When a believer tries to work for things or earn things, it grieves the Holy Spirit – we do not work for things, we receive them by grace through faith! Some may argue, “the bible says that faith without works is dead” – the works that are referred to in James 2:14-26 are not referring to futile efforts to try to earn things from the Lord – the ‘works’ in James 2:14-26 are referring to believers being doers of the Word. You laying hands on the sick is called a work of faith – it does not earn healing but rather releases healing by grace through faith.
People who try to please God or earn things by their religious works of the flesh actually jeopardize their blessings…
The Lord cannot allow believers to think that their formula, their ritual or their works earn things from Him. By relying on your fasting, your praying for two hours a day or your memorizing one hundred verses of scripture a day, you actually hinder the work of the Lord. Fasting, prayer and scriptural memorization are all good, but when a person does those things in an attempt to earn something, or in an attempt to ‘get God to do something, even good things become a hindrance.
Friends, if you have a need, Jesus has already provided! Do not try to earn it or persuade the Lord to provide, just receive it by faith in Jesus Name! Just say, “Jesus, I receive by grace through faith!” Whatever it is – healing, provision, favor, wisdom or ability – just receive it by grace through faith, in Jesus Name!
