The Spirit of Religion = the Traditions of Man
The Canon of Prayer Day 2
There were three things God spoke to me this week in prayer that we need to pray off and out of the Church, three things we need to bind up, take authority over and case out; the Spirit of Entertainment, the Spirit of Religion and the Spirit of Error. Jesus said that whatever we bind on earth, He will sanction it as a law from Heaven.
The Spirit of Religion = the Traditions of Man
‘THEY WORSHIP ME IN VAIN [their worship is meaningless and worthless, a pretense],
TEACHING THE PRECEPTS OF MEN AS DOCTRINES [giving their traditions equal weight with the Scriptures].’You disregard and neglect the commandment of God, and cling [faithfully] to the tradition of men.”He was also saying to them, “You are experts at setting aside and nullifying the commandment of God in order to keep your [man-made] tradition and regulations. so you nullify the [authority of the] word of God [acting as if it did not apply] because of your tradition which you have handed down [through the elders]. And you do many things such as that.” (Mark 7:7-9;13 AMP)
Religion: “a personal or institutionalized system of attitudes, beliefs and practices (Merriam-Webster.com)
Notice it says “a personal” system and an “institutionalized” system; in other words man’s ideology. It’s not God’s system, not God ordained and not God approved.
Religion is rituals, rules and practices developed by man as an attempt to manipulate God to give forgiveness, favor and acceptance base on our works and efforts. It is an attempt on man’s part to earn what God gives freely to those who love (obey John 14:15) Him.
The Spirit of Religion offers an alternative means to God that will never lead to God, while at the same time appearing on the surface to many to be the approved way to God. (Proverbs 16:25)
Colossians 2:8 Amplified Bible (AMP)
See to it that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deception [pseudo-intellectual babble], according to the tradition [and musings] of mere men, following the [a]elementary principles of this world, rather than following [the truth—the teachings of] Christ.
The Spirit of Religion employs the Spirit of Entertainment to keep man operating in the Spirit of Religion by creating a diversion of pleasure and ecstasy.
The Spirit of Religion tells God that His free gift (salvation through faith in Christ) is unacceptable and attempts to earn salvation based on their merit. (Ephesians 2:8)
The Spirit of Religion has crept into the Church long ago. Jesus himself dealt with the Spirit of Religion during His earthly ministry when dealing with the Pharisees and scribes. (Mark 7:1-13) Paul dealt with the Spirit of Religion while in Athens (Acts 17:22-23). It’s job is to be a counterfeit that will ultimately cause man to exchange the truth for a lie (Romans 1:25)
People dance, shout, pray, read their Bible and attend services all in the name of Religion; true worship however emanates not from a sense of duty but rather from the heart of those who truly love God.
I bind up and tear down the strongholds of religion in the Church in our community, cities, states and Nation.
