Much of the information which follows is taken from Rick Joyner’s book, Overcoming the Religious Spirit , copyrighted by MorningStar Publications, 16000 Lancaster Hwy., Charlotte, NC 282777 USA, which can be ordered by phoning 1-800-542-0278.  

A religious spirit is an evil spirit that is the counterfeit of the true love of God and true worship of Him. It seeks to substitute religious activity for the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. It tries to get people to think they are spiritual when actually they are denying the true power of God, (2 Tim. 3:5). It feeds on the pride of men and the fears they have. It tries to replace true repentance leading to Gods grace, with a performance based repentance. This causes pride instead of true humility.
 
 

WARNING SIGNS OF A RELIGIOUS SPIRIT

As you read the following, ask God to show you how this applies to you.

People with a religious spirit:

1. Often think their primary mission is to destroy whatever they believe is wrong.  Be balanced in this, however, as a prophet's job is to tear down and rebuild.  This is one reason a prophetic ministry isn't very popular when the prophet must bring a judgment against something or expose sin.  He should also bring encouragement for how to be restored.

2. Will be unable to accept someone correcting them, especially from those they judge to be less spiritual or experienced than themselves.

3. Have the attitude that, "I’m not listening to people, but only to God." They claim to be open to being taught, but most of the time this is just to get others to be open to what they are teaching.

4. Are inclined to see more of what is wrong with other people, other churches, etc., than what is right with them. They may be accurate in seeing the problem but they seldom have a solution. True discernment only operates through love, otherwise it is just being critical, judgmental and faultfinding.  If God shows us something which is wrong, our first step is to enter prayer in agreement with His heart for that which was exposed so that ultimately  there can be reconciliation with God.

5. Feel very guilty, thinking they can’t ever measure up to the Lord’s standards. (This one is the root of the religious spirit, because it causes people to think they have to perform a certain way to get God’s approval instead of relying on what Jesus already did on the cross to establish our relationship with the Lord. We need to focus on pleasing God for His joy and ours, not for our acceptance, because we are already accepted by the blood of Jesus.  Joyce Meyer has used the example of when you are already sitting in a chair to try to sit in it.  You're already there-justified by the Blood of the Lamb!  Now just follow God's leading in order for your mind and body to come in agreement with what's already in your spirit.)

6. Keep score on their spiritual life. (Praying for three hours a day and going to eight Bible studies a week is not a measure of spiritual maturity; getting closer to the Lord is.)

7. Are self-appointed watchmen who think their job is to fix everyone else. (They seldom build up what God is doing but instead tear it down.)

8. Will have a leadership style which is bossy, overbearing and intolerant of the weakness or failure of others.

9. Believe they are closer to or more pleasing to God than anyone else.

10. Take pride in their spiritual maturity and in comparing how much more they have than others.

11. Think they are involved in the most important thing God is doing.

12. Have a mechanical prayer life.

13. Do things in order to be noticed by others. (This is idolatry in fearing what people think more than we care about what God thinks.)

14. Are repulsed by true passion for Jesus.

15. Use emotionalism to substitute the actual work of the Holy Spirit. (For instance-thinking people haven’t truly repented unless they cry and carry on about how sorry they are.)

16. Are encouraged when their ministry looks better than others and discouraged when it looks worse.

17. Glory more from what God did in the past instead of what He is doing right now.

18. Tend to be suspicious of new movements, churches, etc. (This is actually jealousy.)

19. Tend to reject spiritual manifestations they don’t understand. (We are to always remain humble and teachable no matter how much we know. We are to patiently wait for the fruit of what is going on before we judge it. For instance, when that person started laughing a lot during a time of the service when God was moving, do they now seem more full of joy, and are they strengthened? If so, that is good fruit.  We should always seek the Lord about something if it seems to make our spirits uncomfortable.  Is it just us or is it truly offensive to God?)

20. Will overreact to those who are still carnal, (living in the old fleshly ways instead of Godly ways), or immature, not seeing how much growth that person has actually experienced. (We are not to put on others what God has not required of them. He knows what each of us needs at the very moment we need it. If God’s grace isn’t on what we are trying to make them do, they will fail. We are to recognize the progress people are making and help them along the way, but not control them.)

