A religious spirit is like a strong man. It has many other demons work alongside of it and under it. This passage in John hits on many of them and I’ll list others Holy Spirit brought to mind too. This wasn’t my favorite subject to teach on..but its what He choose for this season.I’ve many stories of walking in this kind of bondage but God is gloriously redefining my character and all of ours to be like Him.. Note John is an apostle of intimacy with Christ. What a beautiful revelation he shares as we see him describe Christ’s heart for intimacy and obedience contrasted with the defiance of the religious leaders of the day…in John 8 and following. Underlined words are pointing out how to walk in the opposite spirit.
John 8:21 One day Jesus said again, “I am about to leave you. You will want to find me, but you will still die in your sins.[r] You won’t be able to come where I am going.”
22 This so confused the Jewish leaders that they began to say, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What’s he talking about—‘You won’t be able to come where I am going’?”
One of the tendencies of a religious spirit is to bring confusion.
23 Jesus spoke up and said, “You are all from the earth; I am from above. I am not from this world like you are. 24 That’s why I’ve told you that you will all die in your sins if you fail to believe that I AM who I AM.”[s]
Spirit of death. It causes things to go stagnant and attempts to kill revelation life of the church or individual… Spirit of this world,
28 “You will know me as ‘I AM’ after you have lifted me up from the earth[t] as the Son of Man. Then you will realize that I do nothing on my own initiative, but I only speak the truth that the Father has revealed to me. 29 I am his messenger and he is always with me, for I only do that which delights his heart.”[u] ( WOW)30 These words caused many respected Jews to believe in him.
Jesus didn’t defend a doctrine or religious movement. He simply did and said only what He heard in secret from the Father. He was careful to say only what he heard. He focused on delighting God through relationship, not proving or defending anything.. If Christ only reveals what the Father says .. And the Spirit reveals what Christ is saying.. ( John 16:15) How much more should we only say what HE says …
25 So they asked him plainly, “Who are you?”
“I am the One I’ve always claimed to be.” Jesus replied. 26 “And I still have many more things to pronounce in judgment about you. For I will testify to the world of the truths that I have heard from my Father, and the Father who sent me is trustworthy.” 27 (Even after all of this, they still didn’t realize that he was speaking about his heavenly Father.)
Spiritual blindness and deafness are operating here. As with Saul when he was transformed into Paul.. When a religious spiritleaves the scales fall of eyes ( Acts 9:18, Mark 4:9, Is. 32:3,Matt. 13:16, Deut. 29:4, Is 43:8, Is. 7:11, Rev 2:29)
31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “When you continue to embrace all that I teach, you prove that you are my true followers. 32 For if you embrace the truth, it will release more freedom into your lives.”[v]
Notice Jesus directs his teaching to those who are believing...not to the skeptics. One of the spirits operating here wasunbelief and skepticism. A person who walks in the opposite spirit is open to receiving new revelation from the spirit of truth. This brings freedom.
33 Surprised by this, they said, “But we’re the descendants of Abraham and we’re already free. We’ve never been in bondage[w] to anyone. How could you say that we will be released into more freedom?”[x]
They couldn’t see their own bondage to sin… A spirit of bondage is often tied to addictive patterns and behaviors...everything from chemical addictions ( pharmacia and witchcraft), food addictions, eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, gluttony, masturbation, sexual addictions, gambling,even greed and a spirit of mamon… condemnation, striving, performance. perfectionism, self hatred, self harm
Many religious spirits are serpents that have a double edged tongue.. They will tell you to strive harder and do more all while condemning you for everything you ( or others) do. One example is a spirit that kept blaspheming God in a persons head while condemning them for having committed the unpardonable sin.
Notice also that the Jewish leaders claimed their freedom based on a religious leader… as opposed to what God had taught them previously… They themselves didn’t have a relationship with God so they followed a person and became doctrine focused. This causes division, derision, scorn, pride, prejudice, contempt, arrogance, resentment, stubbornness, distain, haughtiness, superiority, critical spirit, comparison, self righteousness, dishonor,
34 “I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. 35 And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free! 37 Even though you are descendants of Abraham, you desire to kill me because the message I bring has not found a home in your hearts. 38 Yet the truths I speak I’ve seen and received in my Father’s presence. But you are doing what you’ve learned from your father!”[y]
39 “What do mean?” they replied. “Abraham is our father!”
