At first, when looking at the two phrases that are the title of this teaching it may seem that they are opposites. To take implies action while to receive implies inaction. Can one take and receive at the same time? The answer is yes. In the Bible it shows that we can take possession of the promises of God by receiving them through the finished work of Jesus.
In the Old Testament, God told Moses that He was going to rescue the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians and bring them to a land flowing with milk and honey (Exodus 3:8). God delivered on His promise and brought the Israelites out of Egypt and was leading them into the promised land. God had promised this land to the Israelites, but it was possessed by other groups. This land was their land, but they had to go and take it by following God. On the Israelites first approach to the promised land a scouting party returned with news that was discouraging, and instead of allowing God to lead them to victory as He had promised, the Israelites decided to take matters into their own hands and stopped following God. The Israelites didn’t believe in God’s promises, and for this lack of faith they ended up wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. In Hebrews 3:19 (AMP) it says, “So we see that they were not able to enter [into His rest – the promised land] because of unbelief and an unwillingness to trust in God.”
God had given the Israelites a promise but they failed to believe Him. When the circumstances seemed impossible for the Israelites, unbelief set in and they were unwilling to take what God had given them. This caused the Israelites to miss their blessing for 40 years. God still asks us to do what He asked of the Israelites: He asks us to have faith in Him and take what He has promised. Today though we take it through the finished work of Jesus Christ. We receive through our belief in what Jesus has given us through His sacrifice. The Israelites had a lack of faith and didn’t believe in God’s promises. For us however, it is not our lack of faith that keeps us from God’s promises. Galatians 2:20 (KJV) explains that the life we now live, we live “by the faith of Christ.” We have the faith OF Christ! It’s not a lack of faith, but it’s our unbelief that keeps us from God’s promises.
In Mark 9:14-29 we can read the account of Jesus healing a demon-possessed boy. Jesus’ disciples were unable to cast out the demon, and the father of the demon-possessed boy pleaded with Jesus to have compassion on them and to help them. Jesus replied to the father, “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes” (Mark 9:23 NKJV). The father of the boy responded, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief” (Mark 9:24). Jesus rebuked the spirit that was possessing the boy and the spirit came out.
We cannot allow unbelief to stop us from taking possession of what God has intended for us to have. We cannot allow the enemy to possess what we have rightfully received by Jesus. When unbelief stops us from moving forward, we must call out to Jesus. Jesus said that unbelief can only be overcome through prayer and fasting (Mark 9:29). We have to fully trust in God, fully have faith in His Word, and fully believe that Christ has given us all of God’s promises through His finished work on the cross.
The Truth in Action: We have to take possession of what God has promised us. We can’t sit back and expect God’s promises to fall in our laps, we have to actively receive them through our belief in what Jesus has already given us. Don’t confuse this with works of the flesh, because no amount of work that we do will help us receive God’s promises. Instead, put your faith into action (submit to and obey God).
What promise are you believing God for today? Don’t allow unbelief to keep you from taking possession of what you have been given by God; receive it through your belief in what Jesus has already given you. Act on what you believe you already have.
Meditate on Scripture: James 2:20-23 (NKJV) – But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect?
Further Study – The Greek Word “lambano” which means “to take” can also be defined as “to receive.” This word can be found nearly 240 times in the New Testament. John 3:27 and Hebrews 9:15 are examples of the word lambano being used as the verb “to receive.” In these examples, can you see how “to take” and “to receive” can be used interchangeably? Look for other examples of this in the New Testament as you read.