6/29/97

Col 2:8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy

and vain deceit, after the tradition of men,

after the rudiments of the world, and not after

Christ. (KJV)

Col 2:9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the

Godhead bodily. (KJV)

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head

of all principality and power: (KJV)

THIS MORNING I WOULD LIKE TO CONCLUDE WITH MY TEACHING

ON RELIGIOUS SPIRITS WHICH HAS NOW LASTED FOR FIVE

SESSIONS. MY MOTIVATION HAS BEEN TO EXPOSE RELIGIOUS

TENDENCIES IN OUR OWN LIVES SO THAT WE COULD EXPERIENCE

THE REAL THING AND BE FREE TO ENJOY OUR RELATIONSHIP

WITH THE FATHER, THE SON AND THE HOLY SPIRIT. I WILL

BEGIN TEACHING A NEW SERIES NEXT WEEK ON OVERCOMING

GUILT. GUILT IS A MAJOR COMPONENT THAT INSPIRES

RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TO ALLOT OF ACTIVITY TO BE ACCEPTED BY

GOD. I WILL CONCLUDE THIS MORNING BY INTRODUCING THIS

SUBJECT MATTER ABOUT GUILT. RIGHT NOW I WOULD LIKE TO

REVIEW THE TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT

THAT I TAUGHT LAST WEEK BECAUSE IT DIDN'T GET RECORDED

AND THEN I WILL SHARE WITH YOU FOUR MAJOR COMPONENTS OF

A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT. WE WILL CONCLUDE OUR SERVICE THIS

MORNING WITH COMMUNION.

NOW LET'S LOOK AT 10 SPECIFIC

CHARACTERISTICS OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT:

1. THE FIRST CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

POWERLESSNESS:

2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the

power thereof: from such turn away. (KJV)

THE RELIGIOUS PERSON HAS A FORM OF GODLINESS IN OUT-

WARD CEREMONY AND RITUAL BUT THEY OFFER NO POWER FOR A

CHANGED LIFE. THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST IS THE POWER

OF GOD UNTO SALVATION, HEALING, DELIVERANCE AND A WHOLE-

SOMENESS OF SPIRIT, SOUL AND BODY. THE WORD OF GOD IS

QUICK AND POWERFUL, THAT IS IT HAS CREATIVE LIFE

CHANGING POWER. THAT COUPLED WITH THE ANNOINTING AND

THE INSTRUCTION OF THE HOLY SPIRIT RESULTS IN THE POWER

TO CHANGE AND BECOME WHOLE IN CHRIST.

2. ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS TO

ALWAYS FOCUS ON THE NEGATIVE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING

AROUND YOU. ITS THE TENDENCY TO SEE OUR PRIMARY MISSION

AS TEARING DOWN WHAT WE BELIEVE IS WRONG. THE RELIGIOUS

SPIRIT HAS AN INCLINATION TO SEE MORE OF WHAT IS WRONG

WITH OTHER PEOPLE OR OTHER CHURCHES THAN WHAT IS RIGHT

WITH THEM.

3. THE THIRD CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

MANIFESTED IN A PERSON THAT IS ALWAYS TRYING TO FIX

WHAT'S WRONG WITH OTHER PEOPLE AS IF THEY WERE APPOINTED

BY GOD WITH THIS MISSION.

4. THE FOURTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS A

SENSE THAT WE ARE CLOSER TO GOD THAN OTHER PEOPLE OR

THAT OUR LIVES AND MINISTRIES ARE MORE PLEASING TO GOD.

5. THE FIFTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

THE TENDENCY TO COMEPARE OURSELVES TO OTHERS WE THINK

ARE LESS SPIRITUAL THUS BUILDING P OURSELVES WHILE

TEARING DOWN OTHERS.

6. JEALOUSY IS THE SIXTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS

SPIRIT. THIS IS THE TENDENCY TO BE SUSPICIOUS OF OR TO

OPPOSE NEW MOVEMENTS, CHURCHES OR MINISTRIES.

