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Religion imprisons people. But a relationship with Jesus changes people.
In the days that Jesus walked the earth the everyday people knew He was special, and they longed to be near Him and hear Him. The religious leaders (Pharisees, Sadducees, Priests, etc) were the ones who stirred up trouble for Jesus.
Even today the Jewish Rabbis and Priests do not read to their worshippers in their Synagogues from chapter 53 of the Book (scroll) of Isaiah. Why? Because Isaiah 53 is called “The Suffering Servant” and speaks clearly of Jesus and His coming suffering.
You see, ‘religion’ had the Jewish leaders expecting a ‘Messiah’ – but their ‘religion’ had been so twisted they identified the ‘Messiah’ as a person who would free Israel from tyranny, from the invaders and oppressors of Roman occupation.
But God had planned that Jesus, the ‘Messiah’, should come to free both the Jewish and Gentile (us) people from the tyranny of ‘religion’.
It is the same today.
‘Religion’ still binds people up – even church-goers.
If the teaching is false, if the church mandates ‘rules & regulations’, instead of individual personal ‘relationship’ – then it binds people in ‘religion’. If the leadership see their sole purpose as being upfront on the stage or in the pulpit and that they are the only ones who can minister to people – then it binds people in ‘religion’.
If the leadership prohibit ‘body ministry’ failing to recognise that all Christians are called to minister, to use their gifts and talents, to share the Gospel and their testimonies, to heal the sick, to deliver people from demonic oppression, to perform miracles – then it binds people in ‘religion’.
If the leadership are more interested in ‘tithes’ (money) than in salvations and setting people free from the holds of satan on their lives – then it binds people in ‘religion’.
Those things are not of God, they are ‘religion’.
God wants a personal relationship with His people – all of us. And God wants to use us, all of us, according to His plan and to His Glory.
The only way to have that personal relationship with God is through personal and individual acceptance of Jesus and what He did for us. His death on the cross as the offering for our sins, and His resurrection, are the only way into a true genuine personal relationship with God.
There is no other way.
We must yield our lives to the Holy Spirit’s conviction of our sins, repent of them asking God’s forgiveness, and accept Jesus as our personal Saviour and Lord.
Scriptures:
“For God loved the world so much that He gave His one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through Me’.” (John 14:6)
“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
“Jesus replied, ‘I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the Kingdom of God’.” (John 3:3)
“Peter replied, ‘Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit’.” (Acts 2:38)
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