I Prayed have prayed
Lord, free us from our own efforts at being holy so we might know Your righteousness alone.
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Believers have talked about Religious Spirits for years. Seeing them as traditional mindsets, old-fashioned ideologies, and outdated ministry methods, many might assume we are finally free from these bondages of the past. However, the Lord has been revealing a whole new generation of demonic strongholds posing as righteous beliefs that will strangle our witness if we don’t recognize them and deal with them.

During a recent sabbatical, the Lord took me through 3 of the deadliest religious mindsets that I was personally dealing with, totally unaware that I’ve been feeding a Religious Spirit and opening a door to deception. I believe these same belief systems are at work in many believers right now, choking off the life of the Spirit and robbing us of our anointing and authority.

THE PRIDE OF DISCIPLINE

I have been an intercessor all my life. I’ve never struggled with a lack of desire or motivation to pray for hours on end. Regardless of the circumstances or challenges, I’ve always known that my intercession was making a difference, many times bearing much fruit. Where many saw this as a strong spiritual discipline in my life, it was simply a part of who I was. Until 3 years ago.

In an intense prophetic dream, I was lying on an operating table surrounded by “assistants” (angels) who were reassuring me of what was about to take place. I knew that my left arm was being cut off. I wasn’t scared and it wasn’t an emergency. I just knew my left arm needed to come off…for my own good. I knew upon waking that the Lord was about to do some serious pruning in my life, but I couldn’t imagine what He would “cut off” that would feel like my left arm was being taken.

It was several months later when the Lord revealed what it was – my call to intercession. I couldn’t have imagined such a thing. Why in the world would He cut off something so powerful, so needed, and so much a part of my call? It had become my lifeline and, unknowingly, a source of my identity. And there was the problem. My intercession had become a source of spiritual pride; a badge of honor. Without realizing it, I was gaining my self-worth from my prayer life instead of from the cross. For my own good, the Lord needed to lift the grace of intercession off my life in order to bring me back to Christ alone as my identity and purpose.

Spiritual disciplines such as prayer and fasting are good and have their place, but if they begin to feed a sense of pride and self-righteousness, don’t be surprised if the grace is lifted off them for a time. They will actually feed a Religious Spirit if we think we are more spiritual, more powerful, or more righteous because of these disciplines. Where my prayer life used to be a primary source for prophetic information, it has now become much more focused on simply knowing HIM. Big difference.

THE SEDUCTION OF STANDARDS AND THE SELF-DECEPTION OF GRACE

In our pursuit of truth, there are two other deadly mindsets the Lord revealed. The Word of God cuts both ways. On the one side is His standard for righteousness. It is His holiness that separates the wheat from the chaff and serves to mold us into Christ-likeness. If we aren’t careful, however, the principles and practices of righteousness can quickly lure us into a self-imposed code of conduct based on rules and regulations. This feeds a Religious Spirit because it focuses on our efforts rather than on God’s mercy, our behavior more than our hearts.  We then deal with constant condemnation because we just never quite add up. Gone unchecked, we begin to impose these same standards on others and soon disqualify anyone who doesn’t look or act…holy.

It is only when the heart changes that actions change. Even in our quest for a righteous standard to be established in our nation, we must not allow this religious mindset to blind us to God’s redemptive work in seemingly unregenerate people. We must pursue people’s hearts more than criticize their actions. God loves to redeem and restore the broken and He does it from the inside out.

On the other side of truth is Grace. It represents the power of forgiveness, His unconditional love and acceptance, and His ability to make all things good for our sake and His glory. Though these are powerful truths, they can also lead to self-deception if we miss the lessons of failure and deny the consequences of our actions.

I had to personally face this reality when the Lord confronted me with the consequences of some heated words spoken to a loved one several years ago. Soon after, I had asked forgiveness from the person and from the Lord, but I couldn’t face any future ramifications of my spontaneous rant. Assuming His grace covered me, I ignored the potential for any painful consequences and went on my way believing all was well. Recently, He reminded me that with the authority I’ve been given comes the responsibility of wielding that authority – for either good or bad. Though I was freed of guilt, I had to accept responsibility for the negative seeds sown and the weeds that were growing as a result. Where I had deceived myself into thinking there would be no consequences to my actions, I humbled myself and embraced this painful lesson.

I believe there is a level of self-deception rising within the body of Christ as many are buying into their own press and presuming upon His kindness. In our desire to demonstrate the goodness of God, we cannot afford to preach entitlement or become irresponsible with the authority we’ve been given. Even as we champion His grace, we must accept the responsibility we’ve been given and walk in the fear of the Lord. Especially for those who have been given prophetic voices in this hour, we must realize that the power of our words can bring both life and death. We must bear responsibility for how we use them.