7. THE SEVENTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

A MECHANICAL PRAYER LIFE. WHEN WE START FEELING RELIEF

WHEN OUR PRAYER TIME IS OVER WITH THE ONE WE LOVE WE ARE

BEING MOTIVATED BY A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT.

8. THE EIGHTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

DOING THINGS IN ORDER TO BE NOTICED AND ACCEPTED BY MEN.

9. THE NINTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

GLORYING MORE IN WHAT GOD HAS DONE IN THE PAST THAT WHAT

HE IS DOING IN THE PRESENT. THE FOCUS IS ON THE PAST

AND OUR FUTURE IS ABORTED.

10. THE TENTH CHARACTERISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT IS

KEEPING SCORE ON OUR SPIRITUAL LIVES. THIS INCLUDES

FEELING BETTER ABOUT OURSELVES BECAUSE WE GO TO MORE

MEETINGS, READ OUR BIBLES MORE, OR DO MORE THINGS FOR

THE LORD THAN MOST OTHER CHRISTIANS.

NOW I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU FOUR MAJOR CHARA-

CTERISTICS OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT:

IS INFLEXABILITY. THIS REPRESENTS PEOPLE WHO ARE UN-

WILLING TO CHANGE. THEY ARE UNWILLING TO CHANGE THE

TIME OF THE SERVICE, THE DAY YOU MEET, THE COLOR OF THE

CARPET OR THE LENGTH OF THE CANDLES IN THE CHURCH. MANY

A PASTOR OR STAFF MEMBER HAS BEEN FIRED BY RELIGIOUS

PEOPLE WHO REFUSE TO CHANGE ANYTHING. THERE ARE ALLOT

OF RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WHO LEAVE THEIR CHURCH BECAUSE THEY

ARE NOT WILLING TO CHANGE.

THERE WAS A PASTOR OF A DUTCH REFORMED CHURCH IN

AFRICA WHO TAUGHT ON THE LOVE OF GOD FOR 8 WEEKS. ONE

OF THE ELDERS SUGGESTED THAT THE PEOPLE GREET ONE

ANOTHER DURING THE SERVICE. THE PASTOR THOUGH IT WOULD

BE A GREAT IDEA TO ADAPT THAT CHANGE IN THEIR SERVICE.

24 FAMLIES LEFT THE CHURCH. THEIR REASON WAS THAT THEY

CAME TO CHURCH TO HEAR GOD'S WORD AND NOT TO TALK TO

PEOPLE. YOU SEE THERE WAS A NEED IN THE DUTCH REFORMED

CHURCH AT THAT TIME TO CHANGE AND IMPLEMENT MORE BODY

MINISTRY. THOSE WHO ADAPTED TO THE CHANGE FLOURISHED

AND THOSE WHO DIDN'T WERE AS DEAD AS A DOOR NAIL.

IF WE WERE TO CHANGE THE FORMAT OF OUR SERVICE, OF

WHICH THERE IS NO BIBLCAL PRESEDENCE--THE RELIGIOUS

PEOPLE IN HERE WOULD BE VERY UPSET. THE BIBLE SAYS VERY

LITTLE ABOUT THE ORDER OF A SERVICE. OUR FORMAT OF

SINGING, BODY MINISTRY, PREACHING AND ALTAR CALL WAS NOT

THE EXACT FORMAT OF THE EARLY CHURCH. THEY SANG, READ

THE SCRIPTURES AND TAUGHT BUT THEY DID IT IN A WAY THAT

ADAPTABLE TO THEIR CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE. IN THE EARLY

1900'S WE LIVED IN AN AGRARIAN CULTURE AND SUNDAY WAS

SET ASIDE FOR CHURCH. YOU WON'T FIND A TEXT VERSE FOR

THAT BUT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE WILL CALL YOU A CULT IF YOU

MEET ON ANY OTHER DAY THAN SUNDAY AND YOU'LL BE RIGHT IN

THE CENTER OF GOD'S WILL FOR YOU!

