Warring Against the Spirit of Religion in the Local Church
Executive Summary
There exists today a battle brewing in Atlanta and across this country. There is an attack on the local church, and the principality is the spirit of religion. A second, also notable figure, is the spirit of division. These two have been attacking the local church for centuries.
We find that within a single church, pastors often come under heavy attack. We find church attendees judging each other. We see church splits frequently for reasons other than God’s. The enemy works hard to divide the church or get it into a frenzy of rituals and beliefs that bring people into fixated states of existence. The Holy Spirit is ignored altogether and replaced with the influence of demonic spirits.
This is evidenced by the state of the church in America today. The impact of this battle is staggering. The local church continues to weaken, and people leave for other “religions”.
STATS
The strategy also pits the local churches against each other and creates division in the Body. We see mainline denomination attacking other mainline denomination. Small churches speak out against megachurches. Non-denominational churches speak out against the denominational churches. Many churches seem to constantly compare themselves to each other. And the body operates in dysfunction.
Pastors of some of the most prominent churches speak judgment and accusation freely today. And, it appears that our eyes are closed to it. Congregants are moved to judge other believers simply because they attend a church unlike theirs. They gain permission to compare themselves when a preacher speaks out against the brethren of another church. Their agreement allows the enemy to gain a greater foothold. Pride runs rampant. It appears that if you don’t act, worship, pray, sing, preach and praise God in a certain way, then you are a heathen and stand in judgment by God and are destined for the pits of hell. Each church knows exactly how God wants “it” done, and everyone else is misguided.
This by no means suggests that churches are free from sin and from practices that need be addressed. There is truth to be proclaimed. We watch as pastors in high places come to a crashing fall. Darkness is coming into the light.
However, there are many churches that are staying true to their first love that have come into agreement with the religious and divisional spirits, often unknowingly.
Ephesians 6:12
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
Matthew 12:25
“But Jesus knew their thoughts, and said to them: “Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand.”
Paul reminds us with whom our battle truly lies. Jesus points out his strategy. Yet the enemy works diligently to get us warring with each other. And, we continue to take the bait.
It’s important to note that Jesus said “EVERY kingdom”. Every means all. And, the Kingdom of Heaven is near.
New Beginnings
It is time for a change. It is time for repentance. It is time that the Body comes together for the glory of God.
It is time to drag this ugly darkness into the light. Bless God. We will take back the land that the enemy has stolen.
The local church strategy should be to unite the local churches, independent of anything, into a true representation of the Body.
To this end, we must recognize that individually and corporately, we have giftedness and ministry calls that are unique yet when combined with the gifts and ministries of other local churches, create a greater resemblance of a true Body instead of a bunch of dry bones laying around the desert floor. Rather than comparing our sizes and styles, the local church should evaluate its role within the five-fold ministry and giftedness for operating out of its role, as God has directed. Each church should recognize the giftings and anointing of the other churches and seek to serve those churches out of love.
For example, some churches (like North Point Community Church) are wonderfully blessed with evangelism. The church does a great job at saving souls. However, there is little going on in terms of the prophetic or in gifting around healing. Daystar, on the other hand, does maintain the mantle of the prophet and is enjoying great success in supporting an Atlanta healing ministry.
If the two churches were to serve one another, as being members of the same body would tend to suggest, God would have greater room to operate. Biblical principles would flow. The enemy would lose ground. The Kingdom would expand.
This, however, will take great humility.
Instructions for Success
Romans 12
Serve God with Spiritual Gifts
3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another.
1 Corinthians 12
Spiritual Gifts: Unity in Diversity
4 There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. 7 But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all…
Unity and Diversity in One Body
12 For as the body is one and has many members, but all the members of that one body, being many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into[c] one Spirit. 14 For in fact the body is not one member but many.
15 If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 16 And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I am not of the body,” is it therefore not of the body? 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole were hearing, where would be the smelling? 18 But now God has set the members, each one of them, in the body just as He pleased. 19 And if they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now indeed there are many members, yet one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. 23 And those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor; and our unpresentable parts have greater modesty, 24 but our presentable parts have no need. But God composed the body, having given greater honor to that part which lacks it, 25 that there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
27 Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually. 28 And God has appointed these in the church: first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, administrations, varieties of tongues. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Are all workers of miracles? 30 Do all have gifts of healings? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? 31 But earnestly desire the best[d] gifts. And yet I show you a more excellent way.
1 Corinthians 13
The Greatest Gift
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned,[a] but have not love, it profits me nothing.
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.
11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
God wants his church to love. This is the call of unity. It is an immediate call.
We must break the spirit of division and religion that causes us to compare each other and to puff up.
God has bestowed this upon me today. I shall go speak with Johnny about this in the hopes of bringing together the leaders of the various churches. They are to recognize their role as a member of the body and 5-fold ministry and to work together with the other members in love.
The result of this will be a stronger body that presents herself as the bride.
I
we are all on the same team
daystar stands in judgement – judge not lest ye be judged
my house shall be a house of prayer
repentence is required
Andy – getting on caths and baptists
the body works together – God calls diff churches into diff ministries to diff people groups
God makes us diff and we connect difftly
each serves
the enemy tries to convince us that one way is best and all should work that way
Is God not the judge?
Johnny and andy should meet and resemble the body as one
can daystar help serve by accelerating the growth of gifting in believers cause npcc doesn’t further growth but it does save souls
we are here to serve not be served
partner with seeking churches
unify the body
destroy spirit of religion