Would it be possible for someone to starve right in the middle of a supermarket? Certainly it would. It would be absurd and unnecessary, but it could be done. A person could be wasting away of hunger, lying in the middle of the produce section with people offering him food left and right. But if he refused to receive it, eventually he would be as dead as can be.

I can just hear you, “That’s the silliest thing I’ve ever heard. It would never happen!” Naturally speaking, you’re probably right. But in the realm of the spirit, things like that happen every day.

Take healing for example. God has already provided it for every believer on the face of the earth. As far as He’s concerned, it’s an accomplished fact. Yet countless believers are sick and dying today. God’s provision isn’t helping them because they haven’t received it.

“But Brother Copeland, this receiving business is easier said than done. It’s tough to reach out and receive invisible blessings from a God I can’t see. If Jesus were here on the earth, I’d have it made.”

Would you? Jesus didn’t walk around meeting the needs of everyone He met. In a crowd of people, you might see Him stop and respond to a single individual. What caused Him to single out one person when we know that God is no respecter of persons (Acts 10:34)? Faith.

Jesus did not operate apart from the faith of the people. His ministry was not directed by the multitudes, nor by His own personal preferences, nor by the severity of a need. It was directed by the cry of faith.

Why didn’t Jesus say to Jairus and Bartimaeus, “According to My faith be it done unto you” instead of “Thy faith hath made thee whole”? (Luke 17:19; Mark 10:52). Didn’t Jesus have any faith? Certainly He did! There’s no question that Jesus had faith. His faith connection to God was never broken, so He was always full of the Holy Ghost and power. He was always anointed. But for that power and anointing to be delivered to someone, it had to be touched by the faith of a receiver.

Faith and receiving are intimately connected. If you are starving for something you need, remember: Everything you need has been given to you if you’re born again. All you have to do is believe you receive it. He answers the cry of Faith!

Speak the Word

I have faith in God. I have the God kind of faith. (Mark 11:22)