DARE TO RECEIVE GOD’S BLESSINGS

GOD’S BLESSINGS ARE FOR YOU

(John 1:12 KJV) But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

(2 Pet 1:4 KJV) Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

(Luke 11:9 KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

INTRO -

The key to receiving from God is to remember THESE THREE TRUTHS.

Blessings come from God .....

((James 1:17 KJV) Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Blessings are controlled by God .....

(Psa 68:19 KJV) Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.

Blessings are conditioned by obedience to God’s Word.

(1 Sam 15:22 KJV) And Samuel said, Hath the LORD as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.

(James 1:25 KJV) But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

(Rev 22:14 KJV) Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in through the gates into the city.

NOTE: Often, when I present a positive affirmation , I find it is necessary to give attention to a negative point in order to make the proper and valid comparison between the two. For that reason, I direct your reflection to the following points …

A. Hindrances to receiving God’s blessings.

1. Open or unrepentant sin.

(Psa 66:18 KJV) If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

a. Separates from God.

b. Causes bondage in your spirit.

c. Poisons your spirit.

2. Pride, haughtiness, arrogance.

(Prov 8:13 KJV) The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate.

(Prov 16:18 KJV) Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall.

(Mat 7:22 KJV) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

(1 John 2:16 KJV) For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.

a. Elevates ones self in his own mind. (Not so bad.)

b. Separates from God and from people.

c. Creates a defensive attitude. Opens the door for hate, jealousy, etc.

3. Lust for earthly things.

(1 Cor 10:6 KJV) Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.

ISRAEL’S HISTORY IS AN EXAMPLE FOR US.
(1 Cor 10:1 KJV) Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;

(1 Cor 10:2 KJV) And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;

(1 Cor 10:3 KJV) And did all eat the same spiritual meat;

(1 Cor 10:4 KJV) And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.

(1 Cor 10:5 KJV) But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.

a. Keeps your vision grounded.

b. Values become confused.

c. Makes deception, lying, cheating easier.

B. God invites us to receive His blessings.

(Psa 34:8 KJV) O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.

(Mat 11:28 KJV) Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

(Mat 11:29 KJV) Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

(Mat 11:30 KJV) For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

1. You are not excluded from God’s welcome and invitation.

a. Open heart -- receptive spirit.

b. As His child, He will give you His best.

(Luke 11:9 KJV) And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

(Luke 11:10 KJV) For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

(Luke 11:11 KJV) If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent?

(Luke 11:12 KJV) Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion?

(Luke 11:13 KJV) If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?

c. After the gift of salvation, the greatest gift He gives is the Holy Spirit.

(Mat 3:11 KJV) I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:

(1 John 3:24 KJV) And he that keepeth his commandments dwelleth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us.

(John 14:17 KJV) Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

(1 Cor 3:16 KJV) Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?

(John 16:13 KJV) Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.

(Rom 8:11 KJV) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

AND, OF COURSE, THAT CLASSIC SCRIPTURE OF HOLY GHOST BAPTISM IN THE BOOK OF ACTS ....

(Acts 1:8 KJV) But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

2. Always understand that spiritual blessings are more important than natural things. Don’t compare of judge one against the other. Keep them in their right place.

3. As you receive His blessings, your vision and faith is increased. You learn to believe God for anything. You learn to trust His sufficiency.

C. You can enjoy the glory of God’s blessings.

(1 Pet 1:8 KJV) Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:

(1 Pet 1:9 KJV) Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

1. Nothing compares with a genuine encounter with God’s touch.

a. Cannot be faked. (Internal - personal )

b. Always creates change. We do not remain the same.

c. Gives life, healing, anointing, etc.

2. His blessings are available to His children.

a. God knows His own. I can’t make you His child.

b. Obedience is the key word.

c. We must individually search out and obey His Word.

D. He does the giving ..... we do the receiving.

1. Man cannot give out the blessing of God. They are His alone to grant. Don’t look for someone else to bless you with spiritual blessings. Man’s word is just a word -- God’s Word is power, life and glory.

2. Turn your eyes away from the world and look unto Jesus. The Apostle Paul declares that Jesus is the Author and finisher of our faith.

3. You must dare to receive. No one can do it for you. In order to receive what you need from God, you must obey His Word and receive the answer and blessing.