How to STOP Opposing God. Everyone Needs to Hear This!

Are We Opposing God?

Did You Know?

It’s up to us how much of God we allow in our lives. We can have as much or as little as we like. Churches should be full and overflowing with the miraculous, they should be overflowing with God’s tangible presence, with healing, freedom, salvation, life, and so on. If you need anything at all, you should be able to run to a church and find real help, real answers, but yet in reality, they offer so little but seem to demand so much.

So many churches are dead and devoid of any real miracles and power, but why? In many places, there is a lack of God’s presence because the people there are influencing the atmosphere with unbelief, religious ideas, and indifference. Most churches have many activities, but very little, if any, of God. Mostly because there are a lot of observers and rule checkers, but very few actual participants.

Your Attitude Affects Everyone

We think we control our little world and that our actions only affect us. “Oh, you can have as much of God as you want and respond any way you want to, that’s okay, but that’s just not who I am.” You think you aren’t affecting anyone when in reality you are. How much of God you want is up to you, and how much of God you are willing to sacrifice by holding back is also up to you. But holding back not only affects you, but everyone else in the room around you. You are affecting other people’s lives for good or bad, just by being there.

How much do you want God, how much do you want to be changed, how much do you want to be healed? When will you be desperate enough to stop resisting and holding back, and finally let God do something in your life? These are all up to you. If you want to withhold yourself from God and resist him, that’s fine. If you’re satisfied with not having much of God in your life, fine. Or if you’re just not ready to go all in for God yet, that’s okay. But what about the person next to you in church? Maybe they desperately need God.

Creating an Atmosphere of Faith

“Well, they can have as much as they like.” You say “I’m not stopping them,” but in reality, you are. You are affecting the person next to you by being withheld from God. Why should they suffer because of your lack of interest in God? Stop robbing the person next to you because you are too stubborn or afraid to let God move.

“That’s absurd,” you say. Well, the Bible tells us about how Jesus was on his way to heal the sick girl. “On their way there, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. Your daughter is dead, he said. Don’t bother the teacher anymore. Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, don’t be afraid. Just believe and she will be healed.” When they came to the home where the child was sick, Jesus saw much commotion and weeping and wailing. He went inside and asked, why all this commotion and weeping? The child isn’t dead. She’s only asleep. The crowd laughed at him, but he made them all leave and took the girl’s father, mother, and his three disciples into the room where the girl was lying.

Remove The Barriers To God’s Power

Jesus put everyone out of the room except those people with him, why? What Jesus is saying is now in direct opposition to the crowd around him. The laughing, the weeping, and the wailing are all in direct opposition to what he is saying about the girl. He said, “Don’t worry, don’t be afraid. Just believe she will be healed.” But the crowd is saying something different. Responding to the reality that the girl is dead, mocking the words of Jesus. He had to send them away because they would have affected the outcome with their attitudes.

If the crown had remained, Jesus would have probably been able to do very little for the girl. There is too much opposition and unbelief there. Now we realize what God is saying in most churches might be in direct opposition with the people there with their attitudes, thoughts, opinions, their unbelief. God wants one thing, but the church as a whole might be opposing what he is saying, laughing, weeping, and making a bunch of unnecessary commotion.

Barriers That Oppose God’s Power in Church

• Unbelief and indifference
• Religious rigidity and traditions
• Lack of active participation
• Unbelief and doubt can limit God’s ability
• Negative bad attitudes can oppose prayers and hinder miracles

An Atmosphere Of Opposition

Still not convinced? In Matthew 13 it says “Jesus could do very little in his hometown.” People had a preconceived idea about who he was. He’s just the carpenter’s son, nothing special, and their attitude kept him from doing very much. The Bible says he only did a few miracles there because of their unbelief. This was Jesus, the Son of God, and he was severely limited by everyone in that town. We think, “Well, he’s God, if he wants to heal people, he just does so regardless of what I do. Far be it from me to stand in his way.” Like we have no impact at all. But now we’re starting to see that this isn’t completely true. We can limit God’s ability by our attitudes and not only oppose God but affect the lives around us.

Wow, we start to realize how difficult it is to get any answers to prayer in a lot of churches. We think God just isn’t showing up, if he wants to great, we will just keep hoping that he will, not realizing we are the ones keeping him away, the ones opposing him.

There isn’t much faith for God to do anything in some churches, and then some churches believe God doesn’t even do those things anymore. Well, you can pretty much forget about being healed in churches like that, especially if God isn’t doing that anymore. If you’re sick there, it must be God’s will for you to be sick. This, of course, is absolute nonsense. God is still doing everything he once was, He still has power and ability, just not there. In a room full of faith, God’s power spreads like wildfire and can be explosive, but if it has nowhere to go because we are shut down to it, not much will happen.

Faith That Outweighs Unbelief Produces Results

It’s like when you hear about these great healing services in other countries like Argentina, where masses gather and so many are healed and experiencing God. The atmosphere there is teeming with faith and hope, yet you can barely get anyone healed of a cold in some other churches around the world, because of all the unbelief and preconceived religious ideas and barriers. In those massive healing services, the majority of people are just hungry, desperate, and open. Their faith far outweighs any unbelief that may be there. We of course think they are just emotional. We are suspicious and leery, and we know better than to be fooled by this hocus-pocus of healing and emotionalism, besides, didn’t all that end with the apostles? OR, do we think that it’s just a sovereign move that God is only doing there specifically?

