We worship Jesus, not religion.

We must stop worshiping pastors, churches, denominations, and religions. Religion binds. Jesus frees. Religion is a litany of rules that most can't keep. But Jesus brings freedom from our transgression. The religious leaders of Jesus' day – the Pharisees and Sadducees – were often rebuked and reprimanded in Jesus' public ministry. I have sometimes thought, "Man, they sure had it hard, considering they had dedicated their whole lives to learning the laws of God." I mean, think about it. These people spent their entire lives studying Scripture! Do you know why Jesus was so harsh with them? It was because they worshiped the law (and the perceived power they earned by keeping it) and rejected the Messiah who came to fulfill the law.

How does that play out in our lives as a religion versus an authentic relationship with the King? We worship our religious practices, not Jesus. Sure, many go to church, but they aren't authentic worshipers. Many pray, but they aren't intercessors. Many take notes from the sermon on Sundays, but they have more loyalty to the pastor than the Scriptures. I have seen, time and again, the love of a church more than the Savior. We get comfortable in our seats and won't call out sin when we see it in our pulpit or pews.

I have seen many who are lifetime members of a particular denomination who are closed off to any possibility of a move of the Spirit, something different or new, a miracle, a healing, a deliverance, or even a new revelation that perhaps they had not once understood. They become devoted to their doctrine and theology, not because they have read the Scriptures and asked for impartation from the Holy Spirit, but because it’s what they’ve always believed and what they’ve always done. Some of us are Pharisees married to the law and not the Savior. We got obsessed with man-made denominations, bound by church traditionalism, and never opened the Word for ourselves. All it did was leave us bound to man and not to God.

But in this hour, God is tearing down man-made denominations and building up the true body of Christ. Our authority strengthens as we seek the Lord and ask for revelation of His truth – not the perceived truth of man. Ask the Lord to reveal any religious spirit, tendencies, or idolatry in your life.

Points to Ponder:

• If you learned today that your church was misappropriating money or relationships, would you call it out and expose it?
• Would you be willing to leave your church if the Lord asked you to? Or have you become too comfortable to go?
• Suppose the Holy Spirit revealed your denomination is inaccurate scripturally according to His true intention. Would you be willing to leave the denomination, even if your entire family is part of it?