Being Delivered From A Religious Mindset, pt.2

Last month, we looked at the topic of religion, what it is and the necessity to be free from it. This month, we will look at what steps can be taken to be delivered from a religious mindset.
Before we get started, I want to be clear that I am not advocating a spirit of lawlessness or teaching that we should not be submitted to authority. Romans 13:1-3 
I am walking in the liberty that came when I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior and became a citizen of His Kingdom. John 8:36 
Remember last month, we saw that the essence of religion is that man is trying to do things his own way, but still have a relationship with God. Luke 16:16 AMP
We want to have a relationship with God through Jesus, not to get caught up in religion. So, here are some steps we can take to avoid or be delivered from a religious mindset.

• Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit which will never contradict the Word of God. John 16:13-15 KJV & AMP
• Come to know the spirit of the law rather than the letter of the law. Romans 7:6b NLT     Law - God's Word
• Make sure that the preaching and teaching you hear is biblical by reading and studying the Bible for yourself. 2 Timothy 3:14-17; 2:15
• Leave the traditions of men that are not biblically based. Mark 7:8-9 AMP; Colossians 2:8 AMP & NLT
• Do not allow anyone to pressure you to do anything that is a tradition if it is not in the Bible.
• Do not allow your experience to cause you to discount anything that is in the Bible because you have not experienced it. Romans 16:17-18 AMP

Being led by the Spirit of God, His Word and peace in your spirit will help you to navigate through these times we are living in and help you to not be bound by religion.

Being Delivered From A Religious Mindset, pt.1

For the past three months, we looked at how we need to operate in the Kingdom of God through our speech. Now we are going to look at the topic of religion, what it is and the necessity to be free from it.
If you have been raised or taught to believe religion is a good thing, please stay with me while I explain what I mean. We have to look at the true meaning of the word religion. Religion means to bind again or man's attempt to reestablish a relationship with God.
The essence of religion is that man is trying to do things his own way, but still have a relationship with God. Luke 16:16 AMP; Matthew 11:12 AMP
The first example of religion we see in the Word of God after man fell is in Genesis 4:2-7. Cain thought he could do things his way and still be right before God. 2 Timothy 3:1-9 KJV & AMP gives us a picture of the times we live in today and man still trying to do things his way rather than God's way.
There are no amount of works or good deeds you can do to be in right relationship with God. The only way to God is through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. John 14:6
Having a standard of holiness does not mean you are religious. We are still supposed to live what the Word of God says. John 14:15 We must not allow religion or the traditions of people to hold us back from God's best for our lives. 1 Timothy 4:1-8 AMP
When you are introduced to and receive the Kingdom of God through Jesus, you are free from religion. Matthew 13:44-46; John 3:1-12; Luke 4:31-37, 43; John 10:10

Speak the Word ONLY! pt 3

In order for us to speak God's Word on a regular basis, not just when we focus on it, we must have our minds transformed to line up with God's Word. Romans 12:2
In James 3:2-12, we see an example of an transformed mind. We cannot operate speaking like the world and expecting to have God’s Words results. We have to speak God’s Word or what lines up with His Word if we expect to receive right results.
God’s Word must be sown in our hearts. Matthew 12:34-35; 13:19-23; Luke 6:45; Psalm 34:13
We cannot sow wrong seed (media) and get right results. Every man is given a measure of faith. What he does with that faith is determined by him. Romans 12:3b; 10:17
We can have productive things in our lives or we can have destructive things.
What happens when we don’t speak God’s Word? We can give the enemy a place to manifest. Ephesians 4:27
When we don’t speak God’s Word, we don’t give God a place to manifest. Exodus 3:7-10
We are the authorized vehicles for manifestation in the earth. We have to cooperate with God in order for Him to use us. God expects us to use our speech just like Jesus did. 1 Peter 2:21-23 KJV & AMP
We have to recognize that our speech betrays us. Whatever is in our heart, will eventually come out of our mouth. Matthew 26:73; 12:34-35
When you speak in line with the curse instead of the Word, you must take back what you said and speak God’s Word instead. Jesus shows us this with the situation that happened when Peter denied Him. John 18:17, 25-27; 21:15-17
In our lives, we will see the daily benefit of speaking God’s Word only. Manifesting God’s Word instead of the curse brings the culture of heaven into our lives and the lives of those around us. That brings glory to God!

