Why We May Not Receive- Part 1

For all the promises of God in him are yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us. II Corinthians 1:20 (KJV)

There are many promises from God in the Bible, yet many Christians do not see the manifestation of those promises in their lives. Why is this? Today, I am endeavoring to list some of the reasons we may fail to receive from God.

• Being double-minded. We have to make up our minds to believe God and then not waver from that decision. We must be single-minded, meaning we have set our minds and hearts to believe what God has promised and refuse to consider anything else. The Bible tells us that if we are double-minded, we can’t expect to receive anything from God (James 1:6-8).

• Doubt. Doubt is often noted with unbelief in Scripture, meaning the two are related. Doubt is when we entertain the lies of the enemy that tell us that God’s Word is not true or is not true for us. If we allow doubt into our hearts, we walk in unbelief, which is the opposite of faith, and we can’t receive from God. When we meditate consistently in the Word of God, it keeps doubt out. When we keep doubt out, we can have what we pray for (Mark 11:23-24).

• Bad Confession. A bad confession, or speaking wrong words that are contrary to what we are looking to receive from God, will block the manifestation of God’s promises (Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 12:37).

• Lack of Knowledge. When we don’t know what the Word of God says, how can we know God’s will for us? if we don’t know what God wants us to have, how can we use faith to receive it? Not knowing what God desires for us can result in negative things for us, even our destruction (Hosea 4:6). If we don’t know that the price has been paid for us to receive from God, it keeps us from seeing the manifestation of God’s promises.

• Sin. If we have sinned and have not repented of it, it can block the promises of God from coming to us.( Isaiah 59: 1-2, James 5:16, I John 1:9)

• Unforgiveness. Forgiving those who have wronged us is key to maintaining a right relationship with God, which is key to hearing from and receiving from God (Mark 11:25-26).

• Erroneous Teaching. Wrong teaching, or teaching that doesn’t align with the Bible, can prevent us from receiving from God (Mark 7:8-13). Wrong teaching can produce wrong beliefs, which can block the promises of God coming to pass for us.

• Hindrances From The Enemy. The devil can send evil spirits to fight against the arrival of our answer, causing delays (Daniel 10:11-14). If we give up before the answer arrives, the promise may not get through to us.

• The thief. The enemy may come to try to steal the promise God has given us (John 10:10). We must trust God’s Word, no matter what.

• Not Asking. If we don’t ask God for something, how can we expect to get it (James 4:2)?

• Asking With Wrong Motives. If we are asking for something that is not good for us or is in contradiction to what God has for us, we can’t assume we will get it. Motive is very important. if we ask for something for selfish or fleshly reasons, it affects whether we will receive it (James 4:3).

This is a good start, and tomorrow we will continue our discussion on reasons why some people may not receive from God.