What is a Religious Spirit?

Posted on 21 Sep 2012 by Truth in Reality

A religious spirit is a demon that wages war against the grace of God in our lives and acceptance of Jesus’ work as true fulfillment of God’s covenant between God and man.

The Pharisees were obvious examples of people who have religious spirits, but many times those of us with religious spirits do not come close to their behavior. Having had religious spirits myself, I must say that they are very destructive to our intimate relationships with God. If you want a true intimate relationship with your heavenly Father, then you definitely don’t want religious spirits!

It is said that religion and relationship don’t get along, and this is why religious spirits will work diligently to hinder true meaningful relationships between God and His children.

What Is Pentecost?

If you go back and read the Old Testament, you will discover that Pentecost was one of the Jewish feast days. Only they didn't call it Pentecost. That's the Greek name. The Jews called it the Feast of Harvest or the Feast of Weeks. It is mentioned five places in the first five books — in Exodus 23, Exodus 24, Leviticus 16, Numbers 28, and Deuteronomy 16.

It was the celebration of the beginning of the early weeks of harvest. In Palestine, there were two harvests each year. The early harvest came during the months of May and June; the final harvest came in the Fall. Pentecost was the celebration of the beginning of the early wheat harvest, which meant that Pentecost always fell sometime during the middle of the month of May or sometimes in early June.

There were several festivals, celebrations, or observances that took place before Pentecost. There was Passover, there was Unleavened Bread, and there was the Feast of Firstfruits. The Feast of Firstfruits was the celebration of the beginning of the barley harvest. Here's the way you figured out the date of Pentecost.

Spiritual Warfare Prayer against Cancer

There is a book called “Prayer Passport to Crush Oppression” by Dr. Daniel Olukoya that contains prayers for dismantling cancer which can be a demonic attack, such as this prayer:

The name of JESUS is above ALL names, and ALL things (Phil. 2:9).  That includes cancer!

“But he answered and said, Every plant, which my Heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up. ” (Matthew 15:13)

“And ye shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.” (Exodus 23:25)

1. All the activities of silent killers in my body, die, in the name of Jesus.

2. You symptom of cancer in any area of my body, die, in the name of Jesus.

3. Every evil growth in my body, I curse you to die, in Jesus name.

4. I fire back every arrow of cancer, in the name of Jesus.

5. Every abnormal production and uncontrollable behaviour of cells in my body, stop, in the name of Jesus.

6. I bind every spirit of death and hell, in the name of Jesus.

7. Every negative consequence of abnormal production of cells in my body, die, in the name of Jesus.

8. I shall not die but live to declare the works of God, in Jesus name.

9. You mass of extra tissue that has become malignant in me in my …………………………be melted by the fire of God, in the name of Jesus.

10. Every demon of cancer, I bind you and cast you out, in Jesus name.

11. Every vampire spirit, release my life, in the name of Jesus.

12. You malignant tumour, go back to your own kind by fire, in the name of Jesus.

Seeking God's Presence-Prayer and Fasting

Ron W

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Last week we talked about how we need God’s Presence to go with us this year so we can do what He wants us to do in this community.  As we begin 2007 we are beginning to Seek God’s Presence for our church and for our lives.  This week we are going to talk about Seeking God’s Presence through Prayer and Fasting.  Now I understand that this is not a popular subject and one that there is a lot of misunderstanding about.  Please do not tune me out on this subject.  I am teaching what the Bible says about Prayer and Fasting but not demanding anyone to have to participate.  So let’s find out more from the Bible about the truth of what prayer and fasting consists of and what it is not. 

First, let me say that fasting is a huge subject in the Bible, so we will only scratch the surface today concerning it.  Let’s look at a passage that tells us what Jesus had to say about fasting and prayer.

¨     Luke 5:33-35 (NIV) 33 They said to him, “John’s disciples often fast and pray, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, but yours go on eating and drinking.” 34 Jesus answered, “Can you make the guests of the bridegroom fast while He is with them? 35 But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them; in those days they will fast.”

The Pharisees were challenging Jesus about why His disciples didn’t fast like they did or like John the Baptist’s disciples did.  His answer was that while He (the bridegroom) was there they didn’t need to fast but to rejoice.  But one day He would be gone and then His disciples would fast.  We are living in the time that Jesus spoke about so there is scriptural support for us to fast today.

Prayer to Break Generational Curses

In the name of Jesus Christ, I break the power of any generational curses that are causing difficulties in my life.

[If you know of any specifically mention them and what they are causing.]

Lord I humbly ask your forgiveness for whatever disobedience, sin and iniquity caused curses upon me and my family.

