THE LIFE OF CHRIST VERSES RELIGION
THE LIFE OF CHRIST VERSES RELIGION
There is no shame in the truth only shame not abiding/walking in truth. So it is once again that I bear my heart as a messenger of the Lord knowing that in the Love of Truth/Jesus is how truth is revealed. The very nature of truth is to be a lover of Christ who is the Way, the Truth and the Life. (John 16:4)
Using the “words of the bible” without the Holy Spirit has no life giving spirit to reveal or bear witness that we indeed are children of God or the power to reveal Christ Jesus (Fruit of the Holy Spirit – Galatians 5). Following a method is not a lifestyle it is a yoke of slavery. Where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty!
Romans 8:16 (NKJV)
16 The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God,
1 Corinthians 15:45 (NKJV)
45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
The “words of the bible” without the Holy Spirit does not have the power to change hearts of stone into hearts of flesh nor the conviction of the Holy Spirit. (Note small “w” as Jesus is the Word)
John 16:7–9 (NKJV) 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. 8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me
Yes the Written Word was/is written by the Holy Spirit but my point is that many people are following people or leaders who are not saved/born again merely because they stand in a pulpit speaking their version of the Word of God or literally reciting the Word of God (False Prophets). We worship in Spirit and Truth not one or the other!
John 4:24 (NKJV)
24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Where there is no Holy Spirit there is no Holy Spirit Convition, there is only condemnation! The Holy Spirit doesn’t condemn us it convicts us of sin. When the Holy Spirit convicts us it is revealing our need for Christ for the propitiation of our sins and the need to repent and live in a godly lifestyle. I must also point out that when The Holy Spirit repeatedly convicts us of the same sin(s) and we do not choose to repent that our conscience gets seared and conviction will not be noticed or heart felt. When this happens there is condemnation and a reprobate mind.
1 Timothy 4:2 (AMP)
2 Through the hypocrisy and pretensions of liars whose consciences are seared (cauterized),
Romans 1:28 (AMP)
28 And so, since they did not see fit to acknowledge God or approve of Him or consider Him worth the knowing, God gave them over to a base and condemned mind to do things not proper or decent but loathsome,
There is no condemnation for those in Christ. So why would the Holy Spirit in us manifest condemnation on others? Who is the accuser of the brethren/people who brings condemnation? It is from Satan! Condemnation is a trap of Satan, this is why people submit to people thinking they are the way to salvation or have knowledge of salvation verses totally submitting to Christ Jesus.
When someone asks you “who is your covering” it is a sure sign of manipulation and control. It is not biblical and totally ungodly. It is as if they are asking what person is your idol or lord. Who was David’s covering when he killed Goliath? It wasn’t the covering of his peers they wouldn’t even engage in battle or hold the front line. We submit to one another in the love of Christ as we each submit to the Lord. NO servant is greater than his Master/Jesus. Who is our covering in Psalm 91? With whom do we dwell with, and with whose shadow are we covered by, it surely isn’t the local assembly or others.
Psalm 91:1–2 (AMP)
HE WHO dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty [Whose power no foe can withstand].
2 I will say of the Lord, He is my Refuge and my Fortress, my God; on Him I lean and rely, and in Him I [confidently] trust!
You are covered with the Blood of Jesus, not mine or anyone else. It is the Holy Spirit that reveals all truth not a covering from others. We honor one another in love but we don’t exalt or glorify one another. Condemnation leads you to people in submission and control whereas the Holy Spirit reveals Christ Jesus. Thus the human thoughts of “my leader must be right because he is my leader” or “if I do as my leader says” verses fully submitting to Jesus. There are many leaders who are not submitted to Jesus and not born again. There are many people that are trying hard to separate the Holy Spirit from the Written Word of God and claiming that the Holy Spirit contradicts the Written Word. They want you to believe that the Written Word does not validate the workings of the Holy Spirit! They even claim spiritual revelations and insight that do not align with the Written Word. Do not be deceived! It is NOT the Holy Spirit. FALSE PROPHETS
Fellowship:
1 John 1:7 (NKJV) 7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
Revelation 19:10 (NKJV) 10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. But he said to me, “See that you do not do that! I am your fellow servant, and of your brethren who have the testimony of Jesus. Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.
