people perish for lack of knowledge. (Hosea 4:6)
• Lack of faith- they don’t believe!  Faith comes by hearing and hearing comes by  the Word of God. (Romans 10:17) We must read it, know what it says, believe what it says and receive the truth into our heart.  The truth we have in our heart is what we act on. The bible says even the mouth speaks out of the abundance of the heart. 
• Wrong perceptions of God- what we’ve been taught from wrong sources or even false teachings can hinder us from receiving.
• Mindset: We must change our mind. We must believe God doesn’t want us poor, sick, disgusted, depressed or in despair.  
• Many don’t receive increase because they believe money is evil.  It is the love of money; not money that is the root of evil (1 Timothy 6:10.)  God wants you to have the resources you need to get by and enjoy life. 
• The Word- interprets itself. We need to seek it out as the apostles did and people of early church did. They searched the scriptures to see if what the apostles said was true. (Acts 17:11)
• Religious establishment teachings-  The religious establishment was challenged by Martin Luther’s 99 point thesis- They had received wrong teaching!  From that point the bible began to be distributed among common folks, not just priests.
• Traditions that are contrary to the Word of God.  If tradition stands in the way of truth, it is tradition that must be thrown out, not the truth of the Word of God.

GOD TOLD MY PASTOR  OF 13 YEARS TO “GET MY PEOPLE FREE IN AREA OF FINANCES” 

Oppression is seen mainly in three or four of lives most important areas- finances, relationships and health! God is often blamed for the oppression but it is God that frees from depression and evil and it is the evils of the world and their source that both induce it and exacerbate it.

Learning what the bible says about finances, depression and all the things that cause depression sets one free.  If you seek out the Word of God, you will find truth!

John 8:31,32 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. 32 And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

As teachers of the Word of God, we must teach truth! It is the truth that brings freedom and it is for the purpose of bringing freedom to people’s lives, we are called to teach!

Luke 4: 18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me
To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed.

ONE WAY TO RECEIVE:  SEEDTIME & HARVEST

Seed-time and harvest is a spiritual law.  The bible says as long as the earth remains, that law will stay in force.  This is good news since we are constantly threatened with climate change but this law will be in force as long as the earth remains and as long as God leaves the law in force.  Since the earth remains forever, so will seedtime and harvest.  Throughout the bible, this law applies to not just seed for vegetation such as flowers, vegetables and trees but it applies to whatever is sown or whatever is planted.  The heart of man is a planting ground.  Whatever is sown into the hearts of men will be reaped.  There will be a harvest of some sort.  I will just insert that is why certain laws such as gun control won’t stop evil from happening. Evil happens because evil is sown into hearts.  It’s not the lack of weapons that will stop evil but the lack of evil.  When God’s goodness is sown into the hearts of people, there will be lasting fruit.  It’s up to you to choose what you allow to make entrance into the soil of your heart.  In addition whatever you as a farmer of life’s seeds sow, you will reap! Remember! This is a law as long as earth remains!

Galatians 6: 6 Let him who is taught the word share in all good things with him who teaches.7 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life. 9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

• Many lack the knowledge of the truth in knowing how to receive from God.
• Many know how to give but don’t realize it’s ok to expect to receive from God.
• The knowledge of the truth sets people free.
• Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty.
• The bible teaches us clearly HOW to receive from God and the bible teaches us that it’s perfectly ok and right to expect to receive from God!
• We are truly a blessed people with answers right under our noses!
  
  

So remember, one way to receive from God is to sow.  Sow good seed and you will reap a good harvest.  If you need to increase in the area of finances, if you’re already sowing seed on a regular basis, keep sowing.  If you haven’t been sowing seed, start sowing today!  In addition to obeying God in the area of sowing and reaping for finances, start sowing other good things as well. Sow God’s goodness into your life, the life of your children (if you have them,) and the lives of others.   In due season you will reap!  The bible tells us so and the bible tells us to sow!  Amen!

GOD IS NOT IN LACK

GOD IS WILLING AND GOD IS WANTING

God is not in lack. He has resources to supply all of your needs and he is both willing and wanting to.  My God will supply all of your needs according to his riches in glory is what we are told in his Word which is faithful and true.  If you aren't seeing your needs supplied, you may be moving into his will.   He could be pressing you into his will; a place in him he is moving you to.  On the other hand, maybe you are not tapping into his never ending, forever flowing, abundantly available steams of glory that are available to you. If you only knew what lies just below the surface, you'd get a drill and a shovel and you'd access what lies just beneath where you are. So what I'm saying is if you aren't seeing his never ending abundant supply, we know that it's not because he is lacking. We also know we have his promise of supply.  Therefore you have to press in for all he has for you without giving up.  In famine, you will strike water like Isaac did if you just keep on digging!

THE GIFT THAT KEEPS ON GIVING

We must also remember to keep on sowing.  The promise of having all needs supplied was given to a group called the Philippians who were always giving into the work of Paul's ministry.  Isaac struck water because he dug but he also had to sow in famine.  Elijah carried a Word to a widow who was about to give up and die.  To keep being supplied we have to keep giving out.  There are an endless number of bible references that prove this but the Philippians are a greate example:

Philippians 4:14-20  14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

You can see they shared (gave) to Paul for his ministry over and over again and Paul said they had a revelation of both giving and receiving.  They did this over and over again, and not just once.  Paul said he sought not a gift but fruit for them that abounds to their account.  You can bet God keeps accounting records on giving.

GOD IS LEADING

 If you don't strike water (find resources) where you're at, listen to his voice and move into his will and like Elijah, you will find a place of abundance. It may be a physical place or it may be a place in him but Elijah had to move from a brook to find the widow in Zarapheth.  Press into him.  He'll tell you what to do.  For Isaac he said, "Stay right here and dig."  For Elijah, he said, "Arise and go to Zarephath.... behold, I have commanded a widow woman there to sustain thee." God isn't in lack and God isn't withholding but rather listen closely and you'll find God is in fact leading! Amen!