PASTOR JOHN COLLINS: NAME IT CLAIM IT!
“And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with
its passions and desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the
Spirit.” Galatians 5:24-25 (NKJV).
 |
| Visualization board |
Pastor John Collins: Name it and claim it! There are many churches out there that
have been peddling the law of attraction for some time now. There are many
Christians that see no harm in a visualization board, affirmation clippings and
scrapbooks of hopes that are created, kept and prayed over. What is wrong with
picturing a better life for yourself, creating a visual focal point so that you
can put out into the world your hopes and dreams and create for yourself the
life that you desire?
 |
| Affirmation page |
Many believe that you can state your claims out loud to
God and He will answer your heart’s desire.That is your will, not His. As much
grace as God is willing to provide, He is not in the business of granting
wishes like some genie in the sky.
The challenge of being a
true Christian in this life is to
deny the passions of your flesh. That is what you fight against. Your flesh
wants nice things, joy and happiness above all and most of all it wants
validation for your importance and existence. People want success and
recognition for their efforts and they want the paycheck that goes along with
it. There are many that say to live your life to the fullest, claim your
reward, allow God to do more for you than you realize was possible.
God is in
the business of saving souls, not making your dreams come true.
God desires
humility and not pride of life. People want to try this and that to make their
lives better but do not even see when those things are anti-biblical because
people don’t know the
word of God.
This name it and claim it nonsense is of the new age church.
There are many churches today that are introducing and blending pagan ideas and
activities into their church, whether they realize it or not, which are
contrary to true faith and genuine
worship of
the Father and
the Son. Be
careful of the influences that you allow into your life, your church and
especially your home.
 |
| Labyrinths and rituals in Christian worship |
Many Christians don’t know about the occult and those
practices which makes it hard to rebuke when it enters your life and there are
many of these that seem harmless enough but in reality all they do is undermine
your beliefs.
God has been fighting the evil practices since the beginning and
many cannot see that it is nothing new but it is just updated and repackaged
for this generation. Paganism and idolatry is an abomination to the Lord and
you must be cautious and aware in what you allow to have influence over you.
Hold tight to the
doctrine of truth and let humility rule your life.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22 (NKJV).