Knowing Your Worth

In view of this upcoming Mother's Day, I want to share this blog with the intention of encouraging women, especially mothers, to be who God made them to be.

Psalms 8:3-6 AMP "When I view and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have ordained and established, What is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him? Yet You have made him but a little lower than God and You have crowned him with glory and honor. You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet:"

Being a child of God, you must know that you are valuable. The enemy tries to use situations to devalue you. But, the present situation you are in does not define you. You are who God says you are. Regardless of what you see, you have to walk in what God says.

Let's look at four women of the Bible and see, how God made them played an important role in their lives.
Esther 2:8-17
Esther was a woman of simplicity. She did not try to change who she was even in the face of the challenge of trying to be selected to be the next queen. You have to be who God made you to be. You have royalty inside of you as a child of God. 1 Peter 2:9 Your gifts, talents and personality cannot be duplicated. You are unique. Don't try to be like everyone else. Your uniqueness has purpose. Your position of royalty has given you an assignment. You are here to represent God in your area of influence. You are here "for such a time as this".
Ruth 1:8-17
Ruth was a loyal woman. She knew God had a purpose for her staying with Naomi. When you know what your purpose or assignment is from God, no one can dissuade you from the path that you are on. Even if you are unable to explain to others what is going on in your life, you know when God is at work in your life. When you are able to walk by faith and not be moved by what you see, the enemy won't know what to do because situations don't move you. Romans 8:37-39
1 Samuel 1-2
Hannah was a woman of faith and a mother before she ever had a child. She had to know she had what God said regardless of what she saw in the natural. You have to have the kind of faith that can withstand situations and circumstances that look nothing like what God told you concerning what you are standing in faith for. You must believe what God said about you is true. Even when family members or friends can't see what God has put inside of you. It is the enemy's job to convince you otherwise. The enemy wants you to forfeit what God has for you. Don't give up on anything God has given you in His Word.
Luke 7:37-50 AMP
Mary was a woman who had received forgiveness and had to learn how to not allow her past to define her.
Despite what may have been done in your past, once you have accepted Jesus and repented, you have to be able to receive your forgiveness. Jesus is not holding your past over your head and neither should you. Psalm 103:12 Everyone has a past. When people try to stone you for what you did in your past, there is probably something in their own life that they have not dealt with. John 8:3-11 Don't allow anyone to keep you from a relationship with Jesus based on your past. Don't allow people to condemn you for your past. Repent and move on.
Here are some scriptures to remind you of how valuable you are to God.
Proverbs 31:10 (You are more valuable than jewels) Proverbs 18:22 (You are a good thing and you bring favor) Proverbs 19:14 AMP (You are from the Lord) Matthew 10:30 ( You are so valuable that God knows the number of the hairs on your head) Luke 12:6-7 (You are worth more than the creation that God already cares for) Psalm 27:10 (Even if family forsakes you, God never will) Jeremiah 1:5; 29:11 AMP (God had a plan for your life before you ever got here) 1 Samuel 16:7 (Don't allow your present circumstance or people to change what God has placed in you) Romans 8:37 (You are more than conquerors) 1 John 5:4 AMP ( You are victorious) Philippians 1:6 ( God will complete the work He began in you) John 3:16 (God paid the ultimate price for you because you are that valuable to Him)