Let’s look at another example. In Romans 10 as we are to believe in our heart in the Lord Jesus AND then confess with our mouth. It is possible to confess without believing in your heart. That little word “IF” is very significant.
1 Samuel 16:7 (AMP)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, Look not on his appearance or at the height of his stature, for I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees; for man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.
Romans 10:9–10 (AMP)
9 Because if you acknowledge and confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For with the heart a person believes (adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Christ) and so is justified (declared righteous, acceptable to God), and with the mouth he confesses (declares openly and speaks out freely his faith) and confirms [his] salvation.
Are we saved only by what the Word of God tell us, or by the finished work of Christ Jesus on the Cross of Calvary being cleansed, redeemed and reconciled to Jesus by the Blood of Jesus and being truly “born again”? It is the Holy Spirit that reveals the Truth of God’s Word! – Methodology/Religion verses the Life of Christ.
John 3:3 (AMP)
3 Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God.
John 16:13 (NKJV) 13 However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.
1 John 4:1 (NKJV) 4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world.
The Word of God reveals the life and testimony of Christ Jesus, which is the spirit of prophecy (Rev 19:10). However the Word of God without the Holy Spirit is what is happening in a profound measure. I repeatedly address this very issue over and over. Satan doesn’t care if you read the Word of God he doesn’t want you to become Christ like by being born again! It is the Holy Spirit that gives us life! So why settle for bible “shop talk” when you can have and live the life of Christ? Why sit under religious leaders and be lead into apostasy and damnation?
2 Timothy 3:5–7 (AMP)
5 For [although] they hold a form of piety (true religion), they deny and reject and are strangers to the power of it [their conduct belies the genuineness of their profession]. Avoid [all] such people [turn away from them].
6 For among them are those who worm their way into homes and captivate silly and weak-natured and spiritually dwarfed women, loaded down with [the burden of their] sins [and easily] swayed and led away by various evil desires and seductive impulses.
7 [These weak women will listen to anybody who will teach them]; they are forever inquiring and getting information, but are never able to arrive at a recognition and knowledge of the Truth.
If you go back to Genesis you will notice that the Holy Spirit precedes the spoken Word of God, the “Holy Spirit Hovered then God spoke.” The Holy Spirit must be present to fulfill the Word of God, as God is Spirit.
Genesis 1:2–3 (NKJV)
2 The earth was without form, and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 Then God said, “Let there be light”; and there was light.
1 Corinthians 15:45 (AMP) 45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life]. [Gen. 2:7.]
Just following or preaching the Written Word will not generate or manifest the life of Christ within us. You can’t follow a method, we must be born again. Don’t be fooled by false signs and wonders! The bible warns us of this and regardless if you have witnessed or seen them first hand they exist. Jesus did not say we would know people by their words or signs and wonders but by their spiritual fruit. Satan knows the Word of God, don’t be fooled.
Galatians 5:22–23 (AMP)
22 But the fruit of the [Holy] Spirit [the work which His presence within accomplishes] is love, joy (gladness), peace, patience (an even temper, forbearance), kindness, goodness (benevolence), faithfulness,
23 Gentleness (meekness, humility), self-control (self-restraint, continence). Against such things there is no law [that can bring a charge].
There is little evidence these days of the love of Christ or the fruit of the Spirit. The hearts of many are waxing cold just as Jesus told us they would. I see people hungry for prestige, notoriety, and prosperity and for Power, but I don’t see people walking and revealing the Love of Christ Jesus.
The carnal/natural mind associates Jesus with a church building and sadly many professing Christians do also. When church becomes a business verses the House of the Lord the Lord will remove Himself from that church, it is dead just as Ananias and Sapphira and the spirits of Ananias and Sapphira are alive and active within much of the church. The church will no longer glorify the Lord. We must not confuse Christ in us with Christ being in a building or assembly.
1 Samuel 4:20–21 (AMP)
20 And about the time of her death the women attending her said to her, Fear not, for you have borne a son. But she did not answer or notice.
