Lies Religious Tradition Taught us: Spiritual Warfare

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.                 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV 

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13 NKJV


We've been in an extended study examining the lies religious traditions of men have taught the Body of Christ. Concepts taught with such conviction by leaders it would almost seem blasphemous to dare question it. Ideas and views taught for so long they have formed strongholds in the minds of many.

 So far we've addressed concepts like God is the author of sickness and disease, that He is the bringer of destruction through disasters. That He creates evil so good may come about. That poverty is a blessing. That God's power has weakened and waned in this day and age. 

 Today, it seemed good to address an issue that has created so much division and also created chaos and extremes in many quarters of the Body of Christ. The idea of spiritual warfare. That is extremes and traditions born from wrong ideas about spiritual warfare.

 The truth of Scripture is that there is spiritual warfare;
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. Ephesians 6:12 NKJV

 We see here that we are in a heavenly fight. We are engaged in battle with a spiritual enemy. However, we have the truth on our side. God tells us when we resist the enemy, he will flee. God informs us that Jesus was manifest to destroy the works of the enemy. The enemy has been defeated by the Finished Work of Christ! 

 So we are not implying there is no such thing as spiritual warfare but we want to expose the traditions surrounding spiritual warfare. The idea that the enemy is so strong and the Church so weak. That the world is all going to hell and only a tiny number of folk will go to Heaven. That the enemy is the watchdog of Father God. 

 First, we have seen there is spiritual warfare. Ok, but where is the battleground? For so long many thought it was lands, cities, and nations. No, the Word reveals the battle is in the mind. I won't deny the concept that the Word seems to allude to that demons can be set at geographical regions but those enemies are simply there afflicting the minds of the peoples there. To see victory, a change of mind, a mind renewal is needed.

 When the truth is proclaimed, minds are renewed and eyes are opened and strongholds come tumbling down. So that leads us to dethrone another myth. That is the idea the Church is so weak and the enemy so strong.

 As we've shared the enemy has been defeated. He has been brought low. The only reason the enemy seems so much more powerful is too often the Church has not risen up and dared to take its place! We are the Church of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are the victorious, overcoming, triumphant and more than a conqueror Church! When we stand in our God-given authority, the enemy scatters and flees in terror.

 Some think the enemy isn't yet defeated. That's why warfare is such a struggle. They are fighting and resisting trying to attain victory. They are the ones seeing demons behind every tree and fearful of the world around them. Jesus defeated the enemy soundly! Our assignment is to occupy till He comes. That means we are to enforce and demonstrate this total defeat of the enemy.

 Allow me to quell quickly another myth. This idea that the devil is now merely God's lackey. That the enemy is now God's watchdog. God isn't waiting for you to foul up so He can sic the devil on you. God corrects through the instruction of the Word. He isn't using the enemy to torment or teach you.

 Now for this giant myth. That the world and all its darkness is so evil that it is winning and taking ground and that there is a remnant Church. This is the speech of an exclusionary gospel. Now before universalists and inclusionists think I am saying the Gospel means all are saved, I am not. 

 I am saying, the talk of a remnant Church is exclusionary to other believers not the unsaved. It speaks of works and a performance-based relationship with God. It's saying, in this dark and fallen world, we are the only sincere and true believers in you Jesus. What makes you more sincere than say someone else? Well, I don't do this or that. So it's all about their work and doing and not King Jesus' Finished Work.

 As believers in Jesus, the Spirit will correct and instruct us and lead us to drop bad habits, unprofitable behavior, and lead us away from sin. But until these things fully manifest themselves in our outward behavior, it doesn't mean we are on the outside looking in. That we lose out in intimacy with God. That Father God is saying, you can't sit in my lap till you clean up your act. The Father seeks relationship, not perfection.

 The World system is a lost and fleshly driven system of thinking. It is influenced by the evil one. No one can doubt this. They are deceived. This is why they redefine God's definition of the family, of men and women and urge others to kill infants in the womb. As dark as they are they're not out of Heaven's reach. This also means Hell will not overpopulate Heaven.

 Jesus wouldn't pay such a high price only to lose most of the world's people. Heaven is too numerous to number. Jesus wins! We just need to share God's, unfailing love with all.

 If we want to wage true spiritual warfare, then renew your mind to who you are in Christ Jesus. Keep feeding on the truth that you are the Righteousness of God in Christ. That you are loved by God. Then take this message to all the World. Proclaiming to the world that they are loved by God unconditionally and that He isn't mad at them or holding their sins against them, demonstrates the enemy's defeat. It changes hearts and minds and opens them to receive the Good News of Jesus and New Life in Him.

