This is more than “knowing who you are in Christ”. This is coming into the understanding of being married to Jesus.
(Ephesians 6:12) We do not fight against principalities or powers, but certainly satan needs flesh in order to operate. He needs a face. And “principals” are our ideas, our reasonings, things in our own understanding. So this verse is talking directly about how satan can use us, cheat us, lie to us, and cause us to even be used by him!
When are principals are not lined up (or married) with Jesus, than we are “sick” spiritually. It will be hard to grow and we will feel like we are always going around the same mountain.
Things that cause SICKNESS in the church:
Religious Spirit
Competitive Spirit
Pride
Fear (especially fear of man)
Lack of revelation “people perish for lack of vision (knowledge or revelation)...” Proverbs 29:18 - this is an understanding of the mysteries of God. ]
Symptoms of a Religious Spirit:
You worship 3 gods. You see Jesus external. (The God-head, the Trinity, seeing God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit as separate beings and not as One.)
Deut. 6:4 “Hear, O Israel: the LORD our God is one LORD”.
What is your take on creationism? If God knew us while the foundations of the earth were being laid, what does that say about who we are?
The word “knew us” is the same way a husband and wife know each other. Its more than just knowing are names, its a oneness that was happening with us and God before the earth was even created.
What does that mean about the day creation happen? Could it have been that we were with God, in God, creating with Him?
Yet, after the fall, the plan of God still does not change. And though there is great adversity for this not to happen, he still desires that we would be One.
READ: John 17 - Jesus prayer is that we may be made One, just like Him and the Father are one. What does that mean?
Is God only the Big guy in the sky? Is he external to us? or does He live in us? What did that chapter mean for Jesus?
All of God, everything He is, all power, all wisdom, all authority, was in Jesus -ONENESS. And now He is praying that we would be the same. So the moment we acknowledge Jesus in us, we are saying all of God, everything He is, all power, all wisdom, all authority IS IN US!
Does Jesus really inhabit us? And do we believe it?
READ: 1 Cor. 5:17 - Being a “new creation” is way more than just giving up the old life you used to live. It literally means YOU ARE NO LONGER YOU! Now you are Jesus, living, breathing, walking Jesus.
This is why Paul say, “imitate me as I imitate Christ” He understood who Jesus was inside of Him.
You find you spectate in a gathering or during worship, struggling to enter in.
You sub-compartmentalize your relationship with God.
You see things in different categories:
i.e. devotions, worship time, prayer, work, play
The idea of ‘separation of church and state’ is a religious mindset. why?
The Greek word for church is Ekklesia, which means “the called out ones”. You see a church really is not a church at all, they are only assemblies or congregations, if they are not being living, breathing, Jesus.
READ - Matt. 23 - Jesus called the Pharisees a “brood of vipers” for speaking against the spirit. A religious spirit can be considered an anti-christ spirit. Its the one Jesus despised in the Pharisees. THIS IS VERY SERIOUS. A religious spirit will fight against the Holy Spirit, they can not work together. Which is why it is so crucial to deal with this spirit in all of us!
You find it awkward to pray out loud because you don’t think you have the right words or feel they are inadequate.
A religious spirit would have you compare your prayers to one another rather than depending on Jesus to help you learn to pray. The disciples said, “Jesus, teach us how to pray...”
Your standard is always Jesus, but a religious spirit would make your standard each other.
You feel guilty (condemnation) when you don’t spend time with God or when you fail.
Fear of failure.
Fear of man.
For if we are IN JESUS there is no condemnation (Romans 8). What does this say about CONDEMNATION?
When we condemn ourselves, we are actually outside of Jesus. For He can not bleed everyday for your sin. He did once, and it was sufficient. It brings cleansing for the rest of eternity.
Are we are own Savior that we should deny the power of Jesus’ blood by condemning ourselves?
Jesus was the 13th generation, we are the 14th generation. And our children and our children’s children are all the 14th generation. Why? Because Jesus doesn’t have grand-children or great grand-children. He only has sons of God. When he said “It is finished”, He knew His blood would be enough for all generations that would follow.
Unable to bring/share Truth in a spirit of Love.
It needs to become, for all of us, less about being right, and more about being Jesus.
READ: 1 Cor. 13
“...now abide faith, hope and love, but the greatest of these is LOVE.”
Why is Love the greatest thing ever to exist? Or the greatest attribute we could have?
When ALL things comes into the knowledge of Him (and they will one day!) and the earth is destroyed and everything unknown becomes known, we will no longer need FAITH and HOPE, all we will have left is LOVE.......for God is LOVE.
Everything we have done up to this point is pointless if there is a lack of love. Love can sum of the purpose of heaven and the very thing God created us for.
You settle for comfortable living.
A religious spirit can keep us stuck for years if we are unwilling to become uncomfortable. You may be blessed, highly favored, incredibly comfortable with your family, home and material goods. But Jesus can really challenge us in this area. Being too comfortable can actually stop us from pressing in. It stops us from “counting the cost” and is easily provoked by uncomfortable circumstances. And rather than trusting God, it internalizes things and makes them about us, rather than about Jesus.
For example, maybe before buying something we ask, “Jesus, do you want me to have this?” Just because the money is available doesn’t mean Jesus wants us to use it. And sometimes He does:)
I’m not saying it is more spiritual to be in poverty, but I am saying God is faithful to perform His word in our life if we ask. For example, there are times when you will decide to do something, without asking God, but will ask God to bless it. Does God’s blessing mean he approves, or better yet, had planned that particular decision in your future?
READ: Eccles. 1:18
Paul said with increased understanding, there is increased sorrow.
Why?
Unforgiveness
READ: John 20:20-23
It is here that there is a correlation of the infilling of the Holy Spirit and forgiveness. What’s this say about unforgiveness?
It can rob us of hearing and being Jesus....
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