Understanding Why Christians Fail To Receive

In this month's article, I would like to talk about why Christians fail to receive. Many believers are not aware that certain things that they do may hinder them from receiving from God. Although they may see other Saints doing and acting certain ways, that does not justify their behavior with God. So I hope after you have read this lesson you will understand better how to receive from God.

FAILURE TO KEEP GOD'S COMMANDMENTS
We must understand one thing about God, if you do not understand anything else. God does not make suggestions, He makes commandments. When God met with Moses He did not say, here are ten suggestions; He said here are ten commandments. God knew what was best for the children of Israel and He knows what is best for us. Most believers do not receive from God because they fail to honor or keep His commandments or Words. In John 13:34-35 "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: as I have loved you, that you also love one another. "By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." Jesus tell His disciples the new commandment under the New Testament is to 'love each other as Christ has loved us by giving His life for us.' However, most Saints will not be obedient and walk in love with each other. On the contrary they walk in strife, malice, jealously and hate and then they wonder why their prayers are not being answered by God! Saints this should not be happening in the body of Christ. In John 14:13-21 "And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. "If you ask anything in My name, I will do it. "If you love Me, keep My commandments. "And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever- "the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him." Jesus is speaking very strongly about the fact that we should love each other. If we truly love Him we would keep His commandments. He said anyone who loves Him by keeping His words or commandments He will manifest Himself to. I believe that is one of the reasons many Saints never see Jesus' power manifested in their life, because they don't keep the commandments in their heart. Saints, you may be able to fool me or your church brethren, but you cannot fool God.

In John 3:22-24 "After these things Jesus and His disciples came into the land of Judea. and there He remained with them and baptized. Now John also was baptizing in Aenon near Salim, because there was much water there. And they came and were baptized. For John had not yet been thrown into prison." Whatever we ask (or pray) we receive from God. Why? Because we keep His commandments and do what is pleasing in His sight, and believe on the name of Jesus and love one another. Saints. I remember I was talking to one of the 'suppose-to-be-saints' about holding ill feelings toward one of the believer's and I told them that the Bible says we must forgive people and walk in love and they told me, "I hear you, Brother Brodie, but I am not there yet." Saints I was shocked at their response because they claimed to be a prophet and claim to know God. After that I could easily discern that they did not know God, because if they knew God they would have been walking in His Word or commandments. That is why 1 John 2:3-4 says "now by this we know Him if we keep His commandments and one who says he knows God and does not keep His commandments is a liar "Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. For the commandments, "You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, You shall not covet," and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law." may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by to do his will." The Bible makes it very clear the behavior that God expects from us, it says we should be gentle; not one to quarrel; able to teach in humility; correcting those who are in opposition. However, when you look at some believer's their behavior is the opposite. They are rude; argumentative; do not show any compassion; do not teach the Word correctly or do not rightly divide the Word of God of truth. How in the world do they ever expect to receive from God when they are totally against what He requires and expects from them! Saints, when you look at what God expects and you compare it to how you see believers act, it is a miracle that any prayer request is received In 1 Peter 3:7 "Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life,  that your prayers may not be hindered." The Bible makes it clear that the husband should honor the wife and not argue with her, so that their prayers are not hindered. Nevertheless, you have some husbands still disrespecting their wives and then wonder why they are not being blessed. Some go as far as to beat their wife. I can only pray for them. In James 3:16 "For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there." The Word makes it clear, where there is envy and self-seeking, confusion and every evil work is there. Saints, stay away from this type of behavior if you desire to receive from God. Remember God is Holy and He expects us, as His children, to be holy. There is still a certain way He expects us to live.  We are the light of the world and the salt of the earth. We must exhibit more signs of godliness if we desire to see God consistently move in our lives mighty.

LACK OF KNOWLEDGE OF THE WORD
In Isaiah 5:13 "Therefore my people have gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: their honorable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst. Therefore Sheol has enlarged itself and opened its mouth beyond measure; their glory and their multitude and their pomp, and he who is jubilant, shall descend into it." The Bible says that His people went into captivity because they have no Godly knowledge, as a result the noble or rich man has become poor, the respectable or honorable men are famished and hell or sheol has enlarged itself. This means because the people have no Godly knowledge, the devil has robbed them, they have become weak and more of them are going to hell. That is why He said hell has enlarged itself. Again, in Hosea 4:6 "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge. I also will reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." God is saying His people are destroyed for a lack of knowledge and because they rejected His Word not only will they suffer, but their children will not receive their prayers answered. Saints, I do not know about you, but that is a very serious thing for your children to be forgotten by God and all because you rejected the knowledge of God. Saints, it is a hard price to pay, so I would recommend that you not reject God's Word and not lean to your own understanding, because it could cost you tremendously.

OUR RIGHT TO USE THE NAME OF JESUS
Many believers do not know that they have the right to use the name of Jesus in everything concerning our covenant right with God. The forces in heaven will work on our behalf (Philippians 2:9) to help us receive whatever we are believing for. At the name of Jesus every knee will bow and every tongue confess Him as Lord in heaven, earth and under the earth. Many saints do not realize the power that is working for them when they use the name of Jesus, that it should not be taken lightly. Luke 10:17 "Then the seventy returned with joy, saying, "Lord, even the demons are subject to us in Your name." The Bible says the seventy returned with joy saying even the demons are subject to us in the name of Jesus. Saints, what power to have working on our behalf the awesome power of God, the greater one working in us and through us to make sure the devil does not overtake us. I thank God for the privilege of being able to use the name of Jesus and knowing that the devil has to stay far from around me and my household. It is indeed a blessing to utilize His name, the name above all names (Ephesians 1:21 - "far above all principality and power and might and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in that which is to come.") Saints, when we pray, the way our prayers are heard is by using the name of Jesus (John 16:23 - "And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.") So whenever you pray, if you expect to receive from God. I strongly recommend that you use the name of Jesus to get God's attention and have your prayers answered.

INTEGRITY OF THE HEART
Saints, many people do not receive from God because their heart is not right. Always remember- God looks at the heart of man (Samuel 16:7 "But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have refused him. For the LORD does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.") God told Solomon in 1 King 9:4 "Now if you walk before Me as your father David walked, in integrity of heart and in uprightness, to do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments." God requires integrity from the inner man of His people if He is going to bless you and be with you the way He wants to. Psalms 25:21 "Let integrity and uprightness preserve me, for I wait for You." The Bible says let integrity and uprightness preserve or keep us. Many people do not receive from God because their intentions are self-centered. In James 4-3 "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures." The Bible says you ask and receive because you want to spend it on your own lust.

In conclusion. I hope you can understand better why some believers never receive much from God. They fail to walk in love and keep the commandments, also their behavior is not Godly; They do not use the name of Jesus in prayer, or They do not walk with integrity of the heart. Some of your may think it is not important, but it is important to God and it will stop you from receiving from God.

May God continue to bless you!

Dr. Mannie L. Brodie, Jr.