|
| The Spirit of Religion |
|
| |
This is a blog from 2008 that I thought I'd repost. I've been battling against religious spirits again and was reminded of it. It is so amazing ... the exact thing that Jesus battled against when He dealt with the Saducees and the Pharisees is still so alive and well today.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Over the past two months, the Lord has been showing me much about the subject of religion. He has allowed me to see and experience many things in the lives of family, friends, co-workers, church members, myself, and others. These experiences have been all but pleasant, yet we can always learn from what we go through if we keep our spiritual eyes open.
In the Midwestern USA where I live, there is much religion. Someone once described religion as "man's attempt to please God on man's terms rather than on God's terms." I'd say that's pretty accurate, but there is much more to it. Religion affects a person in many negative ways. Some religion is learned human behavior passed down from generation to generation. Some religion is the result of a demonic religious spirit. Sometimes, it is a generational curse.
A religious person can be very sweet, loving, kind, and polite as long as he/she is around other religious people and as long as he/she doesn't feel threatened. Once threatened, the ugly symptoms of a religion begin to manifest. Here are the symptoms of religion that the Lord showed me over the last two months:
1) Can be very sweet, loving, kind, and compassionate when not threatened.
2) Is very "works" based ... always needs to be "doing."
3) Does not like to change the way of doing something.
4) Loves to be the center of attention and/or seen by others.
5) Is puffed up and prideful at times.
6) Changes the way he/she acts around different people in order to always look good.
7) There always needs to be "fault" when something goes wrong.
8) It is rarely (if ever) their own fault ... no heart-felt admission of guilt.
9) Very self-righteous ... can never do anything wrong.
10) Lives with fear and puts fear on others.
11) Always has to know all the details of everything going on around them.
12) Needs to be in complete control of his/her own life and the lives of everyone around them.
13) Becomes very angry and frustrated when not in control.
14) Is a close friend of the spirit of antichrist/anti-anointing.
15) Knows God, but not Jesus.
When you study the relationship that Jesus had with the religious leaders of His day, you will find all of these traits present. Yet, Jesus never tried to expel it or cast it out. He simply tried to pull people out of it. He would speak the truth in love, and when that didn't work, He spoke very harshly to them with words of warning.
Religion has so infiltrated our society, our homes, and many of our churches that we don't even see it for what it is anymore. It has become so common that we accept it as normal. Every one of us has some degree of religion in our minds, hearts, and lives. Some of us have much and don't even realize it because we think everything is fine and we are happy. We need to examine ourselves with the help of the Holy Spirit and get rid of the religion that we find. |
|
| To add a comment to "The Spirit of Religion" |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| August 01, 2008 |
 |
|
|
I don't preach religion. I preach relationship. I tell people that God didn't create religion and that if we claim to be religious and we don't extend a hand to help our brethren our religion is useless. James 1:26-27 KJV If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain. Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, [and] to keep himself unspotted from the world. |
|
|
| August 01, 2008 |
|
|
|
| You are so right, Prophet Jay. It is amazing how many large churches there are that care very little about the poor and those in need. The heart of God has, is, and always will be with "the least, the last, and the lost." I think God is sometimes more interested in what we do outside of the church walls than within the church walls. It's a lost and dieing world that needs a Savior and is running out of time. |
|
|
| August 01, 2008 |
|
|
|
| Another thought ... when you look at the 15 points in this blog, it is interesting that Jesus taught us to do the opposite of the 15 points. |
|
|
Follow this blog
