provision | Revelations From The Road

Five Steps To Receiving

May 31, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given July 11, 2011

Too many times we pray and don’t receive what we asked for. Of course, God is sovereign and knows what’s best for us so sometimes the answer is “No” or “Not now”. But there are conditions which we control that have an effect on our receiving. Let’s look at five of them.

1. We must believe that God has the ability and resources. Is God able to do what we ask? “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.” (Phil. 4:19). He is able and He owns everything.
2. We must believe He will. A leprous man said to Jesus, “If you will, you can heal me?” Jesus replied, “I will, be clean.” (Matthew 8:2-3). Jesus is the same today as He was then, He will.
3. We must believe that we are the recipient. We are God’s children and He loves us. “Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.” (Psalm 23:5). “That the blessing of Abraham might come on the Gentiles through Christ Jesus: that we may receive the promise of the Spirit by faith.” (Galatians 3:14). If we are Christians, we have been redeemed and are heirs to the promise.
4. We must believe this so much that we don’t doubt or worry but get excited. A double-minded man “should not think he will receive anything from the Lord.” (James 1:7). “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt,” (James 1:6). If you really believe something good is going to happen, you will look for it expectantly and excitedly.
5. When we believe, we won’t sit back and wait for God to drop the answer on us but we do what’s necessary to take it. “What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Matthew 11:24). That word “receive” is an action word that could be translated “take”. Part of that is how we speak from our hearts. “God.. who calleth those things which be not as though they were.” (Romans 4:17). Aren’t we supposed to be like God? Let’s start putting these five principles into practice and begin receiving what God has in store for us.

When You Are Here

May 21, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 21, 2017

As happens frequently during praise and worship time at church, the words to a song captivated me and the Holy Spirit spoke to me about a Spiritual concept. The lyrics were from the song “When You Are Here” by Bread and Wine and this is the line that spoke to me: “When You are here, miracles are possible.” I looked around our congregation and saw the 250 or so people and thought about the word “possible”. If God is here, which He was, “For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” (Matthew 18:20), why are miracles only possible? Why do miracles not just happen?

I was reminded of the story in Luke 5 about the man who was brought on a mat to Jesus and they had to lower him through a hole in the roof because of the crowd. All the big shots from the church were there and it says in verse 17, “and the power of the Lord was present to heal them.” When You are here, miracles are possible. The healing miracle was available to all but the leaders of the church didn’t believe so it was not possible for them. But Jesus saw the faith of this man’s friends and the healing was possible. We have to believe and not doubt, (James 1:6) and we have to show our faith. I’m reminded of the daughter of a co-worker who was interviewed for a job on Friday. On that Sunday, she tithed on the salary she would receive from that job. On Monday, she got the job!

Another answer I received was from James 4:2, “You have not because you ask not.” God and all His miracle working power is present but we have to ask, we have to pray to Him for our miracle. John Wesley once said, “God does nothing except in response to believing prayer.” As I think about our congregation and all the miracle needs that were represented there, the possibility for miracles, I wonder how many truly believed, would show their faith and ask for their miracle.

You don’t have to be in a congregation for God to be present either. “lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.” (Matthew 28:20). “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Deuteronomy 31:6). He is here!

Morning Scriptures

May 7, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given May 6, 2017

I read the scriptures below each morning as part of my devotion time and recently got a view of them as a scene in a movie. Picture this in your mind:

In the first scene, you’re standing there with God and say, “You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.” (Psalm 16:11). God nods His head and replies, “I know the plans I have for you. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11). God puts His arm around you and says, “Let’s go.”

Then the scene changes to the apostle Paul speaking to a group of which you are a part. “For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.” (Ephesians 2:10). The crowd shouts, “Amen!” “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” (Philippians 2:13). You shout, “Amen!” “We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose for them.” (Romans 8:28). The crowd exclaims, “Thank you Lord!” Then Paul ends his oration with this: “Now all glory to God, who is able, through His mighty power at work within us, to accomplish infinitely more than we might ask or think.” (Ephesians 3:20). You and the crowd shout, “Glory to God, praise His name!”

Now the scene shifts to God and Jesus observing this assembly with smiles on their faces. God says to Jesus, “The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.” (John 10:10). They both nod their heads in agreement as the crowd, we, continues to praise and worship the goodness of God.

Can you see it? Are you in the crowd? Thank you Lord!

Good Grief!

March 26, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given March 22, 2017

We’ve all heard and probably used the phrase, “Good grief!” I heard a minister speak on this recently and had never thought that it seems contradictory. The definition of grief is, “Deep sorrow, especially that caused by someone’s death.” This doesn’t seem to be good. But can it be?

The Bible says that, “…all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” (Romans 8:28). So, grief can be good? Think of the story of Joseph beginning in Genesis 37. When Joseph was thrown in the pit by his brothers, he could have said, “Good grief!” When he was falsely accused by Potiphar’s wife and thrown into prison, he could have said, “Good grief!” When he was forgotten by the king’s personal servant, he could have said, “Good grief!” All these things caused Joseph terrible personal grief but, “the Lord was with Joseph,” (Genesis 39:2), and he was successful wherever he was. We know that all these grief-causing things that happened to Joseph were working together for good and God rescued His people through the grief.

If you’re going through some grief now, remember that, if you let Him, God will be in control and He will turn your grief around into good. So, if you feel like saying, “Good grief!” in your situation, try praying, “God, turn this grief into Your good, and I thank yo
u.”

My 89 year old mother has told me that her getting tuberculosis when she was young was a good thing. “Good grief Mom!” She lived in Newport News, Virginia where she contracted TB and was sent to a sanatorium hospital in Roanoke, Virginia to live there and be treated. A young man from Wise also got TB at the same time and was sent to the same hospital. His name was Bill, my father. The two of them met there, fell in love and, as they say, the rest is history. Good – grief!

Believe!

March 11, 2017 by Bill Leave a Comment

Given February 2017

This is going to be a sort of survey and might step on our toes a little, if you know what I mean.
Are you a believer? Yes ___ No ___. “All things are possible to him who believes.” (Mark 9:23).

You believed with your heart and confessed with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and asked Him into your heart. The Bible says you’re saved.
Are you saved? Yes ___ No ___. (If you’re not, do what it says three sentences back.)

Jesus took a beating for your healing, “.. and by his wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5).
Do you believe you are healed? Yes ___ No ___.

When a couple becomes pregnant they say they are “expecting”. They can’t see the baby but they believe it’s there and start making preparations for its arrival. “Then Jesus told him, “You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (John 20:29).
Do you believe and expect good things from God even though you can’t see them? Yes ___ No ___.

God made a promise to Abraham and cut a covenant with him. “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, and heirs according to the promise. (Galatians 3:29). “Now if we are children, then we are heirs–heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ.” (Romans 8:17).
Do you believe you are in Abraham’s will? Yes ___ No ___.

Do you believe we can be like Jesus? Yes ___ No ___. “.. no servant is greater than his master,” (John 13:16), “Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing,” (John 14:12).
Do you believe you can do what Jesus did? Yes ___ No ___.

Finally, are you more likely to believe the doctor ___ or the Bible ___?
Are you more likely to believe the government ___ or your Bible ___?
Are you believing the lies of the devil ___ or the promises of the Bible ___?

I think we all can say like the father of the boy with the evil spirit when Jesus asked him if he could believe, “I believe, but help my unbelief.” (Mark 9:24). Do you believe? Yes ___ No ___.

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