Is your walk about Jesus Christ – or is about you? Is it about your relationships with other believers in the “church system” and how you are perceived, or it solely based on your relationship with Jesus? Or is your walk based on the non-scriptural, false fears that men have taught you, such as “Go to “church” on Sunday. It’s very likely that your relationship with Jesus is based on this thing called “church” – and not the other way around.
Judge these words and search the scriptures – then do some honest soul searching. Remember – God knows what is in our hearts; we can deceive ourselves, but we are not capable of deceiving Him. Believers in the “institutional church system” only have a religious relationship with Jesus – not a spiritual one. They think they have a spiritual relationship, but what they call “Spirit” is actually works of the “flesh.” These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by man. Matthew 15:8-9. By “flesh”, we mean man’s carnal nature – or his sin nature. It is our failed state that came after the fall of Adam and Eve.
Side Note*: We will use the term “man” when referring to all of mankind. Women are included in this, and we do not mean to be disparaging or sexist towards women. It is much easier and more succinct in our writings to simply use the term “man.”
We are imploring you to search the truth in God’s Word. Forget about what men and women have taught you, and their self-serving interpretations. Do as the Bereans, and examine everything; including what we are saying to ascertain whether it is in accordance to Scripture. These were also more noble men than they which were at Thessalonica, which received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether those things were so. Acts 17:11 Pray that God will impart the Holy Spirit to guide you, and give you the courage to abandon the fear of going somewhere where you rather not go.
By this, we mean the fear of:
- Discovering that you have been deceived by the teachings of men.
- Relinquishing the “church” culture and organizations that you cherish and esteem.
- Being subjected to what others think.
- Thinking of yourself more highly than you ought, by judging your spiritual health by the requirements, activities, and things demanded by “church leadership.”
Ask yourself, who are you trying to protect? Again, God’s Word says; He who is spiritual examines all things. Pray that God will open your eyes to see what He wants you to see. Pray for Him to give you the strength see past the traditions and rules of men over the truth in His Word. Pray for the Holy Spirit to touch your heart, so that you may hear His voice. Pray for Him to give you the strength in overwhelming opposition to stand up for Him and speak the truth. Pray for the courage to let go of those things that provide you comfort, but have no biblical basis. Pray for God’s help to walk in the Spirit, and not in the things you see, sense, feel, or fear.
We are in a war against unseen spiritual forces, and we are losing that war. There are always principalities around us, and their primary goal is to destroy mankind and our faith in Jesus. This thing we call “church” is jammed packed with principalities because its foundation is based on deception. When you attend this “thing” you call “church”, the floodgates open, and these principalities are released. I’m sure we just lost a lot of you here, but it is the truth. When Satan deceives, he never goes for the obvious – he goes for what is the most deceptive. He goes for what seems so right, but in actuality is deception that is contrary to what God truly desires for us.
Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the assaults of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, and against the worldly governors, the princes of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness, which are in the high places. Ephesians: 6:10-12
Not only the eternal destiny of all believers is at stake – there are unbelievers we should be winning over for Jesus. The only thing we have done is pushed them away. Don’t blame the world – we are to blame. We have put men, his doctrines, and his institutions over Christ first. All of these things have usurped Jesus lordship over our lives. We try to tell the world they can find freedom in Jesus, while they plainly see we ourselves do not even accept the freedom He provided on the cross. Ironically, they see what we are unable to see. You need to start asking yourself, “Why?”
This is why I speak to them in parables: “Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand. In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah: ” ‘You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving. For this people’s heart has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears, understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.’ Matthew 12:13-15