Sometimes We Have To Pick Up A Stone

 

Have you ever heard of the "name it and claim it" teachings that are in some churches? The above statement reminds me of it. I have shared much about my own personal church experiences in my posts and made the rounds with this teaching too. 

The teaching of "name it and claim" simply means that if you want something, you "name it" (I supposed God needs you to tell him exactly what you want instead of just asking him for it) and then in the name of Jesus, claim that it is yours. 

One pastor that was teaching it years ago, even said it was fine to claim something that belonged to someone else. 

Hummm. Where in the Bible does it say not to covet thy neighbor's goods?  What about his wife? Oh yes, those are part of the ten commandments. Is it ok to claim them, just not covet them?

I don't think so. 

But I digress. Anyway, sometimes what we need or want is a couple of ways why we pray to God, who will give us the desires of our hearts when we delight in him.  Psalm 37:4

And sometimes, those prayers have to be followed up with action. If David had prayed for God to deliver him from his enemy, Goliath would not have waited for a chance to kill David. He would have taken him out pronto.

Instead, David wasn't stupid. And he won the battle between them. 

Having said that, there are times that we just have to pray and believe in faith that God will answer us. And really having faith is an action But sometimes, God does require something more of us. 

He doesn't want us to sit on our hands and do nothing but "name" (I want to get a new carpet: like someone told me once) followed by "claim" and see the carpet fall out of the sky onto her floor, even if it doesn't happen just then. Really? 

Of course, maybe she didn't expect it would fall out of the sky. She didn't say that, but it was the way she said it that made me wonder if she believed it. Being a young Christian, I didn't question her as she was older than me. Who was I to say?

I would have questioned her now and told her what I think.

Isn't it possible that God expected her to save her money, and go to the carpet store to pick it out and then have it installed?

I should say so. But that teaching has misguided a lot of people. And it boils down to the fact that God answers the prayers of those that delight him. But it depends on action. An action regarding faith. Or something else. Like picking up a stone.

I have never seen the phrase "name it and claim it" anywhere in the bible.

Have you?

Thanks for coming by Friends. Have a blessed "Lord's Day" for this is the day that he made for us!