The spirit of Religion – PART 3
🔥”Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil” (Proverbs 3:7)🔥
The Spirit of Religion. PART 3
Please know, only JESUS can give the HOLY SPIRIT (John 14:26). Most if not all stop at the baptism thinking that is as far as they need to go, which is patently false. Once again, The water baptism is but the first step of obedience (1 Samuel 15:22). If you had been able to receive proper Baptismal Instruction (89 verses), you would understand how all of this comes together. Improper Instruction leads to Destruction. So how do we know this is correct ? Because in John 3:5, so saith the LORD “JESUS answered, Truly, truly, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the HOLY SPIRIT, he cannot ENTER into the Kingdom of GOD”. The Infilling of the HOLY SPIRIT occurs at the time and place the LORD JESUS sees the Spiritual growth of the Individual through the Increase of Obedience (1 Samuel 15:22), Faith (Hebrews 11) and Good Works (Fruits) (John 15:4-6), all of this is Scriptural, not opinion ! This is why the Spirit of religion is so destructive, it keeps the people from seeing JESUS as the “Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). [L] purposely created religion to destroy the path to Eternal Salvation !. And how do we know that ? Pay attention to the last sentence of Matthew 7:14, “Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few be there that find it”. In plain terms, everlasting destruction. This is how important our labor of love is to find ourselves in JESUS every day.
👉WARNING SIGNS of a RELIGIOUS SPIRIT👈
1-The tendency to see your primary mission as trying to save anyone. That can only be accomplished by the LORD. All that we
Can do is plant the seed and water, but only JESUS can give the increase. Be careful as it is written in Matthew 7:6 !
2 – The inability to take correction, especially from those you judge to be more spiritual than
yourself. Think back on how you responded the last few times someone tried to correct you.
3- A philosophy that will not listen to other people – “only to GOD” Since GOD usually speaks through people, this is an obvious delusion and reveals serious spiritual pride.
4- The inclination to see more of what is wrong with other people than what is right with them. John saw Babylon from the valley, but when he was carried to a “high mountain: he saw the New Jerusalem” (Revelation 21:10) If we only see Babylon, our perspective is wrong. Those who are in a place of true vision will focus on what GOD is doing, not on any human achievement.
5- Overwhelming guilt that you can never measure up to the LORD’s standards. This is a root of the religious spirit because it causes you to base your relationship with HIM on your performance rather than HIS sacrifice on the Cross.
6- The belief that you have been appointed to fix everyone else! The self-appointed watchmen or sheriffs in GOD’s kingdom are seldom involved in building anything. We can only “Plant the Seeds and Water”, only JESUS can give the Increase !
7- A leadership style that is bossy, overbearing and intolerant of the failure of others. As James
said: “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace”, (James 3:17-18).
8- A sense that you are closer to GOD than other people or that your life or ministry is more pleasing to HIM. This is a symptom of the profound delusion that we draw closer to GOD by who we are rather than through JESUS. Humility !
9- Pride in your spiritual maturity or discipline, especially as you compare yourself to
others. True spiritual maturity involves growing up “INTO” CHRIST JESUS. When we begin to compare ourselves with others, it is obvious that we have lost sight of the true goal – JESUS.
10- The belief that you are on the cutting edge of what GOD is doing. This includes thinking that you are involved in the most important thing that GOD is doing. Again this is spiritual pride, self-centeredness, even if it were true. Those entrusted with the truly important missions have the grace to fulfill them because GOD “gives grace to the humble”, (James 4:6).
11- A mechanical prayer life. When you start feeling relieved that your prayer time is over, or when you have prayed though your prayer list, you should check your condition. You will never feel relief when your conversation is over with the One you love, JESUS.
12- Doing things so people will notice., especially in doing ‘good works’. Matthew 6:3 “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing “
This is a symptom of the idolatry of fearing people more than we fear GOD, and it results in a religion that serves people instead of GOD.
13- Being overly repulsed by emotionalism. When people who are subject to a religious spirit
encounter the true life of GOD, it will usually appear excessive, emotional and demonstrative. Remember how David danced when he brought the ark of the God into Jerusalem? And remember this
repulsed his wife Michal and she was barren from that day on, (2 Samuel 6:23). Such a critical spirit will
lead to spiritual barrenness.
14- Using emotionalism as a substitute for the work of the HOLY SPIRIT. Do you think that weeping and wailing must accompany repentance? Or that one must “fall under the power” to be truly touched by GOD? Even though both of these can be evidences of the true work of the HOLY SPIRIT, you are
beginning to move in another spirit if you require these manifestations.
During Jonathon Edward’s meetings in the First Great Awakening (1733-1735) some of the toughest, most rebellious men fell on the ground and stayed there for up to 24 hours. Such seemingly strange
manifestations fueled the Great Awakening, since these men were truly changed. Even so, Edwards stated men who faked these manifestations brought an end to the Great Awakening more than the enemies of the revival.
15- Keeping score in your spiritual life. Do you feel better about yourself because you go to more meetings, read your Bible more, or do more things for the LORD than other people do? These are all
noble endeavors, but the true measure of spiritual maturity is getting closer to JESUS by spending time with HIM with prayer for others, reading HIS WORD through the anointing, (1 John 2:27) learning how to truly Worship the LORD
and calling upon HIM to ask how you can be used by HIM for fruitful works. Amen. 🎚️
“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my ❤️, be acceptable in thy sight, o LORD, my STRENGTH, and my REDEEMER”.
(Psalms 19:14]
Part 4 next week….
“Bit speaking the TRUTH in love” ❤️❤️ (Ephesians 4:15)
Colossians 3:17 ministries col317.org
Always in the name of JESUS ✝️🔥✝️
Last Updated on April 22, 2026 by admin