Lesson Seven: How to Receive the Things of God
Dearly beloved of God, we must come to the position of recognizing the integrity of the Word of God. He said what He meant, and He meant what He said. The Word of God reveals what is available to us from God.
Next, we must learn how we can receive what God has made available to us. What does the Word of God reveal about this?
Hebrews 11:6 ASV
And without faith it is impossible to be well-pleasing unto him; for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that seek after him.
What is “faith?” “Faith” is the Greek noun, pistis. The verb form is pisteuo, which means, “to believe.” Even though these two words come from the same root in the Greek, you cannot tell it from the English translation.
The word “faith” means the same as the word “believe.” Faith or believing is to have trust and confidence in the information that God reveals to us, therefore we act upon it.
God is responsible for bringing His Word to pass as He said He would. Our responsibility is to take God at His Word; to believe what He says.
There is power in believing because we are putting our trust and confidence in the Living God Who is able and willing to perform His Word. Believing says that God is all-powerful. He is both able and willing to perform His Word. He is a faithful God. What is too hard for Him?
If we write a check from our bank account, we are guaranteeing payment on that check by the resources in our checking account.
When God gives us His Word it is as if God is writing us a check. He is guaranteeing that He is able and willing to make payment on His Word.
When we believe God at His Word it puts us in the very advantageous position. That is how we receive what is available to receive from Him.
How does one get “faith?”
Romans 10:17
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
If we are to have faith, the right way of believing, we must hear the Word of God. We have trust and confidence in the information God reveals to us in His Word, therefore, we act upon it.
The Word of God teaches us what is available to receive from God; it expresses His Will. Believing God’s Word is how we receive all the things of God.
God sets forth Abraham as a wonderful example of someone that believed the Word of God.
Romans 4:20 and 21
He [Abraham] staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God; And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.
Abraham became the example of believing God because he was fully persuaded that what God promised, God was able to perform.
Abraham was about 100 years old, and Sarah his wife, was well past the age of childbearing (she was 90,) and barren, yet God fulfilled His promise to him that he would have a son.
God does not lie as men do. God does not make promises He is not able to keep or that He is unwilling to perform.
The circumstances said that his hope was beyond all human expectation, but God performed His Word as He promised because Abraham took God at His Word.
Abraham believed the promise that God made him even though it contradicted the reality that they were old and past the age of child bearing, Sarah was infertile, and they were childless.
Abraham did not stagger at God’s promise through unbelief - he was fully persuaded that what God promised, He was able also to perform.
Believing God’s Word is the key to receiving what God promises. Believing is to have trust and confidence in the information that comes from God, and that He is able and willing to perform His Word.
For example, if the Word of God says, “That if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and shall believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved,” that is what we confess and believe if we are to be saved.
I Peter 2:24
Who [Jesus Christ] his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.
This is the revealed Word and Will of God. His Word reveals what is available to us. If I say, “That cannot possibly be true,” that does not make it untrue; it only means that I will not receive what God promised.
Jesus Christ did die for our sins, and by his stripes we were healed. These are accomplished realities, but if I choose not to believe what God said, I will miss out on the deliverance that is available to me through Jesus Christ’s accomplishments.
God expects us to respond to His Word by believing what He says. Believing is our responsibility. God is responsible for bringing His Word to pass. He is responsible to provide the outcomes that He promises.
I Thessalonians 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
The Word of God will effectually work, which means that it will produce the results that God promises.
These saints did not say, “Oh Paul, that is just your interpretation,” or “Yes, but…,” or “Oh, I disagree, I think so and so.” They received the Word of God that Paul taught them as it was in truth the Word of God.
It does not matter who speaks the Word of God. If they are speaking the Word of God, it will produce the results that God promises when it is believed. We can believe the Word of God the same as they did.
Mark 11:24
Therefore I [Jesus Christ[ say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.
The Lord Jesus Christ was either lying or he told them the truth. The Word of God reveals what is available from God. Believing God’s Word is the key to receiving the things of God. God is able and willing to perform His Word for those who believe Him.