God goes where hungry open people are. This should open our eyes to the fact that if God isn’t moving in our churches, then it’s not because he just doesn’t want to or he just doesn’t do it anymore. We should at least consider that it’s probably the people in those churches who might be keeping God distant and powerless. Our churches tend to be more like Nazareth, where Jesus could do very little. So be careful. You’re wrong attitude may be keeping people around you sick and hurting. You could be affecting people’s lives and not even realize it.

We Oppose God’s Power

You could be in church in the pastor brings up a family that has a desperate need and prays for them. But yet your attitude is working against the pastor’s prayers. He has to fight your attitude as well as everyone else’s in that room, just to be able to help these people. What some pastors should do is kick the congregation out before they pray for people who desperately need answers from God.

In many churches, the battle isn’t against some outside force that’s keeping God at bay. Usually, the congregation is the force keeping God at bay. People who get up and pray in most churches are fighting against spiritual strongholds and principalities in the air, sure, but they also have to fight through the people in that room. Why do some people close their eyes when they pray onstage? Probably because they don’t want to see the unbelief on people’s faces. Wow, just the expression on your face could be fighting against the prayers of people.

“Well, I’m not opposing God, I just don’t think the way they were praying was appropriate. They were too loud or not loud enough. They didn’t say Jesus enough, or they said Jesus too much. I think they were operating in the flesh and not in the spirit, so I couldn’t get behind that prayer.” What! You couldn’t get behind a prayer to heal someone who is suffering and desperately needs help, because you didn’t like the way they were being prayed for. Maybe you should consider getting prayer for deliverance. “Well, surely there aren’t a lot of people like that in church, you say?” Sadly, there are far too many.

The Forest Through The Trees

We get so hung up on all the wrong things that we don’t even see the miraculous right in front of us. We could be in a room where people are being healed and set free, and all we can see is that we don’t like what someone is wearing, or their theology is off a bit. Just like the Pharisees of Jesus’s day, we completely miss the miraculous that’s happening and step into opposing what God is doing. People are being completely healed, yeah, but he did it on the Sabbath, so it doesn’t count. What’s the saying? Can’t see the forest through the trees.

Don’t Be The Opposition To God’s Power

Or maybe it’s as simple as everyone is praying for a sick person, but you just have little faith in healing, or you’re distracted by your life, and all you can think about is your bills. Or maybe you’re just tired and not paying attention. This doesn’t mean you’re evil. It just means you’re human. Either do those people a favor and excuse yourself and leave the room, or just change. Shake off those distractions and start believing for those people. And push that belief and faith towards those who need it. Be in agreement with the prayers and don’t fight them. Don’t critique them. Don’t become the opposition to God’s power. People need help, and we don’t want to be the ones keeping them from getting it.

When we go to church, we need to agree with what’s happening. Otherwise, why are we there? To only hear what we want to hear? To just be inspired and told we were doing good and Jesus loves us, this we know because the Bible tells us so, and that’s the extent of our relationship with God. We are missing out on so much. The more we resist, the more we withdraw from God, the more we keep God distant, the less help people around us can get, and the less God can move and be who he wants to be. Imagine all God could do in a place where there is little opposition. A place where prayers aren’t hindered and shut down by the crowd, but where God’s Power is evident and active.

Stand With God, Not Against Him

In 1 Samuel 14, it talks about Jonathan and his armor bearer. His armor bearer has one of the greatest responses in the Bible. Jonathan basically says, “Hey, let’s go up and fight these men. Perhaps God will help us.” And his armor-bearer says, “Do what you think is best. I am with you completely, whatever you decide.” Another version says, “Do all you have in mind frame with you heart and soul.”

This should be our attitude and church. God, whatever you want to do, whatever you’re up to, I am completely with you. Whatever you decide, I am with you, heart and soul. After Jonathan and his armor bearer killed these men, everything broke loose. The Philistines were panicking, and they were fighting each other. An earthquake happened, men were coming out of everywhere and joining in the fight, Saul showed up with his army. Basically, God saved Israel and defeated their enemies that day, but only after someone said “Yes, do all you have in mind, for I am with you completely.” It was the catalyst God used to bring them victory.

God wants to defeat every enemy that harasses you. He wants to pour out his spirit, demonstrate his power, and bring revival. He’s just looking for a room full of people who will say, yeah God, we’re with you, we’re not opposing you in any way, let’s do this! In a place with little opposition, the miraculous is possible. People can get real help, find real life, be healed of sicknesses and diseases, and be connected to God in the way they were always supposed to be. Imagine a place where God no longer seems far away but is undeniably active and present.

Keys To Openness to God’s Power in Church

• Leave distractions and preconceptions at the door
• Actively participate in worship and prayer
• Support and agree with others’ prayers
• Focus on God’s greatness and potential
• Be receptive to all God wants to do

Results of Openness to God’s Power in Church

When a congregation unites in openness to God’s power in church, it creates an environment where:

• Healing becomes more frequent
• Prayers are answered more readily
• God’s presence is tangibly felt

Biblical Examples of Openness to God’s Power&

• Jesus in Nazareth (Matthew 13)
• Healing of Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:21-43)
• Jonathan and his armor-bearer (1 Samuel 14)

Conclusion

When we walk through the doors of church, we need to leave the day behind us and leave our opinions and attitudes. We need to be at church to participate, support and agree. To open ourselves up completely and worship, pray, sing, listen, and respond with all of our hearts, to not be withheld in any way. To focus on God and how amazing He is and support all He wants to do. Then we will no longer be opposing God or what He is doing, but actively participating with Him in His Kingdom. We can look up confidently and say, “God, do all that you have in mind, for I am with you completely.”

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• God Deserves a People

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