TAKE THE ORIGIN OF SUNDAY SCHOOL WHICH WAS FOUNDED BY

ROBERT RAKES IN GREAT BRITTAN WHO GOT ORPHAN CHILDREN

OFF THE STREET AND BEGAN TO EDUCATE THEM WITH SUNDAY

SCHOOL. NOW THEIR SUNDAY SCHOOL WAS NOT ANYTHING LIKE

WHAT WE HAVE TODAY. HE USED THE BIBLE AS HIS TEXT BOOK

TO TEACH CHILDREN HOW TO READ AND WRITE. NOW IF OUR

CULTURE CHANGED AND MADE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTINUE

SUNDAY SCHOOL AT OUR CHURCH, ALL THE RELIGIOUS PEOPLE

WOULD PROBABLY BE VERY UPSET AND SOME PEOPLE MIGHT EVEN

LEAVE THE CHURCH.

RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE UNFLEXIBLE AND UNWILLING TO

CHANGE AND ADAPT TO THE NEEDS OF OTHERS FOR THEY ARE

PRIMARILY CONCERNED ONLY ABOUT THEMSELVES. NOW IF WE

ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL AS A CHURCH WE ARE GOING TO

HAVE TO CHANGE. IF WE WANT DIFFERENT RESULTS WE CAN

KEEP DOING WHAT WE'VE DONE BEFORE--WE HAVE TO BE WILLING

TO CHANGE. PLEASE REMEMBER WHAT I SAID DURING MY LAST

SERIES ON OVERCOMING YOUR LIMITATIONS: IF YOU GOT A BIG

PROBLEM MAKE A BIG CHANGE AND IF YOU'VE GOT A SMALL

PROBLEM MAKE A SMALL CHANGE. NOW LET ME GIVE YOU A

VERSE TO SUPPORT THE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE AND WILLING TO

CHANGE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.

1 Sam 2:18 But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being

a child, girded with a linen ephod. (KJV)

1 Sam 2:19 Moreover his mother made him a little coat,

and brought it to him from year to year, when

she came up with her husband to offer the

yearly sacrifice. (KJV)

WE SEE HERE THAT AFTER SAMUEL WAS WEANED HIS MOTHER

KEPT HER VOW TO THE LORD AND "LENT" HIM TO THE SERVICE

OF THE LORD IN THE TEMPLE UNDER ELI. EVERY YEAR HIS

MOTHER WOULD MAKE HIM A NEW COAT AND BRING IT TO HIM.

SOMETIMES THERE WERE LITTLE CHANGES MADE TO THE COAT

DEPENDING ON HIS PHYSICAL GROWTH AND AT OTHER TIMES

THERE WERE SIGNIFICANT CHANGES. HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW

THAT A LITTLE LAMB ON HIS COAT WOULD NOT BE APPROPRI-

ATE FOR A 16 YEAR OLD BOY BUT IT'D BE FINE FOR A 4 YEAR

OLD. THE THING WE NEED TO SEE IS THAT EVERY YEAR HE

GOT A NEW COAT AND THAT THERE WERE CHANGES MADE TO IT

ACCORDINGLY. WE NEED TO REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND WILLING TO

CHANGE AS GOD LEADS US TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF SUCCESS IN

OUR CHURCH AND IN OUR PERSONAL LIVES. NOW REMEMBER,

RELIGIOUS PEOPLE ARE INFLEXIBLE AND THEY WON'T WANT TO

CHANGE, BUT AS BOB DYLAN WROTE IN A SONG, THE ONLY THING

PERMANAENT IS CHANGE--SO YOU BETTER GET USE TO IT!