 In summation, Jesus defeated the enemy. We have the victory. God loves us unconditionally. When we know who we are and whose we are triumphant victory becomes a reality in our lives. 
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Lies Religious Tradition Taught Us: Miracles have ceased

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.                 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV 

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13 NKJV

 We've been in an ongoing study examining the lies religious tradition has taught the Church. Ideas and concepts taught with such conviction it almost seems blasphemous to question. Views taught for so long they form strongholds in the minds of many. 

 We've addressed the ideas that God is the author of sickness and disease, the sender of disasters, and the one causing evil so that some good may come. The concept that God is for your brokenness and poverty. As of late, we've dealt with the traditional views surrounding the Holy Spirit.

 Today, it seems good to continue looking at the traditional lies surrounding the power of God.  Here's a little humor to illustrate the views of traditional religion concerning God's power. 

 For years and years now, the Church in the West has worked overtime to de-supernaturalize Christianity. They've worked tirelessly to teach Christians that Faith is powerless and ineffective to change events or circumstances. That the Spirit has ceased from leading His people through dreams, visions, the inward witness and the still small voice within our heart. That physical healing and wholeness are only found in a physician's hands and no such promise from God exists for healing and wholeness. That financial well being is only found in hard work and bank loans and never from the hand of God, through blessing. 

 The religious tradition-minded put forth much effort to convince the multitudes that there exists no promise for the life that now is. They push hard against any talk of miracles and signs and wonders performed in Christ's name. They sow seeds of doubt and questioning the authenticity of any miracle or healing or wonder reported in the lives of believers. They push for all to accept the concept that skepticism is the posture all believers should take at the news of miracles.

 The religious tradition-bound church has accepted that the only supernatural work of God is that of the one lost, apart from Christ, accepting Jesus' free gift of Grace and that one becomes a new creation in Christ. Apart from the new birth, there is no supernatural working of God. Their faith can only embrace this work. For anything else it is a whatever will be will be philosophy.

 The religious have accepted and given doubt, skepticism, and unbelief a high place of honor in their thinking and in their midst. Wherein the Apostles spent much time in Scripture urging the Church to rise to a place where we go from Faith to Faith, the religious seemingly have diminished to a level whereby they go from doubt to skepticism to unbelief. Most disturbingly they urge all to embrace unbelief as a healthy way to live. 

 God has not called the Church to a place where unbelief is crowned with honor. God calls unbelief evil. God doesn't want us to tolerate it in our lives or in our midst. God tells us He wants us to grow and go from Faith to Faith. 

 Has God's power ceased? Has the day of miracles passed away? 

11 Now as the lame man who was healed held on to Peter and John, all the people ran together to them in the porch which is called Solomon’s, greatly amazed. 12 So when Peter saw it, he responded to the people: “Men of Israel, why do you marvel at this? Or why look so intently at us, as though by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?...16 And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all. Acts 3:11-12, 16 NKJV

 Peter answers this question best. The lame man was healed. Peter though didn't attribute the healing miracle to his power or office of Apostle. He attributed this healing to Jesus' name and Faith. That is Faith in the heart and Faith in His name. So the real question isn't has God's power ceased but rather has Jesus' name lost its power? Has Faith in the heart and Faith in His name lost its power?

 Track with me. Peter didn't attribute miracles to Apostleship alone. So that means regardless if the "last Apostle" passes away God's power doesn't cease being. He did attribute the miracle to Jesus' name and Faith. Sadly Faith and the use of Jesus' name have waned and weakened amid the religious church. 

 Why has the name of Jesus seemingly lost its authority and power? Why has Faith become seemingly impotent? Because the Word of God is being traditionally interpreted to create the illusion that God's power is not available today. Tradition uses circular reasoning to prove their view. 

 "We know the Gifts have ceased."

" How do you know for certain?"

"We don't see them in our midst."

"Well, why do you think that is?"

"Well, because the Gifts have ceased."

 So what is the hope for the Church in the West? Know God doesn't give up on anyone or any ministry. Grace is for the "worst" of us. Look at this event in the life of Jesus. 

 The hope for the Church in the West and the cure for unbelief is the teaching of God's Word apart from religious tradition. There exist no passage in God's Word in this New Covenant that states or even alludes to the idea that miracles will cease or God's power will stop flowing. As I've said before if one would exclude all traditional views they've ever heard and just read God's Word through they see God is a Good God, that He wants the best for His people, and that His power is still working today, and is available to whosoever will ask.

 In summation, God is a Good Father. His power and might have never weakened or waned! He is the same God today as when He walked the sand filled shores of Galilee ministering life and wholeness. We can place our trust in Him completely. He is still working and moving for our good today.

