God desires to break the back of the spirit of religion. There are many spirits which attempt to hinder the will of God from being realized in the earth, but the religious spirit is one of the most stubborn and vicious that Believers have to contend against!

A few facts about the religious spirit:

• It is deceptive. It loves a form of godliness, devoid of the true life and flow of the Holy Spirit. “Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof…” (2 Timothy 3:5).

• It loves ritual, pomp, and pretense. “But all their works they do for to be seen of men…” (Matthew 23:5).

• It judges by the outward appearance but lacks true discernment by the Spirit and change of heart. “Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity” (Matthew 23:28).

• It is prideful. “And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:6). (So it’s “time out” for those pastors’ seats that look like king and queen thrones.)

• It attempts to block people from truly entering into the Kingdom and ways of God. “But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For ye shut up the Kingdom of Heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in” (Matthew 23:13).

• It loves titles without the function or doing the actual work! “And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi” (Matthew 23:7). “For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers” (Matthew 23:4). (Photo via Picryl)

• It is a mean and critical spirit. “Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel” (Matthew 23:24).

• It hates real prophets! “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! Because you build the tombs of the prophets…” (Matthew 23:29).

• If you don’t compromise, it will seek to kill you! “Then from that day forth they took counsel together for to put Him to death” (John 11:53). “Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets” (Matthew 23:31).

Simply put, it is TRASH!

God’s Answer Has Been and Always Will Be

Please note that the letter of the law is not enough to break the stronghold and power of the spirit of religion. The Word and Spirit must work together to overcome the spirit of religion, which is a deceptive curtain for dead works that do not glorify God. The book of Acts is a wonderful display of this truth.

“And the word of God increased; and the number of the disciples multiplied in Jerusalem greatly; and a great company of priests were obedient to the faith.” (Acts 6:7)

Note that it says that “a great company of priests were obedient to the faith.”

Many of these priests were either Sadducees or Pharisees, which were two religious institutions that had opposed the message of Messiah Jesus. At this time the Spirit of God had been poured out upon the Church, signs and wonders were of regular order, and the fire of God was blazing in the hearts of Believers. The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ was walking in Pentecost fire, love, and power! The power of Pentecost BROKE the stronghold of the spirit of religion over these priests’ lives, which made them not only convert to Christianity (or The Way), but also “obedient to the faith”! They sold out to the plan of God! Whew!

Pray with me: Lord God, we pray that You send the Spirit and anointing of Pentecost once again! Let it be a continual experience and reality for the Body of Christ and Ekklesia that shuts the mouth of dead religion and weakens its grip on the hearts of Your people. In Jesus’ name, amen

Demontae Edmonds
Freedom 4 the Nations
Email: INFO@F4Nations.com
Website: www.d4tn.org

Demontae Edmonds is the founder of Freedom 4 the Nations, host of “This is Freedom” podcast on Charisma Podcast Network, and host of Atlanta’s “Highways” TV program. He travels the nations preaching the Gospel with notable signs, wonders, and miracles. His heart is to share the reality of Jesus Christ with the world through demonstrations of the Holy Spirit’s power and presence. He has authored the books “Grab Hold of Your Miracle,” “Discerning of Spirits: 7 Dimensions of Revelation,” and “The Supernatural Gift of Faith.”