7 Scriptural Mistakes That Steal The Power

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“The greatest achievement of the enemy is not an active sinner but an inactive Christian unaware of the power available to them.”

I recently posted that statement on Facebook and Twitter….it generated a lot of likes, retweets and shares.

There are some believers. . .I choose not to say many believers. . .who continually wonder why they are not walking in the prosperity and success promised in the Bible.  Truthfully, it’s because they do not understand or fully utilize the power of God available to and through them in their daily lives.

How do we walk in the power, success and prosperity of God?  It all begins with faith.

The next three scriptures are going to make you SHOUT!!!

Romans 15:13 in the Amplified Bible says:

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”

The experience. . .the exercising of our faith unleashes the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 3:20 in the Amplified Bible says:

“Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams].”

His power is working within us through the demonstration of our faith. . .which is fed by our knowledge of the Word.

John 14:12-13 in The Living Bible says:

“In solemn truth I tell you, anyone believing in me shall do the same miracles I have done, and even greater ones, because I am going to be with the Father. You can ask him for anything, using my name, and I will do it, for this will bring praise to the Father because of what I, the Son, will do for you.”

We must know what to ask for. . .what lines up with the Word of God.

Let’s read Romans 15:13 in the Amplified Bible again with an emphasis on seeing how our experiences are determined by our faith:

“May the God of your hope so fill you with all joy and peace in believing [through the experience of your faith] that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound and be overflowing (bubbling over) with hope.”

We manifest the power of God through the exercising of our faith.

It’s clear God wants us manifesting His power in our lives on a daily basis. . .but too many Christians are inactive and ineffective when it comes to experiencing the power of God.

Why?

Matthew 22:29 in the New Living Translation says:

“Jesus replied, ‘Your mistake is that you don’t know the Scriptures, and you don’t know the power of God.’”

Here are seven scriptural mistakes which keeps believers from the power, success and prosperity of God.

Here they are:

1.         Not tithing or give offerings.

If you’re sitting in the pew Sunday after Sunday without tithing. . .then you’ll never tap into God’s power source. . .because you are robbing Him.

No excuses. . .no alibis.

Malachi 3:8-9 says:

“Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings.  Ye are cursed with a curse: for ye have robbed me, even this whole nation.”

That seems pretty straightforward to me. . .the Word says that if we are not tithing we are robbing God.

If we aren’t giving offerings . . . we are robbing God.

I guess this is a good place for me to ask you a question.

Are you a consistent tither?

Has there ever been a time when you didn’t tithe or stopped tithing for a short period of time?

If a person, a robber, takes what doesn’t belong to him even once in a while, does that make him any less of a thief

If the robber only steals when he/she wants or needs money, does that make them any less of a thief?

Of course not.  A failure to tithe and give scriptural offerings are power drains on the Holy Spirit.

Let me say it another way.

God will never let His power flow through someone who is stealing from Him.

2.         Disrespecting those in leadership or authority.

Acts 23:5 in the New Living Translation says:

“I’m sorry, brothers. I didn’t realize he was the high priest,” Paul replied, “for the Scriptures say, ‘You must not speak evil of any of your rulers.”

The Contemporary English Version of Acts 23:5 says:

“. . .The Scriptures do tell us not to speak evil about a leader of our people."

What does that mean to you?

If you want to fully understand the dangers of talking or acting out against leadership. . .even in your own family. . .read the tragedy of Absalom, King David’s rebellious son. (2 Samuel chapters 13 through 18.

In reading 2 Samuel chapters 13 through 18 you will discover that Absalom developed a problem when his father did not deal fairly with a family situation. David was most probably wrong but that is not the point. 

There will always be people who do wrong…it is how we handle the wrong which will determine whether we suffer or they suffer.

Instead of letting God handle it, Absalom decided to take measures into his own hands.

Interestingly … David faced the same decision when he served under King Saul.  He was chased throughout Israel and other nations with King Saul trying to kill him and David had occasions to retaliate against the King…but David understood the power of authority.

One instance can be found in 1 Samuel 24 in which David’s men encouraged him to slay King Saul but he ended up cutting off the edge of his robe. In verse 5-6 it says:

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt.

And he said unto his men, TheLordforbid that I should do this thing unto my master, theLord's anointed, to stretch forth mine hand against him, seeing he is the anointed of theLord.”