Here we see an orphan spirit. Christ is calling them in to a family relationship of freedom and sonship. Again, what was necessary was that the revelation message had to find a home in their hearts. this is reminiscent of what Christ said to the church in revelations…Rev 3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his home and share a meal with him (revelation,communion covenant and intimacy), and he with me.
Back to John 8:39
Jesus said, “If you are really Abraham’s sons, then you would follow in the steps of Abraham. 40 I’ve only told you the truth that I’ve heard in my Father’s presence,but now you are wanting me dead—is that how Abraham acted? 41 No, you people are doing what your father has taught you! “Indignant, they responded, “What are you talking about? We only have one Father, God himself! We’re not illegitimate!”
Notice here that they were partnering with a spirit of murder. A spirit of murder frequently operates alongside of a religious spirit.. You see it operating to kill in religious terrorist groups etc., but even more subtly it operates with hatred, insecurity, anger and ungodly judgement to curse those who believe differently and bring sickness and death.. this is where” witchcraft prayers can come in.. Individuals will pray that sickness or other terrible things will come on a person until they turn to their way of thinking. They often think they are righteous in doing so but it is a witchcraft prayer and a curse.
Christ in His beautiful example didn’t walk in fear of man even though He knew what He was saying was upsetting them.. He walked in purity.. continuing to say what the Father was saying to Him. Jesus was more concerned with God’s presence and seeking the Father’s heart , than creating false peace in those around him. He was bold, humbly confident, truth filled, andintimate. He wasn’t “filled with himself” but with what the Father was saying…
42 Jesus said, “Then if God were really your father, you would love me, for I’ve come from his presence. I didn’t come here on my own, but God sent me to you. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say?[z] You don’t understand because your hearts are closed to my message!
44 “You are the offspring of your father, the devil,[aa] and you serve your father very well, passionately carrying out his desires. He’s been a murderer right from the start! He never stood with the One who is the true Prince, for he’s full of nothing but lies—lying is his native tongue.[ab] He is a master of deception and the father of lies! 45 But I am the true Prince who speaks nothing but the truth, yet you refuse to believe, and you want nothing to do with me. 46 Can you name one sin that I’ve committed? Then if I am telling you only the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 If you really knew God, you would listen, receive, and respond with faith to his words. But since you don’t listen and respond to what He says, it proves you don’t belong to him and you have no room for him in your hearts.”
deception, lying spirit, spirit of error, spirit of rejection ( rejecting the truth) false martyr spirit, unbelief, deaf and dumb spirit ( stopped ears) stupor, passivity
Note that the ability to listen to Jesus , the Father and Holy Spirit for fresh revelation, not just the written Word but the fresh Rhema words that bring scripture to life is a defining difference here.. It has to be in relationship and response to the WORD who is CHRIST. Jesus walked in passion to obey, to listen to receive and to respond to the Father.
The beginning of training people to walk in freedom is creating a hunger to listen to the voice of God and to break of the pride that blinds and deafens them by stepping into humility.
48 “See! We were right all along!” some of the Jewish leaders shouted. “You’re nothing but a demon-possessed Samaritan!”[ac]
accusation, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, defensiveness, mocking spirit, insult, slander
49 Jesus replied, “It is not a demon that would cause me to honor my Father. I live my life for his honor, ( again wow- everything had this Godly motivation) even though you insult me for it.[ad] 50 I never have a need to seek my own glory, for the Father will do that for me, and he will judge those who do not. 51 I speak to you this eternal truth: whoever cherishes my words and keeps them will never experience death.”
Self seeking , hypocrisy self loathing, shame and self promoting, argumentative; They keep arguing with Jesus who is the truth the whole chapter =Contentious
In John 5:43 Jesus says I have come to represent my Father, yet you refuse to embrace me in faith. But when someone comes in their own name and with their own agenda,[a] you readily accept him.
These leaders were coming in their own name and own agenda or accepting those who did- not God’s.
They had no room in their hearts for HIM.
They were more worried about their rules ( false security) than following Jesus instructions. ( see John 5:10-14 lame man healed on Sabbath)In order to prove they were right they began to accuse others..
52 This prompted the Jewish leaders to say, “Now we know for sure that you’re demon possessed! You just said that those who keep watch over your words will never experience death, but Abraham and all the prophets have died! 53 Do you think you’re greater than our father Abraham and all the prophets? You are so delusional about yourself that you make yourself greater than you are!”
pride, leviathan, discord, delusion, inferiority
Note that much of what they accused Jesus of they were guilty of. They were deluded and proud. When you step up in your authority you will often hear the enemy say to you “ Who do you think you are?” He himself is deluded.
