Art of Receiving

I am reflecting back to my daily journal entry of July 1997 in which I make the following observation. I had finished a revival somewhere in South Carolina.

I have noticed that most people who seek their deliverance, seek every area
except the word of God. They want the anointing to be released from a
person but they refuse to consistently sit under Bible teaching. The
Bible is what really what is anointed. It destroys yokes. I a person
really wants deliverance, let them come to a meeting. That's when God is
fully present. When you formally make an appointment with HIM. That
anointing from the word empowers to replace the bondage.

God's word is arresting. My need will be met when I am moving towards
God's men who are full of God's word. God's word is remarkable compared to
our own thoughts. God's word is not fantastic since fantastic means -
fantasy or not real. God's word is thrilling when the Holy Spirit is upon
it.

Those who have a hard time receiving God's word are reading or hearing without the anointing. Some time ago in Portland, Oregon the fall of 2002, a young lady said to me, "Pastor, I just can't seem to understand what I am reading. What am I doing wrong?" I told her by an unction of the Holy Spirit; "You should pray in the spirit for a while and then ask the Holy Spirit to bring understanding to your natural mind concerning what you are reading." She did. She prayed and what happened the following weeks was astonishing. She was growing in Christ. She learned to grow by the spirit.

The art of receiving is not so well mastered here in the United States like some countries. You know, I recently joked in a Hispanic church in Winatchee, Washington, that the Hispanics can celebrate at the drop of a sombrero. They laughed and I laughed because we all know Hispanics and south American people can celebrate and will find cause to celebrate over just about anything. Why? They have practiced it as an art. So with the art of celebration, we must also practice the art of receiving. North American's have not practiced it so much.

Did you know I once witnessed a woman who prayed in Anaheim, California for gas money to go to church? The lady was offered gas money and she refused it because, "I just don't feel right about taking someones money." Can you imagine that? Here is a person who prayed for gas money. God gives it to her and she refuses it!! Why? She had pride ruling in her heart. Pride of life will keep you from receiving. Weather it is your healing, your job, a car, a house or money. Pride keeps you from receiving.

The favor of the Lord is bringing many things to you. You must understand something here. If God's favor doesn't bring it to you you don't need it. If God's favor doesn't bring it to you, you don't want it and If God's favor doesn't bring it to you, you can't keep it. If favor doesn't bring it to you, you will have to prop it up.

When you fail to receive, you frustrate God's plan in your life. The word frustrate means, "actions that keep you from attaining a goal or fulfilling a desire; to thwart."

I challenge you today. Tell God, "I am a receiver of your goodness. I practice receiving all you have for me today". Stay with it. When something good comes your way, CELEBRATE IT and don't forget, CELEBRATE THEM!

You can get good at receiving good things all the time. Just start saying, thank you Lord for giving me good gifts. You are my source of supply and you give me good gifts all the time. AMEN.

Access

Do you ever wish you could have a few moments of complete unrestricted ACCESS to someone who is powerful? Someone that could hear your situation objectively and make a difference?

First lets define who is a "powerful" person. I have learned that just because a person seems to be intimidating, they might not actually be powerful. Power means, "the ability to accomplish an objective". If the person you are seeking an audience with does not have the ability to accomplish an objective in your life, then it could be that we are misinformed on who is really powerful and who just has a strong personality.

There was a time when I was 22 years old that I was scared of what a certain individuals opinion about me was. Then I learned this great truth. It suddenly delivered me from the fear of man Never be afraid of Man. Never be afraid of people who are incapable of really solving problems.

Access to a powerful person is a gift that is a continual test to the next powerful person.

This is a test. The person that you have access to right now that is "powerful" is many times a test. God may be testing you to see if you can say the right thing and withhold wrong words and attitudes. God will never bring access to people into your life when you are incapable of acting, thinking and speaking right.

"The King's favour is toward a wise servant: but his wrath is against him that causeth shame." Proverbs 14:35.

I remember my friend Nora Lam took me to dinner, in the home of a one time, great hero. I went with her to his home in San Jose. He was an upstanding, United States, National treasure of a person. His name was General Robert E Hueyser. Gen Hueyser was a four star General with the Unites States Airforce. That's a lot of stars!

This man was what I would call, "tall cotton". He was really something. He wrote a book of his experiences in Iran while on duty during the fall of the Shaw. He was close to General Alexander Haig, President Reagan and President Car ter. This man knew so much classified information that while we entered into the country of China, he was not allowed to go in. This was a man who was very POWERFUL. He had abilities to accomplish much. You can see his portfolio here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Huyser

He is now buried at the Arlington National Cemetery but I remember as a kid, wisdom told me to "keep my mouth shut and if needing to speak, use wisdom and careful thought before speaking". I laugh now because I was so much on pins and needles, but I had access.

At 15 years of age, there was not much that I really needed from a United States Airforce General but I did learn much. Later I received a letter from him and his lovely wife. It said, "...we found David Woods to be spirit led, spirit directed and most of all Spirit filled." Wow what kind words.

I am reminded of Proverbs 16:13, "Righteous lips are the delight of kinds; and they love him that speaketh right."

Now I want to use this illustration to help you imagine for a minute your access with the Father. As a born-again, Christian, you have bold access to the Almighty God, the creator of heaven and earth. How, you may ask? Through Jesus, our advocate. Jesus is our way to the Father.

Ephesians 2:18 says, "For through HIM we both have access by one Spirit unto the Father". The heavenly Father that is.

Just as Nora Lam gave me access to someone truly "powerful", Jesus is giving you access to someone REALLY powerful. Your Heavenly Father.

Prayer is access to the ear and the abilities of God. Have you accessed Him today about your situation? Have you taken the time to respect the access you have with Him?