Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man more than the glory that comes from God. (John 12:42-43 ESV)

When Jesus revolutionized His nation with the gospel of the Kingdom, He was continually questioned and criticized for His visionary initiatives and unorthodox methods. The Pharisees were the politically-correct referees who sought to silence His voice and penalize any advancement of His message. Knowing that their power and influence were losing ground, their religious mindsets could not comprehend or celebrate the very truths that could set them free from their own man-made bondage.

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It is just like the Accuser of the Brethren to threaten and attack anyone who exposes his lies and demonstrates the true nature of our Heavenly Father. Our spiritual adversary seeks to use control, fear, and condemnation in order to keep us trapped in our flesh and disconnected from the life-giving power of God’s Spirit. This religious spirit is still active today speaking into the ears of many unsuspecting believers, trying to block any Kingdom advancement and fresh expression of the Holy Spirit. Preying on our fears and self-doubts, this demonic influence will stop at nothing to keep us bound to religious systems and the expectations of man.

This spirit is manifesting again today, not only in our national politics, but in many of our church pulpits and social media platforms. This counterfeit authority is still speaking, trying to draw us away from all that the Father is accomplishing in this hour. The enemy resists any true work of the Spirit and subverts any attempts in bringing the supernatural realities of heaven to earth.

It is the Holy Spirit that we must recognize and embrace if we are to partner with heaven’s purposes and see radical transformation happen in our culture. It is the Holy Spirit that will lead us into truth and keep us on the path to victory. It is His voice that we can trust to rightly discern the Father’s activities and discern the enemy’s schemes.

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. (John 16:13)

The first step in getting free of any religious spirit is to recognize its presence and purpose. If we understand the redeeming nature of the Father’s heart and His highest purposes for our lives, we can rightly discern which voice to listen to in order to open wide the gates for the King of Glory to come in. Prayerfully consider these comparisons and see if you recognize any pattern in your own life:

The Religious Spirit is like an older brother who follows you around, criticizing your every move and whispering endless doubts that cause you to shrink back in fear.
The Holy Spirit is like a loving father who is always two steps ahead, taking your hand and gently leading you on a path of discovery.

The Religious Spirit gets bent out of shape when the rules aren’t followed.
The Holy Spirit gets excited when creative expression imagines the possibilities.