Let us dare to unbox the power of the Risen Christ. The power that has been boxed up neatly and tied with the bow of religion and the label of CHRISTIANITY. 

This is not to criticize the brethren, some of whom are sincere in their faith in Christ. Rather, it is an attempt to expose the lies of the enemy under the disguise of religion. There has been a disinformation campaign from the beginning…..from the Garden of Eden to now. It has been Satan’s mission to block our view of God and insert himself as the intermediary… the one who receives the praise and worship that he craves. A position he will take and has taken by force.

Foundation Rule #2- GOD IS A SPIRIT AND THOSE WHO WORSHIP HIM MUST WORSHIP IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH.

John 4: 21- 26 (NASB) Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe Me, an hour is coming when neither in this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshipers. “God is spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” The woman said to Him, “I know that Messiah is coming (He who is called Christ); when that One comes, He will declare all things to us.” Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am He.”

ROOT – RULE #2- WHO, WHY And HOW DO WE WORSHIP?

WHO- The ultimate focus of our worship must be GOD- as revealed by Yeshua the MASHIACH (JESUS CHRIST)

WHY- We were created to worship GOD! Our VOICES, OUR HEARTS, OUR EYES and EARS, OUR HANDS and FEET, our bodies move in rhythm and motion meant to glorify the ONE TRUE GOD. Losing our purpose and our ultimate calling has meant that we have descended into a meaningless existence, filled with things and people who are mere reflections of a living GOD. We chase a shadow and die without knowing the true beauty of the LIVING GOD.

If we read the context of the scripture in John, we must begin to understand Jesus’s ultimate battle. “You worship what you do not know” implies that RELIGION has superimposed itself to pretend to show us the way but instead points us in a direction of serving idols, serving ourselves and serving our own way rather than serving the true and living GOD. IDOLS are not only images, but it can also be anything becomes the focal point of our being and our existence. Why do we live? What is the first thing that comes to our mind when we awake? Do we live inside a bubble of rituals?

He exposes the lie- RELIGION is not the way. JESUS Himself is the WAY, THE TRUTH, and the LIFE. (John 14:6) 

HOW- God wants us to worship in SPIRIT AND TRUTH or TRUTH AND SPIRIT. 

First- Let us unmask the spirit of religion. The demon that impersonates the TRUE and LIVING God to whisper that we can somehow buy our way back into GOD’s presence by our purification rituals and by observances. RELIGION presents a form of godliness but denies the true and LIVING GOD.

If we dig up the roots of religion, we will find that we need washing with the blood of Jesus… our roots are filled with the carnal nature..THE FLESH.

Gal 5:16-25 (NASB) summarizes it well

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law. Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become boastful, challenging one another, envying one another.

CHALLENGE- WHO ARE WE WORSHIPING?

If our fruit, that is the end product of our daily life is not of the Spirit..love, joy, peace, etc, then we need to look closer at our roots to determine who we are serving. Are we worshiping the true and living GOD in Spirit and Truth or are we being deceived by religion?