I remember responding to a demon that asked me who I was out loud .. Holy Spirit put this answer in my mouth.. from Eph 1:19 I am seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus far above every principality and authority power and dominion… The demon who was manifesting shrieked and reeled away from me in apparent fear and agony… Being in Christ is a powerful position…
As a follower of Christ you can expect persecution, you will be called a lunatic, demon possessed, part of a cult, deceived and undiscerning… Christ was called names like that too. You’re in good company.. 1 Pet. 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are greatly blessed, because the Spirit of glory and power, who is the Spirit of God, rests upon you.
John 8:54 Jesus answered them, “If I were to tell you how great I am, it would mean nothing. But my Father is the One who will prove it and will glorify me. Isn’t he the One you claim is your God? 55 But in reality, you’ve never embraced him as your own.I know him, and I would be a liar, like yourselves, if I told you anything less than that. I have fully embraced him, and I treasure his every word. 56 And not only that, Abraham, your ancestor, was overjoyed when he received the revelation of my coming to earth. Yes, he foresaw me coming and was filled with delight!”[ae]
So much good stuff here.. The underlining and scripture speaks for itself…
57 But many of the Jewish leaders doubted him and said, “What are you talking about? You’re not even fifty years old yet. You talk like you’ve seen Abraham!”
58 Jesus said to them, “I give you this eternal truth: I have existed long before Abraham was born, for I AM!”[af]
59 When they heard this, they picked up rocks to stone him, but Jesus concealed himself as he passed through the crowd[ag] and went away from there.
Note a religious spirit will also play the “age card” : I’m older than you or I’ve been doing this longer than you so I’m right and you’re wrong.
We are to honor all men -but religious spirits can operate at any age or denomination. And seek honor from men. John 5: 41- Jesus said He didn’t receive His honor from Men… It didn’t motivate Hmm.
Next chapter when Jesus heals the blind man on the Sabbath
John 9:1 Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, he noticed a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused this guy’s blindness, his own, or the sin of his parents?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle
The disciples had some mindsets that needed changing too. This one is especially important for those in Healing and deliverance ministry. NOT EVERY SICKNESS IS A RESULT OF SIN. We can be quick to look for sin but sometimes God wants to manifest a miracle..
Later…
John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, “I have come to judge those who think they see and make them blind. And for those who are blind, I have come to make them see.”
40 Some of the Pharisees were standing nearby and overheard these words. They interrupted Jesus and said, “You mean to tell us that we are blind?”
41 Jesus told them, “If you would acknowledge your blindness, then your sin would be removed. But now that you claim to see, your sin remains with you!”[j]
Spiritual blindness. lack of acknowledging sin, unrepentant.
John 5: 41- Jesus said He didn’t receive His honor from Men… It didn’t motivate Hmm.
John 10:12,13
False shepherds are moved by the approval of others, they don’t care for the sheep, serve only for wages. Don’t acknowledge Jesus as the way; the gate, and run when the wolf comes..
John 10:31 When they heard this, the Jewish leaders were so enraged that they picked up rocks to stone him to death. Rage
A prayer for us… God, I ask you would teach us to focus on what delights Your heart; to do nothing from our own initiative, to be Your messengers and say what You are saying. I pray that we would embrace what Jesus teaches and what we receive in the presence of the Father, in revelation glory. I ask that we embrace the Truth and receive it and that it would release into us more freedom. I pray that we would live intentionally in the presence of the Father in our hearts and we would release freedom from that place. I ask that we hear the Truth and have ears to hear and eyes to see. We give you permission to knock on the door of our hearts and we will let You in to come and feast with us. We receive You and welcome You. We open our hearts up to You and ask You would heal any brokenness or callousness in our hearts. I pray that we would YADA know you God: know you in intimate experience and relationship. That we would listen, receive, and respond with faith to Your words. That we would honor YOU as our father and live for your honor. That we wouldn’t seek our own glory, but the glory of the father. That we would be firm in our identity in Christ and not feel the need to be defensive or argumentative when we are confronted. I pray that rather than accusing we would be edifying and build up others to hunger after You in humility. That we would be attentive You.
I ask that Like Jesus we would cherish Your words ... to treasure the Father’s words and what the Spirit of Truth is saying; that we would receive godly revelation with Joy and delight and worship Jesus the True source … I pray that we would be teachable and humble; that we would hold loosely to teacher’s doctrines and platforms and hold tightly to you. We choose to cherish YOU! We choose to honr each other as part of your body, Beloved Saviour, Precious Friend, BeautifulRedeemer. Thankyou for saving us from the curse of the law and bringing us to freedom.