21. Think God’s approval is with them more than others because they experience supernatural manifestations. (We need to remember it is God who is performing the work, and He is to get all the glory.  Also, we are not to assume anything about why one person receives manifestations while another does not.)

22. Are perfectionists who won’t want to get involved with anything they don’t see as perfect or nearly perfect. 

23. Will be overly paranoid of the religious spirit. (When you fear something, you are actually opening the door to satan to put that very thing into action that you feared, because you are putting faith in that to occur.)

24. Glory in anything but the cross of Jesus, what He has accomplished and who He is.

25. Follow after doctrines or religions which alter the Word of God or which are counter to it. (Jehovah Witness, Mormonism, etc.)

26. Keep focused on what they can see, feel, touch and hear rather than on the unseen heavenly realm.  Judge with the eyes and not by the Holy Spirit's unctions.

27. Approve of things that God disapproves of. (Making a homosexual a pastor!)

28. Are easily offended because they are not given an important title or position.

29. Refuse to allow prophetic/apostolic ministries to function. The Lord gives timely strategic direction through these ministries and if hindered, the church will not be ready for the return of Jesus.

30. Sacrifice people or things God never ordered. (Pastors who totally devote to the church and forsake their families.)

31. Worship angels.

32. Excessively exalt people.

33. Use visions or other manifestations to gain improper influence in the church.

34. Perceive rejection or correction as the price he must pay to stand for the truth in a martyr-type syndrome.  We are told that we will experience what Jesus did with persecutions but this is the fellowship of His sufferings, molding us into His image, not self-focused on what we are just having to endure.

35. Use a formula from self-help psychology to get the inner healing of deep wounds they have.  We are to go to the cross and receive forgiveness and true acceptance based on the blood of Jesus. When we get a revelation of how God loves us perfectly, fear is cast out. Some people do need counseling, but a good Christian counselor will lead people to the cross not to a pit of self-centeredness that keeps them focused on their problems.  Jesus sets us free indeed in His timing if we will keep looking to our Savior and be obedient to do whatever He requires.

36. Are the ones who while reading this are thinking of someone else who needs to be reading it more than trying to see how this may apply to them personally.

37. Are making excuses right now for how none of this applies to them!
 

NOW THAT WE'VE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM WHAT DO WE DO TO GET FREE?

-Repent over each thing you feel applies to you. Any time you fall in these areas; repent.

-Command the religious spirit to be bound from operating against you and to go from you in Jesus’ Name.

-Begin to worship God in spirit and truth, seeking to get to know Him better. Spend personal private time with Him each day. Ask Him continually to see His glory. Be aware of God’s presence and that He is with you always.  Ask Him to help you be ever mindful of Him.

-Pray that God’s love which has been shed abroad in your heart will manifest so you can love Him and others the way He does.

-Study the Word of God asking the Holy Spirit to reveal the Truth in it to you.  Ask for a spirit of revelation.  This is not so men can be impressed with your knowledge but so you can get to know the person of Jesus better and live as He directed.

-Obey the Lord when you feel impressed that He is guiding you to do something. This will help you develop in hearing His voice. In obedience, His voice gets clearer, in disobedience and ignoring Him, His voice diminishes until we can’t hear it anymore.

-When you see something wrong with someone or something---PRAY for them in love, not criticism or selfish ambition trying to get God to do what you think needs to happen.
 
 

True religion or spirituality is based on sincere love for the Lord and others. It takes on the heart of a servant and is selfless, focusing on others instead of self-centered with thoughts and actions that focus on ourselves. Our lives are to be centered on Christ allowing Him to work through us in the power of His Holy Spirit. We are to work with Him, letting Him help us to bring about changes in ourselves which are based on the Word of God, not for acceptance from God but because we love Jesus so much that we want to abide in His presence and don’t want anything hindering us from a full relationship with Him.  We are to dwell on who Jesus is rather than what we are doing. Until we get into a genuine relationship with Jesus Christ, we will never fill the purpose we were created for, thereby always sensing a void inside us. True peace, joy and satisfaction comes from intimately knowing our King.
 

Maybe you have sat in church pews all your life, or have been baptized, or dedicated to the church as a baby and are thinking you were saved.  These methods do not save you.  Jesus is the only way to the Father and you must surrender your heart to Him completely giving Him control of your life.  All who believe on the Lord will be saved, but that literally means you trust, adhere to and rely on Him.