2 Cor 3:17 Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the

Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

2 Cor 3:18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a

glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into

the same image from glory to glory, even as

by the Spirit of the Lord. (KJV)

SPIRIT. PERFOECTIONIST CANNOT TOLERATE MISTAKES OR

FAILURES IN THEMSELVES OR OTHERS. THER ARE CONSTANTLY

SITTING IN JUDGEMENT OF OTHERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE A

SPIRIT OF JUDGEMENT AND CRITICISM THAT IS AT WORK IN

THEIR OWN LIVES.

John 7:24 Judge not according to the appearance, but

judge righteous judgment. (KJV)

Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn

not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive,

and ye shall be forgiven: (KJV)

Luke 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good

measure, pressed down, and shaken together,

and running over, shall men give into your

bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete

withal it shall be measured to you again.

THERE IS A FREEDOM FROM A SPIRIT OF JUDGEMENT AND

CRITICISM FOR THE BELIEVER WHO IS ESTABLISHED ON GRACE

AND NOT THE LAW. WHEN GRACE IS RECEIVED FOR PERSONAL

FAILURE IT HAS THE TENDENCY TO MAKE US GRACIOUS AND

FORGIVING TOWARDS OTHERS. THE ATTITUDE OF THE REAL

CHRISTIAN IS ALWAYS REDEMPTIVE IN NATURE AND FORGIVING.

OUR THINKING MUST BE THAT ANYBODY CAN CHANGE IF THERE IS

HONESTY AND A DESIRE FOR GREATER CONFORMITY TO THE IMAGE

AND LIKENESS OF CHRIST. THERE IS NO SIN OR FAILURE

APART FROM BLASPHEMY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT THAT CANNOT BE

FORGIVEN. YOU HAVEN'T GONE TOO FAR FOR GOD TO FORGIVE

YOU HEAL YOU, CHANGE YOU AND BRING RECOVERY AND RESTORA-

TION TO YOUR LIFE. THE MORE YOU RECEIVE FROM THE LORD

FOR YOUR PERSONAL WELL BEING THE MORE YOU WILL HAVE TO

GIVE TO OTHERS. YOU CAN ONLY GIVE WHAT YOU HAVE AND IF

YOU ARE A PERFECTIONIST PROMTED BY A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT

YOU CAN ONLY GIVE JUDGEMENT, CRITICISM AND CONDEMNA-

TION.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation to

them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not

after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (KJV)

LEGALISM. THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO TRY TO CONTROL, REGULATE

OR COVER THEIR PROBLEMS BY FOLLOWING A LIST OF RULES AND

TRADITIONS IMPOSED ON THEM BY OTHER RELIGIOUS SYSTEMS

AND BELIEFS. THIS RELISIOUS SPIRIT OF LEGALISM CAN BE

TRACED BACK TO ADAM AND EVE IN THE GARDEN.

Gen 3:6 And when the woman saw that the tree was good

for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes,

and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she

took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave

also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

Gen 3:7 And the eyes of them both were opened, and they

knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig

leaves together, and made themselves aprons.

Gen 3:8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking

in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam

and his wife hid themselves from the presence of

the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.

Gen 3:9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto

him, Where art thou? (KJV)

Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden,

and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I

hid myself. (KJV)

Gen 3:11 And he said, Who told thee that thou wast

naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I

commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?

Gen 3:12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to

be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did

eat. (KJV)

Gen 3:13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is

this that thou hast done? And the woman said,

The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. (KJV)

ADAM AND EVE HAD A BIG SIN PROBLEM THAT THEY TRIED TO

REGULATE AND CONTROL BY THIER OWN STRENGTH. THEY KNEW

THAT THEY WERE NAKED AND THAT SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE

DONE TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM SO THEY SEWED FIG LEAVES TO-

GETHER TO COVER THEIR NAKEDNESS. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS

THAT WHEN GOD CAME TO FELLOWSHIP WITH THEM THEY

DISCOVERED THAT THEIR SELF-MADE COVERING COULD NOT AD-

EQUATELY DEAL WITH THE SIN PROBLEM. THERE WAS ONLY ONE

APPROPRIATE COVERING FOR SIN AND THAT WAS THE INNOCENT

BLOOD OF ANOTHER TYPIFIED BY THE COAT OF SKINS THAT GOD

MADE FOR ADAM AND EVE.