Even with only cutting his garment, David understood that God alone lifts up one and disposes of another.

Sinning against God’s holiness is one thing but rebelling against those God has placed in authority is totally another.

David understood authority but King Saul did not.  He is stripped of his kingship because of it for we read in I Samuel 15:23:

“Forrebellionis as the sin ofwitchcraft,andstubbornness is as iniquityand idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of theLord, he hath also rejected thee from being king.”

Understanding God’s authority is crucial to any Christian’s success.

One more thing about authority.  It’s easy to be under authority when things are going well for you. . .but the real measure of your obedience to authority comes when you disagree with those over you.

Make the Master proud of you by being good citizens. Respect the authorities, whatever their level; they are God's emissaries for keeping order. It is God's will that by doing good, you might cure the ignorance of the fools who think you're a danger to society. Exercise your freedom by serving God, not by breaking the rules. Treat everyone you meet with dignity. Love your spiritual family. Revere God. Respect the government.”   1 Peter 2:13-17 MS                                   

We cannot account for what anyone else does, but we will give an account for everything we think, say and do. Understand this. . .authority is important to God.

And the moral of this story. . .never talk about those in leadership positions above you. Obey the law.  Pray for them and then let God handle the situation.

3.         Not trusting God to do what He says He will do.

If I were to ask you what you would say is the most important verse in the Bible. . .you would probably quote John 3:16.

Truthfully, while that’s important. . .it has to be built off of trust. . .trust in God’s Word.

Numbers 23:19 in the Amplified Bible says:

“God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?”

Fact # 1         God can’t lie.

Jeremiah 1:11 in the Message Bible says:

“God's Message came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"  I said, "A walking stick—that's all."  And God said, "Good eyes! I'm sticking with you.  I'll make every word I give you come true."

Fact # 2         Every word. . .every promise He has ever given you will come true.

Genesis 28:13 in the Message Bible says:

“Then God was right before him, saying, "I am God, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. I'm giving the ground on which you are sleeping to you and to your descendants. Your descendants will be as the dust of the Earth; they'll stretch from west to east and from north to south. All the families of the Earth will bless themselves in you and your descendants. Yes. I'll stay with you, I'll protect you wherever you go, and I'll bring you back to this very ground. I'll stick with you until I've done everything I promised you."

Another is found in Joshua 21:45 in the New Living Translation concerning the Children of Israel entering the Promised Land:

”Not a single one of all the good promises theLordhad given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.”

Fact # 3         God will stick with you through thick and thin. . .till His promises come in.

You must believe that God will do what He says He will do regardless of your current circumstances or even what you perceive the consequences to be.

When you obey. . .without hesitation. . .your future is set.

Consider what the angel said to Mary in The Message Bible translation of Luke 1:45 which says:

“Blessed woman, who believed what God said, believed every word would come true!”

4.         Being a stealth sinner.

If you’ve ever said to yourself. . .nobody is looking. . .nobody will ever know. . .my secret is safe. . .then without question. . .you’re the biggest fool you know.

Mark 4:22 in the New Living Translationsays:


“For everything that is hidden will eventually be brought into the open, and every secret will be brought to light.”

If you’re visiting websites you shouldn’t then you should know those url’s (locations) will stay in your computer even if you delete or erase them.

The impressions. . .the keystrokes. . .and cookies never leave your computer.  They may not be visible but they’re there.  All it takes is for someone to scan the hard drive.

Not only does your computer retain the path of your little secret. . .but so does your mental hard drive.

When you allow negative or sinful thoughts to enter your thought processes. . .an impression is made much like the digital impression on a computer.    Depending on how active you are in renewing your mind will determine whether or not. . .those thoughts re-enter your thought processes.

If you allow yourself to feed on anything that exalts itself above the knowledge of God and His Word. . .then you’re a stealth sinner. . .trying to hide what can’t be covered up.

It doesn’t matter if you lead the choir. . .teach in the Sunday School. . .serve on the Board of Elders or any other position for that matter. . .if you allow you’re focus anywhere than on the pure, the powerful and the positive from the Word of God then you’re missing your opportunity to experience a Holy Ghost power surge in your life.

The Contemporary English Version of Mark 4:22 says:

“There is nothing hidden that will not be made public. There is no secret that will not be well known.”

5.         Putting down your spouse or anyone else for that matter.

I’m just going to deal with people who put down their spouses in front of others or even behind their backs.