Speak the Word ONLY! pt.2

Last month, we began a new series dealing with our speech. We must always be aware of the power we have in our mouth. Wars have been started by the words of someone walking in authority, who may or may not have known the affects their words would have on other people. So, it is very important that we speak words that line up with God's Words and that we speak as we are led by the Holy Spirit.
We also talked last month about why it is necessary to speak the Word of God. God's Word has an assignment. God's ultimate plan for mankind is that the earth would reflect His Heavenly Kingdom. God operates by using His Word. Hebrews 11:3 We were made in His likeness and image. So, if God operates by His Word, then so should we. Genesis 1:26-27
God is looking for vessels to work through to bring the culture of His Heavenly Kingdom into the earth. 2 Chronicles 16:9a
Words are spiritual things that have an assignment. When we speak God's Word, we are enabling His Word to manifest in the earth. This is how the Kingdom of God is manifested in the earth. Just like God used His Word to create all things, man is to use God's Word to manifest things in the earth. Isaiah 55:11; 51:16; Jeremiah 1:4-12
The questions we need to ask ourselves are, Is God able to work through you? Are you willing to say what God says? Are you willing to mortify your flesh and not speak what you want but what God tells you to speak?
God is waiting and the earth is waiting for the sons of God to operate like sons. What are you waiting for? Romans 8:19-22

Speak the Word ONLY! pt.1

We are beginning a new series about our speech. I am always amazed at the lack of understanding of how important our speech is. Within the body of Christ, there are still people who believe that they can speak whatever comes to mind and not be affected by what was said. Even more than that, people believe they can speak their own mind but still get God's Words results. The Word of God lets us know in Matthew 12:36-37 and Mark 3:28-29, that we are held accountable for the words we speak.

Over the next two months, we will look at why it is necessary for us to speak God's Word, learning how to speak the Word and what happens when we don't speak God's Word. We are Ambassadors for the Kingdom of God. We represent God in the earth. If we want to be effective, we will have to know how to operate as we go about fulfilling our assignments and living out our daily lives.

The first question we need to ask is why is it necessary to speak the Word of God? God operates by speaking. If we are citizens of God's Kingdom and living by faith, then we will want to operate like He does. Hebrews 11:3 God speaks first in the spirit realm and then what He has spoken manifest in the natural realm. Genesis 1:3-29; 2:7-8, 19

We were made to operate like God in the earth. Genesis 1:26; Romans 8:29; 1 Corinthians 15:49; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:24
If we speak God's Word in faith, we have to believe that what we say will come to pass. Hebrews 11:6
Speaking God's Word is how we operate in dominion and how we express God's authority in our own lives. Matthew 8:5-10; 9:2-8 If we understand the authority and power behind God's Word, we know that it will do what it says it will do. We just have to speak it in faith and operate as if it is done!

People Aren't Your Problem! pt.3

For the past two months, we have looked at the issue of dealing with people and seeing them from a spiritual perspective.

This month, we will look at what God expects of us and how we should be operating when we are dealing with people. As citizens of the Kingdom of God, we are responsible for maintaining a Kingdom-like culture wherever we go. Genesis 2:15 We are also responsible for obedience to God's Word. Every manifestation or miracle that takes place in our lives is preceded by an act of obedience. Romans 4:21-24 AMP Any failure we experience is on our part. God is always faithful. Numbers 23:19; Hebrews 6:18 Because of the Law of Dominion, God allows you to determine what he can do in your life. Luke 12:16 We have to submit to God for Him to do anything in the earth. James 4:6-7 AMP

Knowing how to operate around people is extremely important because of who we are in the Kingdom of God. Spirit filled man is God's representative in the Earth. We have to exercise our dominion. We are responsible for speaking only what God tells us to speak through and in line with His Word. John 12:49-50 AMP When we run into a situation where a confrontation with a person ensues, we must walk in the spirit. We can call out the spirit behind a person. We have to recognize that the devil has no power over us. Luke 10:19 When we speak to a situation, we are operating with authority and taking dominion for the Kingdom. Mark 11:22-24; Genesis 1:26-28 We are expected to change our area of influence so it reflects the Kingdom like culture. Matthew 16:19 AMP In order to change the culture to reflect the Kingdom, we have to be willing to look past ourselves and put God's Kingdom first. We have to make advancing His Kingdom a priority in our lives and we must ask God for wisdom on how to do this. Matthew 6:33 We also must maintain our authority and not be victim to something we have authority over. We must not allow the devil to converse with us. There is no discussion with the devil. You say what God says and that is it. 2 Timothy 3:5

I pray this lesson has been a blessing to you and will help you look differently at contrary people. Walk in love towards people who are being used. They need to see the Kingdom of God in action to even want to come out of the kingdom of darkness. It is awesome to watch someone in God's Kingdom operating with authority, power and love!