Are We Led By The Spirit Or By The Flesh?

[Minister Connie]

2 Corinthians 3: 6} It is He Who has qualified us (making us to be fit and worthy and sufficient) as ministers and dispensers of a new covenant (of salvation through Christ), not (ministers) of the letter (of legally written code) but of the Spirit for the code (of the Law) kills, but the Holy Spirit makes alive.

I was brought up in a very religious and restrictive church. Every single week it was the same thing over and over again. They had so many programs and rules in place that they allowed no time and no room for the Holy Spirit to move. In other words, it was a dead church and the people in it were dying spiritually. I knew there had to be more to God than that. And there is! I didn't realize how bound up by men's religious and legalistic laws I was until I went to a church that was operating fully with the Holy Spirit as the Head. As I gave my life to Jesus and grew spiritually because I was planted in the right place I found that it's not about a religion but about a relationship.

So many precious people out there in the world are so hungry and seeking for a relationship with God. Yet some religious communities continue to tell them that they have to "do, do , do" in order to be acceptable to God. Jesus made it so simple and we are the ones who complicate things. God is more concerned with our hearts than our trying to strive and drive in our works in order to feel acceptable to Him. When we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are already acceptable to Him. We need to remember however that our walk doesn't stop there. It's a continuous process. More often than not, we are the ones who stop that process by walking away and getting back into the world. Too often we take His grace for granted.

I actually cringe now when I hear the word ''religion." I had a friend tell me that they heard I found religion and my life was changed. I told them it had nothing to do with religion but a relationship. Religion is such a popular spiritual sounding word isn't i? But it puts many of God's people in bondage. Religion gives us an impersonal set of rules to follow. Jesus came to give us life and that more abundantly. Abundant in freedom and not bound up by men's man made religious rules. Oh yes, the Pharisees & Saducees are still among us today.

Jesus often talked about His personal relationship with His Father. The religious leaders of that day persecuted Him. Don't be fooled, the religious leaders of this day and age are still alive and well and still persecuting God's people. They tell you what you must do, what you must wear, what you need to attend etc....The only person we should be controlled by is the Holy Spirit. We need to remember that Satan hates anyone who has a personal relationship with God and He will do everything in His power to pull us away.

Religion teaches about a God who is far away. Jesus in us brings our Father up close and personal. A one on one experience. Religion teaches that He can be reached only through works and good behavior. The thing I can't stand is some churches have certain programs you can attend but God help you if you miss any of them. They will judge and condemn you if you don't attend. I get such a checking in my spirit when I hear someone say: Well, they aren't here because they don't want to change, they don't want to grow. Who are we to judge anyone's heart? We have no idea what they are doing in their personal time alone at home with God. We need to take ourselves off God's throne and put Him back on.

We need to be very careful because the enemy can use any one of us to torment others with a religious legalistic spirit. A religious spirit is demonic and loves to put people in bondage.It loves to put guilt and condemnation on us. The Law was given in order to show people their sins. Today we have the Holy Spirit who will not only show us our sins but will draw us to repent and draw nearer to Him. So many people today are stiving and driving to be perfect in God's eyes. Guess what? We already are! The precious shed blood of Jesus has done that for us. All we have to do is humble ourselves and walk the walk daily. It doesn' t mean we can do what we want however. We cannot and should not take God's grace for granted.Nor should we take for granted what He has shown us through His word. We are to be obedient! It's no longer our will but His that needs to take over. There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus who ''walk not by the flesh" but walk by the Spirit. It's so important for us to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh. There are conditions in God's word that we are to heed and obey!

When we are truly connected to God and walking we will see the fruit of the Spirit take over in our lives. Is the character of Jesus Christ really shining through you? Be warned God said there would be a great falling away in the end times. It's already happened. We have more Christians out there in the world than ever before. They no longer go to church, no longer read their Bibles, no longer fellowship with the Body of Christ. They would rather get involved with cultish things like reading horoscopes, fortune cookies, gambling and whatever else may look like ''fun." The occult is increasing, the darkness is intensifying. More and more we need to be on the alert, prayed up, and filled with the Word of God.

Allow the Holy Spirit to continue His work in you and to make you more alive than you have ever been. Be very sensitive to His voice and His leading. If you don't work on a relationship with God then your spiritual well being is in jeopardy. And really listen to God's warning about getting connected with the Body of Christ again. Find a Holy Spirit filled church. You will need one another and most of all you will need God in the days to come. It's time to stop being complacent with our walk. We will reap what we sow!