Lord, it says in Your Word, “If we confess our sins, God is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (John 1:9)

I break the power of any associated demons and command them to leave me, my home and family now in the name of Jesus Christ.

I thank you God that any curses are broken and I am free.”

[Do not believe any demonic lies that the curses are not broken.  Jesus Christ is our curse breaker.]

Prayer to Renounce Unforgiveness and Unholy Judgment

Father, I confess that in the past I held unforgiveness and sometimes bitterness and resentment in my heart against certain people who hurt or disappointed me. I now recognise this as sin and confess it as sin. For you have said in your Word that if we confess our sins you are just and faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

I now freely forgive all these people and ask you to bless them if they are living. I also forgive myself for my many faults and failures because you have freely forgiven me.

Thank you Father from freedom from the load of unforgiveness, bitterness and resentment, in the name of Jesus.

Father I confess to you that in the past through ignorance, curiosity, or wilfully, I came into contact with certain religious activity which I now recognise as sin, and I confess it as sin and I claim forgiveness, in the name of Jesus.

I repent for unholy judgment of other people and I break this judgment and cancel the pronouncement of guilt against my mother, my father, any other members of my family, and all other people including myself, whether I have done this knowingly or unknowingly. I will not charge them on the day of judgement.

Prayer of Renunciation of the Jezebel Spirit and to Break Jezebelic Curses

Father, today I stand before You in the name of your son Jesus Christ, on behalf of myself, as well as on behalf of my ancestors.

I plead guilty for the fact that I have allowed the Jezebel spirit with her five cords to work and rule through and over me, as well as that I have moved in the spirit of Ahab at times.

I choose to submit myself under Your Almighty Hand today, in order that You may lift me up again at the appointed time.

I sincerely repent that I, through my lifestyle and behaviour, have committed the following sins:

Destroyed or opposed Your true prophets (e.g. your marriage partner, child, others, etc.)

Destroyed or opposed Your ordained authority-structures (e.g. parents, teachers, marriage, government, etc.)

Satisfied my own ego

Opposed the work of the Holy Spirit and obstructed the flow of Your Spirit

Idolatry (e.g. knowledge, own views, church, traditions, etc.)

Witchcraft (e.g. the occult, emotional manipulation, controlling behaviour, rebellion etc.)

Walked after the desires of the flesh

Evoked the Ahab spirit in others

Prayer of Release from the Occult and False Religion

Lord, I confess seeking from Satan the help that should only come from God.  I confess occultism and false religions as sin.  I repent and renounce these sins and ask you to forgive me.  I renounce Satan, his works and his demons, and count them my enemies.  I close the door on occult practices, and I command any associated spirits to leave me now in the name of Yeshua Ha-Maschiah..

Father please forgive me for all indulgences in the occult, both for what I myself did, and my family.  I renounce it and cover myself with the blood of Jesus.

I renounce, break and loose myself and my family from all psychic powers, bondages, and bonds of physical and mental illness, upon me and my family line, as the results of parents and other ancestors.

I renounce, break and loose myself from demonic subjection to any members of my family, ancestors, descendants, and any other human beings, living and dead, who have had spiritual influence over me. I ask you to forgive and bless them, especially with salvation.

I ask that you would forgive me for participating in occult and false religion and spiritual adultery. I forgive those who have cursed me.  Please forgive me for cursing others. I break any curses and demonic soul ties including psychic and Catholic prayers.

Lord, I ask for forgiveness for keeping cursed objects and demon infestation in my possessions and my home and property.  I will clean out my house of any cursed objects.  I will anoint my house with oil.

I renounce all fortune telling, all magic practices and spiritism, cults and false teachings, and any form of Satan worship.

I break any and all curses and soul ties brought about by psychic heredity, occult contacts and religious cults.

In the name of Jesus Christ, I break the power of any and all demonic holds on my family line due to supernatural experiences apart from God including the following forbidden practices:

https://truthinreality.com/2012/10/27/the-occult-cursed-objects-cults/

 [As with other such renunciation prayers, it is only necessary to say this prayer once – best read aloud.]

Stretch Out and Be Healed

Speaker: Mike Connell

Sometimes an area of our life has become "withered", or without life, just like the man in Mark 3, who had a withered hand. We tend to conceal, or hide in shame, when we feel like this. To restore the man in the story, Jesus required 2 "action steps": 1) Bring the problem right out into the open 2) A stretch of faith - doing what Jesus asks us to do. The healing is "in the stretch"!

Transcription 9 of 12

If you have your Bible with you, let’s open our Bible in the book of Mark. Wow, we’ve had so many stories of people’s lives changed. It’s amazing. We’re going to read from Mark chapter 3 – The man with the withered hand.

