How To Receive The Blessings Of God Series

Listen to James 2:20

“…Faith without deeds is useless.”

The identity of James

Was he an apostle? Was he a pastor?

My theory is that James may also have worked part time in the post office!

He worked in the post office and he oversaw the delivery of all the letters that were addressed to God.

And every now and then he would take one of those letters, shake his head and

say …We have to send it back. “Don’t these people ever get it; No postage no delivery” means “no postage no delivery.”

But when James the post office worker held a letter addressed to God that has been written in prayer, written in petition, written in fasting, written in ashes and sackcloth …

It must have felt like … he was holding the envelope that wins the blessings of God.

Ask and you will receive; seek and you shall find; knock and the door shall be opened to you.

Where did Daniel find the will to turn to the Lord?

Where did Daniel find the time to pray and petition?

Where did Daniel find the self-control to fast?

Where did Daniel find the courage to put on sackcloth and ashes?

He found everything he needed to do all these things in the promises of God!

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29v11)

Consider this

In order to start a prayer life you need a promise from God to start praying about.

In order to fast you need a promise from God to fast about.

In order to put on sackcloth and ashes (humble yourself) you need a promise from God to keep you humble.

Illustration:

Somewhere in heaven there is a huge warehouse. That warehouse is full of the blessings of God. Those blessings have our names on them. God wants to give us those blessings.

He has even given us the catalog; The Bible!

We will only receive those blessings if we first turn to the Lord, pray and petition the Lord and finally fast and humble ourselves before the Lord.

You have not because you ask not!