How should we claim promises while walking in the Spirit?
Discussion question for July 23, 2010.
Last week we discussed the difference between walking in the Spirit compared to operating out of our soul. Many Christians talk about the power of claiming the promises in the Bible, so how should we approach this? In what ways might those promises be claimed according to our flesh? How do we know that we have the mind of Christ? What expectations are appropriate for the submitted Christian?
Here’s my summary of our discussion.
The promises of God are an expression of the character of God. We should spend time discovering these promises and proving them. Because God’s character is unchangeable, the predictable nature of His promises helps us to know Him better now and in the future. Simply stated, the promise is God’s word that He will do and be what He says.
When we are walking in the Spirit, we are more interested in the Spirit than in ourselves. This will cause us to claim promises as they are given, accepting the truth and permanence as we accept God.
We should avoid claiming promises in a way that attempts to manipulate an outcome for personal benefit. Our loving God allows us what we demand, even when it isn’t in our best interest. For example, the Israelites demanded a king to rule them instead of God. Whenever we claim a promise for selfish purposes it is an indication that we are walking according to our soul instead of walking in the Spirit.
One of the greatest promises to claim, that is free from narcissistic manipulation, is found in the first chapter of Jeremiah (among many other places). “I am with you.” When God is with us it makes everything alright.
Christ lived as an example of living on earth submitted to God. He did what the Father told Him to do, and was the Word of God. If we are to have the mind of Christ, then we will also do what the Father tells us to do (obey) and speak what He tells us to say. Knowing and claiming the promises puts us in touch with the predictive nature of God. The better we know God, the more we love and trust Him.