Verse 1 - “Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.” In another part of the Bible, it says it was his right hand.

Spiritual Blindness

Speaker: Mike Connell

The Bible describes 2 kingdoms - the kingdom of "light" (Jesus), and the kingdom of darkness (devil). The Bible also describes several spiritual problems in the heart which cause spiritual blindness - hatred, pride, bitter offences. Blindness speaks of limitations and captivity. In Mark 10, a blind man called Bartimaeus obtained his healing. What did he do that caused Jesus to stop and respond to him? What did he believe about Jesus? How did he demonstrate faith? His encounter can be a doorway to your encounter!

Transcription 10 of 12 – Spiritual Blindness

Let’s open up our Bible and we’re going to look in the gospel of Mark. We’re going to read in verse 46-52.

Mark 10:46 –

Hope After Loss

 Speaker: Mike Connell

The widow of Nain ( Luke 7 ) was in a place of great grief and without hope for her future, no-one could comfort her. Maybe you too are locked into grief feeling numb and disconnected. Our God is a God of comfort, and a God of all hope. Set-backs are not the end. Let Christ in - He is able to breathe into a place of death, and bring life and fresh vision. Jesus still works miracles, and restores a broken heart.

Once you’ve opened your Bible with me in the book of Luke, and we’re going to look in chapter 7. Just a few verses, and look at the gospel message.

Verse 11-16 from Luke 7: “Now it happened, the day after, that He went into a city called Nain; and many of His disciples went with Him, and a large crowd. And when He came near the gate of the city, behold, a dead man was being carried out, the only son of his mother; and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the city was with her. When the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came and touched the open coffin, and those who carried him stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise. So he who was dead sat up and began to speak. And He presented him to his mother. Then fear came upon all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has risen up among us”.

Honour your Father and Mother

Speaker: Mike Connell

In Malachi 4 God prophetically declared the condition on the earth in our time - breakdown in family relationships, destruction and broken-hearts. The problem lies in our heart. We don't have to live out of disappointment and pain. God wants to heal the broken-hearted and TURN our hearts. We can resolve issues of the heart. King David and his wife Michal both suffered injustice from King Saul, but their heart response determined their destiny. Discover powerful keys for accessing God's promises and blessing. It's not automatic, it requires a response.

Open your Bible with me to Malachi 4. We’ve just been having a wonderful few days of meetings; God moving and touching so many lives. I was weighing up and praying on what to do today and I want to share with you a message called ‘Honour your father and your mother’.

Healing from Abortion and Miscarriage

Speaker: Mike Connell

The heart of God is full of compassion to heal and restore damaged lives. Abortion is a doorway for grief and demonic bondage which is largely hidden under secrecy and denial. When the truth is faced that the life of a child has been taken the pain is immense. The reality dawns, there is a son or daughter in heaven who we will meet one day! Discover how to bring meaningful healing to families who have lost a child in the womb, and set them free from bondage and torment. Jesus did not come to condemn - He came to save, heal, deliver, restore.

The church needs to have a message of hope. The gospel is a message of hope to people. It's about God's love for us, and his willingness to help us. And so as Christians, no matter what is happening around us, we need to understand we have a message to help people. That Jesus Christ came to help people.

Freedom from Divination

Speaker: Mike Connell

The heart of God is full of compassion to heal and restore damaged lives. Abortion is a doorway for grief and demonic bondage which is largely hidden under secrecy and denial. When the truth is faced that the life of a child has been taken the pain is immense. The reality dawns, there is a son or daughter in heaven who we will meet one day! Discover how to bring meaningful healing to families who have lost a child in the womb, and set them free from bondage and torment. Jesus did not come to condemn - He came to save, heal, deliver, restore.

The church needs to have a message of hope. The gospel is a message of hope to people. It's about God's love for us, and his willingness to help us. And so as Christians, no matter what is happening around us, we need to understand we have a message to help people. That Jesus Christ came to help people.

Freedom from Bitterness

Speaker: Mike Connell

In Exodus 15, we follow the journey of God's people who came out of the slavery of Egypt to the promised land. When they met difficult circumstances we see what was in their heart - all the "fruit" of bitterness. If the fruit is there, the root is there. Test yourself. Do you think like a slave or a son? We can focus on injustice and choose to be bitter, or respond to God's provision and embrace grace.

We’re going to look in Exodus chapter 15. We did a story out of the Old Testament just last session, it was a different one. A different one, but it’ll point to the same person – Jesus Christ. So, we’re going to read in Exodus 15: 22-26.

