RECEIVING
17th Nov 2021
We often perceive the word rebuke to be negative and critical, however Proverbs 17:10 gives a different slant, “A quiet rebuke to a person of good sense does more good than a whack on the head of a fool!” (The Message)
I received a life giving rebuke a week ago on my way driving my car into my local town. I was enjoying the Lord, singing an old song, the words are perhaps familiar, “I receive Your love,” and you can add other words, I receive Your joy, peace, - “by Your Spirit within me, I receive, I receive Your love.” Then came the gentle but firm voice of the Holy Spirit, “You are not a good receiver, you are good at asking but not receiving.”
I recognised the truth in this statement and began to repent, remembering many times when I had pleaded with God to release things and situations that He had promised me, but I had failed to receive.
John 1:12 says, “But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God.” You received, you thanked, you experienced the salvation that was offered and you knew. Later you may have understood the theology, but initially you received.
Luke 11:9-13 says, “How much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask Him.”
In John 4:10-15 Jesus offered the woman at the well living water and she received, “Give me this water” was her response.
Matthew 21:22 says, “If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
In Acts 22:13 Paul is retelling what happened to him on the Damascus Road and recalls how Ananias lays his hands on him and says, “Brother Saul, receive your sight!” and he does.
Acts 17:10 tells how the Berean’s “received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”
The vital ingredient is receiving and believing. The Word of God gives a promise - I believe and receive and then I see the evidence. So often I have waited for the evidence before believing.
Over 50 years ago I was desperate to be filled with God’s Holy Spirit, I pleaded with Him to fill me, I had hands laid on me and yet saw no evidence of the filling. One day it dawned on me to start thanking; that if He promised to give me His Holy Spirit if I asked, then He wouldn’t tease me, He would do what He said. I believed His Word and started to thank Him, and then I saw the evidence - believing had merged into receiving.
As the result of the rebuke in the car I received a miracle which I will share in the video.
bWe often perceive the word rebuke to be negative and critical, however Proverbs 17:10 gives a diffe
