God is Not Giving It

God is Not Giving It
June 9, 2014
James 1:7  "That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord."

The Lord is much more of a giver than a taker.  If you doubt this, simply remember He sent His only Son to die for our sins while we were still sinning.  He doles out His love and mercy in abundance.  He gives free salvation to anyone and everyone who asks for it (again, FREE of charge).  There is something else He gives out freely, too.  Wisdom, specifically HIS wisdom.  This wisdom could be defined as Heavenly advice from the Creator of the Universe for our measly circumstances on this earth with absolutely no regard to how much sin or foolishness is present in our lives.  That's pretty generous, almost too generous.  I would at least tie it to a person's tithing record.  Actually, the Lord does have a caveat He considers before giving it out, before giving anything out.

In order to receive the Lord's advice for your circumstance right now, you must actually believe He is going to give it to you.  If you do not expect it with a degree of certainty, then the Lord is not giving it.  If your faith in His forthcoming wisdom is not solid enough to deposit into a bank, then you will not partake of it.  If you want to doubt this, I challenge you to study James chapter 1.  In fact, James gives us a huge glimpse into the Lord's giving nature that we seldom discuss.  James wasn't just talking about receiving the Lord's wisdom for today's circumstance.  James was talking about receiving ANYTHING from the Lord.  James said the person who doubts the Lord's willingness to give what He promises, will probably not receiving ANYTHING from the Lord.

If you read the first eight verses of James in any translation of the Bible, verse seven is always translated with the word, "anything."  James did NOT say if a person doubts the Lord, then that person will not receive wisdom.  True, James was initially just talking about receiving Heavenly wisdom but then said if a person is a doubter that person shouldn't be surprised when the Lord doesn't give out ANYTHING, not just wisdom.  The Bible says very clearly if a person does not have faith (faith in the Lord and faith that He will follow through with His promises) then it is impossible to please the Lord.

The Lord's caveat for giving you His gifts depends largely in part with having faith that He will do it.  You cannot ask the Lord for help and then not believe He will actually help you---what would be the point in asking Him anyway?  If you have faith to believe His Son died on the cross to save you from your sins, then it will be so.  If you have faith to believe the Lord will give you wisdom for your earthly circumstance right now, then it will be so.  If you have faith to believe the mountain in front of you will be thrown into the ocean, then it will be so.  Believe the Lord to be good on His promises and it will be so.  The Bible says that the Lord will not be mocked, that He will allow all men and women to reap what they sow.  If a person sows faith in the Lord, then the harvest is receiving what the Lord promised in faith.  Be sure of His promises and be sure of receiving those promises----it's the only way you will see those promises fulfilled in your life.

If you need something that only the Lord can give, and the Lord has already promised He would give it to you freely, then believe with all your heart that it will be so, and it WILL be so!

Don't take my word for it; look it up:  Matt 17:19-21, Gal 6:6-8, 2 Cor 1:20, Heb 11:6, James 1:5-8