Sons To Glory Newsletter #25 |
May
Day - May 1, 2016
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Religion - The Good, the Bad and the Uglyby Paul Jablonowski Jesus showed us how to have a relationship with our heavenly Father. This is the Good definition of religion. A simple relationship with our loving Creator. To love Him first and then to love our neighbor with the same love. James 1:27 says it this way: "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." A few hundred years after Christ, men had turned this simple relationship into an institution in Rome. This is the Bad definition of religion. Man appeasing his conscience by creating church systems. Colossians 2:23 calls this "self-imposed religion" which can also be called "occult religion" because ultimately unbridled "self" opens up the door to the demonic realm. These man made "churches" are headed by Satanic influences. The simple relationship that Jesus originated has combined with the institutional church to become the big rich denominational enterprises we have today. This is the Ugly definition of religion. It is also the most deceptive form of religion because it often preaches and teaches much truth, but leads people to their church instead of to Jesus. This ugly definition of religion is the topic of discussion in this newsletter which is the sin of harlotry. When we give religion a foothold, it allows high level principalities access to kill, steal and destroy. Man's church systems operate by witchcraft which is control and manipulation outside of the Holy Spirit. This harlot church system of religion is a Jezebel (harlot) spirit that Jesus says contains the doctrine of "the depths of Satan" (Rev. 2:24). Jezebel calls herself a prophetess and teaches God's people "to commit sexual immorality and to eat things sacrificed to idols" (Rev 2:20). Basically, this harlot spirit draws people to herself and makes her system like an idol that you must sacrifice to. This is not the sacrifice God requires. "What does the LORD require of you? To do justice and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God" (Micah 6:8). This has nothing to do with joining a system and feeling obligated to give and participate in activities. The clergy vs. laity concept, which Jesus called the Nicolaitan doctrine, is part of this harlot system. The Nicolaitan doctrine, which Jesus says he hates, works in tandem with religion, just like Ahab did with Jezebel. This is false authority that usurps the headship of Christ to draw men into the Jezebel system of church. I have written about this before at sonstoglory.com/spiritualauthority.htm and therefore will not repeat it here other than to say Nicolaitan means "conquer" (Nikao) "the people" (laos), so this doctrine seeks to rule over others instead of pointing them to a relationship with Jesus. The early apostles and disciples were servants and busboys and under-rowers whose lives were examples of how to walk with Jesus. They did not try to draw men unto themselves, but followed Jesus' example to be the greatest servant. There is also a book by Charles Newbold called, "The Harlot Church System" which can be downloaded and read for free on his website - www.charlesnewbold.com - I have read this book at least 3 times over the past 15 years which is very similar in its scope to this writing with much more research and information. I highly recommend this book if you are struggling with what has been said so far.(1) This has all been introduction for the main point of this newsletter that: RELIGION IS A MAJOR STRONGHOLD IN ALABAMA which is my home state. Alabama is known as "the buckle of the Bible belt" and most Christians consider this a good thing, but its not all good. When pagan religion influences within the true ekklesia (church) take over, it is a source of great destruction both spiritually and naturally. The Nicolaitans and Jezebels were the pagan religion influences who tried to infiltrate the "ekklesia" or "called out ones" of Jesus. What they started in Ephesus as "deeds" they were able to make a "doctrine" in the church of Pergamos. Nike was the Greek god of victory and the Nicolaitans (from Nike) were the evangelists for Jupiter or Zeus also known in other cultures as Mithra, Apollo, Bacchus, Baal, Tammuz or Nimrod who was the "father of god's and men" (pope or papa of gods and men).(2) This is why Antipas (against pas, against pope) was Jesus' faithful martyr "who was killed among you, where Satan dwells" (Rev 2:13), because he stood against the harlot church system of the day which was a pagan church built upon the caves of Mithra in Rome. Constantine may have stopped the killing of Christians, but not the occult religion. These pagan influences may appear good and "righteous" on the outside but its really just carefully concealed sin, and sin leads to death. Our good works done to gain approval from God are an affront to the finished work of the cross. We are fully accepted by Father God because of the forgiving blood of Jesus, period. Our acceptance and right standing before Him comes through faith in Jesus and not by our works. But occult religion will try to get us to "do" something or "join" something or "sacrifice" something to gain God's approval. Our modern day churches are full of occult religion but we just wink at it. God does not wink at this sin, and the enemy knows that he can get a stronghold through the sin of occult religion. I believe the tornadoes of April 2011 in Alabama that killed 240 people were a direct result of the three strongholds of: 1) rebellion, 2) racism and 3) religion that Alabama is currently learning to overcome. The key sin in Alabama being religion because of its deceptive nature. As an intercessor for the state of Alabama, I have written several of my newsletters on the spiritual warfare involved in those 2011 tornadoes.(3) But we have made serious progress over the past 5 years since there have been significantly less tornadoes in Alabama since 2011 compared to the normal. Our prayers and intercessions are making a difference and we must continue them. Today is "May day" which is a spring pagan religious festival second only to Halloween. These two pagan festivals have not made it into the "church" calendar the way Christmas and Easter have, but they are just as much a time of warfare in the Spirit because of the sins released when people celebrate them. The wages of sin is death and the sin of religion has consequences. This year our nation will be celebrating the National Day of Prayer on Thursday May 5th which happens to be the same date we celebrated it 5 years ago in 2011 during the tornadoes and Alabama Prayer Ride. I will be helping to lead a prayer group at the Madison County courthouse steps and blowing the shofar to start this prayer session. The theme for this year's prayers is Isaiah 58:1 which says, "Cry aloud, spare not; Lift up your voice like a trumpet; Tell My people their transgression, and the house of Jacob their sins." We must ask forgiveness and remit the sin of religion in Alabama.(4) ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (2) The Children of God by Fischer, Robert Raymond; Olim Publications, P.O. Box 2111, Tiberias, Israel, 2000. pgs. 100-160 - This book contains a great summary of the pagan influences within the church - www.olimpublications.com (3) My newsletters on the prayer ride and worship intercession for Alabama in 2011 - http://sonstoglory.com/newsletters/12worshipwarfare.htm - - http://sonstoglory.com/newsletters/11alabamagloryride.htm - - http://sonstoglory.com/newsletters/16Hallelujah.htm (4) Then we must replace religion with the Fire of His LOVE! - www.sonstoglory.com/Jesus/thefireofhislove.htm Closing Songs - Show
me Your Face LORD |
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