21 And she named the child Ichabod, saying, The glory is departed from Israel!—because the ark of God had been captured and because of her father-in-law and her husband.
Personal reputation, glorification, pride and status now take over eliminating true representation of Christ Jesus! Building a ministry is not the same as building the Kingdom of God. It’s not our ministry, it belongs to Jesus and Jesus gets all of the glory.
Methodology/religion takes over and the Holy Spirit is no longer allowed to freely flow and the stronghold of deception makes one believe they are serving the Lord but they are actually denying the Lord. Without the Holy Spirit all you have is a method, no genuine life representation of Christ Jesus. There is a method to madness and madness in the method.
The transition is often unnoticed as pride, methodology and religion now replaces genuine intimacy with Christ and the freedom of the Holy Spirit. You may begin to hear “a spirit” but it may not be the Holy Spirit! King Saul had this problem and even sought a witch attempting to hear the voice of the Lord! Kindred spirits start filling the church just as King Saul sought a kindred spirit and what appears to be true holy fellowship is transitioning into a den of tares/wolves. Religion yields religion! It is much too easy to validate the flesh or ones personal will than to deny and crucify the flesh. Flesh validates flesh, but the Holy Spirit crucifies the flesh and reveals Christ Jesus. What a person believes verses the truth is often quite different. After all the flesh is enmity with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:17 (AMP)
17 For the desires of the flesh are opposed to the [Holy] Spirit, and the [desires of the] Spirit are opposed to the flesh (godless human nature); for these are antagonistic to each other [continually withstanding and in conflict with each other], so that you are not free but are prevented from doing what you desire to do.
We must also not take the Word of God out of context. It grieves the Lord when people take Matthew 18:20 out of context.
Matthew 18:20 (AMP)
20 For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them. [Exod. 3:14.]
Exodus 3:14 (AMP)
14 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and WHAT I AM, and I WILL BE WHAT I WILL BE; and He said, You shall say this to the Israelites: I AM has sent me to you!
As you read both Matthew 18:20 and Exodus 3:14 you will notice what is required in the “NAME OF THE LORD”. Are you truly walking in His righteousness, holiness, will, faith, trust in loving covenant relationship? It’s not about numbers it’s about the fullness of Christ. False prophets use this out of context all the time so they can deceive people to believe they are ambassadors/servants of Christ. Moses represented “I AM” as and ambassador for Christ Jesus. Surely it’s more than a mere name! It’s the name above all others!
Acts 19:15 (AMP)
15 But [one] evil spirit retorted, Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?
We must each examine ourselves, as we alone will stand at the judgment seat of Christ Jesus. There is a way that seems right to a man but it leads to destruction. Those that are leaders will be judged at a higher price, as they are personally responsible for the damnation of those who follow them.
James 3:1 (AMP)
NOT MANY [of you] should become teachers (self-constituted censors and reprovers of others), my brethren, for you know that we [teachers] will be judged by a higher standard and with greater severity [than other people; thus we assume the greater accountability and the more condemnation].
Galatians 1:8–9 (AMP)
8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to and different from that which we preached to you, let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!
9 As we said before, so I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel different from or contrary to that which you received [from us], let him be accursed (anathema, devoted to destruction, doomed to eternal punishment)!
2 Corinthians 11:4 (AMP)
4 For [you seem readily to endure it] if a man comes and preaches another Jesus than the One we preached, or if you receive a different spirit from the [Spirit] you [once] received or a different gospel from the one you [then] received and welcomed; you tolerate [all that] well enough!
1 Corinthians 11:1–4 (AMP)
PATTERN YOURSELVES after me [follow my example], as I imitate and follow Christ (the Messiah).
2 I appreciate and commend you because you always remember me in everything and keep firm possession of the traditions (the substance of my instructions), just as I have [verbally] passed them on to you.
3 But I want you to know and realize that Christ is the Head of every man, the head of a woman is her husband, and the Head of Christ is God.
4 Any man who prays or prophesies (teaches, refutes, reproves, admonishes, and comforts) with his head covered dishonors his Head (Christ).