All three of these Religious Mindsets could really be summed up in one: SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS. For, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and seeking to establish their own, they did not submit to God’s righteousness. For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes. (Rom 10:3-4 ESV)

In God’s grace and mercy, He is peeling back the layers of our own efforts in order to show the power of true redemption. None of us will be good enough or holy enough to earn His favor or blessing. We can’t presume upon His grace or even the gifts and anointing He has given us to receive our prize. He is exposing our own attitudes of self-righteousness in order to open the way for HIS righteousness to be known and embraced.

Let’s not allow our pursuit of spiritual disciplines, our conviction for righteous standards, or our celebration of His grace to open the door to a new generation of Religious Spirits. We must guard against any thought that places our privilege as sons and daughters above His sacrifice on the cross. He is doing a work in many of us, revealing the true nature of our hearts, in order to free us from ourselves. It’s in Christ alone that we will be delivered. Anything else is just dead religion.

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Carolyn
July 9, 2019

I am overcome with the depth of this teaching. May I not just read it but take note in humble myself under God’s mighty hand. Thank you Jesus for these words given.

Catherine S Green
July 5, 2019

Thank you. Mercy and grace Lord, please.

Deborah Graham
July 4, 2019

Thank you Wanda for writing this article. I knew I was off track and you just explained where I was straying. Thank you, and God Bless You.

Sean
July 3, 2019

Thank you so much for sharing. I certainly believe this is true revelation from the Lord. Help us, Lord, to walk free of every religious Spirit.

Linda Dieter
July 3, 2019

Talk about something getting my attention. Now I know why I have been reading Ephesians 3:18-20 almost daily. If we know Him and the extent of His love for us we will have His fullness in us and this is when He can do above what we can ask,think or imagine because He then has our vessels to work through…So thankful for this timely word. I pray this word penetrates our hearts…Soften these hearts we have allowed to become callous. Plant that seed of humility in our hearts…

Michael Juma
July 2, 2019

Oh Lord help us adhere to your will, strictly to your Word and the descent right wirshop you’re pleased with.
Hello us oh Jesus Christ. Amen

Eileena
July 2, 2019

Thank you for this post. Lord free from any tendency of feeling self righteousness!

Cecilia Lowe
July 2, 2019

A very sobering article. One I will definitely take for application. Thank you for sharing. Most appreciated.

    Karen
    July 2, 2019

    Lord, change our hearts and mind to line up with Your will, Your ways. Thank you for Your great grace, mercy, love, goodness, kindness, gentleness, joy, peace and patience. I am so thankful they are new every morning cause Lord I need it. Holy Spirit, teach us, lead and guide us into all truth. Take out the stony heart out of our flesh give us a tender heart of flesh of Your love and mercy. To God be the glory always!

Barbara Ann Betz
July 2, 2019

Amen. Begin with me.

Jeane Whiteside
July 2, 2019

Thank you Lord. And Wanda. As I ran into this spirit in a Wal Mart conversation with a friend he came unglued when I said I had recently been delivered from another hidden curse…which led me to say that I know some don’t believe that a Christian can need set free from generational sins. He spoke that we cannot have these and I said that I know we can because I did and didn’t recognize it but God was faithful to reveal and help me with others to be free. Made him angry when I didn’t agree with him but I said we should agree to disagree. He walked away and in anger said “if it’s not faith it’s sin”. I was surprised but peaceful and asked the Lord about this. Out of my spirit came “self righteous “. We can’t obtain righteousness outside of Jesus Christ. But many seem to know Him in the written word by head knowledge and don’t recognize Him when He’s standing right in front of them spiritually. He revealed that to me in the written word. He didn’t stop talking when the Bible was finished..although “it is finished “. I love Jesus. And His Word. Written and spoken. They always agree. We have to search out how. Fun.

Rebekah
July 2, 2019

This is good. Thank you.

MaryAnn
July 2, 2019

Luke 18:13.
Thank you for writing this.

Elisabeth Culp
July 1, 2019

Amen!!!
May God with powerfully in our individual hearts!!!

Sandra A
July 1, 2019

But the gift and calling of GOD are irrevocable.

Romans 11:29

Sue
July 1, 2019

Thank you for this post. Yes, Lord, free us from any tendency to self-righteousness and presumption upon Your grace. Grant us humility, deep repentance, and walking in the fear of the Lord. You alone are righteous and good. FLOOD us with Your character and nature… You, being in very nature God, yet humbled yourself unto death on the Cross! Lord, may Your character and nature be perfected IN and THROUGH us, for Your glory and good purposes. In the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.

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