Limiting God

Psalms 78:41 (NKJV) 41 Yes, again and again they tempted God,

And limited the Holy One of Israel.

The Bible is very clear that there is no impossibility with God. Here are the scriptural references indicating that:

— Luke 1:37

— Genesis 18:14

— Jeremiah 32:17 & 27

— Mark 9:23

— Matthew 19:26

Luke 18:27 says,” And he (Jesus) said the things which are impossible with Men, are possible with God”.

Then here comes a question: “Why is it that we present our requests, desires, and needs to God, but nothing comes forth?” Is God limited? Then, what is wrong? What is not working?

In our opening text, the bible says: –

1) They turned back. Therefore, turning your back on God limits the manifestation of God in your life.

2) They tempted God. In other words, when you tempt God, you limit His power at work in your life because you’ve placed a boundary on where His influence can operate. That’s where God will manifest as well.

3) They limited the Holy One of Israel (God). How?

How do we limit God?

We limit God through our wrong beliefs.

Jesus said unto him, if thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth”. — Mark 9:23

What you believe can limit God. Anything you believe that is not in line with the word of God limits God and His power from accomplishing what He wants to accomplish in your life. Don’t believe tradition. Tradition doesn’t mean what your forefathers believed. It also means anything you believe in that you think the Bible says, but it is not so. It is also the teachings we hold on to because we were taught, but that have errors. It’s the doctrine of our religion that we highly regard and respect, but which is contrary to the word of God.

Fear

We limit God by being afraid to take risks.

2 Kings 7:3–9 (NKJV) 3 Now there were four leprous men at the entrance of the gate; and they said to one another, “Why are we sitting here until we die? 4 If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” 5 And they rose at twilight to go to the camp of the Syrians; and when they had come to the outskirts of the Syrian camp, to their surprise no one was there. 6 For the Lord had caused the army of the Syrians to hear the noise of chariots and the noise of horses — the noise of a great army; so they said to one another, “Look, the king of Israel has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians to attack us!” 7 Therefore they arose and fled at twilight, and left the camp intact — their tents, their horses, and their donkeys — and they fled for their lives. 8 And when these lepers came to the outskirts of the camp, they went into one tent and ate and drank, and carried from it silver and gold and clothing, and went and hid them; then they came back and entered another tent, and carried some from there also, and went and hid it.9 Then they said to one another, “We are not doing right. This day is a day of good news, and we remain silent. If we wait until morning light, some punishment will come upon us. Now therefore, come, let us go and tell the king’s household.”People fear the unknown because there is a risk involved. We fear being uncomfortable. We don’t like being stretched. But if we aren’t living on the edge,we are taking up too much space, and there’s no way we’ll avoid limiting God.

Keep in mind that whenever you risk doing what God has directed you to do, God always rescues you. This is clearly shown in 2 Kings 7:3–9. When the four lepers took a risk, God stepped in for them and rescued them. God brought about great salvation through four lepers who risked their lives. Fear always paralyzes people. Fear always brings torment.

1 John 4:18 (NKJV) 18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.

The antinode for fear is perfect love.

Fear of failure is a significant concern. When we are afraid of failure, we hesitate to step outside our comfort zones or take risks to do what God has instructed us. God has good plans for us (Jeremiah 29:11); we limit God when we avoid taking action because of our fear of failure. The greatest failure occurs when we play it too safe out of fear of making a mistake. We all make mistakes; it’s inevitable. However, God is not going to fall off His throne because we make a mistake.

Fear of failure can lead to a worse outcome than anything else. It’s better to step out in faith and trust God, and if you fail, allow God to pick you up and dust you off so you can rise and try again. The WORST FAILURE of all is being paralyzed to the point of doing nothing.

Proverbs 24:16 (NKJV) 16 For a righteous man may fall seven times

And rise again,

But the wicked shall fall by calamity.

2 Chronicles 16:9 (NKJV) 9 For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

Fear of change: Many people are afraid to try something different. Resistance to change is quite strong in our culture. But keep in mind an ‘insane person’ is the one who does the same thing in the same manner but expects different results. Fear of change always paralyzes you from taking a step forward, thus limiting what God can do in your life.

Fear of man: The fear of man bringeth a snare but whoso putteth his trust in the Lord shall be safe”.–Proverbs 29:25

Fear activates Satan and releases his power, just as faith activates God and He releases His power. Fear can paralyze people. One limitation that can affect what God does in our lives is the fear of man, also known as persecution, as we stand up for the truth.

“For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth” –2 Corinthians 13:8.

We limit what God can do through us if we know something is true but do not stand up for the truth out of fear of what others will say. Let God be enough.

“7. But what things were gain to me, those I counted as loss for Christ.8 . Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ.” — Philippians 3:7–8.

We all need to stop limiting God in our lives and reach the point where God is enough. When we don’t tell people the truth because we’re afraid of how they might respond, we deny them the opportunity to accept or reject the truth themselves. Let them reject the truth on their own.

Fear of success: The biggest fear in many people’s lives is the fear of success. Success has destroyed more people than hardship and failure ever have. When you are prosperous, remember it’s God who gave you the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:1–20).

Saul limited what God wanted to do in his life. When he was little in his own eyes, i.e. humble and obedient to God, God could use him (1 Samuel 15:17).

But when he became great in his own eyes — lifted up with pride and disobedient to God — God couldn’t use him (1 Samuel 15:26).

Humility is necessary to walk with God. Saul didn’t continue to walk with God because he became proud and pursued his own ways. God rejected him from being king (Proverbs 16:18).

There is fear in prosperity. Prosperity has destroyed many people and hardened the hearts of many towards the Lord. Prosperity destroyed Uzziah the king (2 Chronicles 26:14–20). Prosperity caused David to shift from being God-dependent to independent (2 Samuel 11:1–4).

Proverbs 30:7–9 (NKJV) 7 Two things I request of You

(Deprive me not before I die):

8 Remove falsehood and lies far from me;

Give me neither poverty nor riches —

Feed me with the food allotted to me;

9 Lest I be full and deny You,

And say, “Who is the LORD?”

Or lest I be poor and steal,

And profane the name of my God.

Our Imagination

‘Imagination’ is defined as forming a mental image of something that is not present to the senses or never before wholly perceived in reality. In other words, ‘imagination’ is the ability to see something with our minds that we cannot see with our physical eyes.

1 Chronicles 29:18 (NKJV) 18 O LORD God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our fathers, keep this forever in the intent of the thoughts of the heart of Your people, and fix their heart toward You.

People have notions about what they can do and what only God can do in their lives. The second notion of what you can’t do but only God can do limits God. The only notion you are supposed to hold is what God wants you to do, and you should pursue it. Align your imagination with the word of God.

Remember this: What God says you can do; you can do it. Period!

• Your thinking limits God (Proverbs 23:7).
• Comparing yourself with others limits God (2 Corinthians 10:12).
• We limit God by leading ourselves (Jeremiah 10:23 & Deuteronomy 30:19).
• We limit God when we are absent from our assignment.
• When He calls, do you hear Him? (Acts 9:10).
• We limit God by the cares of this world.
• You are not still or listening to Him (Mark 6:31; Psalm 46:10; 1 Kings 19:11-12).
• We limit God when we are clever and strong in our own sight (1 Corinthians 1:27).

Prayer and Meditation

Father, in Jesus’ name, open my eyes to the ways I have been limiting You in my life. Help me to remove the limits I place on God. Teach me Your word and help me to adhere strictly to the word of God. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Contributor: Pastor Gilbert Magomere Ayieko