THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT 4

THE RELIGIOUS SPIRIT 4

Text: Matthew 7:1-5
Memory verse:
‭‭ “Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭5‬

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The religious spirit is a judgmental spirit. It develops harsh and judgmental attitudes towards others. Since it doesn’t accept the works of grace or has repudiated the works of grace, so it doesn’t see it in others. Those possessed by it have forgotten that they were also cleansed from their old sins(2 Pet 1:9). When grace preaches a message of ‘there is now no condemnation’, it preaches, ‘there is now condemnation’. Religious spirit preaches justification by works, while grace preaches justification by grace. When grace corrects to restore, religious spirit accuses to destroy. Grace is motivated by love but the religious spirit is driven by self-conceit.
Religious spirit skillfully mutters words of judgment on others and continues until it feels justified and it’s accused feels totally condemned. While the Spirit of grace feels sorrowful at the pain and destruction of others, the religious spirit feels fulfilled and justified. It derives pleasure in the pain and tears of its accused. This attitude of self-righteousness and self-justification makes it’s possessors to isolate themselves in pride, being blinded to their own needs. “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. That critical spirit has a way of boomeranging. It’s easy to see a smudge on your neighbor’s face and be oblivious to the ugly sneer on your own.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭1-3 ‭MSG‬‬
Religious spirit is critical and hypocritical in nature. Continue in grace as you have been saved and you will not be it’s victim.

Prayer points
1. Father, deliver me from every critical and judgmental attitudes in Jesus name.
2. Father, help me never to forget that I was cleansed from my old sins and saved just by grace in Jesus name.

Today’s declarations

1.Those with religious spirit are shortsighted, even to blindness and have forgotten that they were cleansed from their old sins.
2. As I continue in grace and walk in love, I avoid critical and judgmental attitudes.

Contact: pastor@thf.org.ng