WE CAN SEE THAT THIS RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF LEGALISM AND

GOOD WORKS CONTINUED TO BE PROPAGATED IN THE FIRST

FAMLIY. WE SEE IT MANIFESTED IN THE OFFERING THAT CAIN

MADE TO THE LORD. LET BEGIN READING IN:

Gen 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived,

and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man

from the LORD. (KJV)

Gen 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. And Abel

was a keeper of sheep, but Cain was a tiller of

the ground. (KJV)

Gen 4:3 And in process of time it came to pass, that

Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an

offering unto the LORD. (KJV)

Gen 4:4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of

his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD

had respect unto Abel and to his offering:

Gen 4:5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not

respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his

countenance fell. (KJV)

Gen 4:6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth?

and why is thy countenance fallen? (KJV)

Gen 4:7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted?

and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the

door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and

thou shalt rule over him. (KJV)

Gen 4:8 And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it

came to pass, when they were in the field, that

Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew

him. (KJV)

Gen 4:9 And the LORD said unto Cain, Where is Abel thy

brother? And he said, I know not: Am I my

brother's keeper? (KJV)

Gen 4:10 And he said, What hast thou done? the voice of

thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the

ground. (KJV)

BY THE TIME CAIN AND ABEL CAME INTO THE PICTURE GOD

HAD ESTABLISHED WHAT HE WOULD REGARD AS AN APPROPRITE

COVERING FOR SIN--THE DEATH OF AN INNOCENT LAMB. THIS

WAS THE ONLY OFFERING THAT GOD WOULD RECEIVE. HOWEVER,

CAIN CAME UNDER THE INSPIRATION OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT OF

LEGALISM AND AND SPENT A GREAT DEAL OF TIME, ENERGY AND

INITIATIVE TO PRESENT A BEAUTIFUL FRUIT OFFERING TO THE

LORD. THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS THAT GOD COULD NOT BE

PLEASED OR APPEASED WITH ANYTHING LESS THAN A BLOOD

OFFERING. SO OUT OF JEALOUSY, ANOTHER RELIGIOUS SPIRIT,

CAIN KILLED HIS BROTHER ABEL. WHEN GOD INQUIRED ABOUT

THIS CAIN SAID, "AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER." RELIGIOUS

PEOPLE PROMPTED BY A SPIRIT OF LEGALISM HAVE NO CONCERN

OR CARE FOR ANYBODY BUT THEMSELVES AND THAT'S HARD

ENOUGH THE WAY IT IS. THEIR ONLY CONCERN IS THE IMAGE

OF THEMSELVES THAT THEY PROJECT TO GOD AND OTHER PEOPLE.

WHAT WE LEARN FROM THIS IS THAT RELIGIOUS PEOPLE TRY

TO CREATE THEIR OWN COVERINGS WHICH GIVES THE APPEAR-

ANCE OF BEING THE THING WHICH GOD REQUIRES WHICH IS WHY

RELIGION PROLIFERATES IN OUR SOCIETY. EVERY PERSON

FEELS A NEED TO COVER HIS SPIRITUAL NAKEDNESS AS A RE-

SULT OF GUILT, WHICH BRINGS US TO OUR NEXT CHARACTER-

ISTIC OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT.

IS A MAJOR COMPONENT OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT. I WANT TO

SPEND THE REST OF OUR TIME THIS MORNING LOOKING AT THE

ORIGIN OF GUILT FEELINGS AND TO OFFER A REMEDY FOR

VICTORY OVER GUILT.