Do You Want To Be Made Whole?

Speaker: Mike Connell

In John 5 , Jesus likens us to sheep - this message gives several ways this is true! One similarity is that sometimes sheep are "cast", lying down, unable to move, unable to function. If we are lying down we may have many excuses, feel a victim, and be waiting for something to happen. However, like the man in this story, who had been waiting 38 years for help, we need to answer this same question Jesus asked: Do you want to be made whole? We have the power of choice - to receive Jesus and have the power of sin broken.

I want you to have a look at this story here – “After this, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now, there was in Jerusalem a sheep gate”. It’s where the sheep came in and out of the city. Actually, maybe they only came in. For some kind of lamb stew or something like that.

Come Out of Your Cave

 Speaker: Mike Connell

In 1 Kings 19 we find Elijah had yielded to fear and intimidation, and drawn back from his God-given assignment. We then get one of those "God Questions". He knows the answer, but wanted Elijah to think about where he was at, to recognize his distorted thinking, and to get back to his assignment, which included raising up others to fulfill the ministry. What are you doing here? Elijah had chosen to yield to fear, withdraw from his assignment, sit down, become passive and isolate at the crucial point when he needed to press forward. Sound familiar? Learn to recognize the signs of pressure.

Let’s open our Bible to 1 Kings 19. I just want to share briefly with you, then we want to have a time to pray for you. We want to see God touch your life. Leaders need to be refreshed, need a fresh touch of God on their life. So we need to learn how to step up.

Blood on The Doorposts

Speaker: Mike Connell

Jn 1:29 "Behold - the lamb of God, which takes away the sin of the world" has little meaning for people today, but for the Israelites who applied the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts (Ex.12) it was tremendously significant. When the destroyer saw the blood, they were protected, and 430 years of slavery finished. Jesus is God's provision for our sinfulness, and His blood still speaks. Get a fresh revelation of the power of the blood of Jesus for your freedom.

I’m going to start first of all on John 1:29. We’re going to look in about two or three places in the Bible. The Bible is God’s word. It explains to us God’s plan. It’s made up into two parts – what’s called the Old Testament and then the New Testament. So, I’m going to read to you just one verse. Then we’re going to look in the Old Testament.

The Bite of the Serpent

Speaker: Mike Connell

In Numbers 21, the children of Israel became bitter in their heart and started complaining against Moses. Their sin released fiery serpents which bit the people and released poison into their system. Their was only one remedy for the bite of the serpent - fixing their eyes, with faith in their heart, on God's provision.The same power is available to you today -the power of the cross for curses.

I want to read from the gospel of John. So the Bible reveals to us God’s plan to help us. It’s made up of two books – the Old Testament and the New Testament, who would set all people free. Now, we’ll read in verse 14 of John chapter 3, these wonderful verses. It starts with a picture and we’re going to look at the picture in a moment.

It says: “Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up.” So Jesus is speaking about a situation that happened hundreds of years before, with Moses in the wilderness with the people of Israel. He says it’s like a prophetic picture of his death on the cross.

So He says: “As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man – that’s Jesus, be lifted up so whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.”

You notice the heart of God. God doesn’t want you to perish, He wants you to be saved. The Bible’s very clear – the nature of God is love. God is a loving God. People have many different pictures of God. The picture you have of Him, what you believe about Him, will affect how you relate to Him. So, if you have distorted or wrong pictures of God, you won’t relate to Him properly.

Spirit of Divination

Speaker: Mike Connell

Acts 16:16 tells a story about a woman who was tormented by an evil spirit - a python spirit, or spirit of divination. Many people came to her city, a centre of Arts, wanting to know their future, and she made a lot of money for her owners by fortune-telling. What is the source of this power? How does it gain access to our lives? What does the Bible say about our destiny? How can we be set free?

Let’s open the Bible up to Acts 16. We’ll read from verse 16.

”Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. 17 This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, “These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” 18 And this she did for many days. But Paul, greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And he came out that very hour.”

So, the Bible tells us very clearly that Jesus came to set people free. This is a story about a woman tormented by an evil spirit. It was in a particular place in Greece where they worshipped the god Apollo. It was the centre of the creative arts and in that place, there was the practice of divination. Another word for divination means fortune-telling. It means consulting spirits to try and find your future. So, there was a special temple there in this place.

There was what they called the oracle of Delphi. There was a woman who used to prophesy using demonic spiritual power. People would come to her and they would pay money in order to be able to get their fortunes told. This was a very famous city. People came from all around to try and find out what their future held. When there were major decisions to be made in business or in arts or in drama, they would come there. They would pay money in order to discover words about their future.