John 8:21 One day Jesus said again, “I am about to leave you. You will want to find me, but you will still die in your sins.[r] You won’t be able to come where I am going.”
22 This so confused the Jewish leaders that they began to say, “Is he planning to commit suicide? What’s he talking about—‘You won’t be able to come where I am going’?”
One of the tendencies of a religious spirit is to bring confusion.
23 Jesus spoke up and said, “You are all from the earth; I am from above. I am not from this world like you are. 24 That’s why I’ve told you that you will all die in your sins if you fail to believe that I AM who I AM.”[s]
Spirit of death. It causes things to go stagnant and attempts to kill revelation life of the church or individual… Spirit of this world,
28 “You will know me as ‘I AM’ after you have lifted me up from the earth[t] as the Son of Man. Then you will realize that I do nothing on my own initiative, but I only speak the truth that the Father has revealed to me. 29 I am his messenger and he is always with me, for I only do that which delights his heart.”[u] ( WOW)30 These words caused many respected Jews to believe in him.
Jesus didn’t defend a doctrine or religious movement. He simply did and said only what He heard in secret from the Father. He was careful to say only what he heard. He focused on delighting God through relationship, not proving or defending anything.. If Christ only reveals what the Father says .. And the Spirit reveals what Christ is saying.. ( John 16:15) How much more should we only say what HE says …
25 So they asked him plainly, “Who are you?”
“I am the One I’ve always claimed to be.” Jesus replied. 26 “And I still have many more things to pronounce in judgment about you. For I will testify to the world of the truths that I have heard from my Father, and the Father who sent me is trustworthy.” 27 (Even after all of this, they still didn’t realize that he was speaking about his heavenly Father.)
Spiritual blindness and deafness are operating here. As with Saul when he was transformed into Paul.. When a religious spiritleaves the scales fall of eyes ( Acts 9:18, Mark 4:9, Is. 32:3,Matt. 13:16, Deut. 29:4, Is 43:8, Is. 7:11, Rev 2:29)
31 Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, “When you continue to embrace all that I teach, you prove that you are my true followers. 32 For if you embrace the truth, it will release more freedom into your lives.”[v]
Notice Jesus directs his teaching to those who are believing...not to the skeptics. One of the spirits operating here wasunbelief and skepticism. A person who walks in the opposite spirit is open to receiving new revelation from the spirit of truth. This brings freedom.
33 Surprised by this, they said, “But we’re the descendants of Abraham and we’re already free. We’ve never been in bondage[w] to anyone. How could you say that we will be released into more freedom?”[x]
They couldn’t see their own bondage to sin… A spirit of bondage is often tied to addictive patterns and behaviors...everything from chemical addictions ( pharmacia and witchcraft), food addictions, eating disorders like anorexia, bulimia, gluttony, masturbation, sexual addictions, gambling,even greed and a spirit of mamon… condemnation, striving, performance. perfectionism, self hatred, self harm
Many religious spirits are serpents that have a double edged tongue.. They will tell you to strive harder and do more all while condemning you for everything you ( or others) do. One example is a spirit that kept blaspheming God in a persons head while condemning them for having committed the unpardonable sin.
Notice also that the Jewish leaders claimed their freedom based on a religious leader… as opposed to what God had taught them previously… They themselves didn’t have a relationship with God so they followed a person and became doctrine focused. This causes division, derision, scorn, pride, prejudice, contempt, arrogance, resentment, stubbornness, distain, haughtiness, superiority, critical spirit, comparison, self righteousness, dishonor,
34 “I speak eternal truth,” Jesus said. “When you sin you are not free. You’ve become a slave in bondage to your sin. 35 And slaves have no permanent standing in a family, like a son does, for a son is a part of the family forever. 36 So if the Son sets you free from sin, then become a true son and be unquestionably free! 37 Even though you are descendants of Abraham, you desire to kill me because the message I bring has not found a home in your hearts. 38 Yet the truths I speak I’ve seen and received in my Father’s presence. But you are doing what you’ve learned from your father!”[y]
39 “What do mean?” they replied. “Abraham is our father!”
Here we see an orphan spirit. Christ is calling them in to a family relationship of freedom and sonship. Again, what was necessary was that the revelation message had to find a home in their hearts. this is reminiscent of what Christ said to the church in revelations…Rev 3:20 Listen! I am standing at the door and knocking! If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into his home and share a meal with him (revelation,communion covenant and intimacy), and he with me.