When you get married. . .you become one flesh with your spouse. . .in much more than sexual intimacy.

If you chastise your mate . . .if you put them down. . . you are actually doing the same thing to yourself.

Genesis 2:24 says:

“Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” 

Make no mistake about it. . .there are spiritual consequences when you embarrass your spouse. . .when you speak down to them. . .or abuse them verbally.

You are in fact . . .doing harm to yourself.

Ephesians 5:29-33 in the Message Bible sums up the relationship between a husband and a wife.

“No one abuses his own body, does he? No, he feeds and pampers it. That's how Christ treats us, the church, since we are part of his body. And this is why a man leaves father and mother and cherishes his wife. No longer two, they become "one flesh." This is a huge mystery, and I don't pretend to understand it all. What is clearest to me is the way Christ treats the church. And this provides a good picture of how each husband is to treat his wife, loving himself in loving her, and how each wife is to honor her husband.”

I had a friend. . .a very smart man. . .who continually put down his wife in front of other people.  She just took it even though she is every bit as smart as he is.

When he puts her down in front of others. . .he is actually lowering other people’s opinion of him. . .not her.

I mentioned this to him once. . . and he didn’t take it too well.  That’s why he’s just an acquaintance now when he otherwise could have become a very good friend.

By mentioning this unflattering behavioral habit to him . . .I’ve done what’s right in God’s sight because I warned him of something that would hurt him.  How he responded to my observations is between him and God.

“Yeah, but Brother Harold, you don’t know my wife.”

That’s right, I don’t know her, but God does. . .if you begin to treat your wife the way that Christ treats His bride, the church, you will witness the most amazing transformation you’ve ever witnessed. . .an extreme makeover from a spiritual jerk to a fruit producing, power-packing Child of God.

6.         Taking the credit for what He has done for you.

If it weren’t for God. . .you wouldn’t be thinking, breathing or even living.

John 10:10 in the New Living Translation says:

“The thief’s purpose is to steal and kill and destroy. My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life.”

You’ve got what you’ve got. . .because He’s entrusted it to you, not because you somehow earned it.

Romans 12:3 in the Message Bible says:

“I'm speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all that God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it's important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and by what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.”

Always remember who gave you the opportunity to be successful.

2 Corinthians 2:12 in the New Living Translation says:

“When I came to the city of Troas to preach the Good News of Christ, the Lord opened a door of opportunity for me.”

And by the way, whether you’ve taken advantage of that opportunity or not. . .is not the point. . .He’s given you the opportunity. . .what you’ve done with it is your gift back to Him.  Make it good.

Always remember why you are where you are. . .and who gave you life (eternal and abundant) along with a vision for your future.

If you continually remember and honor God for what He’s done for you then you will always keep your success in a proper and scriptural perspective.

Psalm 35:28 in the Amplified Bible offers some pretty good advice:

“And my tongue shall talk of Your righteousness, rightness, and justice, and of [my reasons for] Your praise all the day long.”

7.         Being stuck in a comfort zone.

Your comfort zone is an enemy of your future. . .a hindrance to your success. . .a stumbling block to your destiny.

If you stay in your comfort zone. . .you will never leave nor surpass your current reality.

Several years ago, I wrote “Seven Ways To Escape Your Comfort Zone.”  I strongly encourage you to visit www.haroldherring.com and search for this blog and read it until you get it.  I consider it to have destiny-changing revelation.

However, in this teaching I want to briefly discuss one thing that tends to keep people from leaving their comfort zone.  It’s FEAR.

If you don’t face your fears. . .they will keep growing.

If you don’t face what you perceive to be your inadequacies. . .they’ll be magnified.

If you’re wondering what people will think if you fail in your new endeavor. . .you’re worried about the wrong person.

You need to be more concerned about what God thinks than anybody else in your hood.

Mark 7:8-10 in the New International Version says:

“You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men." And he said to them: "You have a fine way of setting aside the commands of God in order to observe your own traditions!”

There comes a point. . .a time when you have to realize that what you’ve been doing is not working. . .and you need to let go. . .shake up. . .change what you’ve been doing and do something else.

Make no mistake about it. . .the enemy of your destiny will do everything possible to keep you locked inside your comfort zone.

Why?

The devil doesn’t want you to know, understand or ever tap into the power of God. But you can … and you will… when you have faith and exercise His Word.

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