Faith · Prayer · Care
Don't Limit God
A moment in Scripture. A step in faith.
Healing Cheatsheet Don't Limit God
Don't Limit God · Draft lesson
Don't Limit God
We can limit God! God Himself is limitless, but we experience His deliverance only as far as we believe.
Bible reading
Psalm 78:41–42; Matthew 9:29; Ephesians 3:20
Israel turned back and limited the Holy One of Israel by their unbelief. Jesus said it is done to us according to our faith, and God is able to do far above all we ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Passage summary, not a direct quotation.
Straight from the Bible
Yea, they turned back and tempted God, and limited the Holy One of Israel.
Plain wordsYes, they turned back and put God to the test, and they limited the Holy One of Israel.
TagalogOo, sila'y tumalikod at tinukso ang Diyos, at nilimitahan ang Banal ng Israel.
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
Plain wordsThen Jesus touched their eyes and said, "It will happen to you according to your faith."
TagalogNang maglaon, hinipo Niya ang kanilang mga mata, na sinasabi, "Ayon sa inyong pananampalataya, mangyari sa inyo."
Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us.
Plain wordsGlory to God, who is able to do far, far more than we could ever ask or even imagine — by the power that is at work within us.
TagalogNgayon, sa Kanya na may kakayahang gumawa nang higit pa sa lahat ng ating hinihingi o naiisip, ayon sa kapangyarihang gumagawa sa atin.
Bible words are quoted directly from the King James Version, an old translation that is free to use. The plain-words line and the Tagalog line are written for this app to help you follow the meaning.
Teaching
We can limit God!
God Himself is limitless, regardless of what we think. But as far as our lives go, we will experience the deliverance of God only as far as we believe (Matthew 9:29). Those who believe God doesn't heal will not be healed. Those who believe that the baptism of the Holy Spirit is not for today will not receive it. God will not force anything on us. We must believe. Faith takes the limits off God. Unbelief puts limits on God. It's according to the power that works in us (Ephesians 3:20).
Remembrance is one thing that removes these limits (next verse, see my note at 2 Peter 3:1).
The Hebrew word SHÛB was translated as "turned back" here, and this Hebrew word means "to turn back (hence, away) transitively or intransitively, literally or figuratively (not necessarily with the idea of return to the starting point); generally to retreat; often adverbial, again" (Strong's Concordance). There should be no retreat for believers. Two-thirds of God's name is GO!
The Hebrew word translated "limited" in this verse is TÂVÂH, and this Hebrew word means "to grieve" (Strong's Concordance). It grieves the Lord when we limit Him by our unbelief (Ephesians 4:30).
The Lord used this verse in my life miraculously on January 31, 2002. I was limiting God through fear of success and just small thinking. I changed, and my life and ministry have totally changed as a result.
Put it into practice
- 1
Believe that God heals today. Faith takes the limits off God; unbelief puts limits on Him.
- 2
Remember what God has done. Remembrance removes the limits (Psalm 78:42).
- 3
Refuse to retreat. There should be no turning back for believers — press on toward God.
- 4
Ask God to show you any small thinking or fear that has been limiting Him in your life, and change it.
A simple prayer
Father, forgive me for the times I have limited You by my unbelief. You are limitless. According to my faith, let it be done to me. Take the limits off, by the power that works in me, in Jesus' name. Amen.