Back to John 8:39
Notice here that they were partnering with a spirit of murder. A spirit of murder frequently operates alongside of a religious spirit.. You see it operating to kill in religious terrorist groups etc., but even more subtly it operates with hatred, insecurity, anger and ungodly judgement to curse those who believe differently and bring sickness and death.. this is where” witchcraft prayers can come in.. Individuals will pray that sickness or other terrible things will come on a person until they turn to their way of thinking. They often think they are righteous in doing so but it is a witchcraft prayer and a curse.
Christ in His beautiful example didn’t walk in fear of man even though He knew what He was saying was upsetting them.. He walked in purity.. continuing to say what the Father was saying to Him. Jesus was more concerned with God’s presence and seeking the Father’s heart , than creating false peace in those around him. He was bold, humbly confident, truth filled, andintimate. He wasn’t “filled with himself” but with what the Father was saying…
42 Jesus said, “Then if God were really your father, you would love me, for I’ve come from his presence. I didn’t come here on my own, but God sent me to you. 43 Why don’t you understand what I say?[z] You don’t understand because your hearts are closed to my message!
44 “You are the offspring of your father, the devil,[aa] and you serve your father very well, passionately carrying out his desires. He’s been a murderer right from the start! He never stood with the One who is the true Prince, for he’s full of nothing but lies—lying is his native tongue.[ab] He is a master of deception and the father of lies! 45 But I am the true Prince who speaks nothing but the truth, yet you refuse to believe, and you want nothing to do with me. 46 Can you name one sin that I’ve committed? Then if I am telling you only the truth, why don’t you believe me? 47 If you really knew God, you would listen, receive, and respond with faith to his words. But since you don’t listen and respond to what He says, it proves you don’t belong to him and you have no room for him in your hearts.”
deception, lying spirit, spirit of error, spirit of rejection ( rejecting the truth) false martyr spirit, unbelief, deaf and dumb spirit ( stopped ears) stupor, passivity
Note that the ability to listen to Jesus , the Father and Holy Spirit for fresh revelation, not just the written Word but the fresh Rhema words that bring scripture to life is a defining difference here.. It has to be in relationship and response to the WORD who is CHRIST. Jesus walked in passion to obey, to listen to receive and to respond to the Father.
The beginning of training people to walk in freedom is creating a hunger to listen to the voice of God and to break of the pride that blinds and deafens them by stepping into humility.
48 “See! We were right all along!” some of the Jewish leaders shouted. “You’re nothing but a demon-possessed Samaritan!”[ac]
accusation, blasphemy of the Holy Spirit, defensiveness, mocking spirit, insult, slander
49 Jesus replied, “It is not a demon that would cause me to honor my Father. I live my life for his honor, ( again wow- everything had this Godly motivation) even though you insult me for it.[ad] 50 I never have a need to seek my own glory, for the Father will do that for me, and he will judge those who do not. 51 I speak to you this eternal truth: whoever cherishes my words and keeps them will never experience death.”
Self seeking , hypocrisy self loathing, shame and self promoting, argumentative; They keep arguing with Jesus who is the truth the whole chapter =Contentious
In John 5:43 Jesus says I have come to represent my Father, yet you refuse to embrace me in faith. But when someone comes in their own name and with their own agenda,[a] you readily accept him.
These leaders were coming in their own name and own agenda or accepting those who did- not God’s.
They had no room in their hearts for HIM.
They were more worried about their rules ( false security) than following Jesus instructions. ( see John 5:10-14 lame man healed on Sabbath)In order to prove they were right they began to accuse others..
52 This prompted the Jewish leaders to say, “Now we know for sure that you’re demon possessed! You just said that those who keep watch over your words will never experience death, but Abraham and all the prophets have died! 53 Do you think you’re greater than our father Abraham and all the prophets? You are so delusional about yourself that you make yourself greater than you are!”
pride, leviathan, discord, delusion, inferiority
Note that much of what they accused Jesus of they were guilty of. They were deluded and proud. When you step up in your authority you will often hear the enemy say to you “ Who do you think you are?” He himself is deluded.
I remember responding to a demon that asked me who I was out loud .. Holy Spirit put this answer in my mouth.. from Eph 1:19 I am seated in Heavenly places in Christ Jesus far above every principality and authority power and dominion… The demon who was manifesting shrieked and reeled away from me in apparent fear and agony… Being in Christ is a powerful position…
As a follower of Christ you can expect persecution, you will be called a lunatic, demon possessed, part of a cult, deceived and undiscerning… Christ was called names like that too. You’re in good company.. 1 Pet. 4:14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are greatly blessed, because the Spirit of glory and power, who is the Spirit of God, rests upon you.
