We Can’t Afford to Be Naïve regarding ISIL; U.K. is Recognizing the True Threat and so should we in the U.S.
John, Pat and Steve continue the encouraging, insightful and revealing conversation about a religious spirit. When looking at the book of Matthew, over 1/3 of this gospel detailed how Jesus encountered the Pharisees, how He responded, and how they responded to Him. Taking this into consideration, it is important to apply these realities in our own lives. Jesus encountered religious people and so will we. More importantly, we must ask ourselves the questions: Are we moving like the Pharisees? Are we responding to the words of Jesus like the Pharisees did? Are we responding to others like a Pharisee? It’s important to remember, “For our struggle is not against fleshand blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world andagainst the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”-Ephesians 6:12. This is a spirit that is rooted in self-righteousness and pride. We can repent of it and be forgiven through the grace of God and the blood of Jesus Christ. In one moment, someone suffering from a religious spirit will feel they have no “self-worth” in the eyes of God and must “earn” their forgiveness by what they do; and then feel “superior” to other believers because they “know more” or put their confidence in their own self-righteousness. Both of these are expressions of a religious spirit. Jesus Christ came to bring freedom and set us free. Our righteousness only comes from Jesus Christ. Be encouraged and greatly informed as you learn what else entails a religious spirit, how it can manifest in our lives, and so much more. Also shared in this segment: repentance, pride, words, false religions, forms of godliness, self-righteousness, sin nature, traditions of men, and forgiveness.
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