We are at a very critical time in the spirit realm and we must each be accountable first and foremost to the Lord Jesus. I urge all of us to examine ourselves and fully submit ourselves to the Lord Jesus. The eight woes are being revealed and exposed and as the wheat is being prepared for the harvest and the marriage supper of the Lamb. I urge each of us to seek the Lord and to come out of religion or sitting under religious people. Even a born again believer can be affected sitting under such teachings. We must not fellowship with ungodliness.
Ephesians 5:11–12 (AMP)
11 Take no part in and have no fellowship with the fruitless deeds and enterprises of darkness, but instead [let your lives be so in contrast as to] expose and reprove and convict them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of or mention the things that [such people] practice in secret.
Proverbs 4:14–15 (AMP)
14 Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not go on it; turn from it and pass on.
The eight woes are unfolding as the Bride is being called out of the dark places and to walk in the fullness of light. Let these eight woes be a warning to those who are falsely prophesying in the name of the Lord Jesus. The tables are being turned over.
Matthew 23:13–36 (AMP)
13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces; for you neither enter yourselves, nor do you allow those who are about to go in to do so.
14 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you swallow up widows’ houses and for a pretense to cover it up make long prayers; therefore you will receive the greater condemnation and the heavier sentence.
15 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you travel over sea and land to make a single proselyte, and when he becomes one [a proselyte], you make him doubly as much a child of hell (Gehenna) as you are.
16 Woe to you, blind guides, who say, If anyone swears by the sanctuary of the temple, it is nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the sanctuary, he is a debtor [bound by his oath].
17 You blind fools! For which is greater: the gold, or the sanctuary of the temple that has made the gold sacred? [Exod. 30:29.]
18 You say too, Whoever swears by the altar is not duty bound; but whoever swears by the offering on the altar, his oath is binding.
19 You blind men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar which makes the gift sacred?
20 So whoever swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it.
21 And he who swears by the sanctuary of the temple swears by it and by Him Who dwells in it. [I Kings 8:13; Ps. 26:8.]
22 And whoever swears by heaven swears by the throne of God and by Him Who sits upon it.
23 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you give a tenth of your mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected and omitted the weightier (more important) matters of the Law—right and justice and mercy and fidelity. These you ought [particularly] to have done, without neglecting the others.
24 You blind guides, filtering out a gnat and gulping down a camel! [Lev. 27:30; Mic. 6:8.]
25 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you clean the outside of the cup and of the plate, but within they are full of extortion (prey, spoil, plunder) and grasping self-indulgence.
26 You blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and of the plate, so that the outside may be clean also.
27 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you are like tombs that have been whitewashed, which look beautiful on the outside but inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything impure.
28 Just so, you also outwardly seem to people to be just and upright but inside you are full of pretense and lawlessness and iniquity. [Ps. 5:9.]
29 Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, pretenders (hypocrites)! For you build tombs for the prophets and decorate the monuments of the righteous,
30 Saying, If we had lived in the days of our forefathers, we would not have aided them in shedding the blood of the prophets.
31 Thus you are testifying against yourselves that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets.
32 Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers’ sins to the brim [so that nothing may be wanting to a full measure].
33 You serpents! You spawn of vipers! How can you escape the penalty to be suffered in hell (Gehenna)?
34 Because of this, take notice: I am sending you prophets and wise men (interpreters and teachers) and scribes (men learned in the Mosaic Law and the Prophets); some of them you will kill, even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue and persecute from town to town,
35 So that upon your heads may come all the blood of the righteous (those who correspond to the divine standard of right) shed on earth, from the blood of the righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar [of burnt offering]. [Gen. 4:8; II Chron. 24:21.]
36 Truly I declare to you, all these [evil, calamitous times] will come upon this generation. [II Chron. 36:15, 16.]
Matthew 4:17 (AMP)
17 From that time Jesus began to preach, crying out, Repent (change your mind for the better, heartily amend your ways, with abhorrence of your past sins), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.
It is my prayer that each of us walk in the fullness of Christ and that no man/woman would perish. I urge each of us to seek the Lord regarding all relationships, alliances, affiliations and agreements that we have made to expose the works of darkness so that we may walk in the fullness of Christ Jesus.
Blessings from Christ our Lord.