John 8:54 Jesus answered them, “If I were to tell you how great I am, it would mean nothing. But my Father is the One who will prove it and will glorify me. Isn’t he the One you claim is your God? 55 But in reality, you’ve never embraced him as your own.I know him, and I would be a liar, like yourselves, if I told you anything less than that. I have fully embraced him, and I treasure his every word. 56 And not only that, Abraham, your ancestor, was overjoyed when he received the revelation of my coming to earth. Yes, he foresaw me coming and was filled with delight!”[ae]
So much good stuff here.. The underlining and scripture speaks for itself…
57 But many of the Jewish leaders doubted him and said, “What are you talking about? You’re not even fifty years old yet. You talk like you’ve seen Abraham!”
58 Jesus said to them, “I give you this eternal truth: I have existed long before Abraham was born, for I AM!”[af]
59 When they heard this, they picked up rocks to stone him, but Jesus concealed himself as he passed through the crowd[ag] and went away from there.
Note a religious spirit will also play the “age card” : I’m older than you or I’ve been doing this longer than you so I’m right and you’re wrong.
We are to honor all men -but religious spirits can operate at any age or denomination. And seek honor from men. John 5: 41- Jesus said He didn’t receive His honor from Men… It didn’t motivate Hmm.
Next chapter when Jesus heals the blind man on the Sabbath
John 9:1 Afterward, as Jesus walked down the street, he noticed a man blind from birth. 2 His disciples asked him, “Teacher, whose sin caused this guy’s blindness, his own, or the sin of his parents?”
3 Jesus answered, “Neither. It happened to him so that you could watch him experience God’s miracle
The disciples had some mindsets that needed changing too. This one is especially important for those in Healing and deliverance ministry. NOT EVERY SICKNESS IS A RESULT OF SIN. We can be quick to look for sin but sometimes God wants to manifest a miracle..
Later…
John 9:39-41 And Jesus said, “I have come to judge those who think they see and make them blind. And for those who are blind, I have come to make them see.”
40 Some of the Pharisees were standing nearby and overheard these words. They interrupted Jesus and said, “You mean to tell us that we are blind?”
41 Jesus told them, “If you would acknowledge your blindness, then your sin would be removed. But now that you claim to see, your sin remains with you!”[j]
Spiritual blindness. lack of acknowledging sin, unrepentant.
John 5: 41- Jesus said He didn’t receive His honor from Men… It didn’t motivate Hmm.
John 10:12,13
False shepherds are moved by the approval of others, they don’t care for the sheep, serve only for wages. Don’t acknowledge Jesus as the way; the gate, and run when the wolf comes..
John 10:31 When they heard this, the Jewish leaders were so enraged that they picked up rocks to stone him to death. Rage
A prayer for us… God, I ask you would teach us to focus on what delights Your heart; to do nothing from our own initiative, to be Your messengers and say what You are saying. I pray that we would embrace what Jesus teaches and what we receive in the presence of the Father, in revelation glory. I ask that we embrace the Truth and receive it and that it would release into us more freedom. I pray that we would live intentionally in the presence of the Father in our hearts and we would release freedom from that place. I ask that we hear the Truth and have ears to hear and eyes to see. We give you permission to knock on the door of our hearts and we will let You in to come and feast with us. We receive You and welcome You. We open our hearts up to You and ask You would heal any brokenness or callousness in our hearts. I pray that we would YADA know you God: know you in intimate experience and relationship. That we would listen, receive, and respond with faith to Your words. That we would honor YOU as our father and live for your honor. That we wouldn’t seek our own glory, but the glory of the father. That we would be firm in our identity in Christ and not feel the need to be defensive or argumentative when we are confronted. I pray that rather than accusing we would be edifying and build up others to hunger after You in humility. That we would be attentive You.
I ask that Like Jesus we would cherish Your words ... to treasure the Father’s words and what the Spirit of Truth is saying; that we would receive godly revelation with Joy and delight and worship Jesus the True source … I pray that we would be teachable and humble; that we would hold loosely to teacher’s doctrines and platforms and hold tightly to you. We choose to cherish YOU! We choose to honr each other as part of your body, Beloved Saviour, Precious Friend, BeautifulRedeemer. Thankyou for saving us from the curse of the law and bringing us to freedom.
