The Religious Spirit
James 1:27 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.
These are good works and a good heart towards God. But what was said before this verse?
James 1:22 But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
James 1:23 For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:
James 1:24 For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.
We are acountable to do God's word. We hear? Then we must obey what we know to be truth. In this way we become disciples of Christ. Jesus is the word made flesh. We must believe in him and obey him.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
We are free from the judgment of sin in Christ Jesus. We are free to love God and one another. We are not to be separated from God and one another. If the world things are all that we are involved in, then we serve the world and not God. We are to hear God's word and do what it says.
James 1:26 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.
Our words will certainly reveal our heart. Be careful what comes out of your mouth. Our inner man must be changed.
Titus 3:3 For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
Titus 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,
Titus 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
Titus 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
Titus 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
We live be the grace of God, conforming to his word through the power of the Holy Spirit. If we have not God's spirit, we are not changed in our hearts. We are of a religious spirit, that opposes Jesus and God's truth.
This brings us to the confrontation of those with a religious spirit against Jesus, the Son of God.
Mat 15:1 Then came to Jesus scribes and Pharisees, which were of Jerusalem, saying,
Mat 15:2 Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for they wash not their hands when they eat bread.
Mat 15:3 But he answered and said unto them, Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition?
Mat 15:4 For God commanded, saying, Honour thy father and mother: and, He that curseth father or mother, let him die the death.
Mat 15:5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, It is a gift, by whatsoever thou mightest be profited by me;
Mat 15:6 And honour not his father or his mother, he shall be free. Thus have ye made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition.
Mat 15:7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
Mat 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
Mat 15:9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.
Mat 15:10 And he called the multitude, and said unto them, Hear, and understand:
Mat 15:11 Not that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man; but that which cometh out of the mouth, this defileth a man.
Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?
Mat 15:13 But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.
Mat 15:14 Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.
Traditions of men, oppose the whole word of God. Unsaved men playing as the saved oppose the truth of God and oppose the work of Christ. These are sometimes under the name of God or the name of Christian. In Jerusalem you would expect the religious spirit of the Jewish people, who follow the traditions passed down. But, a real tragedy is among the Christians, who go forth to bring the message of Jesus, when they disagree and fight one with another. These are carnal men with the religious spirits. Each has a truth that they hold above all other truths.This causes divisions.
Rom 16:17 Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
Rom 16:18 For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
1 Cor 1:10 Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
1 Cor 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1 Cor 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1 Cor 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
Some divide over baptism. They say it must be done in their church, saying just the right words. Others say no, it is the baptism of the Holy Ghost, you must speak in tongues to show that you have the Holy Ghost. Others say, no, tongues is of the devil. Some say water baptism is salvation and follow the traditions of their church. One group says Jesus only is God, another says Jehovah only. In the Internet chats there are so many with different viewpoints that it is only confusion. How will anyone find God and be saved in all of this strife and confusion?
2 Tim 3:1 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 Tim 3:2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
2 Tim 3:3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
2 Tim 3:4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
2 Tim 3:5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
These love to argue and accuse. They will put down your words and mock you. What to do? You must speak God's word. Then they are fighting him. Know the whole word and don't just look up verses that support your viewpoint. What about the verses that do not? You may not have the whole truth. Most who argue, do not hear you, so best to ignor them or leave them behind.
2 Tim 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
2 Tim 3:7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
We are in the last days
2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Tim 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
It comes with the territory. What a shame to have those who call themselves Christians arguing and fighting.
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
2 Tim 3:14 But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them;
2 Tim 3:15 And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
Pray for discernment. Know God's word and do what it says. Seek unity in the basic truths: Jesus is the way to God, we must repent and seek him. He is God the Son who has come to bring salvation. He has risen from the grave and is the way to eternal life. Read God's word and receive understanding through the Holy Spirit.
2 Tim 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
2 Tim 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
Study God's word.
2 Tim 2:15 Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Tim 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.
Study, speak truth and turn away from vain talk, ungodly words that lead to strife and divisions.
Luke 11:13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him?
Ask and receive the Holy Ghost. Ask and receive more, be filled.
Show love from a pure heart, endure sufferings, believe in the truth revealed. Test all things by God's word and His Spirit. Jesus came to seek the lost, not to condemn. We are of grace, our words are of grace and truth. Speak God's word, answer the hope that is in you. Give your testimony. Endure sufferings and be true to him. We have the message of life for a lost and dying world.
Mark 4:30 And he said, Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
Mark 4:31 It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
Mark 4:32 But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it.
Not all who claim to be in the kingdom, truly are. The birds lodge in the kingdom and come to destroy the word before it can take root in a heart.
The devil is among us, he comes from within the church world to destroy the faith. So be aware of the religious Spirit. It is divisive, loves to argue and to accuse.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Be faithful.
Superragman@aol.com
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