Many Christians today, through the religious organizations that they are part of are indoctrinated with slogans and a few isolated Scriptures rather than being instructed in the whole counsel of God’s Word, which would lead them to holiness.
Some of the things we hear today are: “Everyone sins”; “Christians aren’t perfect; they are just forgiven”; “Well, after all, nobody’s perfect”; “Don’t doubt your salvation"; “Once saved, always saved”; "I heard you pray the sinners prayer”; “It’s easy to be saved"; "all you have to do is follow me in this prayer.”
Through their traditions, doctrines and rituals, the religious "structures" today have become an expression of a form of godliness rather than becoming an expression of Jesus Christ (which is true godliness).
More often than not, most people are being led to make a commitment to the "structure" (institution, doctrine, tradition) rather than to Jesus. What happens then is that the structure becomes an idol in our hearts that we don't want to give up and Jesus' voice becomes fainter and fainter.
What we have come to today (because of the false gospels being preached) is that , it does not matter how the church member lives or whether they have unforgiveness one towards another. It only matters that they show up for the religious exercises and tithe.
And this is when a spirit of sleep (spiritual slumber and darkness) will settle upon the congregation and the Spirit of God can not have any control over their lives because they have become lords of their own lives all the while they are honoring God with their lips. They settle into living in spiritual darkness and they call it LIGHT.
"This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” (Mark 7:6-8 )
Yes, it is vain to worship God with your lips (because He does not have your heart).
So, how can we turn from sin and walk in righteousness? God's Word shows us the true motives of our heart if we come to God's Word with ALL OF OUR HEART. If we come to God's Word with a divided heart (ulterior motives) rather than hungering and thirsting after righteousness, we will just have a RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. But if we come to God's Word with ALL OF OUR HEART, we will be changed.
Only as the Word divides spirit from soul and flesh can we then learn to hear the Holy Spirit speak to us. We then are able to turn aside from soulish and fleshly religion and walk before the Lord in holiness and purity, putting to death all the deeds of the flesh. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the formal lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ya holy for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1: 14-16)
The Pharisees were blinded to righteousness and holiness because of their religious structures. They created these religious structures around Abraham ("We have Abraham as our father") the Mosaic Law mammon and lording over men (wanting to be the ones in control). They watered down God's Word by adding their traditions to it or taking away what they did not like and their structures led them after carnal traditions and fleshly desires.
Because the Pharisees were blinded, they could receive no more light from the Word of God.
And when the Word of God is not able to have any place in you, it is because God does not have your heart. “He that is of God hears God’s Words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).
It is no different today for people whose hearts have been captured by carnal traditions, which lead people after fleshly lusts. They will hate everyone who brings new light contrary to their religious structures:
“But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:3,4).
Satan and the powers of darkness blind the minds of all who receive their lies (wrapped up to look like truth).
Some of the things we hear today are: “Everyone sins”; “Christians aren’t perfect; they are just forgiven”; “Well, after all, nobody’s perfect”; “Don’t doubt your salvation"; “Once saved, always saved”; "I heard you pray the sinners prayer”; “It’s easy to be saved"; "all you have to do is follow me in this prayer.”
Through their traditions, doctrines and rituals, the religious "structures" today have become an expression of a form of godliness rather than becoming an expression of Jesus Christ (which is true godliness).
More often than not, most people are being led to make a commitment to the "structure" (institution, doctrine, tradition) rather than to Jesus. What happens then is that the structure becomes an idol in our hearts that we don't want to give up and Jesus' voice becomes fainter and fainter.
What we have come to today (because of the false gospels being preached) is that , it does not matter how the church member lives or whether they have unforgiveness one towards another. It only matters that they show up for the religious exercises and tithe.
And this is when a spirit of sleep (spiritual slumber and darkness) will settle upon the congregation and the Spirit of God can not have any control over their lives because they have become lords of their own lives all the while they are honoring God with their lips. They settle into living in spiritual darkness and they call it LIGHT.
"This people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship Me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men” (Mark 7:6-8 )
Yes, it is vain to worship God with your lips (because He does not have your heart).
So, how can we turn from sin and walk in righteousness? God's Word shows us the true motives of our heart if we come to God's Word with ALL OF OUR HEART. If we come to God's Word with a divided heart (ulterior motives) rather than hungering and thirsting after righteousness, we will just have a RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. But if we come to God's Word with ALL OF OUR HEART, we will be changed.
Only as the Word divides spirit from soul and flesh can we then learn to hear the Holy Spirit speak to us. We then are able to turn aside from soulish and fleshly religion and walk before the Lord in holiness and purity, putting to death all the deeds of the flesh. “As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the formal lusts in your ignorance: But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ya holy for I am holy” (1 Pet. 1: 14-16)
The Pharisees were blinded to righteousness and holiness because of their religious structures. They created these religious structures around Abraham ("We have Abraham as our father") the Mosaic Law mammon and lording over men (wanting to be the ones in control). They watered down God's Word by adding their traditions to it or taking away what they did not like and their structures led them after carnal traditions and fleshly desires.
Because the Pharisees were blinded, they could receive no more light from the Word of God.
And when the Word of God is not able to have any place in you, it is because God does not have your heart. “He that is of God hears God’s Words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God” (John 8:47).
It is no different today for people whose hearts have been captured by carnal traditions, which lead people after fleshly lusts. They will hate everyone who brings new light contrary to their religious structures:
“But if our gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost: in whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them” (2 Cor. 4:3,4).
Satan and the powers of darkness blind the minds of all who receive their lies (wrapped up to look like truth).
