Because of the false gospel of claim-it and receive-it, many Christians have forgotten the true meaning of 2 Corinthians 1:20. This verse clearly states that we need Christ's "Yes" in order for us to claim any of His promises. This interpretation is backed up by James 1:1-3, which says that if we pray with wrong motives and ask God for His promises, we will not receive them. God never meant the Church to use 2 Corinthians 1:20 to turn God into a genie who grants them any promise of His they want, even when they are not ready to receive it.
For example: If a lazy worker asks God for a promotion by claiming the promise of Ephesians 3:20, that God will answer his prayers more wonderfully than he ever thought or imagined, he would be using Scriptures with a wrong motive and God will not grant his request. If the lazy worker keeps using Scriptures wrong, he will open a door for Satan to tempt him in ways that he can get a promotion through dishonest means. Satan might tempt him to steal an idea from his co-worker or take credit from one of his employees. In fact, this is the kind of dishonest practices that many Christians have resorted to because they "claimed" a promotion, believing God would come through for them, and He didn't. Sadly, after they have gotten a promotion through dishonest means, they go to church and give the testimony that they claimed a promotion and received it by God's grace. This is the reason so many churches have turned into a den of thieves.
In order to restore the Church, we believers must make Christ the center of our declarations again, and not our self-interests. We must submit our declarations to Christ's authority and say, "If this is Your will, Lord, please grant it. If it's not, don't. Not my will but Yours be done." It is only when we submit our declarations to Christ's "Yes" that we won't open ourselves to being tempted by the devil and we will live godly lives.
Comments