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Lies Religious Tradition Taught Us: Speaking in Tongues is of the devil.

5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.                 2 Timothy 3:5 KJV 

13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do.” Mark 7:13 NKJV

 We've been in a study examining the lies religious tradition has taught us. Concepts taught so often and with such conviction that it almost seems blasphemous to dare question them. Ideas that have built up strongholds in our minds. 

 So far we've exposed the lies that say God is the author of sickness and disease. That God is the creator of disasters. That God is ordaining evil in your life to bring about good. That God is for your poverty and to live in insufficiency. 

 Today, it seems good to build upon the foundation we laid in our last post. Coupled with the religious lie that claims there is no such experience as the Baptism in the Spirit, it is the lie that says speaking with tongues today is of the devil. The idea that those who speak with tongues today are somehow deceived and under the influence of demons.

 This insidious lie has its roots in the lie that all the Gifts of the Spirit somehow ceased when the last Apostle died. We have exposed this lie in an entire study here. When you believe the lie that God took His Gifts back from the Church you will be open to religious traditional concepts born in the imagination of unbelieving religious men.

 The only source for absolute truth for the Church is God's Word. God revealed His plans and purposes for the Body of Christ in the Good Book. If we just read the Word in context, free from religious tradition we'd see more triumphant victory in the Church as a whole. 

 So using God's Word, we cannot find any place where speaking with tongues is attributed to anything but the Holy Ghost. 
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God. Acts 10:44-46 NKJV

 So the Spirit came upon these new believers. They spoke with tongues magnifying God. So a spiritual utterance that magnifies God is somehow today of the devil? This is the height of religious traditional arrogant unbelief. 

 I heard an encounter a great minister had with a religious tradition-bound believer. He was in a coffee shop and he saw the traditional guy reading a bible and he simply asked what he was studying and then the minister directed the conversation into telling him of the great things happening at his church. He spoke of an older woman who was healed of deafness. No response. He spoke of revival, in that many were saved and getting stirred for the things of God. 

 The fellow mentions that in the last times seducing spirits would arise. The minister went on to speak of how families were being restored and all those impacted were going out winning the lost. Again the fellow mentions seducing spirits in the last days. Finally, the minister bluntly asked him are you insinuating that people being healed, getting saved and reading the Word more and more, families being restored and made whole, and people being reached with the saving power of Christ is of the devil? The religious fellow affirmed firmly yes. This minister holding his peace just told the fellow plainly, your devil and his power of deception is greater than your Jesus and His power. 

 This is sad but so true in many quarters of the Body of Christ. Deception, the power of the enemy seems so great and the power of Jesus is impotent and weak. When tradition regulates the power of God only until the last Apostle died and the Bible was written, any power manifest in the Church must be of the enemy or charlatans seeking to fleece the flock of their finances. 

 With the badge of skepticism and the exalted place of "honor" unbelief has in most churches it is a wonder God can do anything in their midst. God in His love and great mercy still moves as the Church allows. So then is the supernatural prayer language, tongues, then somehow of the devil today? Of course not!

 As we've seen, speaking with Tongues magnifies God. In Acts 2 we see both heavenly Tongues and earthly Tongues manifest. The people testify they heard them proclaiming the wonderful works of God. The devil won't cause anyone to proclaim God's goodness. 

 Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 14 that tongues are a prayer language, that our spirit is praying. Our spirit man, not some demon. The enemy is not causing God's people to pray. Traditional religion has some of the most outlandish claims. For final proof let's revisit Jesus' words.

We see Jesus speak of receiving the Spirit in Luke 11. Note what He said. If you ask for bread, a good father wouldn't give you a stone. In other words, if you ask of God for something, you won't get a curse. So, asking for the Spirit and the accompanying prayer language you won't get a demon. We've addressed the great benefits of Tongues in previous studies, here and here. 

 God is a Good God. He is a supernatural God. He is a God of power and might. His power hasn't waned or weakened. His power and Gifts haven't become impotent or ceased. His power is for the hungry, those who desire what He desires. To see a hurting and hopeless World find hope, healing, and wholeness in Christ, by and through His Spirit. 

 In summation, all of God's Gifts of power and ministry are still active and in effect today. No, God's Gifts today are not the work of demons in action. Relinquish fear and anxiety and receive all God has for you. Jesus promised when you ask God for His Spirit you will receive. No fear of demons and the work of the enemy. Staying with the Word in context, rightly dividing the New Covenant and Old, will shield any believer from any form of deception and error. God is the triumphant victor and we partake of this victory, greater is He that is in us than he that in this world. 
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