If you told me you had a gift for me and that all I have to do is ask for it, and rather than asking you for it as you said, I came up to you and said, “I claim the gift you promised me. You said I could have it and I’m claiming it now,” how would you feel? Would you think I was approaching you reverently, or would you think I had a lot of nerve speaking to you that way?
Again, God tells us to ask, and we will receive, to seek, and we will find, and to knock, and the door will be opened for us. And, instead of asking, seeking, and knocking, many have gone on a claiming spree. Call it what you want, it is wrong. Yes, it is as simple as that, it is wrong.
We must always do what God says we are to do, not what men tell us to do. God tells us to ask, seek and knock; men tell us to claim.
Every word of God is tested; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him. Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar, Proverbs 30:5, 6.
The Lord does not take it lightly when His children ignore, and abuse His word, by using their own vernacular. Many think it is fine because those who do it don’t mean to be insubordinate. But the fact remains that they are insubordinate because the Lord tells us not to add to His words. And those who do so, regardless of their motives, are influencing others to do the same.
I have witnessed the disastrous effects that have stemmed from those who claim the promises. I’ve spoken of them before, so I won’t go into them now. I will just say that if you cannot take my word for this, please consider taking the Lord’s word for it. And He says, “Do not add to His words lest He reprove you, and you be proved a liar.”
Nowhere in the Bible does it say we are to claim the promises of God. Woe to those who add to the word of God. Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness; who substitute bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and clever in their own sight!
The Bible is not just another book, it is the word of God. Those who belong to Jesus approach it reverently; they rightly divide it; they handle it accurately.
The Holy Spirit has never, and will never, lead someone to claim a promise of God. It is not Scriptural; it is not holy; it is wrong. Again, do not take my word for it, take God’s word for it, Proverbs 30:6.
We must always obey the word of God, not men. The word of God tells us to ask, seek and knock; men tell us to claim. We must each choose whom we will serve.
Jon David Banks, God’s most unworthy servant
jondavidbanks.com 